Málaga hits €3,938/m²: where expats can still buy affordably in Andalusia

Málaga city now averages €3,938 per square metre – a new all-time high for August 2026, according to idealista. Málaga province as a whole is even higher at €4,293. If you are planning to buy in Andalusia, these are the numbers your budget has to survive.

The new numbers: Málaga pulls away, Andalusia overtakes Spain

According to the idealista price index for August 2026, a square metre of resale property in Málaga city now costs €3,938. That is 5.1% more than a year ago and €1,014 above the Spanish average. Within the city, prices range from €4,990 in the Este district to €2,715 in Ciudad Jardín.

The jump is even sharper at province level. Málaga province, which includes the Costa del Sol, stands at €4,293 per square metre and is the most expensive province in Andalusia, as The Objective reports based on idealista data. Andalusia as a whole reaches €2,938 – up 10.9% in twelve months and, for the first time, just above the national figure.

Property prices by province, resale, August 2026 (source: idealista)

The pace inland is striking. Seville, Almería and Granada are rising faster in percentage terms than Málaga. Prices there are still low, but the gap is closing – anyone planning to buy there no longer has unlimited time.

What this means for you as an expat

1. Buying on the Costa del Sol: recalculate your budget

A 100-square-metre flat in Málaga city works out at roughly €394,000, and on the coast of the province at an average of €429,000. On top of that come Andalusia’s purchase costs of around 10 to 12%, above all the property transfer tax (ITP). If you set your budget a year ago, price growth alone has pushed you five to seven percent off target.

So check first what the bank will carry. For non-residents, Spanish banks usually finance only 60 to 70% of the purchase price – the details are in our guide to mortgages for foreigners in Spain. The full process from the nota simple check to the notary appointment is covered in buying property in Spain.

2. Renting instead of buying: new records here too

If you want to rent first, you cannot escape the market either. Málaga province asks €18.70 per square metre per month according to the same data, Málaga city €16.50. An 80-square-metre flat in the capital therefore costs around €1,320 a month before bills. Seville is at €12.20 per square metre, Huelva city at €11.10.

For the first twelve months, renting is still often the smarter decision: you get to know the district, the neighbours and the commute before committing for 30 years. What to check in the contract is in our guide to renting an apartment in Spain, and you should know the rules on getting your rental deposit back before you sign.

3. Look east and inland

The numbers show where your money goes further. Seville at €2,073 per square metre costs less than half of Málaga province, Granada is at €1,871 – with the Sierra Nevada, a university and the coast an hour away. Cádiz also stays well below Málaga at €2,524, even though the province includes the Costa de la Luz. For what a home by the sea costs on each coast, town by town, see our guide to buying a house in Andalucia.

Families who depend on international schools and an airport with direct flights need to look more closely. Our comparison of the best places for families in Andalusia shows which locations offer the complete package. And if you do not know the region yet, plan a scouting trip before you request a single listing.

Run your own numbers before you decide

With the ExpatAndalucia budget calculator you can combine rent or mortgage payments with the cost of living in Andalusia and see within minutes whether your budget works in Málaga, Seville or Cádiz. Use the August figures from the table, not last year’s numbers.