Siargao vs Tenerife

Real cost of living, rent, internet, safety and visa terms for both cities, side by side — then open the interactive tool to weight them against your own priorities.

Siargao, Philippines
🇵🇭Philippines

Siargao

66Freedom Score#62Global rank$1,000Per month

The Philippines' surf-island paradise — Cloud 9 waves, palm-fringed lagoons, and a tight island-nomad community with an easy 30-day visa.

Tenerife, Spain
🇪🇸Spain

Tenerife

76Freedom Score#31Global rank$1,600Per month

Europe's eternal-spring island — the Canaries' tax perks, year-round 70°F weather, volcanic beaches, and Spain's digital-nomad visa.

The short answer

Compare these two in the full toolBoth cities pre-loaded — add your income and priorities to get a personal match score

Cost of living

Monthly figures for one person. Rent, meals and coworking are measured values, not shares of the total budget.

ExpenseSiargaoTenerife
Comfortable budgetper month, all in$1,000$1,600
Rent, 1BR city centre$350$700
Meal, mid-range$7$13
Coworking deskper month$190$200
Cost of living indexlower is cheaper40.064.0

Quality of life

Scored 0–100 on the same attributes the match engine weights, so these agree with the interactive tool.

MeasureSiargaoTenerife
Safety
62
78
Healthcare
38
82
Walkability
45
62
English spoken
80
62
Food & dining
58
62
Nightlife
62
62
Outdoors
38
90
Nomad community
68
78
Climate quality
72
90
Public transit
30
68

Scores, connectivity and paperwork

MeasureSiargaoTenerife
Freedom Score66/10076/100
Global rankof 100 cities#62#31
Internet35 Mbps300 Mbps
Average temperature82°F70°F
Air quality30/10025/100
Airport connectivity32/10068/100
Nomad visa30 days freeNomad visa
Headline tax rateon local income20%24%

Which should you choose?

Choose Siargao if runs $600/mo cheaper, rent is $350/mo lower, English is more widely spoken and the headline tax rate is lower.

Choose Tenerife if internet is faster at 300 Mbps, it scores higher on safety (78 vs 62), it is more walkable and the climate scores better.

What each city is known for

Siargao

  • Cloud 9: Philippines' surf capital
  • Palm islands, lagoons, island-hopping
  • Tight nomad and surfer community
  • Laid-back island life

Tenerife

  • Year-round 70°F spring climate
  • Spain's digital-nomad visa available
  • Volcanic Teide and Atlantic beaches
  • Lower cost than mainland Spain

Frequently asked questions

Which is better for digital nomads: Siargao or Tenerife?
Tenerife scores higher on the Freedom Score (76/100 against 66/100), which makes it the stronger all-round base. That is an average, though — if cost, climate or community is what actually decides it for you, the tables above will point the other way as often as not.
Which is cheaper: Siargao or Tenerife?
Siargao is cheaper. A comfortable monthly budget is $1,000 against $1,600, a difference of $600 a month or about $7,200 a year. Rent is the biggest single line: $350/mo in Siargao versus $700/mo in Tenerife.
Which is safer: Siargao or Tenerife?
Tenerife scores higher on safety, 78/100 against 62/100. Safety scores blend crime levels, political stability and healthcare access, and they describe a city as a whole — individual neighbourhoods vary far more than the headline number suggests.
How fast is the internet in Siargao and Tenerife?
Siargao averages 35 Mbps and Tenerife averages 300 Mbps, so Tenerife has the headroom if you push large files or run video calls all day.
What visa would I need for Siargao or Tenerife?
Siargao sits in Philippines (30 days free) and Tenerife in Spain (Nomad visa). Requirements, income floors and processing times change often, so check the visa and residency guide before you commit to either.
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