Property maintenance costs on the Costa del Sol

Are you planning to buy a house or apartment in Spain and wondering what the costs of owning a property on the Costa del Sol are? We’ve put together a list of the most important fees associated with owning property in Spain to help you better plan your budget and avoid unexpected costs – whether you’re looking at apartments or villas.

What are the maintenance costs for an apartment on the Costa del Sol?

Apartment maintenance fee (community fee)

Maintenance fee (community fee) covers the costs of maintaining common areas, such as stairwells, garages, gardens, and the pool. It includes, among other things, routine maintenance work and often a contribution to a renovation fund.

The amount of the fees depends on many factors – such as the number of units in a given development, the scope of common areas, and the standard of the complex (e.g., heated pool, 24-hour security) – and can range from approximately 80 euros to as much as 1,500 euros per month.

Property tax (Impuesto sobre Bienes Inmuebles – IBI)

Property tax (Impuesto sobre Bienes Inmuebles – IBI) is a mandatory annual fee that constitutes a cost of owning an apartment in Spain. It is based on the property’s cadastral value. It is the equivalent of the Polish property tax and contributes to the municipal budget. Rates are set individually by each municipality.

The amount of IBI is calculated based on the property’s cadastral value (which is lower than the market value) and the rate set by the municipality, which averages between 0.4% and 1.3%.

For an apartment, this amounts to approximately 300–1,000 euros per year, and the tax is paid once a year, usually in the fall.

Before purchasing, it is worth checking the IBI amount for a specific property to accurately estimate future maintenance costs.

Electricity

Electricity is a monthly bill based on actual electricity consumption. The most popular energy suppliers in Spain include Endesa and Iberdrola.

For an apartment, the average monthly energy cost is around 150 euros; however, during the summer – with heavy use of air conditioning – bills can be significantly higher.

Water

Water is typically billed monthly or quarterly, depending on the provider. The most common providers in the Marbella area include Acosol and Hidralia. Average monthly water costs are around 30 euros.

Internet

Internet – fiber-optic internet is available in most locations. Internet + phone packages typically cost between 20 and 60 euros per month, often with the option to add TV service. On average, you should budget about 40 euros per month for high-speed home internet.

Garbage Collection (known as Basura)

Garbage collection (known as Basura) is a local tax, usually collected every six months, amounting to approximately 90 euros. In some cases, this cost may already be included in the community fees.

Insurance

Insurance for real estate is a significant component of the costs of maintaining apartments on the Costa del Sol. Basic policies typically cost around 150 euros per year, while more comprehensive insurance can range from 300 to 700 euros per year.

The most popular insurance companies in Spain include Allianz, Zurich, Mapfre, and AXA. We recommend using the services of an insurance agent who can prepare quotes from various companies, allowing you to compare them and choose the best solution.

Tax for Non-Residents (IRNR)

IRNR (Impuesto sobre la Renta de No Residentes) applies to individuals who are not tax residents in Spain but own property there. Property owners are required to pay income tax on so-called imputed income, even if the property is not rented out.

The tax rate is 19% for EU citizens and 24% for non-EU citizens. The tax base is the so-called imputed income, which is typically 1.1% of the property’s cadastral value (or 2% if the value has not been updated).

The tax must be filed annually by the owner (Form Model 210) -usually by December 31 of the following year. The Spanish tax authority does not send reminders – the obligation to file rests with the owner. In practice, many owners use the services of tax advisors who handle the filings.

What are the maintenance costs for a villa on the Costa del Sol?

Community fees

For a villa located on a private plot but within a residential complex (urbanization), the owner is required to pay community fees.

These fees are used to maintain common areas – such as lighting, green spaces, landscaping, and cleaning of shared spaces. They also cover ongoing maintenance costs and often include a contribution to a renovation fund.

In some cases, the community covers a larger area (e.g., a district) where shared infrastructure elements are maintained. At the same time, it should be noted that the maintenance of public roads and sidewalks usually remains the responsibility of the municipality.

The amount of the fees depends on many factors – such as the size of the housing complex, the scope of the shared infrastructure, and the property’s share in the common areas. Annual costs can range from approximately 800 euros to as much as 3,000 euros.

Property Tax (Impuesto sobre Bienes Inmuebles – IBI)

Property Tax (Impuesto sobre Bienes Inmuebles – IBI), the amount of which depends on the property’s cadastral value (lower than market value) and the rate set by the municipality, which averages between 0.4% and 1.1%.

For a house or villa, this amounts to approximately €300–€3,500 per year, and the tax is paid once a year, usually in the fall.

Before purchasing, it is worth checking the IBI amount for a specific property to accurately estimate future maintenance costs.

Electricity

This is a monthly cost, depending on consumption levels. In Spain, the main suppliers include Endesa and Iberdrola.

For a single-family home, average monthly energy costs range from approximately 250 euros to 700 euros. These expenses can increase significantly with heavy use of air conditioning, heating the entire building, or heating a swimming pool.

To optimize costs, more and more homeowners are opting to install solar panels. With sufficient land or roof space, this is a particularly effective solution given Spain’s climate. At current energy prices, an investment in solar panels pays for itself on average within about 6 years.

Water

Water bills are typically billed monthly or quarterly, depending on the provider. For properties with large green areas, water consumption – and thus the amount of the bills – increases in proportion to the need for garden irrigation.

The bill also includes a fee for discharging water into the sewer system. Importantly, in practice, it is not possible to install a separate meter for water used in the garden, which means that the sewerage fee is calculated based on total consumption.

Costs can vary significantly – depending on the size of the garden and the intensity of watering. For example:

• consumption of approx. 50 m³ results in a cost of around 200 euros,
• consumption of approx. 300 m³ amounts to an expense of around 1,100 euros.

In the Marbella area, the main water suppliers are Acosol and Hidralia.

Internet

Fiber-optic internet is available in most locations. Internet + phone packages typically cost between 20 and 60 euros per month, often with the option to add TV service. On average, you should budget about 40 euros per month for high-speed home internet.

Garbage collection (so-called Basura)

Garbage collection, or so-called Basura, is a local fee – collected as a tax – usually every six months and amounting to about 120 euros.

Insurance

Insurance is a significant component of the cost of living in Spain. Standard policies typically cost around 450 euros per year, while more comprehensive insurance plans can range from 800 to 3,000 euros per year.

The most popular insurance companies in Spain include Allianz, Mapfre, Zurich, and AXA. We recommend using the services of an insurance agent who can compare offers and help you choose the optimal policy tailored to your needs.

Gardener

Gardener – The cost of maintaining a garden depends on its size, the type of plants, and the type of lawn. A gardener’s monthly salary typically ranges from about 200 euros to 700 euros.

Pool maintenance

Pool maintenance is a monthly cost ranging from 100 euros to 350 euros.

Tax for Non-Residents (IRNR)

IRNR (Impuesto sobre la Renta de No Residentes) applies to individuals who are not tax residents in Spain but own property there. Property owners are required to pay income tax on so-called imputed income, even if the property is not rented out.

The tax rate is 19% for EU citizens and 24% for non-EU citizens. The tax base is the so-called imputed income, which is typically 1.1% of the property’s cadastral value (or 2% if the value has not been updated).

The tax must be filed independently (Form Model 210), usually by December 31 of the following year. The Spanish tax authority does not send reminders – the responsibility to file lies with the owner. In practice, many owners seek the assistance of tax advisors who handle the filings.

Support for Property Maintenance on the Costa del Sol

We invite you to take advantage of our services, which include comprehensive support at every stage – from selection, through the purchase process, to property maintenance in Spain and its rental.

When planning a real estate investment in Spain, it is worth trusting the experience of our team and our proven partners—lawyers, financial advisors, architects, designers, and finishing crews. This way, the costs of maintaining your property on the Costa del Sol, as well as all other expenses, will be fully under control.