Monthly budgets by household
The figures below assume a comfortable but not lavish lifestyle in a town with average costs, such as Fuengirola, Benalmádena or Mijas Costa. They are indicative, as of 2026.
| Household | Housing | Indicative per month |
|---|---|---|
| Single person | Renting | €1,600 – 2,200 |
| Couple | Renting | €2,200 – 3,000 |
| Couple | Owner-occupier | €1,300 – 1,800 |
| Retired couple | Owner-occupier | €1,400 – 2,000 |
| Family of four, international school | Renting | €3,500 – 5,000 |
The gap between renting and owning is large: a couple who own their home spend, indicatively, €900 to €1,200 a month less. For many international residents, that is the reason to buy. Buying does involve one-off costs; see costs.
Housing: the largest and fastest-rising item
Málaga province is one of the most expensive rental markets in Spain, behind Madrid, the Balearic Islands and Barcelona. According to standard property indices, average rent was around €16.6 per m² per month, or roughly €1,660 for 100 m². In several coastal towns, including Nerja, Fuengirola, Estepona and Rincón de la Victoria, rents rose by double digits over the past year.
Indicative monthly rent for a two-bedroom flat (c. 75–90 m²):
- Torremolinos: €900 – 1,300
- Fuengirola, Benalmádena and Mijas Costa: €1,100 – 1,600
- Estepona: €1,300 – 1,900
- Marbella: €1,500 to well over €2,500
Torremolinos and the eastern coast are among the most affordable places; Marbella and Estepona among the most expensive. Within Marbella, San Pedro Alcántara is more affordable than the centre.
Running costs and day-to-day spending
For a couple in a medium-sized flat, utilities come to roughly €150 to €270 a month: electricity €70 – 130 (more in summer because of air conditioning), water €25 – 40, gas or butane €15 – 30, and fibre broadband plus mobile €40 – 70. As an owner you also pay community fees, usually €50 – 150 a month and more in developments with a pool, gardens or a concierge, plus the annual IBI (municipal property tax).
- Groceries: single person €250 – 400, couple €400 – 600, family €600 – 900 a month. Municipal markets often make fresh fruit, vegetables and fish cheaper still.
- Eating out: coffee with toast €2.50 – 4, a small beer €2 – 3.50, set lunch menu €12 – 18, dinner for two €50 – 80. Prices are higher in marinas and on Marbella's seafront.
- Leisure: cinema €8 – 10, gym €30 – 60 a month.
- Transport: petrol around €1.45 – 1.60 a litre, city bus €1.40 – 1.80, the commuter train between Málaga and Fuengirola €2 – 3 per journey or about €40 a month. In Fuengirola, Benalmádena and Torremolinos you can manage without a car; in Mijas Costa, Marbella and Estepona one is usually needed.
Healthcare and schools
If you work in Spain and pay social security contributions, you and your family have access to public healthcare. UK state pensioners can apply for an S1 form to use the Spanish public system. Private health insurance costs, indicatively, €50 to €200 per person per month depending on age and cover. For non-EU applicants for a non-lucrative visa, comprehensive private cover is a requirement.
State schools are free and teach in Spanish, with a growing bilingual offer. Publicly subsidised private schools (concertada) cost about €100 to €400 a month. There are more than twenty international schools along the coast, with indicative fees of €500 to €1,200 a month (around €6,000 to €14,000 a year). For families, the school often determines both the budget and where to live.
Compared with Northern Europe
Overall, living on the Costa del Sol is cheaper than in the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany or the UK. The difference lies mainly in eating out, fresh food, services and labour (from hairdressers to renovations) and lower heating costs in winter. For rents in the most popular towns, the gap has narrowed.
Anyone planning to live here and keep housing costs under control soon looks at buying. What a given budget buys in each town is covered in what €300,000 buys; for the steps as a foreign buyer, see buying as a foreigner.
CostaVista guides you in choosing a town that suits your budget and lifestyle and takes care of the purchase process together with our local partners. Contact us to discuss your situation.
General information, as of October 2026. This is not legal, tax or financial advice; for your own situation, consult an independent specialist.