The cost of living in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria is relatively low, but it always depends to a greater extent on the type of housing you choose. Most students choose to live in a shared flat, where they are able to live with other young people from different parts of the world while saving on the monthly rent.
Advantages and disadvantages of sharing a flat in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
Here are some of the pros and cons of living in a shared flat in the capital of the island:
Advantages of sharing a flat in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
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There are shared apartments available in different parts of the city, so you will be able to choose one that is close to your university, either one of the four campuses of the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria or the one of Universidad del Atlántico Medio.
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You can choose between spare rooms in private shared flats and in student residences, which usually have additional facilities you can access such as a terrace, gym, laundry, study rooms and leisure rooms. You can select either a single room or a shared room.
Disadvantages of sharing a flat in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
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If you want to get a place in one of the university residences, you will have to apply well in advance. The demand for this type of accommodation is very high and it is often difficult to find one.
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If the rules of the house are unclear (especially regarding visits, smoking, pets, noise, etc.) arguments can frequently arise.
Erasmus App for your exchange programme in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
To make planning for your exchange easier, you can download apps for Erasmus+ where you will be able to find a lot of relevant information. For example, you will be able to fill out the Learning Agreement, request a new exchange, find information about the university and also view the experiences of students from previous years. One of the tips that young people repeat the most is that you try the local dishes, such as sancocho, gofio escaldao and ropa vieja, in some of the neighbourhood markets.
How to meet people in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
These are some of the ways you have to meet people in the capital of the island, besides befriending your flatmates:
Student associations in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
One of the student associations that you can join is AEGEE. Thanks to it you will be able to access the Buddy Program, in which local students help you with everything you need, as well as different volunteering and participating in other activities and plans that are organized for young people to interact with each other.
Facebook groups for Erasmus in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
On this platform, there are several groups that you can join, most of them are organized according to the academic years, so in them, you will be able to connect with other students who are going to be there in the same season as you. In addition, you can see view the calendar of activities that you can join, like hiking trails, language exchanges, laser tag evenings, and international dinners, among others.
Whatsapp groups for Erasmus in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
Both the AEGEE and the students themselves usually create groups on Whatsapp. In these groups you will be able to be in direct contact with other young people, join the plans or propose your own according to your interests.
Tips for living in a shared apartment in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
Below are some tips to keep in mind when living in a shared flat in this city of Gran Canaria:
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The locals are usually very friendly and fun, get to know the Canarian culture to the fullest if any of your flatmates are local!
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Coexistence is usually not easy, so we recommend that you set certain established rules from the beginning. These rules should be about cleaning, visiting conditions and the use of common spaces.