How Much is the Cost of living In Marbella, Spain? 

Due to the increasing popularity of Marbella many of those seeking to move to the area enquire about the Cost of living In Marbella and want to know if Marbella is expensive. With a wide range of restaurants serving sumptuous international cuisine, a vibrant atmosphere, an excellent year-round climate and the best beaches on the Costa del Sol, Marbella is an attractive city  that appeals to people from all over the world.

Is Marbella Expensive?

But how much does it cost to live in Marbella and is Marbella expensive ? These are questions that many who are interested in moving to the Marbella area ask. That depends on your lifestyle, but regardless of whether you have a job with a company based in the region, work as a freelancer or want to move here when you retire, the cost of living in Marbella is affordable for most people.

Thanks to a wide diversity of accommodation, eating options, and inexpensive grocery costs, ex-pats can survive in Marbella on as little €  and live comfortably with €2000+.

The Expatistan cost of living calculator estimates the average living costs in Marbella is around €1538 for a single person and €3,089 for a family of four.

Benefits of Living in Marbella

Its prime location on the golden coastline of Spain makes Marbella a Mecca for holidaymakers and ex-pats alike. The international diversity creates a  high standard of living and a friendly community of like-minded individuals.

Spain ranks well above average in the OECD Better Life Index for work-life balance, income and wealth, housing, health, education together with jobs and earnings and many other measures.

Marbella Prices

Being blessed with plenty of sunshine and a fantastic climate makes Marbella a popular destination to holiday and live. This naturally impacts the prices in Marbella and living expenses. When comparing Marbella to other cities on Costa del Sol and Andalusia in general when it comes to cost of living Marbella is clearly more expensive. But when comparing Marbella to other major cities in Spain such as Madrid and Barcelona the cost of living does not appear as expensive.

When it comes to property prices Marbella  the area is one of the most expensive  areas not only on Costa del Sol and Andalusia but also within the whole of Spain. Property prices in Marbella tend to be higher than other parts of Spain and it is becoming harder and harder to find cheap property in Marbella . Actually some of the most expensive areas within Spain such as Sierra Blanca are located within Marbella or in the case of La Zagaleta nearby to Marbella.

Cost of Food in Marbella

Marbella has plenty of excellent restaurants and it is very tempting to out eat at these  restaurants in Marbella in particular if you are on holidays. But for many this can become quite expensive in particular if you have children.

If you are staying in an accommodation that has a kitchen the best option is to eat out perhaps a few days out of the week and at at home th rest. There are plenty of fantastic supermarkets in Marbella for all tastes and budget  such as El Corte Ingles, Mercadona, Al Campo carrefour, Aldi & Lidl where you can do your food shopping. In addition, Marbella has its own traditional market called “Mercado de Marbella” where you can do you shopping for food.

Average Property Prices in Marbella

Given the Costa del Sol is one of Spain’s most delectable regions to live, the housing market is naturally healthy. As a result, newcomers looking for a property should expect to pay more than the national average for property or rental prices.

If you’re looking for  property investment in Marbella or use as a second home, you will be able to recoup much of your investment by renting out your property on a short-term basis.

There is a wide selection of property for sale in Costa del Sol  and now is a good time to buy for those thinking of living in Marbella.

It is estimated that the average cost of an apartment in Marbella is in the region of €3070 per square meter. A plush villa on the prime stretch of the Marbella Gold Mile, on the other hand, is significantly higher – €25,000 per sq. m. So, if you want to purchase a luxury property such as a property for sale in Mansion Club Marbella you will pay more for it due to it being near to  Marbella Golden Mile  . Those seeking cheaper properties and cost of living should look Ito in-land areas of Costa del Sol such as Alhaurin El Grande property for sale.

Property prices typically stay stable in Spain and are forecast to grow over time. Buyers can, therefore, expect to earn a reasonable return on investment.

Is Costa del Sol Expensive?

Marbella is situated within the area refereed to as Costa del Sol. Costa del Sol is a stretch of land bordering the Mediterranean Sea extending from Nerja to the east to Sotogrande to the west. When looking at the cost of living in Marbella it is a good idea to also look at the cost of living in the wider area of Costa del Sol.

The other areas of Cost del Sol are less expensive in general when compared to Marbella. But you cannot generalise all cities that compose Costa del Sol and some are more expensive than others but still less expensive than Marbella. Furthermore your expenses can be greatly impacted by your interests. For example if you are interested in fine dinning the costs tend to be much higher than an average standard restaurant.

If you exclude Marbella when calculating prices on Cost del Sol they tend to be less and once Marbella is added within that compositions which is all cases the prices increase. So in general you still can find very reasonable prices when it comes to cost of living and properties on Costa del Sol in general. The areas that are less expensive within Cost del Sol tend to be areas that are less dynamic or situated further inland in general.

Cost of Living in Spain

When looking at the cost of living in Marbella we must look also at the cost of living in Spain. Traditionally Spain has been able to offer a higher quality of life when compared to other destination which is at the same time also more economical. The largest cities in Spain such as Madrid and Barcelona tend to have the highest cost of living. Other cities such as Malaga and Valencia have a much lower cost of living.

Spain tend to offer a more affordable cost of living when compared to other European countries such as Switzerland, UK, or Norway to mention a few. The prices for  housing, supermarkets, transportation and telephone  in Spain tend to be  lower that the countries mentioned. Also when compared to other countries outside of Europe like USA the cost of living in Spain is much lower.

Thanks to a wide diversity of accommodation, eating options, and inexpensive grocery costs, ex-pats can survive in Marbella on as little €  and live comfortably with €2000+.

The Expatistan cost of living calculator estimates the average living costs in Marbella is around €1538 for a single person and €3,089 for a family of four.

Its prime location on the golden coastline of Spain makes Marbella a Mecca for holidaymakers and ex-pats alike. The international diversity creates a  high standard of living and a friendly community of like-minded individuals.

Cost of Accommodation in Marbella

If you compare Marbella to other Spanish cities, it is certainly more expensive in many ways and in particular when it comes to accommodation . Those who have travelled around Spain can certainly see that Marbella is more expensive than other popular Spanish cities such as Sevilla and Valencia for example.

Many of those interested in traveling or living in Marbella are interested about the cost of accommodation in Marbella. The cost of accommodation is something that is really based on the location and the quality of accommodation.

The location of accommodation weather a hotel or a property is essential in determining its cost. If the accommodation is close to popular areas such a Puerto Banus ,Marbella Centre or the Marbella Golden Mile the price will be much higher than if they are in the outskirts of Marbella.

Furthermore, the quality of the accommodation such as property for sale el embrujo banús plays a part also in the price. Types of accommodations such as luxury hotels and luxury properties will be more expensive than those which are of a lesser quality.

In addition, the price of accommodation when it comes to hotels and holiday rentals increases significantly during the high seasons such as summer, Easter and Christmas. So, if you are searching for accommodation in Marbella weather in the forms of hotels or rental property you should expect to pay more if travelling during these periods.

For a closer look at the cost of hotels in Marbella from one star to five stars please refer to the chart below.

Cost of transportation in Marbella

Once travellers arrive at Malaga-Costa del Sol airport which is about 60 kilometres east of Marbella they have several options when it comes to getting to Marbella. You can either rent a car , take a taxi, or take a bus to come to Marbella. Unfortunately, there are currently no train lines between Malaga and Marbella and the local trains only go from Malaga airport to Fuengirola which is situated 34 kilometres east of Marbella.

For those who are planning to relocate to Marbella and live in Marbella long-term buying a car is the best choice. But of your home is situated in the city centre or popular location such as Puerto Banus bus can also be an option.

Car Rental

For those planning to holiday in Marbella the best way is renting a car. Renting a car will give you the most flexibility to discover Marbella and Costa del Sol. Cars can be rented at the Malaga Airport or at numerous car rental location around Marbella. The best way to make sure you get the car of your choice at the best rate is to reserve online before arriving.

Buses

Marbella and Costa del Sol also have a bus system which can be used and the prices are very affordable. The bus system is convenient to use if your accommodation is in city centre or popular locations. But since many of the accommodations in Marbella are in outskirts of Marbella proper depending on buses is not practical. The bus may stop at a relatively long distance from your accommodation, and you may have to walk for a while until you arrive at your accommodation, and this can be quite unpleasant in particular during hot days.

Taxis

There are also plenty of taxi that can be used  in Marbella and Costa del Sol. Taxis are quiet convenient and dependable but if you are planning to see the area taking taxis can become very expensive.

Is It Expensive To Live in Marbella?

When you compare the prices of food, accommodation, education and lifestyle to other European cities, you find Marbella is less expensive. For example, Marbella is 41% less expensive than London, 12% cheaper than Rome and 31% cheaper than Paris.But if you ask the question if Marbella is expensive to live in in compare to other popular Spanish cities such as Valencia or Sevilla it is certainly more expensive!

But again in compare to some other Spanish cities Marbella is 6% less expensive than Madrid, and 7% less expensive than Barcelona.

One of the main advantages of living in the Costa del Sol is because grocery shopping is relatively lower than in many other cities. Numbeo’s 2020 cost of living report indicates 1 later of milk is €0.71, a loaf of bread is €0.80 and 1kg of chicken is €6.

Utility bills cost an average of €108.24 for an 85m2 apartment and broadband internet is under €30.

Cost of Renting Apartments in Marbella

Due to the fantastic climate and excellent quality of life Marbella and Costa del Sol offer there are more people relocating to the area. Many of these new Marbella residents need to find an apartment for rent. The chart below should provide you a basic guideline when it comes to renting  apartments in Marbella. Please note these are average prices for long term apartment rental and not short term holiday rentals which can be much higher!

Ways To Reduce Your Cost Of Living

Marbella seems like an expensive place initially, but this is not generally true. There are ways you can save money and reduce your living cost in Marbella. The best way to save money when coming to Marbella for holidays is to visit Marbella during the off season. The high season which is from June to September, Christmas and Easter is when prices for accommodation such as hotels and airline tickets go up due to high demand.

If you want to enjoy Marbella and save money is best to avoid travelling to Marbella during the high season. You will find much better rates when it comes to accommodation and airfares. In addition, restaurants will be less busy, and you will not be having problems booking tables at restaurants.

For those who are thinking about relocating to Marbella and living in Marbella there are ways to save money similar with any other place in the world. Clearly eating out less often  is one of the best ways. If you are staying in a property with a kitchen try shopping at the local supermarkets and eat in a few times this will certainly save you money.

Wrap Up

If you are contemplating a move to Marbella or Costa del Sol in Spain and want to know about properties available Marbella before you get here, feel free to contact us.

We can provide you with a list of properties for sale and rent  so that you can see what is available.