What You Need to Know When You’re Moving to Marbella

Relocating to Marbella

About the City

Marbella is a rapidly growing city due to its emerging service sector, prestigious appeal and warm weather. In 2013, the city was home to around 140,000 people, a significant increase from the 10,000 that were living there during the 1950s, and the population grows by a further 30% when tourists arrive in the summer.

Approximately 75% of the population was born elsewhere, with 15.9% moving to Marbella from overseas. Many of that number are retirees from northern Europe, but the city still has a young feel and its population is made up of people of all ages.

The Climate in Marbella

Due to it being protected by the Cordillera Penibetica and Sierra Blanca mountains, Marbella has a microclimate of its own. The average annual temperature is 19°C, but during the summer it is not uncommon for things to heat up to 32°C or more.

The coldest month is January which typically has a very mild low of 8°C and high of 16°C. Things warm up to between 13°C and 20°C in April before reaching a peak in early August when lows are around 22°C and highs approximately 29°C.

In total, Marbella enjoys 320 days of sunshine each year and has an annual rainfall of just 628mm. Snowfall is extremely rare except for high mountainous areas.

Finding Accommodation

Expats moving to Marbella will find many properties available for rent or purchase in Marbella. There are a large number of estate agents based in the city and many have websites in English including Estate Agents Marbella and Marbella Estates.

It is also worth keeping an eye out for property supplements in local newspapers and magazines. Diario Sur is the largest publication in Andalucía with a daily circulation of 36,000. It has job listings on a daily basis as well as regular “What’s On” guides and a large classified ads section. The newspaper is mainly published in Spanish, but an English print version is available as well.

Despite its chic reputation, reasonably priced accommodation can be found in the area.

According to Numbeo.com, the average monthly rental for a one bedroom flat outside of the city center is 475 EUR a month. The same kind of residence costs around 580 EUR in the city center.

A three-bedroom apartment in the suburbs is likely to be 800 EUR per month, while in the center it will cost around 1,500 EUR.

For those looking to buy, apartments are around 2,300 EUR per square meter in the suburbs and 2,650 EUR in the city center.

Expats can expect their monthly utilities (gas, electricity, water etc) to be around 89 EUR a month, while an average internet connections costs about30 EUR.