This Spanish city offers an exceptional lifestyle and is located in one of the most charming areas on the Costa del Sol in the region of Andalusia. Marbella has something for everyone: a wild nightlife, a beautiful old town and wonderful beaches for sunbathing. For those who want to work here, the city offers various job opportunities, especially in the tourism sector. There are many who dream of living and working in Marbella.
Marbella is one of the most popular destinations on the entire Costa del Sol in Spain. The city is known all over the world for its beauty, climate, nightclubs, luxurious stores and people. A perfect blend of history and culture, natural beauty and pleasure. Here the cultural influences of the Roman and Arab past merge into a unique blend that gives the city a very special atmosphere.
As for public transportation, you can get around the city or neighboring towns by bus. The bus network is not very extensive, but it allows you to reach all the main neighboring towns. Those who like to travel by bike can explore the city by this means of transport and on the existing bike paths.
Marbella enjoys a truly enviable climate, with an average annual temperature of almost 20°C and about 330 days of sunshine a year, guaranteeing an excellent quality of life.
As in all of Andalusia, the people are approachable and relaxed, and the city truly offers something for everyone: if you like shopping, you should know that here you will find the most famous luxury brands in the world; if you like sport, there are many sports that you can practice in Marbella, although the most popular is undoubtedly golf. Marbella’s fantastic climate is perfect for sports all year round.
Here you can play golf on international level courses or play tennis; do adventurous activities like canyoning or canoeing, enjoy a nice trekking or kite surfing.
If you like skiing, you can ski on the slopes of the nearby Sierra Nevada; if you like the sea, you have it right on your doorstep. Clubs, restaurants, pubs, discos, etc. are in abundance, so Marbella offers you all the advantages of a big city in a small center, with all the benefits this brings in terms of quality of life.
Life in Marbella is expensive. The city is known for being one of the most expensive destinations in all of Spain. In general, the cost of living in Marbella is higher than in other Spanish cities or resorts. Rent for a studio can easily reach €800 to €1,000 per month. Be sure to avoid the city center, where rents reach incredible prices due to the large influx of tourists.
As in all of Andalusia, the economy of Marbella depends mainly on the tertiary sector and relies mainly on tourism and commerce. The city has developed a remarkable tourism sector, with tourists from all over Europe, with a significant percentage of upper middle and upper class people. This has led to significant investment in the real estate sector, with the construction of new buildings both for commercial use and for residential and leisure purposes. In addition to the tourism and real estate sectors, the luxury and jewelry trade, (due to the strong presence of the wealthy) and the financial sector are other drivers of the city’s economy.
The fact that the city’s economy depends almost entirely on tourism is not in itself a problem, but when that sector suffers a setback, such as during the Covid 19 pandemic, I would disagree. more than the city began to diversify its economy.
The biggest opportunities available to all continue to be in the tourism and hospitality industry, where there is a huge demand for staff, especially during the summer season. Whether you want to work as a waiter or shop assistant, if you know some foreign languages such as Russian or German in addition to English, you will have no problems finding a job.
Living and working in Marbella, pros and cons
Living in Marbella, pros
- Highly developed tourism sector
- Very beautiful city and surroundings
- Excellent weather
- Friendly and helpful people
Living in Marbella, cons
- Only seasonal employment opportunities
- Economy not very diversified and too focused on tourism
- High cost of living
Living and working in Marbella, conclusion
Since it is purely a tourist city, it is full of people from April to October, but empty in winter. It does not make much difference if you are retired or working remotely, but if you have to work, it makes a big difference. The quality of life is excellent, but job opportunities are mainly available only during the summer season, so I advise you to check carefully before you decide to move here for professional reasons.
All the information about how to find a job in Spain can be found in this guide
Those interested in moving to another Spanish city can read the related article in this blog.
