A resident in Marbella has been left outraged over the price of a beer in one of their local bars.
The fuming diner took to social media to share their receipt from an eatery in Calle Peral this week.
It showed one ‘copa’ of Victoria Malaga beer set them back €5, while a glass of wine was €4.50.
They wrote: ‘I’ll give you the bill for the place I was at lunchtime. I don’t know what you think, but 5 euros for a beer!!??
‘It’s like you can’t be in a ‘normal’ place in your own city anymore. Am I exaggerating? (Aside from the fact that the gilda wasn’t tasty and the brioche was 6 euros, I wouldn’t order it again.)’
The post, shared on community Instagram page @marbellasequeja sparked debate, with many sticking up for the business.
One said: ‘Start your own business, take care of the taxes, the electricity, the taxes, the water, the rent, the taxes of the taxes, the employees, etc., and you’ll see why that beer increases in price.’
‘Go to Mercadona and drink it at home,’ another fumed.
However some rushed to defend the poster, with one local writing: ‘How shameless are the people who defend the normalisation of these scam prices.’
Another chimed in: ‘In many places the drinks do not come on the menu and in many places they come asking for the drink before giving you the menu.
‘Asking how much a beer costs is ridiculous, but what one does not expect is that they charge you €5.50 for a beer (it’s happened to me).’
The incident reflects a growing frustration among locals in Marbella, and across many parts of the Costa del Sol, over what some describe as the ‘tourist tax by stealth.’
Prices in popular bars and restaurants have been steadily climbing, with residents increasingly feeling priced out of their own neighbourhoods.
While inflation, business overheads, and high-season demand are all contributing factors, the backlash shows a deeper tension between a tourism-driven economy and the everyday lives of those who live in its shadow year-round.
Read more Costa del Sol news at the Spanish Eye.
