It’s Not Marbella: The Costa del Sol Area Where Home Prices Rose Most in 2026

Ask anyone where property prices are climbing fastest on the Costa del Sol and the answer comes back automatically: Marbella. Our price index’s year-on-year ranking tells a different story — and neither first nor second place is the one you expect.

The ranking nobody expected

These are the six areas with the biggest year-on-year increase in estimated price per m², according to the SolProp Costa del Sol Price Index (version 2026.3, data through June 2026):

Yes, Marbella is in the ranking. But it doesn’t lead it. And the top two positions tell a story that matters far more to buyers than the Golden Mile shop window.

Estepona: number one (+11.6%)

People have been calling it «the new Marbella» for years, and the market has finally taken them at their word. Estepona combines everything that drives a price index upward: a large pipeline of new builds selling off-plan, a renovated old town that now lives year-round, and a starting price — an estimated €3,510/m² — still far below Marbella’s €5,720/m². When new-build stock sets the price and resale chases it, the curve climbs fast.

The uncomfortable takeaway for anyone still «waiting for the right moment»: every quarter of waiting in the index’s hottest area has a price.

The surprise in the east: Rincón de la Victoria (+10.8%)

The most striking number in the ranking isn’t on the western strip at all. Rincón de la Victoria — 15 minutes from Málaga city — is up an estimated +10.8%, level with Nueva Andalucía and ahead of Marbella. The engine here isn’t the international luxury buyer: it’s the capital effect. Málaga City has become expensive (+10.1%, €3,790/m²), and part of its demand — families, remote workers, public employees — is moving east in search of space and beach without giving up the city.

Translation: the «commuter» areas of an expensive capital stop being plan B and start drawing their own curve.

The quiet investor’s play: Manilva

And then there’s sixth place — the favourite of anyone who looks at yield rather than status. Manilva is the cheapest area in the entire ranking (an estimated €3,000/m²) and, at the same time, the index’s highest gross rental yield: 7.5%. It rises less than Estepona in percentage terms, but the entry ticket is much lower and every euro invested earns more in rent.

If your question is «where do I put €200,000 to work?», the index’s answer isn’t Marbella. It’s the south-west corner of the map.

So what about Marbella?

Marbella hasn’t slowed down: +10.4% on a base of €5,720/m² is an enormous rise in absolute euros, and Nueva Andalucía (+10.8%, €6,160/m²) remains the most expensive square metre in the index. The difference is that Marbella rises because it’s Marbella — while Estepona, Rincón and Manilva rise because they’re changing category. For a buyer, those are two different bets: paying for consolidation, or buying the transition.

What to do with these numbers

If you’re thinking of buying: in areas that are changing category, the good stock goes fast. You can see everything available in our property selection — and at the bottom of that page you can create an alert by area and maximum price, so you hear about new listings before anyone else.

If you own a property in one of these areas: your home is probably worth more than you think — and more than it was a year ago. Get in touch and we’ll tell you how much, with data.

If you want the full picture: every area, price and yield is on the index’s interactive map.

Methodology note

All figures in this article are estimates from the SolProp Costa del Sol Price Index (version 2026.3, series through June 2026), built from published listings and our own sources. They are not official transactions from the Cadastre or the Land Registry. You can read the full index methodology here.