Benidorm has 300 days of sunshine a year, a hospital, a tram to Alicante and a leisure offer that does not shut down in winter. That is why every year we welcome retirees from northern Europe, remote workers and families thinking of settling here year-round. They all ask the same question: how much does it cost to live in Benidorm? Here is a realistic budget with September 2026 prices, item by item, whether you rent or buy.
Housing: the item that decides everything
If you rent
Rents in Benidorm are at record highs: €17.6/m² a month on average (idealista, July 2026, +5% year on year). In terms of real flats:
- Studio or 1-bedroom in Pueblo Levante, Colonia Madrid or the centre: €700–950.
- 2 bedrooms (65–80 m²) in Pueblo Levante or Rincón de Loix: €1,000–1,350 (€15.5–16.8/m²).
- 2–3 bedrooms near the beach in Levante: €1,200–1,600.
- Large home or Poniente seafront (€20.9/m²): €1,700–3,000.
Long-term contracts run for 5 years, the deposit is one month's rent and agency fees are paid by the landlord (all the rules here). The difficulty in Benidorm is not the price but finding long-term supply: much of the housing stock goes to seasonal or holiday letting, and more flats appear from October to May than in summer.
If you buy
The average price is €3,807/m² (August 2026). A 70 m² flat in Pueblo Levante or Rincón de Loix costs €230,000–270,000; in Levante or Poniente, €310,000–450,000. With an 80% mortgage on €266,000 (€213,000 over 30 years at a fixed 2.9%), the payment is about €890 a month; on a variable rate with Euribor above 3% (explained here), it exceeds €1,000. Add purchase costs: 9% transfer tax (ITP) in the Valencian Community since June 2026 on resale homes (€24,000 in that example), plus notary, registry and gestoría, another €2,000–2,500. Details in our guide to purchase costs.
Fixed housing costs
| Item | Per month (70–80 m² flat) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Community fees | €50–200 | Building without facilities €40–80; complex with pool, gardens and concierge €120–200 |
| IBI property tax (owners only) | €30–60 | €350–700 a year depending on cadastral value |
| Electricity | €70–160 | Air conditioning in summer and electric heating in winter make the difference |
| Water | €25–60 | Billed every two months in Benidorm |
| Fibre internet | €25–45 | Fibre coverage across the whole city |
| Mobile phone | €10–35 | |
| Home insurance | €15–35 | Fire cover is compulsory with a mortgage |
Total fixed housing costs, excluding rent or mortgage: between €220 and €500 a month. Non-resident owners also pay imputed income tax (form 210), around €200–400 a year on an average flat.
Food, transport, healthcare and leisure
- Food: €250–450 for one person, €450–800 for a couple. Mercadona, Lidl, Aldi and Consum are all over the city; the Foietes municipal market and the weekly street markets bring the basket down.
- Transport: Benidorm is walkable or covered by city buses (pass €20–40 a month). The TRAM reaches Alicante in just over an hour and Villajoyosa or Altea in 15–25 minutes. If you have a car: fuel at €1.55–1.75 a litre, insurance €50–120 a month and a rented garage space €100–180 (buying one: €25,000–40,000).
- Healthcare: public care at Hospital Marina Baixa (Villajoyosa) and the city's health centres; IMED Levante in Benidorm is private. Private insurance costs €50–90 a month for younger adults and €120–220 for over-65s.
- Leisure: set lunch menu €12–16, dinner for two €50–80, gym €30–50, cinema €8–9. A coffee on the promenade still costs under €2.
Real monthly budget (September 2026)
| Profile | Renting | With an 80% mortgage |
|---|---|---|
| One person, 1–2 bedroom flat | €1,400–2,100 | €1,500–2,000 |
| Couple, 2 bedrooms | €2,200–3,000 | €2,100–2,800 |
| Family with two children, 3 bedrooms | €3,200–4,500 | €3,000–4,200 |
The ranges include housing, fixed costs, food, transport and moderate leisure; they exclude private schooling and private healthcare. For a retiree on an average European pension, Benidorm remains 25–40% cheaper than living in London, Amsterdam or Oslo, with housing the only item that has become significantly dearer in the last three years.
Rent or buy in Benidorm: the sums
With a 70 m² flat renting for €1,200 and the mortgage on the same flat at about €890, buying is cheaper per month than renting from the first year, although it requires about €55,000 as a deposit and €27,000 in costs. And Benidorm prices have risen 12.6% in a year. If you plan to stay more than five years, buying wins; if you do not know how long you will stay, rent first in Pueblo Levante or Rincón de Loix and decide calmly. Either way, start by getting to know the areas in our guide to Benidorm's neighbourhoods and browse the homes for sale in Benidorm or our guide to buying property in Spain if you are coming from abroad.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to rent a flat in Benidorm in 2026?
The average is €17.6/m² a month (idealista, July 2026). A studio or 1-bedroom flat costs €700–950, a 2-bedroom in Pueblo Levante or Rincón de Loix €1,000–1,350, and near Levante beach €1,200–1,600. On the Poniente seafront rents exceed €1,700.
How much do I need per month to live in Benidorm?
A single person needs €1,400–2,100 a month when renting; a couple €2,200–3,000; a family with two children €3,200–4,500. Housing is the main item; the flat's fixed costs (community fees, electricity, water, internet, insurance) add €220–500 a month.
Is it cheaper to buy or rent in Benidorm?
In 2026 buying is cheaper per month: a 70 m² flat at €3,807/m² with an 80% fixed-rate mortgage costs about €890 a month against €1,200 in rent. In exchange you need a 20% deposit plus 10–11% in costs (9% transfer tax, notary, registry).
How much are community fees in Benidorm?
Between €40 and €80 a month in buildings without facilities and €120–200 in complexes with pool, gardens and concierge, common in Levante, Rincón de Loix and Poniente. Ask for the debt certificate and the minutes before buying.