City · Andalucía · All places
A packed Costa del Sol resort town with a huge foreign community, a flat seafront, a train to Málaga and some of Spain's highest crime.
Fuengirola is a compact, intensely built-up resort town on the Costa del Sol, about thirty kilometres south-west of Málaga, with Mijas rising on the hills behind it. It has a long, flat seafront, a Moorish castle on a hump by the sea, a commuter train to Málaga and its airport, and a population in which nearly half were born abroad. The town has 85,211 residents (2025).
It is a place that works for foreign residents and winter visitors, with services in several languages and a settled community. It suits retirees, remote workers and sun-seekers who want an easy, walkable life, and it suits them better than people who want a quiet, green, cheap or very safe place.
Data as of · the latest figures cover Jun 2026
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What the data says
Fuengirola stands out for digital and climate; it is weaker on prosperity and safety. A typical 70 m² rental costs about €650 a month (2024).
Who it suits, 0 to 100
Practical conclusions we draw from Fuengirola’s figures. They are inferences, not official statistics: each says what it rests on.
Few residents come from English-speaking or northern European countries, so daily life runs in Spanish. Contracts, the town hall and most doctors work in Spanish.
Summer nights stay warm, so sleep depends on a cooled bedroom. Check for air-conditioning before you sign.
Thefts without violence happen 2.1 times as often as in the typical Spanish city. Keep phones and bags close in busy areas and on public transport.
Almost every home can get gigabit fibre, so working from home is not a gamble on the flat you pick.
Non-urgent surgery takes longer than in most of Spain (Andalucía-wide figure). Many residents add private health insurance.
Fried fish and espetos of sardines grilled on the beach, with Finnish, British, Indian and Moroccan restaurants close by.
Easygoing by day, with the seafront crowded from morning, and busy late in the summer nights.
Bars and clubs in Los Boliches and along the seafront, Irish pubs, live music at the castle and a lot of hotel entertainment.
The old centre around the Plaza de la Constitución, Los Boliches with the nightlife, Torreblanca further along the coast, and the hills of Mijas above.
Spanish and English, with Finnish, Swedish, German and Arabic all heard in the streets.
The Virgen del Carmen sea procession in July and the big October fair of the Virgen del Rosario.
The long seafront walk, water sports, the hills of Mijas and hiking above the coast.
The seafront is the real centre of the town. The Paseo Marítimo Rey de España runs for miles along a flat, tree-lined promenade, with beaches on one side and cafes and apartments on the other, and it is where residents walk, cycle and run. The Moorish castle of Sohail sits on a hill by the sea and hosts concerts in summer. The Bioparc, a zoo designed around the habitats of its animals, is the best-known attraction for families.
The town has two characters. The old centre, around the Plaza de la Constitución and the church, has markets, small shops and Spanish bars, while Los Boliches is the nightlife and tourist district. Behind them the town climbs onto the lower slopes of Mijas, with quieter residential streets, though these are steep.
The foreign community is large and organised. There are Finnish and Scandinavian clubs, a Finnish school, English-language churches and societies, English-speaking doctors and pubs for every nationality. You can live well here with little Spanish. The danger is that you never learn it.
Fuengirola was a fishing village until the sixties, when tourism arrived on the Costa del Sol, and it grew from there into a town of apartment blocks, hotels, bars and shops. The municipality is small and was almost fully built within a few decades, which is why it feels dense, vertical and urban for a resort. First Spanish holidaymakers from Madrid and inland Andalusia came, then British and German visitors, and later northern Europeans, especially Finns and Swedes, who made it a winter and then permanent home. The foreign-born share is 44.4% (2025), the second highest of any Spanish city of its size.
The population is also old: the median age is 48.6 years (2025), and seniors make up 24.1% (2025). Many are retired foreigners, and the town has the clinics, pharmacies and services that go with that.
The economy is tourism, hospitality, retail, property and services for residents. That explains the low incomes and the high unemployment. Household income is €12,956 a year (2024), and unemployment is 13.0% (2025). Prosperity comes out weak, and jobs come out below average.
Housing is expensive against those wages. A typical 70 m² flat rents for about €650 a month (2024), and buying costs €3,758 per square metre (Q2 2026). Rents rose by 4.3% in one year (2024), and housing comes out weak. Holiday lets and foreign buyers compete with local tenants.
Safety is the weakest part. Recorded crime is 74.5 per 1,000 people (2024), one of the highest rates among Spanish cities, and sexual offences are 0.84 per 1,000 people (2024), among the highest. Theft is 2,525 per 100k people (2025). The town comes out weak on safety. The causes are plain: large crowds of visitors, a busy night scene in Los Boliches and along the seafront, and a small resident population against which every offence is counted. Most incidents are pickpocketing and nightlife-related, and daytime life for residents is generally calm.
The town has no hospital of its own, and people use the main public hospital on the road towards Marbella, or private clinics in the town. Healthcare still comes out average. Life expectancy is 83.2 years (2023). Digital connectivity is strong, with fibre reaching 100% of homes (2025), and the town comes out strong on digital.
Figures for Fuengirola itself, not its region. Each shows the period it covers.
Each card uses Fuengirola data only and compares it with similar cities. Open “Why this score?” to see the measures behind it.
Digital is strong: in the top 10% of Spanish cities above 50,000.
Homes with fibre to the door: 99.7% — better than 90% of Spanish cities above 50,000
Strong: 85 out of 100, where 50 is typical for the comparison group. These are the measures behind it.
| Measure | Value | Compared with peers |
|---|---|---|
| Homes that can get gigabit internetFuengirola · 2025 | 99.5% | better than 80% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| Homes with fibre to the doorFuengirola · 2025 | 99.7% | better than 90% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| 5G coverageFuengirola · 2025 | 100% | better than 85% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
Climate is above average: in the top 10% of major European cities.
Pleasant days (18–28 °C, dry): 189 days a year — better than 99% of major European cities
Above average: 72 out of 100, where 50 is typical for the comparison group. These are the measures behind it.
| Measure | Value | Compared with peers |
|---|---|---|
| Pleasant days (18–28 °C, dry)Fuengirola · 2015-01-01..2024-12-31 | 189 days a year | better than 99% of major European cities |
| Days above 35 °CFuengirola · 2015-01-01..2024-12-31 | 0.00 days a year | better than 88% of major European cities |
| Nights above 20 °CFuengirola · 2015-01-01..2024-12-31 | 95.0 nights a year | better than 4% of major European cities |
Transport is around the middle: around the middle of Spanish cities above 50,000.
Average commute (one way): 32.3 minutes — better than 89% of Spanish cities above 50,000
Average: 47 out of 100, where 50 is typical for the comparison group. These are the measures behind it.
| Measure | Value | Compared with peers |
|---|---|---|
| Average commute (one way)Fuengirola · 2021 | 32.3 minutes | better than 89% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| Commute by carFuengirola · 2021 | 63.6% | better than 34% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| Commute by public transportFuengirola · 2021 | 6.00% | better than 8% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
Healthcare is around the middle: around the middle of Spanish cities above 50,000.
Life expectancy: 83.2 years — worse than 56% of Spanish cities above 50,000
Average: 44 out of 100, where 50 is typical for the comparison group. These are the measures behind it.
| Measure | Value | Compared with peers |
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancyFuengirola · 2023 | 83.2 years | better than 44% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
Jobs is below average: in the bottom quarter of Spanish cities above 50,000.
Unemployment, change in a year: -0.06 points — worse than 79% of Spanish cities above 50,000
Below average: 28 out of 100, where 50 is typical for the comparison group. These are the measures behind it.
| Measure | Value | Compared with peers |
|---|---|---|
| UnemploymentFuengirola · 2025 | 13.0% | better than 33% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| Unemployment, change in a yearFuengirola · 2025 | -0.06 points | better than 21% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
Housing is weak: in the bottom 10% of Spanish cities above 50,000.
Buying price per m²: 3,758 €/m² — worse than 87% of Spanish cities above 50,000
Weak: 23 out of 100, where 50 is typical for the comparison group. These are the measures behind it.
| Measure | Value | Compared with peers |
|---|---|---|
| Rent per m²Fuengirola · 2024 | 9.29 €/m² a month | better than 26% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| Rents, change in a yearFuengirola · 2024 | 4.30% | better than 16% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| Buying price per m²Fuengirola · 2026-Q2 | 3,758 €/m² | better than 13% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| Rent growth a year, over 3 yearsFuengirola · 2024 | 6.25% | better than 16% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| House prices, change in a yearFuengirola · 2026-Q2 | 14.8% | better than 47% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
Connectivity is weak: in the bottom 10% of major European cities.
Distance to the main airport: 16.8 km — worse than 78% of major European cities
Weak: 22 out of 100, where 50 is typical for the comparison group. These are the measures behind it.
| Measure | Value | Compared with peers |
|---|---|---|
| Distance to the main airportFuengirola · 2026-10-21 | 16.8 km | better than 22% of major European cities |
Safety is weak: in the bottom 10% of Spanish cities above 50,000.
Sexual offences: 0.84 per 1,000 people — worse than 97% of Spanish cities above 50,000
Weak: 14 out of 100, where 50 is typical for the comparison group. These are the measures behind it.
| Measure | Value | Compared with peers |
|---|---|---|
| HomicidesFuengirola · 2025 | 3.52 per 100k people | better than 4% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| Recorded crimeFuengirola · 2024 | 74.5 per 1,000 people | better than 8% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| RobberiesFuengirola · 2025 | 169 per 100k people | better than 21% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| BurglariesFuengirola · 2025 | 83.3 per 100k people | better than 75% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| Sexual offencesFuengirola · 2024 | 0.84 per 1,000 people | better than 3% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| TheftsFuengirola · 2025 | 2,525 per 100k people | better than 9% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
| Vehicle theftsFuengirola · 2025 | 195 per 100k people | better than 4% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
Prosperity is weak: in the bottom quarter of Spanish cities above 50,000.
Household income per person: 12,956 € a year per person — worse than 87% of Spanish cities above 50,000
Weak: 13 out of 100, where 50 is typical for the comparison group. These are the measures behind it.
| Measure | Value | Compared with peers |
|---|---|---|
| Household income per personFuengirola · 2024 | 12,956 € a year per person | better than 13% of Spanish cities above 50,000 |
What we cannot score for Fuengirola yet
Highs around 27° in August, lows around 12° in January. 189 pleasant days a year (dry, 18–28 °C). 95 warm nights above 20 °C: check for air-conditioning.
| Month | High | Low | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 15.3°C | 11.6°C | 47 mm |
| February | 15.7°C | 11.8°C | 38 mm |
| March | 16.8°C | 12.6°C | 83 mm |
| April | 18.1°C | 14.1°C | 48 mm |
| May | 21.0°C | 16.5°C | 30 mm |
| June | 23.9°C | 19.1°C | 5 mm |
| July | 27.1°C | 22.1°C | 1 mm |
| August | 27.4°C | 23.0°C | 3 mm |
| September | 24.9°C | 20.9°C | 21 mm |
| October | 21.9°C | 18.3°C | 52 mm |
| November | 18.5°C | 14.8°C | 60 mm |
| December | 16.5°C | 13.2°C | 46 mm |
Fuengirola is built for sun. The town comes out above average on climate, with very hot days numbering 0 a year (2015–2024), because the sea keeps the town cooler than the interior. Summer is humid and warm, the beaches are packed, and the seafront is busy until after midnight.
Winters are mild and bright, with frost days numbering 0 a year (2015–2024). Pleasant days number 189 a year (2015–2024), and rainfall is 434 mm a year (2015–2024). Spring and autumn are the best seasons, and the winter population returns from northern Europe from October. Occasionally a hot wind from the interior, the terral, makes a day in summer much hotter.
Lines start with Spain; switch the others on to compare.
43/100 · average · 84th of 106 Spanish cities above 50,000
13.0% in 2025
14.8% in Q2 2026
€9.3 per m² a month in 2024
€3,758 per m² in Q2 2026
83.2 years in 2023
Facts about the people who live in Fuengirola. Shown as context only: none of this changes a score.
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Fit from the data, 0 to 100, against other Spanish cities. Open a group to see the figures behind it.
The coast and the Mijas hills are close, with a mild climate and sea sports available most of the year.
Not measured yet: Environment, Fine-particle pollution (PM2.5), Lifestyle, Nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), Strong-wind days.
One of the best choices on the coast, with fibre, a train to Málaga and a large community of English-speaking remote workers.
Not measured yet: Cost of Living, Fixed broadband penetration, Lifestyle.
A well-worn path for foreign retirees, with sun, a flat promenade and a large community, though crime and summer crowds are the cost.
Better nearby for retirees: Motril (67), Rincón de la Victoria (64), El Ejido (63)
Not measured yet: Cost of Living, Doctors, Environment, Nitrogen dioxide (NO₂).
Hospitality, property services, language and health services for foreign residents are the natural businesses, with a ready market.
Nothing stands out.
Better nearby for founders and self-employed: Torremolinos (56), Granada (53)
Not measured yet: Jobs in high-tech sectors, Regulatory quality.
The seafront and the hills offer comfortable homes, but the money on the coast goes to Marbella, and recorded crime counts against Fuengirola.
Nothing stands out.
Better nearby for high earners and investors: Utrera (55), La Línea de la Concepción (54), Rincón de la Victoria (54)
Not measured yet: Average dwelling size, Education, Environment, Income tax and social security, average earner, Total tax on labour, average earner.
The culture here is international, with concerts at the castle and festivals, but the real museums are in Málaga.
Better nearby for culture, food and nightlife: Granada (69), Cádiz (54), Almería (53)
Not measured yet: Lifestyle, Walk most.
Hard to build a career here, with a job market centred on hospitality and a social scene that is more holiday than home.
Better nearby for young professionals: Granada (53), Cádiz (51), Jaén (49)
Not measured yet: Jobs in high-tech sectors, Lifestyle, Median gross salary, Youth unemployment (15–24).
Warm, with a beach and a zoo, but dense, noisy and costly, with a lot of crime for a family town.
Better nearby for families with children: Linares (64), Jaén (60), Utrera (56)
Not measured yet: 15-year-olds' maths (PISA), Average dwelling size, Childcare availability, Education, Environment, Nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), Pre-primary participation.
There is no university in the town, and the University of Málaga is a train ride away.
Better nearby for students: Granada (64), Jaén (64), Córdoba (60)
Not measured yet: Cost of Living, Cycle most, Education, Lifestyle, Price level vs EU average, Walk most, Youth unemployment (15–24).
Not cheap, as rents are high against local incomes, and it ranks among the harder coastal towns for a small budget.
Nothing stands out.
Better nearby for budget-conscious movers: Linares (72), Utrera (66), El Ejido (65)
Not measured yet: Cost of Living, Households spending >40% of income on housing, Price level vs EU average.
Taxes, residency and the wider economy are set nationally, so they are the same in Fuengirola as anywhere in Spain.
Compared with Fuengirola; each card says where it is better or worse for someone living there.
70 m²: €635 a month
Compare with Fuengirola70 m²: €705 a month
Compare with Fuengirola70 m²: €474 a month
Compare with Fuengirola70 m²: €474 a month
Compare with Fuengirola70 m²: €470 a month
Compare with Fuengirola70 m²: €440 a month
Compare with FuengirolaGuide written 2026-10-22. Figures are refreshed as new official data is published; the period beside each number says what it covers. “Our read” cards are our inferences from those figures. How we score
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