Costa del Sol vs. Balearics vs. Canaries — choosing the right Spanish coast

The Costa del Sol offers the strongest year-round UK access, with Málaga Airport maintaining dense winter schedules to more than 25 UK airports. The Canaries also keep strong winter routes as a sun destination, though flights run 4-4.5 hours versus 2.5-3 hours to Málaga. The Balearics thin sharply between November and March, with many routes pausing or dropping to one or two weekly frequencies.

The Canary Islands show the lowest regional median at roughly €2,000-€2,400/m² in 2024-2025 data, below the Costa del Sol's €3,000-€3,500/m² and well under the Balearics' €4,200-€4,500/m². Prime tiers follow the same pattern: prime Canaries reach €5,000-€7,000/m², Costa del Sol prime spans €8,000-€15,000/m², and prime Balearic locations exceed €12,000-€14,000/m².

Andalusia applies a flat 7% ITP on resales and 10% IVA plus 1.2% AJD on new-builds. The Balearics use tiered ITP from 8% up to 13% on portions above €2 million, with 10% IVA plus 1.5% AJD on new-builds. The Canaries charge 6.5% ITP on most resales and 7% IGIC plus 1% AJD on new-builds, making them the most buyer-friendly transactional regime. Confirm current rates with a Spanish asesor fiscal.

No. The Golden Visa investor route closed on 3 April 2025 under Organic Law 1/2025. Property purchase in any Spanish region no longer confers residency rights. Non-EU buyers needing residency should speak to a Spanish abogado about alternatives such as the non-lucrative visa or digital nomad visa, none of which require property purchase. EU citizens retain freedom of movement and do not need a visa route to own or live in Spain.

On headline numbers, the Balearics and Canaries both reach 6-9% gross on licensed short-let, while the Costa del Sol sits at 5-8%. However, Balearic income is compressed into a 4-5 month summer window, whereas the Canaries deliver the strongest winter occupancy in Spain and Costa del Sol supports near year-round letting. Lower Canary acquisition costs also lift yields mechanically. Verify licence status before underwriting any short-let assumption.

The Balearics are the strictest: Mallorca, Ibiza and Formentera cap tourist places and new licences are often unavailable. The Canaries reformed the VV regime in 2024-2025, restricting short-lets in residential buildings and strengthening community veto rights. Andalusia remains relatively permissive though Málaga city and parts of Marbella have tightened, and community-of-owners consent is now a practical barrier in many blocks. Always verify transferable licence status in writing.

The Canaries are subtropical, with January highs of 21-22°C and July highs around 28°C, moderated by trade winds. The Costa del Sol records around 320 sunny days annually but cooler winter highs of 16-18°C. The Balearics show the sharpest seasonal swing, with cool wet winters and a true off-season. For year-round outdoor living and winter sea swimming, the Canaries lead clearly.

Yes. Andalusia abolished its regional wealth tax in 2022, though the state-level solidarity tax on large net worths can still apply to high-value holdings. The Balearics apply wealth tax under the regional schedule on net assets above the relevant threshold. The Canaries also apply wealth tax regionally. Rules and thresholds change frequently, so confirm current treatment of your specific net worth position with a Spanish asesor fiscal before purchase.

The answer depends on flight access and how often you'll visit. The Costa del Sol works best for buyers flying in monthly or for winter long weekends, given dense year-round routes and short flight times. The Balearics suit summer-heavy use patterns. The Canaries reward buyers prioritising winter escape and willing to accept a longer flight. Match the catchment and seasonality to your realistic usage calendar, not an idealised one.