Buying property on the Costa Blanca
The Costa Blanca is one of the most popular stretches of Spanish coast for international property buyers. Covering 200 kilometres of Mediterranean coastline, the landscape, villages and resorts of the Costa Blanca offer property buyers a wide choice of homes and lifestyles.
Whether retiring, relocation for work, buying a holiday home or investing in a “fly to let”, the Costa Blanca offers reasonable prices for property, in a superb climate, easy to reach all year. It covers the popular “bucket and spade” locations such as Benidorm, but also quieter resorts filled with Spanish charm.
While the Costa Blanca is busiest in the summer, there is plenty happening all year round. The sun also shines all year round too, and this coast is far enough south to avoid cold winters.
There is no typical buyer on the Costa Blanca. Celebrity homeowners here have included celebrity chef Nigella Lawson and at least two England football managers.
Five reasons to buy a property on the Costa Blanca
1. A warm welcome
You should find it easy to make friends on the Costa Blanca. According to Spanish authorities, close to 400,000 foreigners are resident in the Costa Blanca as of 2024. Many more own holiday homes here, but you can still easily find traditionally Spanish areas where tourists rarely visit.
2. The beaches
Known as the “white coast” because of its glorious beaches, the Costa Blanca has around 70 Blue Flag beaches. That’s more than the UK has in total.
If you’re even a little hardy you can swim all year on the Costa Blanca, with the water temperature rarely below 14°C even in January.
3. The climate
Year-round sunshine, sea air and low humidity are an excellent combination. The Costa Blanca is officially classified as good for your health. The World Health Organisation (WHO) says the Costa Blanca has “as near-perfect environment as it is possible to obtain”.
This is especially helpful for anyone suffering from asthma, skin conditions and arthritis.
4. So much to do
While Spain is known for its relaxed ambience, the Costa Blanca is also perfect for anyone seeking an adventurous, high-energy lifestyle, whether as a retiree or holiday home owner.
The Costa Blanca has 16 Blue Flag marinas. Go just a little inland and there is hiking, climbing, mountain biking, horse riding, bird watching, paragliding and much more.
You’ll enjoy eating out here too. There are some 13 Michelin-starred restaurants on the Costa Blanca.
There are 10 golf courses located between Jávea and Alicante alone.
5. Investment potential of the Costa Blanca
If you’re looking to invest in property in the Costa Blanca, you will have access to high tourist footfall and significant rental income off the back of the region’s booming tourism industry. That lasts all year – in February 2024, for example, Benidorm hotel occupancy was still at 76%.[1]
Property highlights of the Costa Blanca
So, what will you buy? The choice extends from cave homes in Rojales, all the way up to the tallest residential property in Spain, Benidorm’s 47-floor Intempo Tower.
The one linking factor is that all are usually a little more affordable than their equivalent properties in the Costa del Sol or Balearic Islands.
Most international buyers opt for modern apartments and villas, with off-plan and new build a good option. However, there is also the option of older properties, including townhouses in the Old Town of locations like Jávea or Altea, or of country properties a little inland.
The choice is yours.
The Northern Costa Blanca
A town of around 40,000, Dénia is known for its ruined castle proudly guarding the town. Its charming properties are mostly one-storey homes with white façades, red-tiled roofs and shady porches. There is a lovely old quarter to explore, shops and museums to enjoy. From the marina, you can hop on a ferry to Ibiza or Palma. The prices range from around €150,000 for a two-bedroom apartment to over €1,000,000 for a luxury villa with sea views.
Benidorm is known for its lively nightlife and beachside fun. Alicante, the province’s capital, offers a wide range of dining options, historical tours, museums and natural beauty. There are also former fishing villages too, turned into stylish and friendly resorts, such as Moraira, Calpe and Santa Pola.
Moraira’s eight kilometres of coastline features a mountain backdrop and some truly world-class restaurants. It’s particularly popular with retirees or those that want a slice of the quiet life, while keeping the lights of the city not too far away. The area is also known for its vineyards – the Muscatel in particular is not to be missed. Expect to pay around €200,000 for a two-bedroom apartment, while villas start from €400,000 and can go up to millions for luxury properties.
Calpe is also surrounded by mountains and vineyards. There are 11 kilometres of coves and beaches and a marina with bars and cafes. There’s also a fantastic street market. The town is particularly well known for its astounding gastronomy – Traveller has even named it the ‘capital of Mediterranean gastronomy’. The seafood in particular is worth some investigation, including arròs del senyoret. Calpe offers high-rise apartments with stunning sea views. A two-bedroom apartment here can cost around €150,000 to €300,000, while a villa can range from €300,000 to over €1,000,000.
There are more traditionally Spanish locations too, even on the coast, such as Gran Alacant and Altea.
Altea has an old and a new corner of town, its beaches overlooked by a wide promenade and lively marina. Follow the cobbled streets of the Old Town up to the church and plaza on the top of the hill for views of the sea and mountains. You’ll find lots of apartments on the market from around €150,000, and for larger villas, set your sights on the outskirts of town with a starting price of €300,000.
The Southern Costa Blanca
The Southern Costa Blanca has even warmer weather and a slightly flatter landscape, but it is no less popular for international buyers. Here are some of the top areas that appeal to retirees and holiday home buyers:
Torrevieja is famous its sandy beaches and salt lakes and is a favourite among both retirees and holiday home buyers. Property prices range from €100,000 for a one-bedroom apartment to over €500,000 for a luxury villa.
Orihuela Costa is the seaside resort closest to the attractive and ancient town of Orihuela, through which flows the River Segura. It actually comprises several seaside resorts like Punta Prima, Playa Flamenca, La Zenia, Cabo Roig and Campoamor. A two-bedroom apartment in Orihuela Costa can cost between €100,000 to €200,000, while villas start from around €300,000.
Guardamar del Segura has 11 kilometres of sandy beaches, pine forests and dunes. It’s a more tranquil environment than some in the area, with slightly higher property prices. Expect to pay from €150,000 for a two-bedroom apartment and €350,000 for a villa.
Pilar de la Horadada is the southernmost town in Costa Blanca, known for its beautiful beaches and marina. Properties here are more affordable, with apartments starting from €80,000 and villas from €200,000.
Famous for its cave houses Rojales is another top pick for retirees. It also has excellent golf courses, with property options whether you fancy playing golf or not (courses often come with other facilities including quality catering, club houses etc). A two-bedroom apartment in Rojales will start from €100,000, while a villa can be bought from around €200,000 to €400,000.
Algorfa is a small village is ideal for those seeking a peaceful retreat, with several golf courses around. Properties in Algorfa range from around €70,000 for an apartment to €300,000 for a villa.
How to get there?
The Costa Blanca is served by Alicante airport. Just about every airline in Europe flies to Alicante. Flights run throughout the year, although they are more frequent during the warmer months. From northern Europe a flight to Alicante takes around three hours.
Alicante airport is nine kilometres southwest of the city and the airport is well-prepared for its role of getting people to their homes along the Costa Blanca. So, if you don’t want to own a car in Spain, then there are buses and trams to take you to your home. For example, the C6 bus line, leaving every 20 minutes, will take you into Alicante city for less than €5, or to Calpe in an hour and a half.
If you would like to drive to your Costa Blanca property, the route will take approximately 18 hours from a Channel port. Taking the train takes around 24 hours, normally including an overnight in Barcelona.
Costa Blanca weather
The Costa Blanca has hot and sunny summers and mild and relatively damp winters. August has an average temperature of 29°C and 11 hours of sunshine every day. Even when temperatures are at their hottest, most locations enjoy some respite from a sea breeze.
Even in winter, you’ll enjoy five to six hours of sunshine a day. Winter temperatures dip to their lowest point of around 11-12°C in January. The wettest month is November with around 42mm of rain. (For a bit of context, in the same month, London gets 59mm and Cardiff 118mm).
Those who enjoy a dip in the sea will be happiest from July to September, where the average sea temperature is 25°C.
Steps to buy property in the Costa Blanca
- Search online: Determine what you can buy for your budget, as well as a list of features you would like in a home (close proximity to the beach or golf, mountain or sea views). You may want to narrow down your search to specific areas (Alicante, Gandía, Torrevieja…).
- Form a team of experts. Once you have chosen a handful of properties that tick your boxes, reach out to an estate agent. They will be able to talk through the area and what you are looking for in a home in greater detail. Fortunately, as the Costa Blanca is so popular with overseas buyers, your estate agent is bound to have plenty of expertise. You will also need an English-speaking lawyer to ensure that the purchase is legally secure. Plus, a currency specialist like Smart Currency Exchange can help you to transfer your budget over to Valencia. You may also want to connect with a financial advisor and a mortgage specialist.
- Book a viewing trip. Once you have your team in place, head out to the Costa Blanca to see your pick of properties. If you haven’t narrowed down to a specific town, check the journey times between each home. If you find a home that ticks your boxes, then reconnect with your professional team and make an offer.
- Once you have made an offer: If the seller accepts your offer, you will sign a reservation contract and pay a fee to take it off the market. While surveys are not the norm in Spain, many international buyers prefer to have one, so you will easily be able to find an experienced professional in the Costa Blanca to complete one. Then, you will sign and pay the deposit, around 10% of the purchase price. As you’ve now committed to buying your dream the Costa Blanca home, lock in your exchange rate to ensure that you do not lose out on thousands. Meanwhile, your lawyer will contact the notary to ensure the legality of the sale.
- Hold the keys in your hand: You will need to sign the sale contract, escritura pública at the notary’s office. Finally, pay the balance of the purchase price, minus the deposit you have paid. You must also pay the relevant taxes (ITP), stamp duty, notary fees and legal fees.