LUCKY SOL Blog · Costa del Sol
Where to buy an apartment on the Costa del Sol
Lucie and RadekLUCKY SOL, real estate agency on the Costa del Sol
Marbella, Estepona, Benahavís or Sotogrande? The character of each Costa del Sol town, 2026 asking prices per m² and who each place suits best.
When someone first writes to us saying they would like an apartment or a villa on the Costa del Sol, the next question is never far behind. But where exactly? The coastline stretches for more than 150 kilometres, from the small town of Nerja in the east to Sotogrande in the west, and every place along it has a rhythm of its own. A few kilometres can change what your mornings look like, how much you pay per square metre and how far you are from the airport.
We spend most of our own time in Estepona and nearby Marbella. In the years we have lived here, we have learnt that there is no single best place for everyone. There is only the place that suits you best, and we are happy to help you find it. So let's take a walk along the coast, town by town.
The Costa del Sol towns at a glance
- Marbella is the largest and best-known city on the western part of the coast. It is lively all year round, with restaurants, shops, a hospital and international schools. Average asking prices are the highest here.
- Estepona is quieter than Marbella. It has a genuinely Spanish town centre full of flowerpots and a long coastal path.
- Benahavís, in the hills behind Marbella and Estepona, is the place for golf, villas and privacy. Its average asking prices are the second highest after Marbella.
- Casares, Manilva and Sotogrande in the west offer peace and quiet, marinas and golf.
- Torremolinos, Benalmádena and Fuengirola are closest to the airport and are served by the commuter train. They are the most densely built-up towns on the coast, and classic beach tourism dominates. In the hills above them sits the white village of Mijas.
- Málaga is a big city with a rich cultural life and everything that goes with it.
First we ask how you want to live
Before we open the first listing together, we sit down with a few questions. Will you spend mostly the winter here, or the summer? Are you coming for two weeks, or for half the year? Do you want to walk everywhere and have a café round the corner, or wake up to silence with views of the mountains and the sea? Do you play golf? Will your children go to school here? And how often will you fly home?
Your answers usually show us quickly which way to go. People who want to live in a town all year, with everything close at hand, often settle in Marbella or Estepona. Those looking for golf and privacy turn to the hills of Benahavís or to Sotogrande. And anyone who wants to get from the airport to the beach as quickly as possible tends to look at the stretch between Málaga and Fuengirola. Price only comes after that, because you will find both pricier and more affordable properties in every town.
Marbella, a cosmopolitan city alive all year round
With almost 160,000 inhabitants, Marbella is the largest and best-known city on this part of the coast. It has a historic old town with white lanes around the Plaza de los Naranjos, the Golden Mile with its hotels and beach clubs, the Puerto Banús marina and, to the west, San Pedro Alcántara, where life feels more Spanish. Behind Puerto Banús the Golf Valley climbs into the hills, and east of the centre a quieter coastline with long beaches stretches away.
Apart from the area around Puerto Banús, buyers are most interested in the New Golden Mile, the stretch of coast between Marbella and Estepona with its seafront promenade. Of the residential areas, Sierra Blanca and Nueva Andalucía are some of the most sought after.
Marbella never sleeps. Restaurants and shops stay open all year, and cultural and sporting events carry on out of season too. There is a large public hospital serving most of the western coast, as well as private clinics and several international schools.
Average asking prices are the highest here, but so is the choice. You will find apartments in the centre a short walk from the beach, new builds in the Golf Valley and villas with sea views. Marbella suits people who want to live in a town, have everything within reach and enjoy a bit of life going on around them.
Estepona, the garden of the Costa del Sol
Estepona is our town, so we love talking about it, perhaps with a little bias. Almost 80,000 people live here, many of them local Spaniards who were born and grew up here. The old town is a maze of white lanes, and thousands of flowerpots, looked after by the town hall, hang on the walls of the houses. That is why Estepona is called the garden of the Costa del Sol. Each street has flowerpots of a different colour, so you can easily tell where you are. A wide palm-lined promenade runs along the town's beaches and leads on to the Senda Litoral coastal path. In Estepona it is about 23 kilometres long, and one day it is meant to link the whole coast from Manilva all the way to Nerja. On our morning walks with the dog, we bump into our neighbours along it.
“Estepona doesn't try to be something it isn't. It's quieter, but it has absolutely everything. You get up in the morning, step out onto the terrace with nature and calm all around you, and a few minutes later you're sitting in a restaurant or strolling along the promenade.”
Lucie
Estepona has grown a great deal over the last few years. Most of the new building is now in Las Mesas, on the New Golden Mile and in the western part of town. Estepona suits families, people who want to spend the winter here and anyone who longs for peace and quiet without being cut off from the world.
Benahavís, a golfing paradise in the hills
Benahavís is a small municipality in the hills behind Marbella and Estepona. Just under ten thousand people live here, and according to the Spanish tax agency it has the highest average gross income per tax return in the whole of Andalusia. Most of its land is made up of mountains, valleys and golf courses, which is why Benahavís is known as a golfing paradise. The village itself is picturesque and has an incredible number of restaurants for its size. People come from all along the coast for the food.
People who buy here are mainly looking for privacy and views. You will find villas on large plots, apartments with views over the golf courses to the sea, and quiet residential areas. Average asking prices are the second highest after Marbella. From most places the sea is a short drive away, and you will need a car for almost everything. Benahavís suits golfers, people looking for a villa and anyone who would rather have silence than a promenade on their doorstep.
Casares, Manilva and Sotogrande, the quieter west
Beyond Estepona the coast becomes calmer, and each of the places that follow has a distinct character. Casares is one of the prettiest white villages in Andalusia, clinging to a rock high above the countryside, and down by the sea it has a strip of coast where everything revolves around golf. This is where you will find one of the best-known courses on the coast, Finca Cortesín, which hosted the prestigious Solheim Cup in 2023, the first time the tournament was played in Spain.
When people talk about Manilva, they usually mean its coastline around the Puerto de la Duquesa marina. Manilva itself lies up in the hills. Down by the sea it is a smaller, pleasant town where you have everything to hand, a marina lined with restaurants and lower prices than in Estepona. For the same budget you can often get more square metres or a bigger terrace. The hills above Manilva are also wine country. Muscat grapes have been grown here since the 16th century, and at the beginning of September the town celebrates its grape harvest festival, the Fiesta de la Vendimia, when grapes are trodden and the first grape must of the year is tasted.
Sotogrande is already in the neighbouring province of Cádiz and belongs to the municipality of San Roque. It is very international, with many foreign residents, including a good number of Americans. It is known for its beautiful marina, polo and golf courses, which have even hosted the famous Ryder Cup. Yet it remains a quiet place for those who have no need to be seen.
The whole of the west appeals to people who want more space and tranquillity, plan to spend longer periods here, play golf or go out on a boat, and don't mind a slightly longer journey to Marbella and the airport.
Mijas, Fuengirola, Benalmádena and Torremolinos, close to the airport
Between Málaga and Marbella lies the stretch most people know from their holidays. Torremolinos, Benalmádena and Fuengirola are the most densely built-up parts of the coast. Hotels and tall apartment blocks line the seafront, and classic beach tourism dominates. Their big advantage is transport. Torremolinos is right next to the airport. The commuter train runs from Málaga via the airport, Torremolinos and Benalmádena all the way to Fuengirola, so you don't necessarily need a car here.
Tucked away in the hills above Fuengirola is the white village of Mijas, with views of the sea. The municipality also includes the quieter coastline around La Cala de Mijas, with its golf courses. This stretch suits people who want to get from the airport to the sea quickly, would rather not drive and enjoy the buzz of a busy resort.
Málaga and the eastern coast
Málaga has almost 600,000 inhabitants and is a big city with everything that goes with it. It has a university, theatres, the Picasso Museum, a high-speed train to Madrid and an airport just a short distance from the centre. If you want city life with the sea on your doorstep, this is where you will find both.
East of Málaga the coast continues through the quieter Axarquía region to the small town of Nerja, where the Costa del Sol begins.
Apartment or villa
The type of property often points you towards the location too. You will find apartments with terraces all along the coast, from town centres to golf resorts. Villas are mainly in the hills of Benahavís, above Marbella and Estepona, in Casares and in Sotogrande. If you want the sea in view and to walk everywhere, an apartment near the beach or the town centre is usually the better choice. If you long for a garden and privacy, you will be looking for a villa higher up.
There is one more decision waiting for you. You can buy a property in a developer project, either under construction or completed, or a resale apartment or villa. Each route has its advantages, and we look at how to choose between them in another article in this series. If you want to rent the property out while you are away, we will check the rules with you before you buy. They vary from one municipality to another and from one building to the next, so we cover them separately.
How we choose the right place together
Based on your answers, we will suggest which towns are worth seeing and plan a route so you can explore them at a relaxed pace over a few days. Once you are here, we will also tell you what you won't read in a listing, such as where life is pleasant in winter, where you can walk to the beach or where it gets busy in summer. Every place is worth seeing in the morning and in the evening, on a weekday and at the weekend and, if possible, outside the summer season.
Real estate agencies here share their properties with each other, so you don't have to go from one agency to the next. We will show you what is on offer along the whole coast. During viewings we also look at the things you can't see in the photos, such as which way the property faces, noise, its condition and any construction planned nearby.
The Costa del Sol towns in figures
| Municipality | Average asking price | Annual change | Population (1 Jan 2025) | Price source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marbella | €5,967/m² | +3.2% | 159,786 | idealista, September 2026 |
| Benahavís | €5,602/m² | +6.5% | 9,472 | idealista, September 2026 |
| Estepona | €5,021/m² | +17.1% | 79,621 | idealista, September 2026 |
| Fuengirola | €4,452/m² | +1.1% | 85,211 | idealista, September 2026 |
| Torremolinos | €4,199/m² | +7.1% | 71,329 | idealista, September 2026 |
| Benalmádena | €4,188/m² | +5.1% | 78,338 | idealista, September 2026 |
| Málaga (city) | €3,938/m² | +5.1% | 599,063 | idealista, August 2026 |
| Mijas | €3,717/m² | +8.5% | 95,104 | idealista, September 2026 |
| Casares | €3,197/m² | not available | 9,009 | idealista, August 2026 |
| Manilva | €3,043/m² | +11.3% | 18,165 | idealista, September 2026 |
These are average asking prices according to the idealista property portal. Population figures come from the Spanish National Statistics Institute (INE). We were unable to find a current price per m² for Sotogrande.
| Indicator | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Length of coastline from Nerja to Sotogrande | over 150 km | Wikipedia, Wikivoyage |
| Málaga airport to Marbella | about 50 to 60 km, 45 minutes to an hour by car | My Little World of Travelling |
| Málaga airport to Estepona | about 80 km, around an hour by car | Visit Southern Spain |
| Sotogrande to Gibraltar | about 25 km | Wikipedia |
| C-1 commuter train route | Málaga, airport, Torremolinos, Benalmádena, Fuengirola | Cercanías Málaga |
Figures correct as of 20 October 2026.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the best place to buy an apartment on the Costa del Sol?
It depends on how you want to live here. For town life all year round, Marbella or Estepona are usually the best fit. For golf and privacy, look at Benahavís or Sotogrande, for peace and more space Casares and Manilva, and for being close to the airport the stretch between Málaga and Fuengirola.
Is Marbella or Estepona better?
That depends on what you are looking for. Marbella is bigger, busier and more cosmopolitan, and its average asking price in September 2026 was €5,967/m². Estepona is quieter, with an average asking price of €5,021/m², up 17.1% over the past year, the biggest rise of all the towns we track. That alone shows how much demand there is for Estepona. The two towns are twenty to thirty minutes apart by car.
Where are property prices lower on the Costa del Sol?
Of the towns we track west of Málaga, the lowest asking prices in September 2026 were in Manilva (€3,043/m²) and Casares (€3,197/m², August figure), followed by Mijas (€3,717/m²). Prices do, however, depend a great deal on the exact location, the views and the age of the building.
Where can I buy a villa on the Costa del Sol?
Most villas are in the hills, especially in Benahavís, above Marbella and Estepona, in Casares and in Sotogrande.
Which part of the Costa del Sol is closest to the airport?
Torremolinos is right next to Málaga airport, and Benalmádena, Fuengirola and Málaga itself are also close by. From the airport it takes 45 minutes to an hour by car to reach Marbella and around an hour to reach Estepona.
Is Sotogrande part of the Costa del Sol?
We count it as part of the Costa del Sol. Sotogrande lies just past Manilva, already in the province of Cádiz, and belongs to the municipality of San Roque. Gibraltar is about 25 kilometres away.
Which Costa del Sol towns are lively all year round?
Mainly the larger towns, namely Málaga, Marbella, Estepona, Fuengirola, Mijas, Benalmádena and Torremolinos. Smaller resorts and golf developments tend to be quieter out of season, which suits many people.
How do I choose a town if I have never been to the Costa del Sol?
You don't have to decide on your own, and it is something we often help clients with. First we have a call, and based on how you want to live here, we recommend two or three towns worth seeing. Then come over for a few days, ideally outside the high season. We plan the viewings so that they follow on from one another, both in timing and in location.
Want to know more?
Torn between Marbella, Estepona or somewhere else on the coast? Write to us and we will arrange a short call. Based on what you have in mind, we will recommend the towns that will suit you best and will be happy to show them to you in person.
Lucie and Radek Špreňar
We run LUCKY SOL, a family real estate agency. We have lived on the Costa del Sol all year round since the end of 2018 and help Czechs and Slovaks buy their second home by the sea. We are always on the buyers' side.
Updated 20 October 2026
Sources
- Área Costa del Sol, 4 October 2026: prices per m² by municipality, idealista data for September 2026 (Casares for August 2026). https://www.areacostadelsol.com/costa-del-sol/comprar-vivienda-costa-sol-costar-euros-mas-metro-cuadrado-municipio/
- idealista, 9 September 2026: price in Málaga in August 2026 €3,938/m², +5.1% year on year. https://www.idealista.com/news/inmobiliario/vivienda/2026/09/09/913327-el-precio-de-la-vivienda-en-malaga-alcanza-maximos-ya-cuesta-3-938-euros-m2-en
- elDiario.es / Andalucía Informa, based on Hacienda data: Benahavís has the highest average gross income per tax return (renta media bruta) in Andalusia, €43,159. https://andaluciainforma.eldiario.es/?p=19480
- Wikipedia: 2023 Solheim Cup, Finca Cortesín, Casares, the first Solheim Cup held in Spain. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2023_Solheim_Cup
- The Olive Press: Manilva, Muscat grapes grown since the 16th century, grape harvest festival. https://theolivepress.es/spain-news/2015/03/08/raisins-for-celebrating-manilvas-wine-making-tradition
- Festivales de España: Fiesta de la Vendimia de Manilva (first weekend of September, grape treading, first must). https://www.festivalesdeespana.com/festival/fiesta-vendimia-manilva
- Fotocasa, Nerja price index (September 2026 €3,980/m², +14.0% year on year). https://www.fotocasa.es/es/indice-precio-vivienda/nerja/todas-las-zonas
- INE, population of the municipalities of the province of Málaga as of 1 January 2025 (table 2882). https://servicios.ine.es/wstempus/js/ES/DATOS_TABLA/2882?nult=1&tip=A
- Colegio de Registradores, Anuario ERI 2025 (average sale price in the province of Málaga). https://www.registradores.org/documents/33383/148210/ERI+Anuario+2025.pdf/f15ee835-3246-6132-11d0-6495dfeee415
- Wikipedia: Cercanías Málaga, line C-1 Málaga, airport, Torremolinos, Benalmádena, Fuengirola. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cercan%C3%ADas_M%C3%A1laga
- Wikivoyage (de) and Wikipedia: extent of the Costa del Sol, about 150 to 160 km. https://de.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Costa_del_Sol ; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Costa_del_Sol
- My Little World of Travelling: Málaga airport to Marbella 51 km via the AP-7 (35 to 40 min) or 62 km via the A-7, 45 minutes to an hour in total. https://mylittleworldoftravelling.com/how-to-get-from-malaga-to-marbella/
- Visit Southern Spain: Málaga airport to Estepona about 80 km, 55 minutes to an hour via the AP-7. https://visitsouthernspain.com/malaga-airport-to-estepona/
- Wikipedia: Sotogrande, municipality of San Roque, province of Cádiz, about 25 km from Gibraltar. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sotogrande
- Ayuntamiento de Estepona: the Estepona, Jardín de la Costa del Sol project (thousands of flowerpots in the town centre). https://ayuntamiento.estepona.es/noticia/13803-el-ayuntamiento-refuerza-el-proyecto-estepona-jardin-de-la-costa-del-sol-para-superar-las-20-000-macetas-en-el-centro
Authors: Lucie and Radek
