For decades, when people spoke about buying property in Spain, three names dominated every conversation — Costa del Sol, Costa Blanca, and the Balearic Islands. Meanwhile, Costa de Almería remained quietly in the background: a rugged, sun-drenched stretch of coastline known mostly to locals, filmmakers, and the occasional adventurer who stumbled upon its desert landscapes and crystal-clear coves. Back in 2014, the average property price in Almería province hovered around €1,050 per m², while in Málaga it was already €1,750 and in the Balearic Islands over €2,200. For years, Almería was overlooked — and perhaps that was its greatest blessing. Today, however, this long-ignored coastline is starting to draw attention. Investors and homebuyers are beginning to realize that Costa Almería combines the natural beauty of southern Spain with prices that are still a decade behind the rest of the Mediterranean.
Why Almería Is So Special
What makes Costa Almería stand out is not just its price tag — it’s the sense of authenticity that so much of the Spanish coast has already lost.
Here, between the mountains of the Sierra de Alhamilla and the turquoise Mediterranean, time moves slower. The air is cleaner, the beaches quieter, and the landscapes — from volcanic cliffs to desert dunes — feel almost cinematic. The jewel of the region is the Cabo de Gata-Níjar Natural Park, one of Europe’s most striking protected coastal areas. Miles of untouched coves, whitewashed fishing villages like Agua Amarga and Las Negras, and surreal volcanic formations make this area a UNESCO biosphere reserve and a magnet for eco-tourism and sustainable development.
Add to this over 3,000 hours of sunshine per year, one of the driest and most stable climates in Europe, and you begin to understand why Almería has quietly become a haven for those seeking a healthier, more natural lifestyle without giving up the comfort of modern infrastructure. The region enjoys a mild Mediterranean climate with an average annual temperature of around 19°C — while in Alicante and Málaga summer temperatures often climb well above 35°C, here they peak at a pleasant 30–32°C, and even in winter they rarely drop below 12–14°C.
The region’s capital, Almería City, is experiencing a renaissance of its own — with a revitalized seafront, new restaurants, and increasing flight connections. To the east, Mojácar, Vera Playa, and San Juan de los Terreros are turning into sophisticated coastal communities attracting European buyers who are priced out of Málaga or Alicante.
The New Infrastructure Boom: Connecting Almería to the Rest of Spain
For decades, Costa Almería’s isolation was both its charm and its challenge. Reaching the province by train took long hours, and the nearest major airports were in Málaga or Alicante. But that is about to change — dramatically. The long-awaited AVE high-speed rail connection between Madrid and Almería is finally nearing completion, with service expected to begin in 2026. The new line will cut travel time from Madrid to Almería to around 3 hours, linking the region directly to Spain’s capital and the country’s vast AVE network.
Even more significant for the coastal areas is the planned station near Vera Playa, which will open Almería’s northern coast — Mojácar, Vera, Garrucha, Villaricos — to fast, convenient access from Madrid and beyond. This is the same transformation that propelled Málaga’s boom two decades ago, when the AVE arrived on the Costa del Sol. From Vera Playa, travellers will also be able to reach the airport in Alicante in less than two hours.
Almería’s airport expansion, the upgrade of the A-7 Mediterranean motorway, and new logistics hubs near the port of Almería and Níjar are part of a broader national strategy to modernize the region’s connectivity. But infrastructure isn’t only about transport. Major private investment is flowing into high-end tourism and residential development, with flagship projects like:
Macenas Resort, a large-scale revival of Mojácar’s coastal area, backed by the Cosentino Group — one of Spain’s richest family-owned conglomerates (ranked among the country’s top 20 fortunes) — in partnership with Hyatt Hotels. This project aims to blend luxury living with sustainability, creating a model Mediterranean community.
New golf and residential complexes in Vera Playa, San Juan de los Terreros, and Cuevas del Almanzora.
- Expanding marinas and beachfront promenades, signaling a clear long-term commitment to elevate Almería to the level of Spain’s more famous coasts.
Real Estate Market Trends: The Rise of a Sleeping Giant
Five years ago, few would have guessed that Costa Almería would become one of Spain’s fastest-appreciating property markets. In 2019, the average residential property price in Almería province was around €1,150 per m² — roughly 40% below the national coastal average. Fast forward to 2025, and prices have climbed to around €1,600 per m², marking a growth of nearly 40% in five years. Compare that to Costa del Sol, where prices already exceed €3,500–€4,000 per m² in many areas, and you start to see why investors are paying attention. Almería still offers premium coastal properties — frontline apartments, villas with sea views — for half the price of Marbella or Benidorm.
Rental demand has also been rising sharply, particularly in Vera Playa and Mojácar, where long-term rentals and holiday lets both benefit from growing tourism and digital-nomad migration. The post-pandemic shift toward quieter, less crowded destinations has played perfectly into Almería’s hands. Foreign investment is still in its early stages compared to Málaga or Alicante, which means limited speculative pressure — and more organic, sustainable growth. Developers are reporting steady sales volumes, not “flipping” frenzies. Most buyers here are lifestyle-oriented investors: retirees from Northern Europe, remote workers from the UK, Germany, and the Netherlands, and Spanish professionals seeking second homes by the sea.
Market analysts expect that once the AVE high-speed train starts operating, prices could see an sudden additional 15–25% increase, especially in the Vera–Mojácar corridor, which will suddenly be within a long weekend’s reach from Madrid and Alicante alike.
The Next Big Thing: A Rare Window of Opportunity
Every major coastal success story in Spain began the same way — with a few visionaries who saw the potential before everyone else did. In the 1960s it was Marbella. In the 1990s, Alicante. Now, in the 2020s, it may well be Almería’s turn. The ingredients are all there: stunning natural beauty, a pristine coastline protected from overdevelopment, an authentic Andalusian culture, and a massive wave of infrastructure investment ready to redefine accessibility and growth.
Costa Almería is still affordable, but it won’t stay that way for long. Once the bullet train starts running and flagship resorts like Macenas open their doors, this coast will no longer be Spain’s best-kept secret. For private investors, that means there is a narrow but powerful window of opportunity — to invest while prices remain a fraction of Costa del Sol or the Balearic Islands, and to be part of a transformation that will likely define Spain’s next decade in real estate.
In the words of many early buyers who fell in love with Almería’s light, landscape, and calm: “It’s how the Mediterranean used to be — and how we all wish it still was.”
