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Ciudad Quesada / Rojales
A large hillside urbanisation in Rojales, a short drive inland from Guardamar's beaches, where most residents are foreign and English is the everyday language.
Suited to: Retirees · Second-home owners · Holiday-rental investors
- Costa
- Costa Blanca
- Province
- Alicante
- Population
- 17,488
- registered residents in Rojales municipality
- British Community
- 5,666
- Airport
- Alicante–Elche
- ~35 km
- Train
- None
- no rail or TRAM in Rojales
Updated 12 Oct 2026 · Facts checked against INE and the padrón · How we check
Decide
Is Ciudad Quesada right for you?
Who it suits
- FamiliesModerate
Public schools in Rojales teach mainly in Spanish. The nearest British-curriculum schools are El Limonar International School in Villamartín (Orihuela Costa) and La Devesa School in Elche, both a drive away. Rojales also has a Norwegian school. Few activities for teenagers without a car.
- RetireesExcellent
A large, settled English-speaking community, public health centres in Rojales and Lo Marabú, and the public Hospital Universitario de Torrevieja about 15 km away. Clubs, bars and services run all year.
- Remote workersModerate
Quiet and affordable, but little coworking or professional life locally, and you will need a car. Check fibre coverage street by street before buying.
- Second-home ownersGood
About 35 km from Alicante–Elche airport, with many property managers, key-holders and English-speaking trades. Lock-up-and-leave bungalows are common.
- Holiday-rental investorsModerate
Steady demand from northern European visitors, but it is not on the beach and competition is high. Tourist lets need Valencian registration, a town hall planning report and, in shared buildings, community approval.
The trade-offs
What works
- One of the largest English-speaking communities in the Vega Baja, with clubs, trades and services that run all year.
- Rojales-wide asking prices (~€2,190–2,315/m², idealista 2026) are below Guardamar's and Pilar de la Horadada's, though Ciudad Quesada itself costs more than the municipal average.
- About 35 km from Alicante–Elche airport, so easy for visits from the UK.
- Public health centres locally and the public Torrevieja hospital about 15 km away.
- The Spanish village of Rojales is next door for Spanish shops, bars and town hall services.
What to weigh up
- Not on the coast. The nearest beaches are around 10 km away at Guardamar.
- No train or tram and infrequent buses, so you will almost certainly need a car.
- Easy to live entirely in English, which can make it harder to learn Spanish or feel part of Spanish life.
- Hilly, spread-out streets can be hard going for older residents without a car.
- Older urbanisation homes may have little insulation or heating for winter.
Costs
What it costs in Ciudad Quesada
Typical figures, each with its source and date. Prices move, so check before you commit.
- Ciudad Quesada asking price
- ~€2,790–2,890/m²
- Monthly asking prices, April to September 2026
- Source: idealista, Sept 2026
- Rojales asking price
- ~€2,190–2,315/m²
- Municipality-wide monthly asking prices, April to September 2026
- Source: idealista, Sept 2026
- Typical rent
- ~€890 a month
- 70 m² flat, Alicante province average (€12.7/m²)
- Source: idealista, September 2026
Housing in Ciudad Quesada →Cost of living in Ciudad Quesada →
Guides
The Ciudad Quesada guides
The place
About Ciudad Quesada
Ciudad Quesada is a large urbanisation in the south of Rojales municipality, in the Vega Baja of southern Alicante province. Rojales had 17,488 registered residents on 1 January 2025 (INE), and the INE counted 11,950 of them in Ciudad Quesada. About 68% of registered residents are foreign nationals, one of the highest shares in Alicante province.
The urbanisation was started in the 1970s by the developer Justo Quesada. It spreads over low hills about 6 km from the sea, with villas, bungalows and newer apartment blocks. The old village of Rojales sits just to the north on the River Segura and still feels Spanish, with its own town hall, shops and bars. Ciudad Quesada has its own sub town hall.
Life here is easy in English and the community is large and settled. It is also very car-dependent. The nearest beaches are at Guardamar, the public hospital is in Torrevieja, and buses are infrequent. It suits people who want a quiet, sociable base with a wide choice of villas and bungalows, more than people looking for a Spanish town.
Practicalities
Practicalities
Getting there
- Inland urbanisation in Rojales municipality, Vega Baja del Segura, southern Alicante province. Guardamar's beaches are ~10 km east and Torrevieja is ~15 km south.
- Alicante–Elche airport is about 35 km by road, roughly 35 minutes' drive. Murcia Corvera airport is about 70 km. Alicante city is ~40 km north.
- No railway or TRAM. Orihuela station (~20 km) has AVE and Cercanías trains. Since February 2026 Bus Sigüenza line 2 links Almoradí, Rojales and Alicante, and Avanza/Costa Azul buses run to Torrevieja and Elche. Most residents drive.
Renting and buying
Mostly resale villas, semi-detached houses and bungalows, plus new-build apartments. idealista asking prices for Ciudad Quesada ran from €2,789 to €2,887/m² between April and September 2026, up 8.6% year on year in September. The wider Rojales figure was lower, €2,191 to €2,313/m² over the same months. Tourist lets need a VUT registration.
Looking for an estate agent, lawyer or gestor? Browse local businesses in Ciudad Quesada
First admin steps
- Padrón: register at Rojales town hall or the Ciudad Quesada sub town hall. You will need your passport, TIE or NIE and proof of address.
- NIE/TIE: extranjería in Alicante; TIE fingerprinting at a National Police office by appointment. Local gestors can book and accompany.
- Healthcare: register at your health centre (Rojales or Lo Marabú) once on the padrón. Hospital care is at the public Hospital Universitario de Torrevieja.
- Tourist rental: Valencian registration (5-year validity), a favourable municipal planning-compatibility report, and since April 2025 a 3/5 community vote in shared buildings. Whole-home lets only.
- Language: Spanish in administration. The Vega Baja is an officially Spanish-speaking area of the bilingual Valencian Community. English is common in commercial settings.
Not sure which visa or residency route fits? Compare the routes for British movers
Map
Ciudad Quesada on the map
Pins show the town, its nearest airport and the towns nearby. Positions are approximate.
Stay
Where to stay in Ciudad Quesada
Hotels, apartments and holiday lets for a scouting trip, with live prices. Zoom out to see the towns nearby.
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Get help
Get help in Ciudad Quesada
English-speaking businesses and the offices you will deal with.
Local businesses
Featured listings are paid placements.
Town finder
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Questions
Ciudad Quesada: common questions
Is Ciudad Quesada / Rojales a good place to retire from the UK?
Excellent. A large, settled English-speaking community, public health centres in Rojales and Lo Marabú, and the public Hospital Universitario de Torrevieja about 15 km away. Clubs, bars and services run all year.
Is Ciudad Quesada / Rojales good for families?
Moderate. Public schools in Rojales teach mainly in Spanish. The nearest British-curriculum schools are El Limonar International School in Villamartín (Orihuela Costa) and La Devesa School in Elche, both a drive away. Rojales also has a Norwegian school. Few activities for teenagers without a car.
How much does property cost in Ciudad Quesada / Rojales?
Mostly resale villas, semi-detached houses and bungalows, plus new-build apartments. idealista asking prices for Ciudad Quesada ran from €2,789 to €2,887/m² between April and September 2026, up 8.6% year on year in September. The wider Rojales figure was lower, €2,191 to €2,313/m² over the same months. Tourist lets need a VUT registration.
Which airport is closest to Ciudad Quesada / Rojales?
Alicante–Elche (~35 km); Murcia Corvera (~70 km)
Can you get to Ciudad Quesada / Rojales by train?
None — no rail or TRAM in Rojales. Nearest main station is Orihuela (~20 km), with AVE trains to Madrid and Cercanías C-1 trains to Alicante and Murcia. Buses: Bus Sigüenza line 2 (Almoradí–Rojales–Alicante, three trips each way Monday to Saturday) and Avanza/Costa Azul services to Torrevieja and Elche.
How big is the British community in Ciudad Quesada / Rojales?
Large and long-established. The padrón recorded 5,666 UK-born residents in Rojales in 2022 (INE data by country of birth, via foro-ciudad). No more recent dated count of British nationals for the municipality was found. Many owners are not registered, so the real British presence is larger. English is widely used in shops, bars and services.
How do I register on the padrón in Ciudad Quesada / Rojales?
register at Rojales town hall or the Ciudad Quesada sub town hall. You will need your passport, TIE or NIE and proof of address.
Compare
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Nearby towns
Guardamar del Segura
~10 km east · The nearest beaches, dunes and pinewood, and a real Spanish town centre.
San Fulgencio / La Marina
~5 km north-east · Neighbouring municipality with the La Marina urbanisation, similar community and prices.
Torrevieja
~15 km south · Public hospital, big shops, seafront and bus station.
Last updated: 12 Oct 2026