Living on the Costa Blanca or in the Murcia region

Key rules

• Choose by town: Quality and services vary a lot between towns, so judge the exact town rather than the whole coast.
• Winter visit: Visit in winter before you commit, because some urbanizations are quiet or shut then.
• Rents: Murcia region rents are lower than Alicante province, but coastal Alicante rents have risen sharply.
• Flood risk: Ask about flood risk for the exact street before you rent or buy.
• Inland villages: Inland villages have fewer English-speaking services than coastal towns.

The short answer

The Costa Blanca (Alicante province) and the Murcia region are cheaper than much of Spain and set up for foreign residents. Quality varies by town, and seasonality is real. A town that is lively in August can feel half closed in January. Choose the town, not just the coast.

What it costs

Rents in Alicante province are around the national average or a little below, roughly €11–13 per square metre per month. They have risen sharply in coastal towns such as Torrevieja, Alicante city and Benidorm. The Murcia region is among the cheapest in Spain, about €7–9 per square metre.

Groceries and utilities are a little below the national average in both areas, and usually lower in Murcia. Local wages are also below average, so a local salary goes less far. The areas suit you best if you are retired or work remotely.

Healthcare, schools and help with paperwork

Both areas are well served.

• Alicante province: public hospitals include Dr. Balmis in Alicante, Sant Joan d'Alacant, Elche, Torrevieja and Vinalopó. Private options include Quirónsalud Torrevieja, Vithas Alicante and IMED Benidorm.
• Murcia region: public hospitals include Virgen de la Arrixaca and Reina Sofía. There are also private Quirónsalud and HLA centres.
• International schools: around Alicante you will find the British School of Alicante, Lady Elizabeth School, Aitana and Costa Blanca International College in Torrevieja. In the Murcia area there are King's College Murcia, Colegio Internacional Mare Nostrum and Laude Newton College. Lists and admissions change, so ask each school directly.
• Help in English: many gestorías (paperwork agents), lawyers and expat clinics work in English. Coastal town halls often have a foreign-residents department with multilingual staff. Inland villages have far fewer English-speaking services.

You will deal with the national police station for your TIE and with your town hall for the padrón. The documents list below covers both.

Getting around

Alicante-Elche airport is big, with many routes to the UK, Ireland, Germany, the Netherlands, the Nordic countries and Belgium. It also has domestic flights to Madrid, Barcelona and the Balearics. Murcia's airport at Corvera is small, with a few UK and European routes and limited domestic ones.

By high-speed train, Madrid to Alicante takes about 2h20–2h30. Madrid to Murcia takes about 3h to 3h15. Alicante to Valencia takes about 1h50, and Murcia to Alicante about 1h by train or bus. The Alicante tram links Alicante, Benidorm and Dénia. Torrevieja has no train. Without a car, expect to rely on buses there.

Airlines and routes change each season, so check current timetables.

Seasonality and town quality

Resort towns such as Benidorm, Torrevieja, Orihuela Costa, Calpe, Dénia and La Manga swell several-fold in summer and winter with tourists and part-year residents. Some beachfront urbanizations are quiet or shut in winter, with fewer bars and shops. Healthcare and parking can be stretched in summer.

Towns that stay lively all year include Alicante city, Elche, Murcia city, Dénia and Jávea. Inland and city locations are generally less seasonal.

Quality differs:

• Jávea, Altea, Dénia and Alicante city are costlier and more polished.
• Torrevieja, Benidorm and parts of the Mar Menor have dense building and older housing. The Mar Menor also has an ongoing ecological decline.

Weather risk

Heavy autumn and winter rain can cause flooding. Alicante saw serious floods in 2019, and the Valencia region in 2024. Ask the town hall or a local about flood risk for the exact street or urbanization before you rent or buy.

How to judge a town

Visit in winter, when you see who stays. Compare the town's padrón numbers with how busy it feels in summer. The checklist below walks you through this step by step.

Documents you need

• Your TIE (foreigner identity card), issued at a national police station through the Extranjería process. Needed if you are a non-EU resident.

• Your padrón registration (certificate of registration at your town hall). It counts you in the town's population figures, so register in the town where you actually live.

Checklist

• Compare rents per square metre: Alicante province is around €11–13/m² per month and the Murcia region about €7–9/m².

• Visit your shortlisted town in winter to see how many bars, shops and neighbours stay.

• Check the town's padrón numbers to see how many residents live there year-round.

• Find the nearest public hospital and a private one, and check which English-speaking services are close by.

• Check international school names and admissions if you have children, as lists change.

• Confirm the airport and train options you need, and check current timetables.

Frequently asked questions

Can I get to Madrid easily without a car?

Yes. High-speed trains from Alicante take about 2h20-2h30 to Madrid. From Murcia the trip takes about 3h-3h15. Torrevieja has no train, so you would go by bus or road first.

Which airport is better for flights home, Alicante or Murcia?

Alicante-Elche is the bigger one, with many UK, Irish, German, Dutch, Nordic and Belgian routes plus domestic flights.

Is the weather a risk in winter?

Heavy winter rain can cause flooding in some areas. Alicante had floods in 2019, and the Valencia region was hit in 2024. Ask about flood risk in any area you are considering.

Where do I find English-speaking help with paperwork?

Many gestorías and lawyers on the coast speak English.