Budget & Costs
What does Gran Canaria cost?
The Canary Islands enjoy a special tax status within Spain: Instead of the normal Spanish VAT (IVA, 21%), the IGIC at only 7% applies here. This makes many things cheaper than on the mainland — especially restaurants, rental cars, and shopping. Overall, the price level is 15–25% below the German level.
Typical Prices (Guidelines 2025/2026)
| Item | Price (€) |
|---|---|
| Coffee (Cortado) in a café | 1.20–1.80 |
| Caña (small beer, 0.25l) | 1.50–2.50 |
| Lunch menu (Menú del día) | 8–13 |
| Dinner in a restaurant | 12–25 |
| Tapas (per portion) | 3–8 |
| Supermarket shopping (1 day) | 10–18 |
| Hostel (dormitory) | 18–30 |
| Hotel (mid-range, double room) | 60–120 |
| Holiday apartment (double room, self-catering) | 40–80 |
| All-inclusive resort (double room) | 90–200 |
| Rental car (per day, small car) | 15–35 |
| Gasoline (per liter) | 1.20–1.40 |
| Global bus (single ride) | 1.40–8.00 |
| Taxi airport → Maspalomas | 35–45 |
Budget Levels
Backpacker / Budget (35–55€ per day)
Hostels or cheap holiday apartments (self-catering), shopping in the supermarket (HiperDino, Mercadona, and Lidl are inexpensive), Menú del día at lunchtime (8–13€ for starter, main course, dessert, and drink!), Global buses for transport, free beaches and hiking trails. Gran Canaria has some of the cheapest hostels in the Canaries, especially in Las Palmas.
Mid-range (60–120€ per day)
Good hotel or holiday apartment, a mix of self-cooking and restaurant visits, rental car for island tours (from 15€/day — an unbeatable deal!), occasional excursions. The golden middle: travel comfortably, eat well, and explore the island flexibly.
Comfort / Luxury (150–350€+ per day)
Boutique hotels or 5-star resorts in Maspalomas, fine dining in Las Palmas (Michelin-recommended), private catamaran for dolphin watching, spa treatments, and premium rental cars. Gran Canaria offers surprisingly good luxury at prices that would be unthinkable on Mallorca or Ibiza.
Tipp
The best savings hack on Gran Canaria: the Menú del día. At lunchtime, almost all restaurants offer a complete menu for 8–13€ — starter, main course, dessert, bread, and a drink (often including wine!). In the evening, the same meal easily costs double. Make lunch your main meal and share tapas in the evening.
Savings Tips
Gran Canaria is already cheaper than many alternatives — with these tips, it becomes even more affordable:
- Book rental cars early: Online from 12–15€/day (full coverage included at billiger-mietwagen.de or CHECK24). On-site at the airport: often twice as expensive. A car is almost always worth it — public transport doesn't go everywhere.
- Global bus instead of taxi: The bus network (Guaguas Municipales in Las Palmas, Global on the island) is cheap and reliable. The TransGC card saves 30% on all bus rides.
- Holiday apartment with kitchen: On portals, you can find studios from 30€/night. Cooking for yourself with products from the market or supermarket saves a lot.
- Use farmers' markets: Fresh fruit, vegetables, cheese, and bread directly from the producer — cheaper and better than in the supermarket. The best: Teror (Sunday), San Mateo (Saturday/Sunday), Vecindario (Wednesday).
- Free activities: Hiking (over 30 marked trails!), beaches, dunes of Maspalomas, old town Vegueta, Sunday market Teror, many church visits, and viewpoints — all free.
- Travel in the off-season: October/November and May/June: Hotels 30–50% cheaper than in winter, flights from 80€ return, less crowded.
- Water: Tap water is safe to drink but doesn't taste good to everyone. 8-liter canisters in the supermarket cost under 1€ — much cheaper than individual bottles.
- IGIC tax advantage: The low tax (7% instead of 21%) makes purchases like electronics, perfume, and tobacco significantly cheaper in the Canaries. Duty-free rules apply on the return journey!
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