While the beaches were filling up, the property market kept moving too. Buyers from across Europe continued searching for homes, holiday properties and investments – and prices in many popular areas continued to climb.

By August, the average asking price across Málaga province had reached €4,293 per square metre, around 7.4% higher than a year earlier.

But averages on the Costa del Sol should always be taken with a little pinch of sea salt.

One coast, many different markets

There really isn’t one single “Costa del Sol property market”.

In August 2026, average asking prices ranged from around €3,711/m² in Mijas to €5,956/m² in Marbella, with Estepona, Fuengirola and Benalmádena somewhere in between.

And statistics don’t tell you everything. A great terrace, orientation, sea views, walking distance to the beach – or simply being on the right side of the building – can make a surprising difference.

For buyers: beautiful doesn’t always mean good value

I spend a lot of time telling buyers not to fall in love too quickly.

Admittedly, this is not always easy on the Costa del Sol.

You walk onto a sunny terrace, see the Mediterranean, imagine breakfast there… and suddenly the asking price seems much more
reasonable.

My job is to look at the less romantic details too: comparable properties, the location, future plans nearby, time on the market and,
importantly, room for negotiation.

Sometimes the best opportunities are the properties with terrible photos, dated furniture or simply an owner who is genuinely ready to sell.

For sellers: buyers are doing their homework

A strong market doesn’t mean that any asking price will work.

Buyers can compare dozens of properties before breakfast. Good presentation, correct pricing and international visibility matter.
The aim isn’t to put the highest possible number on Idealista. It’s to achieve the best possible result when the property actually sells.

There is quite a difference between the two.

My view from the coast

Summer 2026 showed again why the Costa del Sol continues to attract international buyers. Demand remains strong, but buyers are becoming more informed and selective.

That makes local knowledge, access to the wider market and good negotiation increasingly valuable

The right home is important. The right deal is even better.

See you in the next Edit,
Johanna