Living on the Costa del Sol
2 guides · Updated September 2026
Practical guides to daily life on the Costa del Sol for international residents: schools, healthcare, transport, residency and what each season actually feels like, written by people who live here.
In this series
The Cost of Living on the Costa del Sol (2026)
Everyday life on the Costa del Sol costs less than almost anywhere in north-west Europe; housing is what decides your budget. Verified 2026 figures: Eurostat and INE data, healthcare and electricity rates, and town-by-town housing costs from our live inventory.
10 min read
Healthcare in Spain for Expats and Non-Residents
How foreign residents actually get covered in Spain: free public healthcare through work or a UK S1 form, the €60-a-month convenio especial buy-in, and the private policy your visa demands. The 2026 rules, rates and registration steps.
7 min read
Buying in a specific area?
More guide series
Continue exploring
Buying
The Complete Guide to Buying Property in Spain
Everything international buyers need to know about purchasing property in Spain: the search and offer process, legal checks, the NIE, contra…
4 guides
Buying
Costs & Taxes When Buying and Owning in Spain
What Spanish property really costs: purchase taxes (ITP, VAT, AJD), notary and registry fees, legal fees, and the annual costs of ownership …
3 guides
Newsletter · Every Friday
Track the Costa del Sol market without the noise.
Every Friday: the properties worth a second look, what prices are doing in Marbella and Estepona, and one honest take on the market. For buyers who are serious, but not ready to be sold to yet.
Join 1,200 buyers and investors already tracking the Costa del Sol.
Reading about Living Here?
Talk to a local advisor who lives this every day.