😐A single person spends $1,861 per month in Santa Cruz de Tenerife vs $1,679 in Fuengirola, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,614 per month in Santa Cruz de Tenerife vs $2,609 in Fuengirola, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $3,366 per month in Santa Cruz de Tenerife vs $3,539 in Fuengirola, rent included.
😐Santa Cruz de Tenerife costs about 11% more than Fuengirola, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Santa Cruz de Tenerife and Fuengirola sit above the global median – Santa Cruz de Tenerife by 39%, Fuengirola by 25%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Santa Cruz de Tenerife
Fuengirola
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.08€14.59
$13.65€11.65
25.13%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$58.3€49.78
$63.0€53.8
-7.53%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.47€8.94
$10.23€8.74
2.35%
Cappuccino
$2.02€1.72
$2.29€1.95
-11.79%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75€1.49
$2.47€2.11
-29.15%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.02€0.87
$1.85€1.58
-44.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.95€2.52
$3.41€2.91
-13.49%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.16€2.70
$4.40€3.75
-28.18%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Santa Cruz de Tenerife
Fuengirola
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.23€1.05
$1.18€1.01
4.24%
White Bread(500g)
$1.73€1.47
$1.51€1.29
14.57%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.52€1.29
$1.65€1.41
-7.88%
Eggs
$3.12€2.67
$2.82€2.40
10.64%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.30€14.77
$15.17€12.95
14.04%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.38€7.15
$8.95€7.64
-6.37%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.36€12.26
$17.95€15.33
-20.00%
Apples(1kg)
$2.42€2.07
$2.45€2.09
-1.22%
Banana(1kg)
$1.75€1.50
$2.10€1.79
-16.67%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.59€1.36
$1.79€1.53
-11.17%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.55€2.18
$2.73€2.33
-6.59%
Potato(1kg)
$1.56€1.34
$1.77€1.51
-11.86%
Onion(1kg)
$1.76€1.51
$1.89€1.61
-6.88%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.53€1.30
$1.25€1.07
22.40%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.71€0.61
$0.78€0.66
-8.97%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.12€4.37
$6.47€5.52
-20.87%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.37€7.14
$6.00€5.12
39.50%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.54€1.32
$1.22€1.04
26.23%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.73€1.48
$2.42€2.06
-28.51%
🚌 Getting Around
Santa Cruz de Tenerife
Fuengirola
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.71€1.46
$1.82€1.56
-6.04%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$34.74€29.67
$11.61€9.91
199.22%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.71€4.03
$4.72€4.03
-0.21%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.29€1.10
$1.06€0.91
21.70%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$17.39€14.85
$24.84€21.21
-29.99%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.62€1.38
$1.82€1.56
-10.99%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.9K€32.4K
$39.3K€33.6K
-3.47%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.1K€25.7K
$30.7K€26.2K
-1.74%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Santa Cruz de Tenerife
Fuengirola
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$90.1€76.9
$134€115
-32.84%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.19€18.09
$21.56€18.41
-1.72%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.60€26.13
$32.81€28.02
-6.74%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Santa Cruz de Tenerife
Fuengirola
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.0€43.55
$50.9€43.46
0.22%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.16€9.53
$29.04€24.80
-61.57%
Cinema Ticket
$10.05€8.59
$9.83€8.39
2.24%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Santa Cruz de Tenerife
Fuengirola
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$343€293
$401€343
-14.43%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,372€7,150
$6,534€5,580
28.13%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Santa Cruz de Tenerife
Fuengirola
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$83.8€71.6
$80.7€68.9
3.82%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.82€28.89
$40.09€34.23
-15.64%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$87.2€74.5
$90.5€77.3
-3.67%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$69.5€59.4
$117€99.7
-40.46%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Santa Cruz de Tenerife
Fuengirola
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,157€988
$994€849
16.40%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$954€815
$777€663
22.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,628€1,390
$1,938€1,655
-16.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,298€1,108
$1,297€1,108
0.05%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,933€3,359
$3,687€3,148
6.68%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,283€1,950
$2,778€2,373
-17.81%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Santa Cruz de Tenerife
Fuengirola
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,926€1,645
$1,862€1,590
3.47%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.5
3.46
1.16%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Santa Cruz de Tenerife: April 25, 2026
Last update for Fuengirola: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,157 in Santa Cruz de Tenerife versus $994 in Fuengirola. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 3% higher in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $58.0 in Santa Cruz de Tenerife versus $63.0 in Fuengirola. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $277 vs $281 – making Santa Cruz de Tenerife the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Santa Cruz de Tenerife vs Fuengirola: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Santa Cruz de Tenerife and Fuengirola compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,861 in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, $1,679 in Fuengirola – roughly 11% apart. Santa Cruz de Tenerife costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Santa Cruz de Tenerife compared to Fuengirola?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,791 per month in Santa Cruz de Tenerife and $2,518 in Fuengirola. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Santa Cruz de Tenerife and Fuengirola?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Fuengirola, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Santa Cruz de Tenerife and Fuengirola?
Kindergarten costs $343 per month in Santa Cruz de Tenerife and $401 in Fuengirola. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Interestingly, groceries are about 1% cheaper in Santa Cruz de Tenerife – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Fuengirola, where all-in costs run around $1,679, than in Santa Cruz de Tenerife at $1,861. In Fuengirola it covers expenses comfortably, while in Santa Cruz de Tenerife it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Where should families live: Santa Cruz de Tenerife or Fuengirola?
Families tend to lean toward Fuengirola – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Is Santa Cruz de Tenerife or Fuengirola safer for residents?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
How do I decide between Santa Cruz de Tenerife and Fuengirola?
If budget matters most, go with Fuengirola. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Santa Cruz de Tenerife makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Santa Cruz de Tenerife vs other spots: cost of living compared