Costa Blanca South: The Best Areas to Purchase Cheap Property
Torrevieja sits at the top of the list for cheap coastal real estate on the Southern Costa Blanca. Average prices are around €1,500 to €2,000 per square metre, and older flats offer the lowest entry point. This busy town has a strong expat community, good schools, clinics and plenty of shops open all year. Rental demand runs high in summer, and there is also steady long-term rental demand. Public buses cover the town, the centre is easy to walk, and Alicante airport sits about 40 minutes away. Foreign buyers make up a large share of the population, and the process to buy a property stays simple as there are plenty of agents and professional who speak various European languages. Be careful to check for excessive community fees on older apartment blocks.
Guardamar del Segura feels calmer than Torrevieja, nonetheless it offers a lively atmosphere near its long beaches and dunes. Average prices are between €1,700 and €2,200 per square metre. Families appreciate the safe streets and good schools. Short-term rentals do well in summer, but the town grows quiet in winter. Local buses run through the centre, but it is necessary to have a car to reach more beaches, golf courses, and services, especially during the winter months. Many older flats need modern reforms, so buyers should plan for this cost.
Santa Pola offers quick access to Alicante city and an active year-round lifestyle due to its large local population and busy fishing port. Flats near the marina and centre sell for about €1,800 to €2,300 per square metre. Santa Pola keeps more of its Spanish character than some bigger expat spots. Rentals work well in summer, and properties that are marketed well can receive visitors year round. The town sits about 15-20 minutes from Alicante airport, and there are regular buses to the city. Local shops, services and schools make life easy for families or retirees.
Pilar de la Horadada sits at the southern edge of Alicante Province right on the border of Murcia and the Mar Menor. Many expats choose this spot for a property close to the coast but away from the busier resorts of the Orihuela Costa. Prices range from €1,500 to €2,000 per square metre. The town is family-friendly, safe, and very popular with Spanish buyers who like quieter streets close to the beaches. Holiday properties can fill up in summer, but the area is very calm in the off-season. A car is essential as public transport is limited, and some services are lacking. Both Murcia and Alicante airport are each about 40 minutes away.
Costa Blanca North: The Best Locations to Buy Bargain Coastal Apartments, Townhouses, and Villas
Playa Els Molins and Playa Les Bovetes is at the Northern extreme of the Costa Blanca North. This beautiful coastal strip sits between the very popular Denia, and the resort town of Oliva Nova (golf, horse riding, stunning dunes and beaches). The area offers older holiday flats, and some freestanding homes. Prices start around €2,200 and reach up to €2,700 per square metre. The local beaches are busy in summer and the surrounding area is getting busier in winter. A car makes it easier to reach Denia’s shops and port. Some older apartment blocks need small repairs or updates. Be sure to check for illegal properties that can be on or near the coast. Make certain you use a lawyer.
Interesting: A little further North, about 20kms, you will find the coastal town of Playa de Gandia (not to be confused with the inland town of Gandia). While, strictly speaking, it is not located in the Costa Blanca, it offers very affordable coastal property, one of the best beaches and promenades in Spain, and one of the highest returns on holiday rentals in Valencia Province. If you are in the area, it would be worth your while to pay the town a visit.
Cumbre del Sol, near Benitachell, covers the hills and cliffs between the very popular towns of Javea and Moraira. Flats and townhouses without a direct sea view can cost between €2,000 to €2,800 per square metre. Sea views push prices higher. This area is very safe and suits residents who want privacy and peace. Holiday lets work well in summer, but the area is very quiet in winter. Services lack, and the steep roads and extra distances to nearby towns mean you will definitely need a car.
Alfaz del Pi sits about three kilometres inland from Albir. Homes cost around €1,800 to €2,400 per square metre. Many Scandinavian and Northern European buyers choose Alfaz del Pi as it offers a large international community, and a good variety of services that stay open in winter. Holiday lets, and long term rentals tend to do well as there is a large year number of tourists, and demand also spills over from Albir, Benidorm, and Altea. Local buses run between the coast and the town, but most owners have a car.
Interesting: Callosa d’en Sarrià is about 6-7km from the coast and offers apartments at around €1200 per square metre. It’s a traditional Spanish village with year round services.
Villajoyosa lies on the coast between Benidorm and Alicante and despite the recent plethora of new build homes it has managed to retain a local fishing town atmosphere. Flats that sit a few hundred metres from the seafront can cost considerably less than the more modern new builds, and sell for around €1,800 to €2,400 per square metre. The town is safe and suits families who want a Spanish lifestyle close to the sea. Rentals stay busy in summer and with good marketing can also attract in winter. There is a coastal tram line that links Villajoyosa with both Alicante city and nearby Benidorm.
El Campello’s northern neighbourhoods offer older apartments that cost about €1,800 to €2,300 per square metre. The town is mostly Spanish, relatively ‘undiscovered’ by foreigners, and offers excellent local services and safe streets. Holiday rentals fill up in summer and the fringe months. Winter tends to be quieter but is getting busier with each year. The tram line runs along the coast and connects El Campello with nearby towns.
There are plenty of additional services in nearby Playa San Juan and Alicante city. The coastal stretch from El Campello to the end of Playa San Juan offers around 10 KMS of gorgeous wide sandy beach, and vibrant promenade, and is perhaps one of the most impressive beachfronts in all of Spain (no exaggeration). Search “Playa San Juan” or “Playa San Juan, Alicante” on YouTube.
Calpe is one of the most popular towns on the Northern Costa Blanca. Despite the huge foreign demand for seafront apartments, you can find older flats a few streets back from the seafront (near the old village and the Western side of the town) for about €2,200 to €2,800 per square metre. Many buyers are attracted to Calpe’s more affordable coastal life. Holiday rentals are very popular (to put it mildly) and winter visitors keep the town active. Local buses cover the centre, but many foreign owners have cars to visit nearby towns.
Why are some areas of the Costa Blanca cheaper than others?
The areas we mentioned usually have a larger number of older apartment blocks and developments, a greater supply of resale properties, a quieter off-season, and fewer luxury new builds, which keeps prices lower than in prime resorts. Buyers who do not mind older blocks or homes a bit further from the sand will stand a greater chance of finding bargains.
NOTE: How to protect yourself when buying property in Spain
Older homes can come with excessive community fees for lifts, pools and shared gardens. You will need these monthly expense figures from your agent, or lawyer. Some buildings in complexes may need repairs, so you should always ask a lawyer to check this, and see what (potentially expensive) updates to urbanizations or complexes are planned.
Speak with locals about fees and how the area feels out of season. Walk the streets by day and night to check safety. Ask a builder if you plan to fix anything.
The best way to find bargain properties on the Costa Blanca
Visit in winter when:
- More listings are back on the market – many holiday rentals and others enter the market in autumn and winter.
- There are fewer buyers and therefore less competition.
- October through March are the best months, as sellers are usually more flexible after the summer crowds leave.
The Costa Blanca still rewards astute buyers who want good value and do not mind being outside the obvious resorts. The towns we mentioned should provide some excellent starting points to discover some cheap coastal property in Costa Blanca. Remember, never rush into anything, and always use professional help during your searches.
Good luck!
