{"id":4157,"date":"2026-09-02T11:07:53","date_gmt":"2026-09-02T09:07:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.marbellaforsale.com\/blog\/?p=4157"},"modified":"2026-09-02T11:10:19","modified_gmt":"2026-09-02T09:10:19","slug":"sales-rise-as-rental-prices-remain-high","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.marbellaforsale.com\/blog\/sales-rise-as-rental-prices-remain-high\/","title":{"rendered":"Sales Rise as Rental Prices Remain High"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Lifestyle

Spain’s lifestyle continues to drive demand<\/p><\/div>\n

Spain’s property market entered the final weeks of summer with prices remaining firmly elevated, both for those looking to buy and those choosing to rent. The latest figures show particularly strong conditions in the sales market, while rental costs remain at historically high levels despite some signs of moderation nationally.<\/p>\n

For the Costa del Sol, the figures reinforce a familiar picture. Demand continues to be supported not only by people looking for a permanent home, but by international buyers attracted by the lifestyle that Marbella, Benahav\u00eds, Estepona, Fuengirola, Mijas, and the surrounding areas can offer.<\/p>\n

Resale property prices continue to rise<\/h3>\n

The average asking price of resale property across Spain reached \u20ac3,166 per square metre<\/strong> in August 2026, an increase of 0.4% compared with July and 15.6% compared with August last year.<\/p>\n

For perspective, the data<\/a> suggests that an average 80 m\u00b2 resale property would now be marketed at approximately \u20ac253,270, compared with \u20ac219,020 a year earlier.<\/p>\n

August marked the 70th consecutive month of annual price increases. There is, however, some indication that the pace is beginning to moderate. The 15.6% annual increase<\/strong> was the lowest recorded so far in 2026, following increases of more than 20% earlier in the year.<\/p>\n

Prices are therefore not falling. They are simply rising at a slower rate.<\/p>\n

Andaluc\u00eda and M\u00e1laga remain firmly in demand<\/h3>\n

Andaluc\u00eda recorded an annual resale price increase of 10.9%, with an average asking price of \u20ac2,958 per square metre.<\/p>\n

M\u00e1laga province’s property prices sit considerably above that regional average.<\/p>\n

At \u20ac4,631 per square metre<\/strong>, M\u00e1laga was the fourth most expensive province in Spain for resale property prices in August, behind only the Balearic Islands, Madrid, and Gipuzkoa. M\u00e1laga city itself averaged \u20ac4,387 per square metre.<\/p>\n

These figures underline the strength of the wider M\u00e1laga property market, but averages only tell part of the story on the Costa del Sol.<\/p>\n

The property markets of Marbella<\/a>, Benahav\u00eds, Estepona, Fuengirola, and Mijas each appeal to buyers for different reasons. Marbella combines established residential areas with beaches, restaurants, international schools, golf, and year-round amenities. Benahav\u00eds offers space, privacy, golf communities, and a village lifestyle, while Estepona continues to attract buyers looking for a balance between traditional Andalusian character and modern residential development.<\/p>\n

Further east, Fuengirola and Mijas provide excellent connections to M\u00e1laga and the airport, alongside beaches, established communities, and a broad choice of property.<\/p>\n

Renting remains expensive despite national moderation<\/h3>\n

The rental market presents a slightly different picture.<\/p>\n

Fotocasa’s latest rental figures, published in August and covering July 2026, show the average rental price in Spain at \u20ac14.14 per square metre per month. This represents a 1.6% annual decrease<\/strong>, ending a long period of sustained increases.<\/p>\n

For an 80 m\u00b2 home, the national average works out at approximately \u20ac1,131 per month.<\/p>\n

That decline should be viewed in context. Rental prices remain at historically high levels, and Andaluc\u00eda moved in the opposite direction to the national trend, recording an annual rental increase of 4.4%.<\/p>\n

M\u00e1laga province was considerably more expensive again, reaching \u20ac16.23 per square metre per month. An 80 m\u00b2 property at that average would equate to around \u20ac1,298 per month, although rental values in prime Costa del Sol locations can vary significantly according to location, property type, condition, views, amenities, and proximity to the coast.<\/p>\n

Buying or renting on the Costa del Sol?<\/h3>\n

For people considering a move to southern Spain, the relationship between rental and purchase prices is becoming increasingly relevant.<\/p>\n

Renting can provide flexibility<\/strong>, particularly for newcomers who want time to understand different locations before committing to a purchase. Living in Nueva Andaluc\u00eda, for example, can feel very different from living in Benahav\u00eds, central Estepona, La Cala de Mijas, or Fuengirola.<\/p>\n

However, sustained rental costs may also encourage longer-term residents to consider whether purchasing makes more financial sense, particularly if they intend to remain on the Costa del Sol for several years.<\/p>\n

For investors, strong rental values can also form part of the purchasing decision, although potential returns need to be considered alongside purchase costs, community fees, taxation, maintenance, local rental regulations, and realistic occupancy expectations.<\/p>\n

A market offering more than resale property<\/h3>\n

Another important factor for buyers is that the Costa del Sol market is not limited to existing homes.<\/p>\n

The continued expansion of new developments<\/a> gives buyers an alternative to the resale market, particularly those prioritising contemporary design, energy efficiency, communal facilities, security, and lower immediate maintenance requirements.<\/p>\n

New developments can now be found across much of the coast, from Marbella and Benahav\u00eds<\/a> to Estepona, Mijas<\/a>, Fuengirola, and Benalm\u00e1dena. The choice ranges from modern apartments and penthouses to townhouses and individual villas.<\/p>\n

For international buyers, this variety is significant. The decision is increasingly not simply about whether to buy in Spain, but which location, lifestyle, and type of property best fits the way they intend to use their home.<\/p>\n

Lifestyle continues to support the Costa del Sol market<\/h3>\n

Property prices provide a useful measure of market conditions, but they do not fully explain why M\u00e1laga and the Costa del Sol continue to attract buyers.<\/p>\n

The region offers something difficult to measure in euros per square metre: a lifestyle that works throughout the year<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

More than 300 days of sunshine, Mediterranean beaches, golf courses, international schools, restaurants, outdoor sports, excellent air connections, and established international communities allow buyers to combine everyday practicality with the benefits traditionally associated with a holiday destination.<\/p>\n

That appeal extends across different lifestyles. Marbella<\/a> and Puerto Ban\u00fas offer an international social and leisure scene; Benahav\u00eds provides tranquillity and access to some of the area’s best-known golf courses; Estepona<\/a> combines a thriving town with an expanding residential market; and Mijas, La Cala, Fuengirola, and Benalm\u00e1dena offer their own mix of coastal living, amenities, and connectivity.<\/p>\n

The latest figures suggest that buyers continue to place considerable value on that combination.<\/p>\n

What does this mean for buyers?<\/h3>\n

The August data points to a market where demand remains strong, but where buyers should increasingly focus on value rather than simply following headline price movements.<\/p>\n

Spain’s resale prices are still increasing, although at a slower pace than earlier in the year. Rental prices remain high, particularly in M\u00e1laga, while the expanding choice of resale properties and new developments gives Costa del Sol buyers a broad range of options.<\/p>\n

For anyone considering a home in Marbella or elsewhere along the coast, understanding those differences is increasingly important. Comparing locations, property types, ongoing ownership costs, and long-term objectives can reveal considerably more than the national averages alone.<\/p>\n

Ultimately, the attraction of the Costa del Sol continues to extend beyond the property itself. For many international buyers, purchasing here is as much a decision about how and where they want to live as it is about the direction of the Spanish property market.<\/p>\n\t

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