Families planning a summer getaway on the Andalucian coast could face vastly different accommodation costs depending on where they choose to stay.
A new report by property valuation firm Tecnitasa has revealed that renting a holiday apartment for a week in August can cost anywhere from just €850 to a staggering €3,800, depending on the destination.
The findings, analysed by the Spanish Eye, show a huge €2,950 gap between Andalucia’s cheapest and most expensive beach resorts.
Puerto Banus tops the list
Unsurprisingly, Marbella has once again cemented its reputation as Andalucia’s most expensive coastal destination.
Puerto Banus takes the top spot, with a one-week rental in August costing an average of €3,800.
Other parts of Marbella are not far behind. Properties around the town centre, marina and Fontanilla beach command around €2,370 per week, while Playa Alicate, El Rosario and Marbesa average €2,240.
Elsewhere in Malaga province, prices are more manageable, although still among the highest in Andalucia.
A week in Malaga city averages €1,800, while Torremolinos, Fuengirola and Torrox all hover around €1,300.
Overall, Malaga is the most expensive province in Andalucia for beach rentals, with an average weekly cost of €1,826.
Cadiz isn’t far behind
Cadiz ranks as the second-priciest coastal province, with an average weekly rental cost of €1,725.
The most expensive area is Marina de Sotogrande in San Roque, where holidaymakers can expect to pay around €2,500 for a week in August.
Puerto Sherry and Vistahermosa in El Puerto de Santa Maria average €2,100, while Costa Ballena in Rota comes in at €1,700 and Los Lances in Tarifa at €1,650.
Even some of the province’s more affordable destinations remain expensive compared to other parts of Andalucia. La Barrosa and Novo Sancti Petri in Chiclana, along with La Alcaidesa in La Linea, all average around €1,400 per week.
The bargain destinations
At the opposite end of the scale, Granada and Huelva offer some of the best-value beach holidays in southern Spain.
The cheapest destination of all is Torrenueva, near Motril, where a week-long rental costs an average of just €850.
Matalascañas-Caño Guerrero in Huelva is the second-cheapest location in the entire study, with weekly rents averaging €890.
Punta Umbria-El Portil (€955), Isla Canela (€960) and Islantilla (€1,010) also rank among Andalucia’s most affordable seaside destinations.
Thanks to these lower prices, Huelva emerges as the cheapest coastal province overall, with an average weekly rental cost of €954.
Granada and Almeria sit in the middle
Granada’s Costa Tropical offers some of the widest price variations in Andalucia.
While Torrenueva is the region’s cheapest destination, Velilla in Almuñécar averages €1,900 per week and Playa Granada in Motril reaches €1,700.
Almeria sits in the middle of the rankings with an average weekly cost of €1,164.
Mojacar and San Jose are the province’s most expensive destinations at €1,400 per week, while a beachfront rental in Almería city averages around €900.
Holiday prices continue to rise
The report also found that holiday rental prices across Spain have increased by 6.5% compared to last year, adding further pressure on families looking for a summer escape.
For travellers willing to look beyond the glamour of Marbella and Sotogrande, however, there are still bargains to be found.
The difference between spending a week in Puerto Banus and a week in Torrenueva is almost €3,000 – enough to pay for flights, meals and plenty of beachside drinks with money left over.
Read more Andalucia news at the Spanish Eye.
