What does a week on the Costa del Sol cost?
The Costa del Sol still offers some of the best value in southern Europe, but a week here can cost very different amounts depending on when you travel and how you like to spend your days. A flat in Fuengirola in February and a villa near Marbella in August are hardly the same holiday, even if the sun shines on both.
Below we have gathered indicative prices as of autumn 2026, checked against recent Spanish and local sources. Treat them as ranges rather than promises: prices move with the season, the exchange rate and, in summer, with how early you book.
The holiday home: your biggest cost
Accommodation is where the season makes the biggest difference. Figures from a holiday-rental platform reported in the Spanish press in July 2026 put the average nightly price for holiday homes in July and August at roughly €210–€350 across the main Málaga coast towns, with Nerja, Benalmádena and Málaga city at the lower end, Torremolinos and Fuengirola in the middle and Marbella at the top. Those are averages, so a simple one-bedroom flat can cost much less and a villa with a private pool far more.
Outside the summer peak, prices drop noticeably. Spring and autumn are usually considerably cheaper, and winter is the cheapest time of all, which is why so many people from northern Europe stay for weeks or months. Easter, Christmas and the August fair in Málaga push prices back up. Booking early for summer and school holidays pays off, as the best-value homes go first.
Good to know
- There is no tourist tax in Andalusia at the time of writing (October 2026)
- Average summer 2026 holiday-home prices: roughly €210–€350 per night in the main coast towns
- Airport train to Málaga centre: €1.80; Málaga city bus: €1.40
- Caminito del Rey: €10 general ticket, €18 guided, plus €2.50 for the shuttle bus
- AP-7 toll Málaga–Marbella (Calahonda): €5.70 in low season, €9.25 in summer 2026
Flights and getting here
Málaga is one of Spain’s busiest airports, with low-cost and full-service flights from all over the UK, Scandinavia and the rest of Europe. Out of season, budget one-way fares from northern Europe can be found for well under €50 if you travel light and book early. In school holidays and summer weekends, return fares with checked luggage can easily run to several hundred euros per person. Flexible dates and midweek departures make the biggest difference.
Car hire, fuel and tolls
Car hire at Málaga airport is famously competitive. Out of season, a small economy car booked in advance can cost from around €15–30 a day, while in July and August the same car can easily cost double. Read the small print on fuel policy, insurance excess and the deposit before you book, as that is where cheap headline prices are often made up for.
Petrol costs roughly €1.45–1.55 a litre at the time of writing. If you use the AP-7 toll motorway west of Fuengirola, the main Calahonda toll costs €5.70 for a car in low season (from 1 October 2026) and €9.25 in summer; a full run from Málaga to Sotogrande comes to €11.60 in low season. The free A-7 runs parallel and is slower but perfectly usable.
Eating and drinking out
Eating out is where the Costa del Sol really shines for value, provided you eat where locals do. As a rough guide at the time of writing:
- Coffee: around €1.50–2 for a café con leche or espresso in a local bar; €3 or more for a cappuccino in tourist areas.
- Beer: a small draught beer (caña) is often €1.50–2.50 in neighbourhood bars, but €4–6 on the busiest squares and seafronts.
- Menú del día: the weekday set lunch with starter, main, dessert or coffee and a drink typically costs €12–15, from around €10 in local neighbourhoods and €15–20 in the most central tourist streets.
- Tapas: roughly €2–6 per tapa; in some bars in Málaga and inland a small tapa still comes free with a drink.
- Dinner: a simple dinner for two in a local restaurant can come to €30–50 before wine; seafront and Marbella prices are considerably higher.
Our tapas guide explains how ordering works, and why lunch is the cheapest and best meal of the day.
Local tip
Make lunch your main meal. A menú del día on a weekday is often half the price of an evening meal of the same quality, and it is what Spanish office workers do too.
Groceries for your holiday home
Self-catering keeps costs down. Supermarket prices are generally lower than in Scandinavia and broadly similar to or below the UK for fresh produce. As a guide at the time of writing, a litre of milk costs around €1, a dozen eggs €3.50–4, a half-litre can of Spanish beer about €1 and a decent bottle of local wine from about €4–6. Fruit and vegetables are cheapest at municipal markets and in season. See our guide to supermarkets on the coast for where to shop.
Local transport and attractions
Public transport is cheap. A single EMT bus ticket in Málaga costs €1.40, the Cercanías train from the airport to Málaga centre is €1.80 and to Fuengirola about €2.70. Taxis are metered, with a supplement for airport journeys, and app-based rides are widely available between Málaga and Fuengirola.
Many of the best things on the coast are free: beaches, promenades, the white villages and most viewpoints. Paid attractions are usually modest. The Caminito del Rey costs €10 for a general ticket or €18 with a guide when bought on the official website, plus €2.50 for the shuttle bus along the route. Tickets sell out at weekends and in spring, so book early.
Putting it together
For most visitors the holiday home and flights make up the lion’s share of the budget, and everything else is surprisingly manageable. A couple self-catering in spring, with a small hire car, a menú del día most days and a couple of evenings out, will usually find that daily spending on food, drink and transport is modest compared with home. In July and August the same week costs more on almost every line, from the car to the sunbed. If price matters more than guaranteed heat, May, June, late September and October are the sweet spots.
Is there a tourist tax?
Not at the time of writing. Unlike Catalonia or the Balearic Islands, Andalusia has no tourist tax, so you will not pay an extra charge per night for your holiday home. The debate is very much alive: in October 2026 the president of the Junta de Andalucía said he was not against a tax if a national law gave it a clear legal basis, and Málaga’s mayor has spoken in favour of one. Check again before future trips.
For owners and long stays
Long stays change the maths completely. A month or a whole winter on the coast is far cheaper per night than a summer week, and many guests use our long-term rentals to test life in Spain before buying. Owners who want to fill the quieter months can list their home for both holiday and longer lets.
Top photo: Roland Geider (Ogre), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
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Frequently asked questions
Is the Costa del Sol expensive?
Compared with much of northern Europe it is good value, especially for eating out and public transport. Summer accommodation and Marbella prices are the main exceptions.
How much is a menú del día on the Costa del Sol?
As of autumn 2026 a weekday menú del día typically costs €12–15, from around €10 in local neighbourhoods and €15–20 in the most touristy streets.
Do I have to pay a tourist tax in Málaga?
No. At the time of writing (October 2026) Andalusia has no tourist tax, although politicians are debating one, so check before you travel in future.
When is the cheapest time to visit the Costa del Sol?
Winter, from November to February excluding Christmas, is usually cheapest for holiday homes, flights and car hire. Late spring and autumn offer a good balance of price and weather.
How much does the Caminito del Rey cost?
A general ticket costs €10 and a guided visit €18 on the official website, plus €2.50 for the shuttle bus. Prices can change, so check when booking.
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