What does a home on the Costa Blanca actually cost per square metre, and how much do you need on top of the price? For UK and other international buyers, the answer depends on the town and on the region it belongs to. This article sticks to the numbers: dated, sourced prices per m², a side-by-side comparison of buying costs in the Valencian Community and the Region of Murcia, and an eight-step purchase plan showing what you pay at each stage. For the wider picture, including north versus south and financing, see our complete guide to buying a house on the Costa Blanca.
Price per m² by area: dated benchmarks
The figures below are asking prices published by the property portal idealista, not completed sale prices. They differ between idealista’s monthly reports and its valuation pages, and between portals, so treat every figure as indicative and read it with its date.
| Area | Indicative asking price (€/m²) | Date | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alicante city | 2,721 (+6.8% year on year) | Aug 2026 | idealista |
| Alicante province | ≈ 2,744 to 2,834 (reports differ) | Jun–Jul 2026 | idealista, via press reports |
| Torrevieja | ≈ 2,548 (+16.6% year on year) | May 2026 | idealista, via press reports |
| Orihuela (municipality) | 2,847 (+11.9%) | Jan 2026 | idealista |
| Orihuela Costa | ≈ 2,990 | Jan 2026 | idealista |
| Guardamar del Segura | 2,791 (+18.7%) | Apr 2026 | idealista |
| Pilar de la Horadada | no reliable municipal figure; Torre de la Horadada sub-area ≈ 3,746 (+17%) | Jun 2026 | idealista (sub-area) |
| Finestrat | ≈ 3,423 | Jun 2026 | idealista (valuation page) |
| Calpe | 3,567 (+4.5%) | Jun 2026 | idealista |
| Altea | ≈ 3,636 | mid-2026 | idealista (valuation page) |
| Benidorm | ≈ 3,731 | mid-2026 | idealista (valuation page) |
| Jávea/Xàbia | ≈ 4,118 | Jun 2026 | idealista (valuation page) |
| Region of Murcia (resale, regional average) | 1,747 (+23%) | Apr 2026 | idealista, via press reports |
| Murcia city | 1,621 (+15.3%) | Jun 2026 | idealista |
| Murcia coast (San Javier, Los Alcázares, San Pedro del Pinatar, Mazarrón, Águilas) | no reliable 2026 figure: prices vary by area | — | — |
Reading the table correctly
- The south is no longer “cheap” by 2020 standards. Undated claims such as “€1,500/m² on the Costa Blanca” reflect 2019–2021 levels. In 2026 Torrevieja is around €2,548/m² (indicative, idealista, May 2026) and Orihuela Costa around €2,990/m² (indicative, idealista, January 2026).
- The north remains dearer: from Calpe to Jávea, asking prices sit between roughly €3,567 and €4,118/m² (indicative, idealista, June 2026).
- Provincial averages mislead. Another portal, pisos.com, showed about €2,233/m² for Alicante province in June 2026, well below idealista. Never compare a provincial average with a coastal town.
- In Murcia, the regional average (€1,747/m², indicative, idealista, April 2026) includes inland areas. We have no reliable figure for the Mar Menor and coastal towns, so ask us for recent comparable properties.
Price per m² times floor area gives an order of magnitude, not a budget: condition, terrace, distance to the sea and new build versus resale all move the real price.
Valencia or Murcia: the border that changes your costs
Purchase taxes depend on the region where the property is located, not on your nationality. Pilar de la Horadada, Torrevieja, Orihuela Costa and Guardamar del Segura are in Alicante province (Valencian Community). Los Alcázares, San Pedro del Pinatar and San Javier are in the Region of Murcia.
| Type of purchase | Valencian Community | Region of Murcia |
|---|---|---|
| Resale: transfer tax (ITP) | 9% (deeds from 1 June 2026; 10% before) | 7.75% (from 25 July 2025; 8% before) |
| New build (first sale by the developer) | 10% VAT + 1.4% AJD = 11.4% | 10% VAT + 1.5% AJD = 11.5% |
| Property over €1,000,000 | ITP 11% (check with the notary) | — |
| Typical total costs, resale | ≈ 10.5 to 11.5% | ≈ 9.5 to 10.5% |
| Typical total costs, new build | ≈ 12.5 to 13.5% | ≈ 12.5 to 13.5% |
On a resale, the deed pays ITP only, with no AJD on top. On a new build it is the other way round: VAT plus AJD, and no ITP. The legal texts are published in the BOE for the Valencian Community and the BOE for the Region of Murcia.
Worked example: a €250,000 property
| Item | Valencia resale | Valencia new build | Murcia resale | Murcia new build |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Taxes | ITP 9%: €22,500 | VAT + AJD: €28,500 | ITP 7.75%: €19,375 | VAT + AJD: €28,750 |
| Typical total costs | ≈ €26,250 to €28,750 | ≈ €31,250 to €33,750 | ≈ €23,750 to €26,250 | ≈ €31,250 to €33,750 |
The totals add the following fees to the taxes, all estimated for a purchase of around €250,000:
- Notary: an official sliding-scale tariff, not a percentage; usually €700 to €1,000 including copies and VAT. Unless agreed otherwise, the seller pays the original deed and the buyer pays the copies.
- Land Registry: usually €400 to €700.
- Gestoría (filing taxes and registration): often €300 to €600 + VAT, based on market practice.
- Independent lawyer: optional but recommended, often around 1% + VAT.
- Mortgage: you pay the valuation (about €300 to €600); the lender pays the notary, registry and AJD on the loan deed.
- Agency commission: on a resale it is usually paid by the seller; on a new build, by the developer.
Reduced ITP rates (young buyers, large families, disability) apply only to a main home. In practice, a non-resident buying a second home does not qualify.
Eight-step purchase plan, with what you pay
Step 1 — Set the full budget
Start from your target price and add 9.5 to 13.5% depending on region and property type (see the table above). If you borrow in Spain, banks usually lend non-residents 60 to 70% of the lower of price and valuation, and some lend only 50 to 60% to non-EU buyers such as UK residents, so plan for a substantial deposit. We do not arrange mortgages; speak to a Spanish bank or a mortgage broker.
Step 2 — Apply for your NIE
The NIE is required to sign the deed and pay the taxes. Apply at a Spanish consulate (by appointment) or in Spain at a Policía Nacional office (with cita previa), using form EX-15, your passport and the reason (buying property). The fee (form 790, code 012) is €9.84 in 2026, according to the Policía Nacional. There is no official processing time: expect anything from the same day to several weeks. See also our article on the role of the NIE when buying in Spain.
Step 3 — Choose the area and check the region
Compare the dated prices per m² with real listings, and check which region each property is in: it sets the ITP (9% or 7.75%) and the AJD on new builds (1.4% or 1.5%).
Step 4 — Reserve and sign the private contract
A reservation takes the property off the market; a private contract (often an arras contract) then sets the price, deposit, deadlines and withdrawal terms. Amounts are specific to each contract, so have your lawyer review it before you pay anything.
Step 5 — Have an independent lawyer check the property
The independent lawyer we recommend checks the title, any charges or debts, planning status and permits. On an off-plan purchase, they also review the payment schedule in the contract.
Step 6 — Sign the deed before the notary
When the escritura is signed, you pay the balance of the price; the taxes (ITP, or VAT and AJD) are then paid within the legal deadlines, often through the gestoría. If the seller is non-resident, the buyer must withhold 3% of the price and pay it to the tax office within one month (Modelo 211). Cannot be there in person? You can buy through a power of attorney, and we guide you through the paperwork.
Step 7 — Registration and getting set up
The deed is entered in the Land Registry, then you set up water and electricity contracts with your NIE. On a new build, our after-sales support helps you, for example with the choice of materials.
Step 8 — Plan for annual taxes
Each year you pay IBI (municipal property tax) and, as a non-resident, income tax on the imputed income of the home (Modelo 210). Since Brexit, UK residents pay 24%, not the 19% EU rate. For 2026 income, the return is filed between 1 April and 31 December 2027. If you let the property, Spain taxes the gross rent at 24% for UK residents, with no deductible expenses, and HMRC gives Foreign Tax Credit Relief capped at the UK tax on the same income. For your own situation, speak to a tax adviser.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average price per m² on the Costa Blanca in 2026?
There is no single figure. Asking prices range from about €2,548/m² in Torrevieja (indicative, idealista, May 2026) to about €4,118/m² in Jávea (indicative, idealista, June 2026). Provincial averages differ from one portal to another.
Are buying costs lower in the Region of Murcia?
For a resale, yes: ITP is 7.75% against 9% in the Valencian Community, or roughly 9.5 to 10.5% total costs against 10.5 to 11.5%. For a new build the gap is small: 11.5% in taxes in Murcia against 11.4% in Valencia.
How much should I add to the price of a new build?
About 12.5 to 13.5% in total: 10% VAT, 1.4% (Valencia) or 1.5% (Murcia) AJD, plus notary, registry, gestoría and, if you choose, a lawyer.
Is Pilar de la Horadada in Murcia?
No. Pilar de la Horadada is the southernmost municipality of Alicante province, so Valencian rates apply (9% ITP on a resale).
Do listing prices match sale prices?
Not necessarily. The figures in the table are asking prices published by idealista on different dates. Use them as benchmarks; the price you sign depends on the property and the negotiation.
Let’s talk about your budget
Maison Costa Blanca, a Belgian company based in La Louvière, works with Costa Blanca Sales, active since 2000 with an office in Villamartín. We offer new builds (key-ready or off-plan) and resale properties on the southern Costa Blanca and in the Region of Murcia, with a team that speaks English, French, Dutch and Spanish. Tell us the area and budget you have in mind and we will reply with current property examples and a cost estimate for that region. Contact us.
