Top places to live as an expat on Spain’s Costa del Sol.
The Costa del Sol is where many expats want to be. The question is: where do you want to live on the Costa del Sol? There are so many option depending on what you are looking for and how much you want to pay. Do you want to be directly on the coast? Do want to be near a marina or a golf course? Are you looking for a trendy, happening place or do you want to settle in a quiet town away from the bustle?
We cover some options below.
TOP PLACES TO LIVE ON THE COSTA DEL SOL
Malaga
Home to the region’s main airport, Malaga offers big city living at an affordable price with excellent high-speed rail links to the rest of Spain. Over the past decade, Malaga has received a Cinderella-like makeover that has seen the introduction of a pedestrian-only city centre and a revamped harbour area full of museums and trendy boutiques.
While it’s the biggest city on the Costa del Sol, in reality Malaga is a mid-sized city with a population of about 600,000. Malaga has a very pleasant and – in parts – very impressive city center that will remind you of the city centers of other Andalusian cities. There are lots of squares with historic buildings and tiled promenades lined with palm trees. You can spend a day walking the streets, having drinks and tapas, or walking Calle Larios – the main shopping street. It is a cosmopolitan city and you’ll see different cuisine catering to both locals and a healthy population of foreigners.
Malaga is also a cultural city with many museums – the Pompidou Cente for art, the Picasso Museum (Picasso is one of the most famous people born in Malaga), the Carmen Thyssen Museum for Spanish/Andalusian art, the Museum of Málaga (an archeological and historical museum), and the Automobile and Fashion Museum (a very popular museum). There are many other smaller museums.
Who is Malaga for? It’s for those who like a mix of city and beach. If you like a happening place that’s still Spanish at heart, then Malaga might be for you. It’s also a great base for those who like to travel: the airport serves a lot of international destinations and the rail and bus links take you anywhere you want to be fast.
Related: What`s it like living in the city of Malaga?
.
Torremolinos
Heading west from Malaga you come to the seaside resort of Torremolinos and its seven-kilometre long beach full of high-rise hotels and apartment buildings. With its close proximity to the airport (10 mins), Torremolinos is a popular destination for the package holiday crowd. But it is also a popular place among expats who want proximity to Malaga city which is only 20 minutes away on the coastal commuter train.
Torremolinos has a lot of action between the tourists and the expats who make this home. It’s not a boring place and you have access to some great beaches lined with bars. If that’s your scene, you might love Torremolinos.
Related: What’s it like living in Torremolinos?
Benalmádena
Benalmádena is made up of 3 parts: ¨central¨Benalmádena is called Arroyo de la Miel and is a mostly modern village with lots of bars, restaurants and shops. It’s a happening place and is popular among both expats and tourists (tourists come for the marina, Selwo Marina, Parque de la Paloma and a cable car that takes you up Calamorro Mountain). Down from Arroyo de la Miel is Benalmádena Costa where you’ll find a main road lined by hotels, beaches and a long promenade where you can walk the coast. Finally, Benalmádena Pueblo is about 10 km inland in the foothills of the mountains. It is the original old town of Benalmádena and still feels very Spanish despite the many expats who call it home.
Of the above, Arroyo de la Miel is what many expats call home. It is conveniently located a 30 minute train ride from the center of Malaga.
Related: What’s it like living in Benalmadena?
Fuengirola
Being just 35 minutes from Malaga Airport (or 45 minutes from Malaga city center by train), the coastal town of Fuengirola is very popular with second homeowners who enjoy the broad sandy beach, seafront restaurants and a lively nightlife scene. Compared to Torremolinos and Benalmádena, Fuengirola feels more ¨Spanish¨. Fuengirola is compact, full of tall buildings (5 to 10 stories), narrow streets and plazas with palm trees. Coming out of Fuengirola train station, you feel like you’ve stepped into the heart of a city. The streets are busy with pedestrians, there’s traffic and buses…it doesn’t feel like your typical beach town. Then you hit the beachside promenade (the Paseo Maritimo) – a beautiful walkway that stretches along the coastline with access to wide, beautiful beaches.
More: Impressions of Fuengirola
Mijas Pueblo
Away from the coast perched up in the mountains 430 metres above the sea is the picturesque & white-washed village of Mijas Pueblo (and the nearby town of Alhaurín el Grande). There’s lot of golf courses in this area for those who like it and the town retains its authenticity while also feeling international with it’s mix of both foreigners and locals.
You’ll want a car if you live here, but for those Mijas is the perfect mix of little mountain town and coast (which is just a 15 minute drive away).
Related: Why live in Mijas? And on Real Estate on the Costa del Sol
Marbella
Historically Spain’s most upmarket and fashionable place to live since being discovered by the jet-set back in the 60s, Marbella and the glitzy Puerto Banús Marina boast top designer shopping and celebrity chef restaurants that cater to an exclusive clientele. Property prices compared to other parts of the Costa del Sol tend to be on the high-end with frontline penthouses and villas selling for millions of euros. Being just 40 minutes by taxi from Malaga airport to Marbella, it’s within easy reach of the airport for frequent flyers.
But don’t be put off by the jet-set that synonymous with the name Marbella. The city of Marbella itself is different than the glitzy suburbs to the west and you’ll find a lot of local neighbourhoods where you can still find a menu del dia for 12 Euros. Here the cost of living is no different to other places on the Costa Del Sol.
Related: The Best of Marbella and around
Estepona
An increasingly popular place for expats looking to settle on the Costa del Sol, Estepona has a very laid back vibe, a pretty old town full of flower pots, and some of the most beautiful beaches in the region. If you like nature, the promenade is long and wide and stretches forever making it a perfect place for walking and jogging.
Related: What’s it like living in Estepona?
Torre del Mar
Heading east out of Malaga you come across the town of Torre del Mar. It is a vibrant coastal town with a four-kilometer beach and promenade lined by high-rises. It is the largest town of Axarquia (a region stretching from Rincon de la Victoria to Maro). Unlike other places East of Malaga, it is still inhabited by a majority Spanish population. It is however getting increasingly popular as a retirement spot for foreigners.
If you like beaches and outdoor activities then you might like Torre del Mar. It is 45 minutes from Malaga (by bus) and for now you can still find better prices here than in other places such as Nerja.
Nerja
Nerja has gotten extremely popular with expats in recent years. It´s a pretty town with many beaches lining the various coves along the coastline. Nerja has lots of bars and restaurants which get very busy in the summer (Nerja gets a lot of foreign tourists). Behind the town lie the mountains of the Sierras de Tejeda, Almijara and Alhama Natural Park which is full of great hiking trails.
More: What’s it like living in Nerja? The Pros and the Cons
Quality of life in Spain
When it comes to quality of life, Spain tops the charts in just about every category that relates to health comfort and happiness with its endless sunshine, blue-flag beaches and a laid-back people that work to live rather than live to work. Spain is also a country that puts family before all else, where the elderly are given the respect they deserve. Spain’s healthcare system is ranked the 8th best in the world 22 places ahead of the UK who finished 30th in the Healthcare Access and Quality Index.
.
Cost of Living
Compared to the rest of Europe the cost of living in Spain is relatively cheap so long as you take Madrid, Barcelona and San Sebastian out of the equation where accommodation is nearly double the price of Malaga. Popping out for a morning coffee, juice and a little breakfast will cost you 2.50- 3€ while a three-course menu del dia including beer or wine can be had for around 9€! Spain does, however, have high electricity tariffs but given the mild winters and the months where you need no heating or cooling it still works out to be a lot less than you would pay in other parts of Europe.
MAPPING SPAIN: Our new blog dedicated solely to Spain covers many more destinations in Spain including on the Costa del Sol, places like Manilva, Rincon de la Victoria, Torrox and Frigiliana.
Hi Barry, I would suggest that you take a look around Nerja a Sppanish town which has everything you might need and has a thriving community. Its ideally located within an hours reach of both the wonderful cities of Malaga and Granada. Rentals in winter in Nerja vary from €500-€800 depending on what type of accommodation you are looking for. Nearby is Frigiliana, a traditional Spanish village located further inland but only 15 mins away from the coast, supermarkets, motorway etc. So if you love the ideal of living in a Spanish community yet still within easy reach of busier towns etc, Frigiliana might be the place for you!
Thanks for the input Joan. I know Nicola will reply to a few of these questions (she knows this region more than I do) but I love getting input from others. We’re actually looking to settle somewhere in Spain over the next few years as well.
Thanks for your comment Amin. I suppose the answer to your question all depends on personal preference really. You may prefer to live near the hub of the city or you may prefer the quieter rural type of area. Some want to live right next to the coast and others are happy further inland. I would advise to begin considering carefully what you really want. The great thing about Spain is you can have the choice of both. I have found some articles that may be of use to you: https://familylifeinspain.com/2014/06/living-in-benalmadena-v-alhaurin-de-la-torre/ and https://movetomalagaspain.com/fuengirola-un-sol-de-ciudad/
Both of these websites also provide specific information regarding moving to Spain and the buying process here in Spain.