Moving to Lanzarote

07. August 2019

If you're thinking about moving to Lanzarote but need a little help and advice on the relocation process, don't worry! We've highlighted some things to think about when considering making the move, from the cost of living to the things to do on the island. We know that moving home isn't always easy, but we want to help make the process run as smoothly and as stress-free as possible!

With the sun shining down on your skin, the gentle sea breeze in your hair and the stunning views around you, a life in Lanzarote is what many people dream of. What was only meant to be a 2-week family holiday can result in seeking out a new life in what fast becomes many tourists’ favourite place on earth. Packing up your belongings and moving to a new country may seem a little daunting at first. However, with some help and advice from people who know the island, moving to Lanzarote can be a stress-free process - well, as stress-free as finding a new forever home can be anyway! From mistakes to avoid to what to look out for when hunting for a property, here are our top tips for moving to Lanzarote.

Escaping to a Life in the Sun

Looking to get away from cold winters and miserable summers? If you’re from the UK, you’ll probably experience the feeling of wanting to seek out year-round sunshine more than once. What many people think of when moving to Lanzarote is the warm temperatures that they’ll be able to experience on a daily basis. Located just off the west coast of Africa, Lanzarote is known for its admirable climate.

When asked why they moved to Lanzarote, expats often reveal that the weather was a major contributing factor. August is typically the hottest month with an average temperature of 25°C while the coldest is January at 17°C. With days often seeing 10 hours of daily sunshine during the summer months, it’s easy to see why Lanzarote is an ideal place for a life in the sun. Even during winter you're likely to experience plenty of warm weather.

The Cost of Living

Lanzarote generally offers a lower cost of living compared to the rest of Northern Europe. If you’re considering making the move to Lanzarote, it’s essential that you plan ahead and make sure you have enough funds with you. It’s something we’re regularly asked, but the cost of living in Lanzarote completely depends on your general lifestyle and how many people are going to be in the property too! For example, someone living in a 1-bedroom apartment is going to have cheaper utility bills that someone who has purchased a 6-bedroom villa. The same applies to grocery shopping and eating out - the more people around the table, the more expensive things will be.

That being said, here are some average costs to help you figure out how much your monthly expenses will come to:

Meal at an Inexpensive Restaurant - €8.00

Regular Cappuccino - €1.45

1 Litre of Milk - €0.76

A Loaf of White Bread- €0.85

Gas - €0.97 Per Litre

Basic Utilities (Small Apartment) - €80.00

Gym Membership - €32.50

Keeping Yourself Busy

Lanzarote is the fourth-largest Canary Island, covering 845.94 square kilometres. There’s so much to see and do here that you’ll be able to keep yourself busy at all times. Even on the days where you want to relax and simply soak up some sun while having the sand beneath your feet, there are 45 beaches for you to explore.

Take a look at our area guides on some of the most sought-after destinations in Lanzarote to find out more:

Playa Blanca

Puerto Del Carmen

Costa Teguise

Buying a Property

When it comes to moving to Lanzarote and finding a property on the island, there are plenty of things you should take into consideration. House hunting is where the fun begins and allows you to compare different property types in different locations - which is great if you’re not 100% on what you’re looking for. It can help to have an idea in mind and you can narrow down your initial search by sticking to a budget and number of bedrooms for example.

Once you’ve looked at different properties and have fallen in love with a particular one, it’s time to get the ball rolling. You can make an offer and then proceed with the legal side of buying a property in Lanzarote when a sale has been agreed.

Things to Think Of

When moving to Lanzarote, it’s important for you to remember that this isn’t going to be like a holiday. You may spend your days working, which can often mean walking around in professional attire in the heat. This is a very different feeling to that of being able to sit in your summer clothes with an ice-cream - or better yet, an ice-cold beer - in your hands.

You may also wish to consider learning some Spanish. Though you can tend to get away with knowing perhaps just the basics in the more built-up and touristy resorts, it can make your life easier in the long run. People often start to learn the basics when they know they’re planning on moving to Lanzarote as it means they’ll be able to have much better conversations with locals.

Something we always like to remind people of as well is that your friends and family are more than likely going to come and stay with you at some point too. Will you have enough room in the property you’re buying for them to stay? If - or shall we say when - you have guests staying, you may find that your nights will be spent in local bars and restaurants as opposed to sitting on your balcony with a book.

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