The Costa del Sol is where many buyers start their search on the Spanish coast. Torrevieja, on the southern Costa Blanca, offers a very different price level, with a large airport within reach and an established international community.
| Area | Asking price per m² | €300,000 buys about |
|---|---|---|
| Torrevieja | €2,553 | 118 m² |
| Mijas | €3,711 | 81 m² |
| Málaga province | €4,293 | 70 m² |
| Fuengirola | €4,451 | 67 m² |
| Estepona | €4,961 | 60 m² |
| Marbella | €5,956 | 50 m² |
Torrevieja asked 57% less per square metre than Marbella, 49% less than Estepona and 31% less than Mijas. On an illustrative 90 m² home, that is €229,770 in Torrevieja against €536,040 in Marbella and €446,490 in Estepona.
Different purchase taxes
The two coasts are in different regions. On a resale home, the general transfer-tax rate is 9% in the Valencian Community and 7% in Andalucía, subject to the applicable exceptions and reduced rates. On the illustrative 90 m² resale home, assuming the price is the taxable base and no reduced rate applies, that is about €20,680 in Torrevieja against €37,520 in Marbella: the lower price more than offsets the higher rate.
What Torrevieja offers
About twice the space for the money; six Blue Flag beaches and three Blue Flag marinas; the natural park of the lagoons; residents from 123 countries; and Alicante-Elche airport about 42 km away.
What the Costa del Sol offers
Marbella’s and Estepona’s restaurants, golf and marinas, the lower Andalusian transfer-tax rate, and Málaga airport’s wider flight network, with 26.76 million passengers in 2025.
Who each place suits
The Costa del Sol suits buyers for whom the setting matters more than the price. Torrevieja suits buyers who want more space for their budget and a large international community by the sea.
Asking-price figures: idealista, August 2026. Distances: Rome2Rio, October 2026.
General information, not advice. Rules change and each case differs. Confirm your position with a Spanish lawyer or tax adviser before you commit.
