Got your heart set on a Spanish beach home but struggling to decide where to buy? Understandable, given the choice of Spanish Costas and resorts along mainland Spain’s 1,700-kilometre Mediterranean coastline. The Costa del Sol and Costa Blanca attract the lion’s share of foreign property owners but they might not suit your lifestyle or budget. Whatever your wish-list, there should be other Spanish Costas that tick all the right boxes for you.
To help you decide where to buy in Spain, we compare the five most popular Costas in 2026, based on the most recent Your Overseas Home survey. For each we include sensible budgets (rather than the lowest!) and what transfer tax (ITP) you’ll pay for a resale purchase. Some regions have dropped this tax recently, making it a little bit cheaper to buy there. Every little helps!
1. Costa del Sol
Home to Spain’s flagship international market and top of the list with Your Overseas Home readers, the Costa del Sol is a true year-round lifestyle destination. The most developed Costa with a diverse range of foreign owners, its extensive property choice includes some of the globe’s most exclusive coastal homes.
Beaches and amenities are world-class, highlights being its 70-plus golf courses – many championship standard – leisure marinas, swanky beach clubs, fine dining and vibrant nightlife. For residents there are excellent international schools, shopping and healthcare options. Average winter temperatures of 17 degrees complement the hot summers. With year-round flights, Malaga Airport is the main gateway, easily accessible via the AP-7 motorway. Gibraltar is another option. All of this helps to make property in the Costa del Sol a firm favourite with the international market.
Key resorts in the Costa del Sol
The busiest area runs west from Malaga city and includes the high-rise resorts of Torremolinos, Benalmadena and Fuengirola, then Mijas Costa and the Marbella area. The jewel in the crown is the Golden Triangle, an area covering the most expensive parts of Marbella, Benahavís and Estepona, including the Golden Mile, Puerto Banús, Nueva Andalucia and San Pedro. Beyond Estepona, the coast continues west to Manilva and the exclusive resort of Sotogrande. East of Malaga are less developed, more traditional resorts like Rincón de la Victoria and Torre del Mar and Torrox.
Property and transfer tax
For a good choice of resale property in an average resort, budget from €275,000 for two-bed apartments, from €400,000 for modern-style townhouses and from €500,000 for detached villas.
The rate of transfer tax (ITP) on your Costa del Sol purchase, set by the Andalusian regional government, is 7% and one of mainland’s Spain’s lowest.
2. Costa Blanca
Jostling with the Costa del Sol to be the foreigner-friendly Spanish Costa, homes in the Costa Blanca are particularly popular with UK buyers. Located on Spain’s eastern coast and enjoying a balmy Mediterranean climate, it lacks the glitzy edge found in parts of the Costa del Sol. But this means property and living costs are generally more affordable.
The most developed areas are located south of Alicante, in Orihuela Costa and around Torrevieja. Here the numerous urbanisations are popular for their easy access to the beach, lively promenade and English-speaking amenities.
North of Alicante, where the scenery is greener and mountainous, resorts have more scenic locations with a more traditional feel. Centrally located, Alicante Airport has the best choice of year-round flights. Other airport options are Murcia International in the south and Valencia in the north. All in all, the Costa Blanca is a major Spanish destination.
Key resorts in the Costa Blanca
South of Alicante, expat residential areas include Quesada, Benijofar and Rojales. Orihuela Costa begins after Torrevieja and urbanisations there include Punta Prima, Cabo Roig, La Zenia, Playa Flamenca and Villamartin.
Calpe, Benidorm and Denia are the main hubs north of Alicante, each with large beach areas, an old town, newer more tourist districts and a fishing port and marina. Smaller resorts include Moraira, Javea, Benissa, Altea and Villajoyosa.
Property and transfer tax
Around Torrevieja and Orihuela Costa, for a good choice of resale property, budget from €130,000 for two-bed apartments, from €180,000 for modern-style townhouses/small bungalows and from €300,000 for detached villas. As a ballpark, add another 10% on top of these for resorts north of Alicante.
Wait till June 2026 and you’ll pay less transfer tax (ITP) on your Costa Blanca purchase. That’s when the Valencian regional government’s cut to 9% from the current 10% kicks in.
3. Costa Calida
Rising through the ranks and now third in popularity with our readers is the Costa Calida in Murcia. Still largely agricultural, it used to be overlooked in favour of its established neighbour the Costa Blanca. Things have changed in recent years, as more foreign buyers discover how much further their money goes across the regional border. Detached villas, including new builds, represent especially good value in the Costa Calida, thanks to land prices being lower.
A highlight is the Mar Menor, Europe’s largest saltwater lagoon, and the resorts around it. Less developed and more Spanish, they are calmer out of season than Orihuela Costa, just 15-20 minutes up the road. The beaches are broad and longer too, with long promenades and generally more space for everyone during the summer months.
Murcia International Airport is conveniently local, otherwise Alicante Airport is much further up the coast.
Key resorts in Costa Calida
The main resorts along the Mar Menor are Los Alcazares, San Pedro del Pinatar and Santiago de la Ribera, with La Manga on the lagoon’s spit. Nearby is the internationally acclaimed golf and leisure resort La Manga Club, with its high-end homes. The area is equally known for its affordable golf resorts, including the Polaris-built Mar Menor, Terrazas de la Torre and Hacienda Riquelme.
Further down the Costa Calida, other beach resorts attracting foreign buyers include Puerto de Mazarron and Isla Plana.
Property and transfer tax
For a good choice of resale property, budget from €120,000 for two-bed apartments within walking distance of the beach, or €160,000 for modern-style townhouses/small bungalows and €275,000 for villas.
Murcia’s transfer tax (ITP) rate on a resale purchase is 7.75%, reduced from 8% just last year.
4. Costa de Almeria
Considered ‘Spain’s sunniest spot’ due to almost 3,000 hours of annual sunshine, Almeria’s sun-baked coastline and rugged interior are largely undeveloped. Greenhouses are a common site along its coastline. Its claim to fame is being home to Europe’s only true desert at Tabernas, used as a film location for classic Spaghetti Westerns. Another highlight is the protected Cabo de Gata-Nijar natural park.
Today, the Costa de Almeria, located in the eastern corner of Andalusia, is fourth in the Your Overseas Home’s top five requested Spanish Costas. Cheaper than its Costa del Sol neighbour, its friendly resorts, accessible beach complexes and exciting scenery are attracting value-hunting foreign-buyers. Access isn’t as good as other Costas – Almeria Airport being the main gateway, with Murcia or Malaga airports alternatives depending on location.
Key resorts in the Costa de Almeria
Mojacar is the best-known destination. It’s split between Mojacar Pueblo, a picturesque old white town on a hill, and Mojacar Playa, a modern beachfront area with apartment complexes. Other notable resorts in the north include San Juan de los Terreros, Vera Playa and Garrucha, and Roquetas de Mar and Almerimar in the south.
Property and transfer tax
For a good choice of resale property, budget from €150,000 for two-bed apartments, from €225,000 for modern-style townhouses/small bungalows and from €280,000 for detached villas.
The rate of transfer tax (ITP) on your Costa Almeria purchase, set by the Andalusian regional government, is 7%, making it one of mainland’s Spain’s lowest.
5. Costa Brava
With its distinct Catalan identity and greener, more rugged scenery, the Costa Brava is a culturally rich corner of north-east Spain that appeals to a diverse range of foreigners. It’s the fifth most sought-after Spanish Costa with our readers. The climate is more seasonal compared to other Costas, thanks to its more northerly location and proximity to the Pyrenees. Resorts tend to be much quieter outside of summer months, which appeals to some expats!
What the Costa Brava lacks in year-round warmth, it more than makes up for in stunning natural scenery, local culture and gastronomy. Typical resorts grew out of centuries old fishing villages set around scenic bays set amongst pine-clad cliffs. Today their preserved historic centres sit harmoniously alongside newer tourist areas.
Creative types and foodies have been inspired by the Costa Brava for centuries. Its most famous native was the surreal artist Salvador Dali, said to have been inspired by the wild seascape – as were Picasso and Miro who spent time there. Another local boy is ground-breaking chef Ferran Adria, creator of the famous El Bulli restaurant, who put Catalonia on the international gastronomic map. Barcelona Airport is the main gateway to the Costa Brava but Girona Airport has a limited choice of flights too.
Key resorts in the Costa Brava
In the northernmost part, popular spots for property in the Costa Brava include Roses, Empuriabrava, L’Escala and L’Estartit. Heading south is the stunning area of pretty bays beneath pine-clad cliffs, centred around Llafranc and Calella de Palafrugell and old stone towns of Pals and Begur. South from there are the larger resorts of Palamos, Sant Antoni de Calonge, Platja d’Aro S’Agaro, Sant Feliu de Guixols, then Tossa de Mar and well-known Lloret de Mar.
Property and transfer tax
For a good choice of resale property in an average resort, budget from €160,000 for two-bedroom apartments, from €275,000 for modern-style townhouses and from €375,000 for detached villas.
The rate of transfer tax (ITP) on your Costa Brava purchase, set by the Catalonian regional government, is 10% for on a property’s value up to €600,000. For properties worth over that, progressive rates are charged at 11% (€600,001-€900,000), 12% (€900,001-€1.5m) and 13% (upwards of €1.5m).
Need help planning your relocation or property purchase? Speak to one of our local property consultants today to get started.
