Fuengirola vs Benalmádena: 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
- Fuengirola85,21185,211 residents (INE, 1 Jan 2025). Large established international community, especially British.Benalmádena78,33878,338 residents (INE, 1 Jan 2025). Large international community, especially British and Scandinavian.
- British residents
- Fuengirola~6,000Benalmádena~3,700
- Nearest airport
- FuengirolaMálaga–Costa del Sol (~25 km) direct trainBenalmádenaMálaga–Costa del Sol (~15 km direct train)
- Nearest hospital
- FuengirolaHospital Costa del Sol (Marbella, ~20 km)BenalmádenaHospital Universitario Costa del Sol (public, Marbella, ~35 km)
- Train
- FuengirolaCercanías Málaga C1 — direct to Málaga Airport and city centreBenalmádenaCercanías Málaga C1 — direct to Málaga Airport and city centre
- Sunshine
- Fuengirola2,905 hrsCosta-wide figure · a year · AEMET Málaga airport, 1981–2010Benalmádena2,905 hrsCosta-wide figure · a year · AEMET Málaga airport, 1981–2010
- 2-bed rent
- Fuengirola~€1,320/monthCosta-wide figure · ≈70 m² at €18.8/m² · idealista asking rents, Sep 2026, Málaga provinceBenalmádena~€1,320/monthCosta-wide figure · ≈70 m² at €18.8/m² · idealista asking rents, Sep 2026, Málaga province
- Renting and buying
- Fuengirola~€4,301/m² (Idealista, August 2025). Very developed — much of the coastal strip is high-rise apartment blocks. Range from studio apartments to large penthouses. More affordable than Marbella, similar to Benalmádena.BenalmádenaActive market, mid-range prices. Apartments from budget studios to marina-front penthouses. More affordable than Marbella, similar to Fuengirola. Strong rental demand year-round.
- Who it suits
- FuengirolaRetireesFamiliesRemote workersSecond-home owners
- Families: Good
- Retirees: Excellent
- Remote workers: Good
- Second-home owners: Good
- Holiday-rental investors: Moderate
BenalmádenaFamiliesRetireesHoliday-rental investorsMarina lovers- Families: Good
- Retirees: Good
- Remote workers: Moderate
- Second-home owners: Good
- Holiday-rental investors: Good
- What works
- Fuengirola—Benalmádena—
- What to weigh up
- Fuengirola—Benalmádena—
- Town guide and topic pages
- English-speaking businesses
| FuengirolaA working Spanish town with excellent transport, established British community and a genuine year-round life on the Costa del Sol. | BenalmádenaA lively resort town with a world-class marina, hilltop village and cable car — mid-way between Málaga and Fuengirola. | |
|---|---|---|
| Costa and region | Costa del SolMálaga · Andalusia | Costa del SolMálaga · Andalusia |
| Population | 85,21185,211 residents (INE, 1 Jan 2025). Large established international community, especially British. | 78,33878,338 residents (INE, 1 Jan 2025). Large international community, especially British and Scandinavian. |
| British residents | ~6,000 | ~3,700 |
| Nearest airport | Málaga–Costa del Sol (~25 km) direct train | Málaga–Costa del Sol (~15 km direct train) |
| Nearest hospital | Hospital Costa del Sol (Marbella, ~20 km) | Hospital Universitario Costa del Sol (public, Marbella, ~35 km) |
| Train | Cercanías Málaga C1 — direct to Málaga Airport and city centre | Cercanías Málaga C1 — direct to Málaga Airport and city centre |
| Sunshine | 2,905 hrsCosta-wide figure · a year · AEMET Málaga airport, 1981–2010 | 2,905 hrsCosta-wide figure · a year · AEMET Málaga airport, 1981–2010 |
| 2-bed rent | ~€1,320/monthCosta-wide figure · ≈70 m² at €18.8/m² · idealista asking rents, Sep 2026, Málaga province | ~€1,320/monthCosta-wide figure · ≈70 m² at €18.8/m² · idealista asking rents, Sep 2026, Málaga province |
| Renting and buying | ~€4,301/m² (Idealista, August 2025). Very developed — much of the coastal strip is high-rise apartment blocks. Range from studio apartments to large penthouses. More affordable than Marbella, similar to Benalmádena. | Active market, mid-range prices. Apartments from budget studios to marina-front penthouses. More affordable than Marbella, similar to Fuengirola. Strong rental demand year-round. |
| Who it suits | RetireesFamiliesRemote workersSecond-home owners
| FamiliesRetireesHoliday-rental investorsMarina lovers
|
| What works | — | — |
| What to weigh up | — | — |
| Town guide and topic pages | Fuengirola guide →HealthcareAdminHousingCost of LivingCommunityIntegratingDaily LifeThings to DoSchools | Benalmádena guide →HealthcareAdminHousingCost of LivingCommunityIntegratingDaily LifeThings to DoSchools |
| English-speaking businesses | 33 listed in Fuengirola → | 33 listed in Benalmádena → |
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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