😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,099 in Valencia versus $2,015 in Santa Cruz de Tenerife.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,040 in Valencia versus $2,890 in Santa Cruz de Tenerife.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,981 in Valencia versus $3,766 in Santa Cruz de Tenerife.
🌍Living in Valencia is roughly 4% more expensive than in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Valencia52% above, Santa Cruz de Tenerife46% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Valencia
Santa Cruz de Tenerife
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.46€15.91
$21.32€18.38
-13.41%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.9€59.4
$64.3€55.4
7.28%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.99€11.20
$11.79€10.16
10.18%
Cappuccino
$2.89€2.49
$2.12€1.83
36.32%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.65€2.29
$2.04€1.75
29.90%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.10€1.81
$1.30€1.12
61.54%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.54€3.05
$2.89€2.49
22.49%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.62€3.98
$3.46€2.98
33.53%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Valencia
Santa Cruz de Tenerife
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.22€1.05
$1.26€1.08
-3.17%
White Bread(500g)
$1.41€1.22
$2.58€2.22
-45.35%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.83€1.58
$1.65€1.43
10.91%
Eggs
$3.52€3.04
$4.39€3.79
-19.82%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.33€9.77
$20.60€17.76
-45.00%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.13€7.01
$10.37€8.93
-21.60%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.64€14.34
$18.04€15.55
-7.76%
Apples(1kg)
$2.57€2.22
$2.77€2.39
-7.22%
Banana(1kg)
$1.91€1.65
$2.46€2.12
-22.36%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.86€1.61
$2.23€1.92
-16.59%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.67€2.30
$2.63€2.27
1.52%
Potato(1kg)
$1.78€1.53
$2.24€1.93
-20.54%
Onion(1kg)
$1.90€1.64
$2.10€1.81
-9.52%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.18€1.02
$1.75€1.51
-32.57%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.83€0.71
$0.98€0.84
-15.31%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.04€6.07
$5.70€4.91
23.51%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.96€5.14
$8.35€7.20
-28.62%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.34€1.16
$1.67€1.44
-19.76%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.79€1.54
$1.79€1.55
-
🚌 Getting Around
Valencia
Santa Cruz de Tenerife
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.29€1.97
$1.48€1.27
54.73%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$40.69€35.08
$43.93€37.87
-7.38%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.62€3.98
$4.38€3.78
5.48%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.34€1.15
$1.77€1.53
-24.29%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$25.24€21.76
$17.56€15.14
43.74%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.72€1.48
$1.65€1.43
4.24%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.9K€31.0K
$36.7K€31.6K
-2.05%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.7K€26.5K
$30.3K€26.1K
1.43%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Valencia
Santa Cruz de Tenerife
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$158€136
$134€115
18.02%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.96€13.76
$23.36€20.14
-31.68%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.76€29.96
$36.81€31.73
-5.57%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Valencia
Santa Cruz de Tenerife
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$44.83€38.64
$54.6€47.05
-17.88%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$8.42€7.26
$12.18€10.50
-30.87%
Cinema Ticket
$11.15€9.62
$10.38€8.95
7.42%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Valencia
Santa Cruz de Tenerife
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$592€510
$428€369
38.19%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.3K€8,850
$5,246€4,522
95.72%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Valencia
Santa Cruz de Tenerife
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$95.5€82.3
$97.3€83.8
-1.83%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.82€36.91
$43.40€37.41
-1.34%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$98.5€84.9
$94.4€81.4
4.39%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120€104
$117€101
2.77%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Valencia
Santa Cruz de Tenerife
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,432€1,235
$1,202€1,036
19.16%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,092€941
$923€795
18.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,358€2,033
$1,804€1,555
30.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,695€1,461
$1,328€1,145
27.59%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,828€5,023
$4,025€3,470
44.79%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,308€2,852
$2,227€1,920
48.56%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Valencia
Santa Cruz de Tenerife
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,997€1,721
$1,923€1,658
3.84%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.38
3.56
-5.06%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Valencia: September 6, 2026
Last update for Santa Cruz de Tenerife: September 5, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,432 in Valencia and $1,202 in Santa Cruz de Tenerife. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Valencia pays 4% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $69.0 in Valencia vs $64.0 in Santa Cruz de Tenerife. Groceries flip the comparison at $263 vs $339, with Valencia cheaper for home cooking.
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
Valencia vs Santa Cruz de Tenerife: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Santa Cruz de Tenerife cheaper than Valencia?
Santa Cruz de Tenerife is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear. The 4% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Valencia or Santa Cruz de Tenerife?
Average pay runs 4% higher in Valencia, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Valencia and Santa Cruz de Tenerife?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,432 in Valencia versus $1,202 in Santa Cruz de Tenerife. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Valencia or in Santa Cruz de Tenerife?
Dining out is cheaper in Santa Cruz de Tenerife – a meal for two runs $64.0 versus $69.0 in Valencia. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Valencia and in Santa Cruz de Tenerife?
All in, you'll spend $2,099 per month in Valencia versus $2,015 in Santa Cruz de Tenerife – a 4% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Valencia or in Santa Cruz de Tenerife?
At $2,015 in Santa Cruz de Tenerife versus $2,099 in Valencia, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Santa Cruz de Tenerife but tight or insufficient in Valencia. The gap between the two cities makes Santa Cruz de Tenerife the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Valencia or Santa Cruz de Tenerife more family-friendly?
For families, Santa Cruz de Tenerife is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Valencia, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Valencia or Santa Cruz de Tenerife?
Safety-wise, Valencia and Santa Cruz de Tenerife are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Santa Cruz de Tenerife gentler on the wallet – expenses run 4% less than in Valencia. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.