The Costa del Sol is the southern coastal region of the province of Malaga. It is one of the most important tourist areas in Spain, concentrating a large part of tourism from all over Andalusia. In this article we analyze the pros and cons of living on the Costa del Sol. The Costa del Sol is one of the most hospitable and peaceful places in the world with a modern infrastructure and a relaxed and stress-free lifestyle.
On the coast there are some of the most famous Spanish tourist centers: Marbella, Nerja, Torremolinos, Fuengirola, Estepona, places dedicated to seasonal tourism and mainly present in the summer months. They are all places whose economy is entirely based on tourism. This means that from May to September they are full of people, but from October to April they are much quieter. When a person is retired it makes little difference, but if you want to work year-round, you will surely wish for a city where there are more job opportunities and more entertainment options all year round, such as Malaga.
Malaga is a modern Spanish city, endowed with a public university and two private universities that also offer courses in English, it has a highly developed healthcare system and in the Malaga Technology Park, like Silicon Valley, it is It is possible to find the headquarters of some big technology companies like Google, Microsoft etc.
Malaga is well connected to the rest of Andalucia by good roads, while a state-of-the-art airport connects it to the rest of the world. A modern metro and bus system with high-speed trains connects it to the other towns on the Costa del Sol. In general, Malaga is a great city to live in. Lots to see and do and it’s good value for money.
One problem with Malaga is the traffic, which is really unpredictable . Another disadvantage of living in Malaga is the noise: it comes from traffic, construction work or simply because people are shouting in the street.
The people of Andalusia are very open and friendly people who, once you get to know them, will be your friends for life. They offer you help if you need it and you are always invited to party with them. Nightlife and entertainment are at home along the coast. Festivals, clubs, parties and holidays take place in all places, especially during the spring-summer period.
The climate is one of the most positive aspects of this region. The sun usually shines 320 days a year and the average annual temperature is 19 °C. The city with the best climate in Europe, Torrox is located on the Costa del Sol.
The cost of living is more or less the same as in southern Italy, with the exception of Marbella.
Rental costs on the Costa del Sol The situation is different when it comes to rent. The recent bubble in the real estate market, sweeping all of Spain, has significantly increased the prices of apartments, both for rent and for sale, along the entire coast, which have more than doubled in the last 2/3 years.
You really need to arm yourself with patience and perseverance to find cheap rent and move out of town often. In Malaga, for example, it is worth moving to Campanillas, where there are still some apartments for €550 per month, which becomes €700 with internet and expenses. From the average salary of 1,300 euros, around 600 euros remain for transport and subsistence costs.
Working on the Costa del Sol
Apart from the tourism sector where it is relatively easy to find a job during the summer season, especially if you know a few foreign languages, otherwise Malaga, the Costa del Sol and Andalucia in general have one of the highest unemployment rates in Spain. Therefore, it is not so easy to find a stable and well-paid job.
Living and working on the Costa del Sol, pros and cons
Living on the Costa del Sol, pros
- Incredible climate (300 days of sunshine a year)
- Beautiful beaches
- Slow and relaxed lifestyle, therefore less stress
- People open to meeting strangers and easy social integration
- Multicultural environment with people from all over the world
Living on the Costa del Sol, cons
- Few job offers and low wages
- High housing costs
- Malaga has a dirty and poorly maintained neighborhoods
Living on the Costa del Sol, Conclusion
Barcelona and Madrid are undoubtedly the best cities to look for a job as there are a lot more vacancies, but Malaga is one of the best cities to live in, people are much more open to foreigners, the climate is better and the beaches and towns of the Costa del Sol are wonderful, but unfortunately it is one of the worst places in Spain to find a job. You just have to weigh all the pros and cons and then decide.
If you want to have all the information about how to work in Spain, I recommend you to read the article: Working in Spain
If you want to have all the information about living in Spain, you can read the article: Moving to Spain
