Living in Fuerteventura: An Extensive Guide

In this post, we will share what it’s been like for us living in Fuerteventura.

It’s been a lot of challenges, growth, and learning about this beautiful place we call home!

Let’s dive in!

Why we decided on Fuerteventura?

Our thought process was quite simple and very specific to our needs.

• We wanted to be away from the bigger islands of Tenerife and Gran Canaria but still have space. Fewer humans and more nature (or open space) was our goal. Fuerteventura fit the bill.
• Real estate prices are generally lower here – another big win for Fuerteventura. Another island we considered was Lanzarote but the prices are much higher there.
• The weather and climate.
  • Fuerteventura has average temperatures above 20 degrees Celsius almost the entire year. And it doesn’t get too hot here during the summer as well. We loved the balance when we were researching these things.

The weather in Fuerteventura

We get asked this a lot, what’s the weather like there?

The short answer – amazing.

It’s almost always warm, not to say hot. The wind cools You down nicely and there are spots to hide from it as well. If You like it even warmer.

The average temperatures range from 18 degrees Celsius (in January). And up to 25 degrees Celsius during the summer.

But in our personal experience – it is much hotter during the summer. Most days You get temperatures over 30 degrees Celsius.

The colder months are January and February. But we can still swim in the ocean for example…Not that cold if You ask us.

The warmest places in Fuerteventura

We stayed in Costa Calma for a longer period – it is unbelievably sunny and cozy there.

And Morro Jable – amazing weather as well. A nice balance of sunshine, wind, and awesome beaches.

Cost of living in Fuerteventura

As we are writing this post – the rental prices have drastically gone up. And even if You are looking to purchase a home – times and prices have changed dramatically since we came here.

Your best bet and place to look for information about the CURRENT prices is Idealista.

Just be aware of deals that seem “too good to be true.” Luckily we used a local realtor and everything went relatively smoothly. But we have heard that there are scams running even on Idealista.

Basically, they appear to be legit and offer a really good price. And then it turns out to be a scam later when You transfer the deposit.

The location You pick

Another thing that substantially changes the cost of living in Fuerteventura is the location.

Corralejo and El Cotillo are definitely the priciest places to live.

While places like Gran Tarajal, Antigua, and others offer lower costs. You would be sacrificing the immediate access to the ocean when You’d choose places more inland but everything is much cheaper there.

Places with amazing views and beaches usually are already tourist attractions. This means that everything is more expensive.

We are writing this blog post during a time of economic crisis all around the world and food prices going crazy. When we arrived here the avocados for example cost around 4.99 EUR per kilo. Now it’s more than 6.99 EUR per kilo. That’s a whopping 40% rise in prices in a short period of time.

It’s safe to say that times are changing and the cost of living is changing rapidly with them as well.

Other ex-pats living in Fuerteventura

One of the most intriguing things about living here in Fuerteventura is that You get to meet people from all over the world.

Just some of the fascinating people from countries that we have met include:

• Cuba
• Italy
• Germany
• UK
• Australia
• Colombia
• China
• India
• Belarus

If You are looking for a place with diverse culture – look no further. This is truly the place to be. Almost all nations are represented!

We have also managed to meet people and form get-together groups with them. For us, it is mostly centred around children.

But there are also digital nomad groups everywhere.

Best places to live in Fuerteventura

As of writing this – we have experience with Costa Calma and Caleta de Fuste.

Both have their positives and negatives. In other words, they meet different needs.

Living in Costa Calma

• It’s suitable for people who want a slow and quiet experience.
• Or for those who like to surf.
• There’s not much to do there other than the amazing beaches.
• A good place for holidays and rest.
• People who are constantly in their creative process and don’t really want to be disturbed – fewer people and beautiful nature/beaches.
• It’s far away from the capital Puerto del Rosario. Harder to get to shops, entertainment, as well as other people.
• A bigger German community.

Living in Caleta de Fuste

• Caleta de Fuste has a multicultural “vibe” to it. Many people from many different places.
• Entertainment, restaurants, shops – much closer.
• Mostly great with children.
  • Lots of playgrounds and special events are organized by the local community.
  • The negative side is that there are no schools or kindergartens currently located in Caleta de Fuste.
• Convenient for people who prefer to speak English.

Pros and cons of living in Fuerteventura

We didn’t have illusions about living here. Or maybe just a tiny bit…

Not everything is super stunning all the time. Things can get difficult.

And yet there’s a lot of good.

We put together a list for You to make Your decision to relocate much easier.

Pros of living in Fuerteventura

• The weather. It is truly spectacular for most of the year.
  • Good for people who have medical issues. Even we noticed that some of the nagging problems started to “go away” after a few months of living here.
• A quiet life.
  • The tempo of the island is slow and it does take You with it. A nice place to relax, rest and enjoy the sunshine.
• Breathtaking scenery.
  • We have heard some people complain that it’s “too deserty and too windy” but the views You get here are tremendous.
• Places to discover.
  • We have taken many trips to Ajuy, Betancuria, and Corralejo, and we still feel like we haven’t really scratched the surface. And it’s really easy to travel to the other islands nearby. Like Lanzarote and Gran Canaria for example.
• The beaches.
  • If You love beaches and chilling in the sand – this is truly a place for You.
  • From the dunes of Corralejo and the beaches nearby – to Morro Jable, You choose! They are all breathtaking and enjoyable.
• The food.
  • This might sound like a cliche but…the food is spectacular on this island.

Cons of living in Fuerteventura

• Getting things done can take a long time.
  • Mañana is real and You have to take that into consideration.
  • For example, if You want others to do something for You – it will take more time. You have to be extremely patient.
  • People don’t always show up on time. 5 minutes can mean everything from 15 minutes to 30. Something You will have to deal with.
• It’s hard to get some things on the island or they are more expensive.
  • Cars.
  • A variety of consumer goods. At times they just don’t ship here.
• You can definitely get homesick.
  • Especially if You are used to more of a “Nordic” way of doing things.
• Although You can definitely manage with English, a lot of locals don’t really speak it.
  • You need to learn Spanish if You are going to stay here for a longer period! Something we haven’t yet focused on that much.
• Squatters.
  • We really wish we knew about squatters before we came here. The linked article explains it in detail. But squatters are just random people who take over Your property when You are not there. And You need to take precautions to prevent that from happening. From proofing Your home to security alarms. We will dedicate a full blog post to this topic in the future.

Living and working in Fuerteventura

We both have remote roles and Fuerteventura is quite perfect for it. It is in the same time zone as London – which makes it easier to work with different parts of Europe.

It’s even decent if You have clients in Canada or USA.

You can get high-quality and high-speed internet here as well – crucial for ex-pats who work remotely.

Are You relocating or planning to relocate to Fuerteventura? Let us know in the comments below!