Living on the Costa del Sol can be Chic, Cosmopolitan and / or Comfortable. The choice is yours!
Living here is akin to taking the best of California and Florida, and combining them together. The Costa del Sol boasts over 300 days of sun, mild winters, more golf courses than you can shake a stick at, and a cosmopolitan vibe which is unequaled. Beaches, snow-skiing, mountains and word-class golf courses will all be on your doorstep. You then throw in history, culture, and a world-famous Mediterranean diet made of fresh ingredients, grown locally.
Still not happy?
What about giving you access to 28 European countries plus the United Kingdom, within 3-4 hours. You will only be a couple of hours from the continent of Africa, and on a clear day, you will see coastline of Morocco.
You could visit locations of some of the great movies which have been filmed here.
- The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel which was filmed in Malaga and Marbella
- Von Ryan’s Express was filmed at El Chorro by the ‘Kings Walk’ where it stood in for the Italian/Swiss border.
- which featured our local star Antonio Banderas in Malaga’s old town.
- which featured Maureen O’Hara passing through Calle Alcazabilla and into the old port
- The Jewellers in Moonlight with Brigitte Bardot was filmed in Mijas, Álora, El Chorro, Alhaurin El Grande and Torremolinos.
And not forgetting the famous Spaghetti Westerns of Clint Eastwood and Sergio Leone
A Fistful of Dollars, For a Few Dollars More, and The Good, the Bad and the Ugly were all filmed near Tabernas in Andalucia,
The Costa del Sol and Andalucia has also been home and temporary retreat for many authors, including Gerald Brennan, Ernest Hemingway, Washington Irving, Laurie Lee, Hans Christian Anderson, Graham Greene, Federico Garcia Lorca, Antonio Machado, Chris Stewart.
Living on the Costa Del Sol
As much as it is famous for the Marbella and Puerto Banus scene, living on the Costa del Sol offers the intrepid, a wide choice of things to do, places to visit and history to discover. These Spanish cities and villages are extremely walkable, and the public transport services are, for the most part, excellent.
Whether you prefer golfing, sailing, skiing or just lying on the beach, before indulging in world class cuisine and a ‘little glass of something’, the Costa del Sol has it all. And most of it, is right on your doorstep.
The Spanish have an affinity with nature and as such, walks in the countryside, hiking and outside living, make up a great deal of Spanish life. There are an immense amount of different clubs which you can join and make a part of your new lifestyle. If you are inclined to be less active, then shopping, dining and vineyard tours may be more to your taste.
What is the cost of living on the Costa del Sol
Before you purchase your new home, let’s take a look at the cost of living on the Costa Del Sol. Before we jump in, we have to say that everything is subjective. If you want to live like a local or continue living like you do in your home country, the costs will vary immensely. That said, they will most likely, still be considerably less expensive than what you are use to.
As a gauge, the cost of living on the Costa del Sol, is around 40% less than living in London. Living inland and just 20-30 minutes away from the coast can be a further 25% less.
FOOD
‘Menu del Dia’ is a term which you will quickly learn to recognise and use. It means, menu of the day but unlike a special of the day, it typically means a three course lunchtime menu. There are usually a choice of 6-12 starters, 6-12, main courses and perhaps half a dozen desserts options from which to pick. You will find that most are priced around 10 euros for the three courses. They offer excellent value for money and you will typically see workers enjoying lunch together. It is a much better option than a sandwich and a warm yoghurt!
The Costa del Sol is also home to many excellent high-end restaurants, some with Michelin stars.
One of the main differences you will find is the quality of the fruit and vegetables which are sold. Not only are they affordable, but as they are typically grown locally, they will be extremely fresh.
Should you crave for your favourite foods from back home, many of them are available. You will just need to be prepared to pay a lot more for them. Snowbirds and long term visitors will find that your money goes much further if you are open to try the local products.
SPORTS & ACTIVITIES
On the whole, the cost of playing sports, joining clubs etc tends to be very affordable. The Spanish are very social and club memberships tends to reflect this. Whether it be golf, tennis, shooting, paddle ball, skiing or boating, you could well be in for a pleasant surprise.
CULTURE
Museums, galleries and other cultural locations are typically well priced. Many towns and cities offer free entrance a few times each year to the government run facilities.
Dotted along the Costa del Sol are hundreds of locations in which to indulge in a little culture. The finest by far is Malaga City, but there are many others for yo to discover.
Within a couple of hours in the car, you can visit Ronda, Seville, Cadiz, Granada or Cordoba. All of these cities boast hundreds if not thousands of years of culture, architecture, churches, mosques, galleries and museums.
HEALTH
Healthcare is an important factor for many prospective property investors. The good news is that the quality of healthcare, even on a social level is very good. The bad news is that currently, some areas are short-staffed and waiting times for operations could be longer than anticipated.
Many international families pay for private healthcare which is not only affordable, but very good in most departments, The ‘co-pay’ on treatment, visits and even surgery can literally be, for pennies.
Dental care is of the highest of standards and is extremely affordable when compared to many other countries. Each year we see more and more people flying in from the U.S.A, Canada and much of Europe to get dental implants. aside from the excellent prices, you will, in most cases, be able to get an appointment without waiting months.
TRANSPORT & ACCESSIBILITY
Public transport throughout he country tends to be excellent, affordable and on time. International flights are readily available from the airports. There is an excellent high-speed rail system which can be cheaper and quicker than internal flights.
The road infrastructure between primary towns an cities is very good, although some inland and ‘off the beaten track’ roads could be poorly sign-posted. ‘Campo’ or countryside roads may even be gravel or dirt instead of tarmac. This does not make them bad, just different.
Are you intending on living on the Costa Del Sol?
Let’s take a look at what your new home could be described as.
First of all, there is a vast choice of property types available on the Costa del Sol. Welcome to the world of real estate jargon. They can have a variety of names, depending on who you are talking to and in which location.
A property can be a propiedad, a vivienda or a hogar.
A Villa can be chalets or casas or an independiente, townhouses can be adosados or casas del pueblo, casas del pueblo can be townhouses, villas or chalets.
A home in the countryside, could be a casa del campo, a casa rustica, a finca or a cortijo.
A semi-detached property would normally be a pareado but could also be an adosado or a casa del pueblo.
A cottage could be called a casa mata, if it has thick stone walls, is in a rustic style and normally within a town.
Apartments can be apartamentos or pisos, but a piso can also be a floor in a property.
A penthouse is normally a penthouse but could also be called an atico.
A duplex can be two houses which have been knocked into one or an apartment with two levels
A mansion is a mansion, but could also mean a large apartment property.
Sky Residences are a new term which typically means luxury, large apartments with views.
Real estate ‘jargon’ is just as convoluted in Spain, as it is in most other parts of the world.
JUNE 2025. Average home prices for each area:
- Malaga City = €4,017 per m2
- Torremolinos = €3,578 per m2
- Benalmadena = €3,785 per m2
- Mijas = €3,528 per m2
- La Cala de Mijas = €4,039 per m2
- Marbella = €5,162 per m2
- Nagüeles – Milla de Oro = €6,422 per m2
- La Zagaleta – El Madroñal = €7,997 m2
- Estepona = €3,800 per m2
- Alhaurin El Grande = €1,879 per m2
- Alhaurin De La Torre = €2,333 per m2
- Coin = €1,901 per m2
As you can see, the prices are wide ranging to say the least. Beachfront, golf course and exclusive areas obviously hold a large premium. If you are content with not owning a mansion on the hill, there are still some exceptional properties available which are only a short drive to the beach.
The best way to start your search for a property is to contact us. We will find you the ideal property, for your new adventure of living on the Costa Del Sol.
Where do you fancy living on the Costa Del Sol?
Below are links to the main coastal an inland areas of Andalucia. Click on the links to discover the areas and sub-locations within each municipality.
Popular Coastal Areas
Articles about the different areas
.Living in Malaga | Living in Torremolinos | Living in Benalmadena | Living in Mijas | Living in Marbella | Living in San Pedro | Living in Estepona | Living Sotogrande | Living Inland |
Where would you like to live?
Off-Plan Properties in Spain by Area
Malaga | Benalmadena | Reserva del Higueron | Fuengirola | Mijas Costa – Calahonda/Riviera | East Marbella | Marbella | Puerto Banus – Nueva Andalucia | San Pedro – New Golden Mile | Estepona -La Duquesa | Sotogrande | Guadalhorce Valley / Inland
For information about purchasing a property on the Costa Del Sol, please take a look at our buyers guide