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Vega Baja del Segura · Costa Blanca
Orihuela Costa is a good choice if you are looking for a sunny stretch of coast with many international neighbours and golf courses, but be aware that it is not a municipality in its own right, that living here is more expensive than in Orihuela city, and that for town-centre amenities you remain dependent on Orihuela city or Torrevieja.
Orihuela Costa is about 16 km of continuous coastline just south of Torrevieja, with one of the best-known concentrations of Northern European buyers and tenants on the whole Costa Blanca South. It is sunnier and drier here than further north along the coast, and there is a dense layer of amenities geared specifically to international residents: English-speaking doctors and a concentration of golf courses that is among the densest in Spain. It is not a place for those seeking "real Spain", but it is for those who want sun, convenience and an international community.
In August 2026 the asking price in Orihuela Costa specifically was €3,065/m², against €2,972/m² for the whole municipality of Orihuela (including the interior) — a rise of 9.8% year on year for the municipality as a whole. The coast is thus clearly dearer than the rest of the municipality: Orihuela city (Orihuela Ciudad) is listed separately at €1,416/m². Note: idealista publishes continuously updated figures, so always compare the latest position with this indication. With €250,000 (indication) you can realistically find a two- to three-bedroom apartment within walking distance of the sea here, or a little more space if you look slightly inland. With €400,000 (rough indication) you get into the segment of detached villas with pool in Villamartín. No reliable, current rental figure per m² for Orihuela Costa was found; check current listings for a realistic estimate.
For a new-build you pay 10% IVA plus 1.4% AJD (stamp duty, Comunitat Valenciana); for existing properties, transfer tax (ITP) of 9% applies instead (Comunitat Valenciana, since June 2026), and above €1 million the rate is 11%. Given the amount of new-build here, this distinction is especially relevant — see our guide to additional costs and work out your situation with the cost calculator.
Wintering has been an established market here for decades: many apartments in La Zenia and Playa Flamenca are let specifically for the winter months, with prices falling after the summer peak and a wide choice between November and March. In the Comunitat Valenciana, since Decreto-ley 9/2024, a let may only be classed as a tourist let for a maximum of 10 consecutive days per tenant, with compulsory registration in the Registro de Turismo of the Comunitat Valenciana. From 11 days the let falls under the ordinary tenancy law (LAU), and in practice wintering then usually runs through a seasonal tenancy agreement (arrendamiento de temporada) for which the landlord needs no tourist licence at all. Tourist lets (up to 10 days) are generally shorter and more flexible, but also more expensive per month. Important to know: as a seasonal tenant you enjoy less legal protection than under a regular annual tenancy (arrendamiento de vivienda habitual) — so always set out duration, notice period and deposit properly in the contract. Read our guide to lettings rules before you sign a contract for several months.
Daily shopping, restaurants and basic medical care are within easy reach everywhere; for a hospital you go to Torrevieja (Hospital Universitario de Torrevieja) or Quirónsalud, both about 10-15 minutes' drive away. For municipal matters, the historic centre and the real "Spanish" streetscape you have to go to Orihuela city, about 30-35 km by road (roughly 30 minutes' drive). A car is all but essential: the neighbourhoods are spread out and the local bus network is limited. Of the two regional airports, Murcia-Corvera is generally closer and often quicker to reach: about 50 km, approx. 36-40 minutes, against about 50-60 km and approx. 45 minutes to Alicante-Elche, depending on exactly where in Orihuela Costa you live and on the traffic.
The biggest pitfall is the administrative distance: Orihuela Costa feels like a place in its own right, but decisions on, for instance, amenities and maintenance are taken in Orihuela city, a good half hour's drive from the coast, which sometimes leads to slow decision-making. In addition, the area is overcrowded in summer — roads and car parks around La Zenia and Playa Flamenca grind to a halt — and construction is still not finished, with the associated risks around completion dates and bank guarantees for deposits. Do thorough due diligence before you buy: request a nota simple, follow the buying process step by step, and read our list of common pitfalls in heavily built-up coastal areas like this one.
No. Orihuela Costa is the coastal area of the municipality of Orihuela, which itself lies in the comarca of Vega Baja del Segura. The administrative centre is Orihuela city, about 30-35 km by road (roughly 30 minutes' drive); for municipal matters you often have to go there.
La Zenia and Playa Flamenca are favourites because of the shopping centres and the international character of the area; Villamartín is more popular with golfers who want to live somewhat more quietly. In Orihuela Costa, Britons form the largest group of residents, followed by Spaniards and Ukrainians (padrón end 2025).
Yes, wintering is common here. In the Comunitat Valenciana a let only counts as a tourist let for a maximum of 10 consecutive days per tenant, with compulsory registration in the Registro de Turismo. From 11 days the let falls under the ordinary tenancy law (LAU), and wintering then usually runs through a seasonal tenancy agreement (arrendamiento de temporada) with no tourist licence. Note: as a seasonal tenant you have less legal protection than under a permanent tenancy, so put agreements on notice period and deposit properly in writing.
Yes, especially around Villamartín, Los Dolses and the zone towards Lomas de Cabo Roig there is a great deal of building going on. Always ask about the bank guarantee for deposits and check the completion deadline in the contract before you sign.
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Updated on 11 September 2026. Figures are indicative; always check the latest figures.