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Side by side

Canarias or Spain?

Each place uses its own local data. National rules (economy, geopolitical stability, governance, tax & finance) are the same for both, so they cannot separate them. Neither wins everywhere; the tradeoffs below are what matter.

All about CanariasAll about SpainChange a place

Data as of

Region

Canarias

Seven volcanic islands off the coast of Africa with an all-year spring climate and a tax regime of their own.

Quality of life47average
Momentum78strong
Outlook–Spain-wide only
IslandsVolcanic landscapeSpring climate all yearWinter sunSpecial tax regime

29th of 35 European metro regions

Country

Spain

Sun, food and a life lived outdoors, from big-city careers to quiet coastal towns.

Quality of life56average
Momentum52average
Outlook25weak
Mediterranean countryPublic healthcare systemRegional languagesLate meals and street lifeTourism economy

16th of 30 EU + EFTA countries

Canarias is a region and Spain a country. Each figure is that place’s own; scores compare each with its own peers (Spain with EU countries, regions with regions, cities with cities), so read them side by side rather than as a contest.

Why Canarias

  • Employment gap, born abroad vs born in Spain: 0.8 points vs -3.7 points
  • Burglaries: 84 per 100k people vs 293 per 100k people
  • Robberies: 78 per 100k people vs 130 per 100k people
  • Households spending >40% of income on housing: 5.0% vs 7.2%
  • A mild climate in every month and a time zone close to Europe's
  • Beach & volcano & forest within a short drive on each island

Watch out: Low wages and high unemployment with housing costs that have climbed; Long waits for specialist appointments and distance from the mainland.

Why Spain

  • Household income per person: 27,885 PPS a year vs 17,000 PPS a year
  • Adults with a university degree: 52% vs 36%
  • Unemployment: 10.0% vs 13.5%
  • Median gross salary: €24,497 a year vs €20,632 a year
  • A mild climate along the coast and islands and long days outdoors
  • Regional variety in food and landscape and language

Watch out: Job openings and pay that differ widely by region and sector; Procedures that vary by region and often run only in Spanish.

Of 34 figures both publish in the same unit, Canarias is better on 11 and Spain on 10; the rest are close or have no better direction.

Life domains

65 · above averageHousing49 · average
52 · averageSafety46 · average
38 · below averageHealthcare59 · average
15 · weakWellbeing25 · weak
9 · weakProsperity43 · average
4 · weakJobs42 · average
–Geopolitical Stability100 · strong
–Demographics87 · strong
–Tax & Finance76 · strong
–Education62 · above average
–Economy59 · average
–Cost of Living56 · average
–Environment50 · average
–Governance32 · below average

Side by side, figure by figure

FigureCanariasSpainDifference
Housing
House prices, change in a year11.0%Q2 202612.1%Q2 2026Canarias 1.1 pts lower
Households spending >40% of income on housing5.0%20257.2%2025Canarias 2.2 pts lower
Cost of living
Household spending€32,921 a year2025€35,101 a year2025Canarias 6% lower
Inflation4.4%Sep 20265.0%Sep 2026Canarias 0.6 pts lower
Money & work
Household income per person17,000 PPS a year202327,885 PPS a year2025Canarias 39% lower
Net income per person (survey)€14,222 a year2025€15,620 a year2025Canarias 9% lower
Average gross salary€25,120 a year2024€29,540 a year2024Canarias 15% lower
Median gross salary€20,632 a year2024€24,497 a year2024Canarias 16% lower
Unemployment13.5%202510.0%Aug 2026Canarias 3.5 pts higher
Youth unemployment (15–24)29.5%202524.9%2025Canarias 4.6 pts higher
Employment rate (20–64)67.7%202573.0%Q2 2026Canarias 5.3 pts lower
Safety
Homicides0.63 per 100k people20240.72 per 100k people2024Canarias 12% lower
Robberies78 per 100k people2024130 per 100k people2024Canarias 40% lower
Burglaries84 per 100k people2024293 per 100k people2024Spain 3.5×
Thefts397 per 100k people2024451 per 100k people2024Canarias 12% lower
Road deaths3.1 per 100k people20243.7 per 100k people2024Canarias 16% lower
Health
Life expectancy82.9 years202484.0 years2024about the same
Doctors498 per 100k people2024464 per 100k people2024Canarias 7% higher
Education
Adults with a university degree36%202552%2025Canarias 16.2 pts lower
People
Population2,258,866202549,128,2972025Spain 21.7×
Residents who speak English28.6% of residents202124.6% of residents2021Canarias 4.1 pts higher
Residents who speak English well17.6% of residents202114.7% of residents2021Canarias 3.0 pts higher
At risk of poverty22.9%202519.5%2025Canarias 3.4 pts higher
Who lives here
Residents born abroad23.5%202519.3%2025Canarias 4.2 pts higher
Born in another EU country5.6% of residents20253.3% of residents2025Canarias 2.4 pts higher
Born elsewhere in Europe2.0% of residents20251.7% of residents2025about the same
Born in Latin America12.3% of residents20259.4% of residents2025Canarias 2.9 pts higher
Born in Africa2.3% of residents20253.4% of residents2025Canarias 1.1 pts lower
Born in Asia1.1% of residents20251.3% of residents2025about the same
Born in North America or Oceania0.2% of residents20250.4% of residents2025about the same
Born abroad, change in 5 years3.5 points20254.4 points2025Canarias 0.9 pts lower
Employment rate, born abroad68.3%202569.6%2025Canarias 1.3 pts lower
Employment rate, born in Spain67.5%202573.3%2025Canarias 5.8 pts lower
Employment gap, born abroad vs born in Spain0.8 points2025-3.7 points2025Canarias 4.5 pts higher

Who each suits, 0–100

54Culture, food and nightlife–
52Retirees53
51High earners and investors57
48Students55
41Families with children53
40Budget-conscious movers43
39Founders and self-employed54
23Young professionals39
–Remote workers57
–Beach, mountains and the outdoors46

Our read of each

Canarias

  • Some English, but learn Spanish early

Spain

    Data through Jun 2026 (Canarias) and Sep 2026 (Spain). Figures are compared only when both places publish them in the same unit; a dot marks the better value where better is clear.

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