On supermarket shelves, in construction warehouses, and even in convenience stores, the same reality prevails: in the Canary Islands, everything costs more. Not only because of the island's location and freight costs. A name little known to the general public—the AIEM (Import and Deliveries of Goods Tax), tolerated by the European Commission—is behind many of the price differences between the archipelago and the rest of Spain. Collection has already exceeded the €150 million authorized by the EU in its financial statement.
The comparison with Cádiz is clear: a liter of olive oil costs between 8 and 10 euros in the Andalusian province, while in supermarkets in southern Gran Canaria it can exceed 12 euros. A package of sliced Serrano ham costs around 3 euros in Cádiz and reaches 5,50 euros in Maspalomas. Even local products like bananas reach exorbitant prices: 5 euros per kilo in the archipelago, compared to 2,50 euros on the mainland.
But the blow doesn't stop at the shopping basket. Construction materials and household appliances are also affected by the AIEM. A 25 kg bag of mortar, which costs €7,90 in Cádiz, can be found for €9,80 or more in hardware stores in southern Gran Canaria. A can of medium-quality white plastic paint costs €15 in mainland Spain, but in the Canary Islands it can rise to €20–22, with an estimated surcharge of between 20% and 30%.
And if you want to furnish your home, the difference is even starker: mattresses, box springs, and lounge furniture are taxed at AIEM rates that can reach 15%. A basic box spring that sells for €69 in Cádiz can easily exceed €85 or €90 in the Canary Islands. The same goes for a mid-range mattress: €220 compared to €270 or more in the archipelago.
The official theory is that the AIEM protects local industry from imported products, encouraging the consumption of goods "made in the Canary Islands." However, in many sectors—such as paints, varnishes, furniture, and mortars—local production is limited or nonexistent, turning the tax into a mere surcharge with no productive justification.
"It's a tax designed to protect a few, and we all pay it," complains a hardware store owner in southern Gran Canaria. "We don't manufacture industrial paints here, and yet they charge us as if we were importing luxury goods."
The result is an archipelago where living costs more and margins for families and businesses are narrowing. The lack of real competition in some sectors, foreign dependence, and the AIEM's tax burden create an economy where the consumer always loses.
Meanwhile, the political debate remains tentative. The Canary Islands government defends the AIEM as part of the Economic and Fiscal Regime (REF), but growing voices are calling for a thorough review, especially at a time of sustained inflation and difficulty accessing housing and basic goods. Because in the Canary Islands, even a bed base is more expensive.
