Altea vs Calp: which suits British movers?
The facts British movers weigh up, next to each other. Every figure comes from our town guides, with its source and date.
- Costa and region
- Population
- Altea~24,592Calp~28,000
- British residents
- Altea~1,500Calp~1,250
- Nearest airport
- AlteaAlicante–Elche (~70 km); Valencia (~140 km)CalpAlicante–Elche (~75 km); Valencia (~120 km)
- Nearest hospital
- AlteaHospital Marina Baixa (public, Villajoyosa, ~20 km) for major careCalpPublic hospital: Hospital de Dénia (~35 km) — Calp is in the Dénia health department
- Train
- AlteaTRAM light rail to Alicante and Dénia. No high-speed train.CalpTRAM-train to Alicante and Denia
- Sunshine
- Altea2,851 hrsCosta-wide figure · a year · AEMET Alicante, 1981–2010Calp2,851 hrsCosta-wide figure · a year · AEMET Alicante, 1981–2010
- 2-bed rent
- Altea~€890/monthCosta-wide figure · ≈70 m² at €12.7/m² · idealista asking rents, Sep 2026, Alicante provinceCalp~€890/monthCosta-wide figure · ≈70 m² at €12.7/m² · idealista asking rents, Sep 2026, Alicante province
- Renting and buying
- Altea—Calp~€2,960/m² (Idealista, May 2025). More affordable than Dénia (€3,110/m²) and Jávea (€3,430/m²). Apartments and villas in wide range. Strong rental demand in summer months.
- Who it suits
- AlteaRetireesArtistsSecond-home ownersRemote workersFamilies
- Affluent retirees: Excellent
- Artists and creatives: Excellent
- Second-home owners: Good
- Remote workers: Moderate
- Families: Moderate
CalpFamiliesRetireesOutdoor enthusiastsSecond-home owners- Families: Good
- Retirees: Good
- Outdoor enthusiasts: Excellent
- Second-home owners: Good
- Holiday-rental investors: Moderate
- What works
- Altea—Calp—
- What to weigh up
- Altea—Calp—
- Town guide and topic pages
- English-speaking businesses
| AlteaA whitewashed artist haven on the Costa Blanca — cobbled old town, international community and the highest property prices outside Marbella. | CalpA dramatic resort town dominated by the iconic Peñón de Ifac rock, with sandy beaches and a cosmopolitan atmosphere. | |
|---|---|---|
| Costa and region | Costa BlancaAlicante · Valencian Community | Costa BlancaAlicante · Valencian Community |
| Population | ~24,592 | ~28,000 |
| British residents | ~1,500 | ~1,250 |
| Nearest airport | Alicante–Elche (~70 km); Valencia (~140 km) | Alicante–Elche (~75 km); Valencia (~120 km) |
| Nearest hospital | Hospital Marina Baixa (public, Villajoyosa, ~20 km) for major care | Public hospital: Hospital de Dénia (~35 km) — Calp is in the Dénia health department |
| Train | TRAM light rail to Alicante and Dénia. No high-speed train. | TRAM-train to Alicante and Denia |
| Sunshine | 2,851 hrsCosta-wide figure · a year · AEMET Alicante, 1981–2010 | 2,851 hrsCosta-wide figure · a year · AEMET Alicante, 1981–2010 |
| 2-bed rent | ~€890/monthCosta-wide figure · ≈70 m² at €12.7/m² · idealista asking rents, Sep 2026, Alicante province | ~€890/monthCosta-wide figure · ≈70 m² at €12.7/m² · idealista asking rents, Sep 2026, Alicante province |
| Renting and buying | — | ~€2,960/m² (Idealista, May 2025). More affordable than Dénia (€3,110/m²) and Jávea (€3,430/m²). Apartments and villas in wide range. Strong rental demand in summer months. |
| Who it suits | RetireesArtistsSecond-home ownersRemote workersFamilies
| FamiliesRetireesOutdoor enthusiastsSecond-home owners
|
| What works | — | — |
| What to weigh up | — | — |
| Town guide and topic pages | Altea guide →HealthcareAdminHousingCost of LivingCommunityIntegratingDaily LifeThings to DoSchools | Calp guide →HealthcareAdminHousingCost of LivingCommunityIntegratingDaily LifeThings to DoSchools |
| English-speaking businesses | 33 listed in Altea → | 22 listed in Calp → |
Figures come from each town guide and are checked against official sources (INE padrón, AEMET, idealista). Costa-wide rows apply to the whole costa, not the town alone. A dash means we don't hold a checked figure yet.
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