The short answer
Marbella is more expensive than the Spanish average but materially cheaper than London, Oslo, Zürich or Paris. A couple lives comfortably on €3,500–€5,000 per month outside the prime zip codes; a family of four on €5,500–€8,500. Inside the Golden Mile, Sierra Blanca or La Zagaleta, costs scale to whatever you choose to spend.
Housing
A modern two-bed apartment in Nueva Andalucía rents for €1,800–€2,800/month long-let. The same in central Marbella town: €1,400–€2,200. On the Golden Mile, expect €4,000–€9,000. To buy, the median price per m² across greater Marbella sat near €4,900 in Q1 2026 — roughly half of central Lisbon and a third of prime central London.
Groceries and everyday
A weekly Mercadona or Lidl shop for two: €70–€110. Aldi is now widespread and cuts that by ~15%. El Corte Inglés is the premium tier — convenient, but you pay for it.
Eating out
Menu del día (three courses + drink) at a local: €13–€18. A mid-tier dinner for two with wine: €70–€110. Trocadero, Nobu, COYA: €180–€350 per head.
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International schools run €8,000–€18,000 per year. Spanish state and concertado schools are free or near-free and excellent in Marbella and Estepona.
Healthcare
Private family insurance with Sanitas or Adeslas: €80–€180 per adult per month. State healthcare is free once registered as a resident.
Cars, fuel, utilities
Petrol around €1.55/litre. Electricity for an apartment: €80–€140/month. Fibre 600Mb internet: €30–€45/month.
Where it gets expensive
Beach club daybeds (€100–€300 in season), Puerto Banús nightlife, golf membership at Las Brisas or Los Naranjos, and anything involving a yacht. None of these are required to live well here.
Verdict
For a Northern European family relocating, Marbella typically lowers monthly outgoings by 20–35% versus home — while raising quality of life. The "expensive" reputation comes from the visible top 1%, not the median.
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Areas in this article
- Marbella guide6,800 €/sqm · +9.2% YoY
- Estepona guide4,900 €/sqm · +11.7% YoY
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