Why You Need Real Numbers Before You Buy
Everyone talks about the sunshine. Nobody talks about the electricity bill in August when you're running air conditioning 14 hours a day. Or the fact that a cappuccino costs €1.80 in Estepona but €3.50 on Marbella's Golden Mile.
This guide gives you the actual numbers — what a couple, a family, and a single person spend per month on the Costa del Sol in 2026. No glossy lifestyle marketing. Just the kind of breakdown you'd want from a friend who already lives here.
Housing Costs — Rent vs Own
If you're renting long-term (12-month contract), expect:
Estepona: 2-bed apartment €900–€1,300/month. 3-bed townhouse €1,200–€1,800/month.
Marbella: 2-bed apartment €1,200–€1,800/month. 3-bed townhouse €1,600–€2,500/month.
Nueva Andalucía: 2-bed apartment €1,000–€1,500/month.
If you own, your monthly housing costs look different:
Community fees: €80–€350/month depending on urbanisation. Pools, gardens, and lifts push fees higher.
IBI (property tax): €400–€1,800/year depending on town and cadastral value.
Basura (waste tax): €70–€150/year.
Home insurance: €200–€500/year for a standard apartment.
Utilities — Electricity, Water, Internet
Electricity: €80–€180/month. Summer A/C is the big variable — a well-insulated apartment uses less. Winter heating is minimal (gas or electric radiators, €30–€50/month Nov–Feb).
Water: €25–€40/month for a household of two.
Internet + mobile: €45–€70/month for fibre broadband + two mobile lines (Movistar, Orange, or Digi for budget). Digi offers 300 Mbps fibre + mobile from €35/month.
Total utilities: €150–€290/month for a couple.
Food & Groceries
A weekly shop for two at Mercadona or Lidl runs €60–€90. Add Aldi for even cheaper basics. If you want Swedish or Dutch products, Scandinavian shops in Marbella and Estepona stock them — at a 30–50% markup.
Weekly grocery shop (couple): €60–€90
Dining out (menu del día): €10–€14 per person including drink
Coffee: €1.20–€1.80 (local bar) / €2.50–€3.50 (tourist area)
Beer (caña): €1.50–€2.50
Monthly food budget (couple, cooking at home + eating out 2x/week): €500–€750
Transportation
Car: Almost essential unless you live in Marbella or Estepona centre. Second-hand car: €5,000–€12,000. Insurance: €300–€600/year. Fuel: €1.45–€1.55/litre (2026). Monthly fuel budget: €80–€150.
Public transport: The Avanza bus connects Marbella–Estepona–Málaga. Monthly pass: ~€45. Useful for commuting but limited evenings/weekends.
Taxis: €6–€8 base fare + €1/km. Marbella to airport: ~€55–€65.
Monthly transport (couple with car): €150–€250 including fuel, insurance, and occasional tolls.
Healthcare & Insurance
Public healthcare: EU citizens with EHIC/S1 get access to Spanish public healthcare. Quality is generally good, but waiting times can be long for specialists.
Private insurance: €60–€150/month per person depending on age and coverage. Adeslas, Sanitas, and Asisa are the most common. Over-50s pay more.
GP visit (private): €30–€60. Specialist: €80–€150.
Dentist: Cleaning €40–€60. Filling €50–€80. Significantly cheaper than Sweden or Netherlands.
Worth knowing: many expats keep private insurance for speed and convenience while maintaining their public healthcare rights.
Sample Monthly Budgets (2026)
Couple (Estepona, own apartment)
Housing: €250 (community + IBI + basura + insurance)
Utilities: €180
Food: €650
Transport: €200
Healthcare: €200
Leisure: €300
Total: ~€1,780/month
Couple (Marbella, renting)
Rent: €1,400
Utilities: €200
Food: €750
Transport: €200
Healthcare: €200
Leisure: €400
Total: ~€3,150/month
The difference between owning in Estepona and renting in Marbella is roughly €1,370/month — or €16,400/year. That's a meaningful number when planning long-term.
The Bottom Line
A couple can live comfortably on the Costa del Sol for €1,800–€2,200/month if you own your home in a mid-range area like Estepona or Nueva Andalucía. In Marbella, renting, that climbs to €2,800–€3,500.
These numbers aren't luxury — they're normal life. Coffee in the morning, groceries at Mercadona, dinner out twice a week, and a car to get around. The Costa del Sol isn't the cheapest place in Spain, but compared to Stockholm, Amsterdam, or Warsaw, the equation works — especially when you factor in 320 days of sunshine.
Next step: Explore our curated gems to see what you get for your budget in different areas along the coast.