Apartments for Sale on the Costa del Sol

Apartments are the default Costa del Sol purchase, and for most international buyers they are the correct one: lock-up-and-leave, predictable running costs, a pool you do not maintain, and the deepest resale market on the coast.

The difference between a good apartment purchase and a mediocre one on this coast is rarely the finish. It is the floor, the orientation, the community's financial health and whether the block permits short-term letting.

Apartment prices by town

Torremolinos and Benalmádena start around €165,000–230,000 for a well-located two-bedroom. Fuengirola runs €190,000–300,000. Mijas Costa, Calahonda and Riviera del Sol sit at €230,000–360,000. Estepona town is €260,000–420,000 and rising fastest of the coastal towns. Marbella town and Nueva Andalucía run €380,000–750,000 for two to three bedrooms. Puerto Banús and the Golden Mile start at €650,000 and run past €4M for penthouses.

What actually drives value inside a block

South and south-west orientation is worth 8–15% over north-facing on the same block — it is the difference between usable winter terraces and permanent shade. Top-floor and penthouse units carry a 15–30% premium. Ground-floor units with private gardens sell well to families and poorly to investors. Distance to the beach matters in walking minutes, not kilometres: under ten minutes on foot is a distinct pricing tier, and it does not care about your postcode.

Community fees and the accounts you must read

Community fees run €90–200 a month for a standard block, €200–400 where there is 24-hour security, landscaped grounds, a gym and a heated pool, and €500+ in the luxury beachfront communities. Before you commit, ask for the last two AGM minutes and the community's current reserve fund. A community with a large planned derrama (special levy) for a roof, lift or pool refurbishment can add €4,000–15,000 to your first year, and the seller has no obligation to volunteer it.

If you plan to rent it out

Short-term holiday letting in Andalucía requires a VFT tourist licence registered with the Junta de Andalucía, and since 2025 the community of owners can vote to prohibit tourist letting in the block. Check the community statutes before you buy, not after. A well-located two-bedroom in Marbella or Estepona with a licence achieves 4–6% gross yield; long-term letting is simpler, lower yield at 3.5–4.5%, and carries no licence requirement.

Frequently asked questions

How much is an apartment on the Costa del Sol?

From roughly €165,000 for a two-bedroom in Torremolinos or Benalmádena, €230,000–360,000 in Mijas Costa and Calahonda, €260,000–420,000 in Estepona and €380,000+ in Marbella.

What are typical community fees?

€90–200 a month for a standard block, €200–400 with security and landscaped grounds, and €500 or more in luxury beachfront communities.

Can I rent my Costa del Sol apartment to tourists?

Only with a VFT tourist licence from the Junta de Andalucía, and only if the community statutes permit it — since 2025 owners' communities can vote to ban short-term letting in the building.