Once among the poorest countries in Europe, Poland has pulled off one of the continent’s most impressive economic turnarounds, and nowhere is that more visible than on Spain’s Mediterranean coast.
What began in the 1990s as a migration of Polish workers searching for opportunity in Spanish construction and hospitality sectors has, three decades later, transformed into something entirely different.
Increasingly, Polish investors are buying villas, penthouses and entire beachfront portfolios across the Costa del Sol.
Poland’s GDP per capita (adjusted for purchasing power) is set to surpass Spain’s by 2026, according to IMF forecasts. And in places like Marbella, Benahavís, and Malaga, the buyers are speaking fluent Polish.
From labourers to landlords
In 1998, fewer than 6,000 Poles lived in Spain. By 2008, at the peak of Eastern European labour migration, that number had climbed above 80,000. Many worked jobs in construction, retail, or restaurants, in vital but low-paid roles.
Fast forward to 2025 and the number of Polish residents has dropped to 55,000, not due to waning interest, but because many have returned to a thriving homeland.
The new arrivals, and the ones who stayed, aren’t looking for jobs but are here to invest.
Polish buyers are reshaping the market
According to Spain’s College of Registrars, Poles are the fastest-growing nationality among foreign property buyers.
In both 2023 and 2024, they ranked ninth in terms of transactions, surging closer to overtaking the Belgians. In Q2 of 2025 alone, Polish buyers closed over 1,000 deals, a record-breaking figure.
Firms like the Marbella-based Agnes Inversiones have been set up to cater to Polish clients.
CEO Agnes Marciniak-Kostrzewa told El Economista: ‘In the second quarter of 2025, Polish nationals bought 1,085 properties in Spain, that’s 8% higher than the same period in 2024, and over 35% higher year-on-year when comparing 2023 to 2024.’
Her agency is tracking dozens of transactions above the €3 million mark, many paid without financing.
Why are Poles buying now?
The surge in Polish buyers has multiple roots, including:
- Poland’s EU accession in 2004 helped unleash a generation of successful entrepreneurs and middle-class professionals.
- The post-COVID remote work boom allowed Polish executives to consider relocation or long-term investment abroad.
- The war in Ukraine, close to home, triggered a psychological shift, with some buyers began seeking ‘plan B’ residencies in Spain.
- Strong economic growth (3% in 2024, 3.5% forecasted for 2025) has expanded the ranks of wealthy Poles.
- Property prices in Spain are often lower than in Warsaw, with better weather, lower taxes and high rental yields.
‘Spain offers a better return on investment than many Polish cities,’ added Kasia Kolodziejska, of Dream Property Marbella.
‘Tourism keeps demand high, and rental income makes these purchases even more appealing.’
While the Costa del Sol remains the top destination, especially Malaga, Marbella, and Estepona, agents also report growing interest in:
- Costa Blanca (Alicante): beachfront properties at lower prices.
- Madrid & Barcelona: urban apartments for lifestyle or income.
- Balearic & Canary Islands: secluded luxury or resort-style living.
Malaga in particular is booming, not just for real estate, but as a tech hub attracting firms like Google, IBM, and Accenture, and the digital nomads that follow.
Read more Spain property news at the Spanish Eye.
