Luxury villas for sale in Costa del Sol

The Costa del Sol villa market is one of the most liquid in southern Europe. Right now there are 6,938 villas for sale along this stretch of Andalusian coastline, from the hillside developments above Estepona to the gated communities of Benahavís and the seafront of Marbella. What makes villas here different from other Mediterranean markets is scale: most properties sit on generous plots, with private pools, landscaped gardens and separate guest houses that would cost twice as much in Ibiza or the French Riviera. Buyers come primarily from the UK, Scandinavia, Germany and the Netherlands, with a steady increase in American and Middle Eastern purchasers over the last three years.

How much does a villa cost on the Costa del Sol

Entry-level villas in areas like Mijas or inland Estepona start at €400,000. At the top of the market, frontline sea properties in Marbella or within the La Zagaleta estate reach €70,000,000. The average price sits at €3,895,962. Floor areas range from 1 to 284000 sqm, with an average of 609 sqm and between 2 and 94 bedrooms. Sea views and direct beach access are the biggest price drivers. But golf proximity matters more here than almost anywhere else in Europe: a villa overlooking a fairway in Benahavís or Los Flamingos commands a significant premium over a comparable property without that view. Heated pools, south-facing terraces, staff quarters and fully enclosed plots with security systems round out the features that push prices toward the upper end.

Where to buy a villa on the Costa del Sol

Marbella is the headline act and always will be. The Golden Mile between Puerto Banús and the old town holds the most prestigious villas on the coast, with architectural finishes that match anything in Monaco or Saint-Tropez. For privacy above everything else, Benahavís delivers: gated urbanizations, large plots and no passing traffic. La Zagaleta, a private estate set in the hills above the coast, is in a category of its own, with some of the most expensive villas in Spain. Estepona is the smart buy right now. Its regenerated seafront, lower density and improving infrastructure have caught the attention of buyers who missed the Marbella wave. Ma the real discovery for many buyers is Casares, a quieter hillside village where villas have unobstructed views stretching to Morocco on clear days. Fuengirola and Benalmádena offer good value for those who want proximity to Málaga airport without paying Marbella prices.