Fuengirola vs Altea
Single · Comfortable · $3,000/mo
Altea is approximately 30% less expensive than Fuengirola based on cost of living including rent. This makes Altea a more budget-friendly option for expats considering a move.
Altea has a FIRE Score of N/A/100, indicating its suitability for financial independence and early retirement. The city's safety index is 84, which is relatively safe.
Recommended profile: Altea is well-suited for retirees seeking a balanced lifestyle.
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Fuengirola
Spain
Altea
Estimates from published local prices. N/A means no figure is published for that city.
About these cities
About Altea
Altea is a small, safe, and affordable base for retirees, with a 76/100 retiree score, an 84/100 safety index, and a 1-bedroom in the center at $810/mo. The catch is scale: 24 thousand people, an arid climate, and English that is common mainly in tourist areas, so daily life rewards some Spanish. Digital nomads get a decent but not stellar 67/100, and the $1,627/mo income floor for the Spain Digital Nomad Visa is easy to clear on a $1,900/mo mid-range budget. If you want a quiet, low-cost Mediterranean town rather than a big expat hub, Altea delivers.
About Spain
Retirees and remote workers get a genuine European base without the Northern Europe price tag: rent for a 1-bed outside the center averages $804/mo, well under NYC costs. Healthcare scores 77.3, life expectancy is among the highest in the EU, and a large expat community softens the medium English proficiency. The catch is tax: standard rates climb to 47%, though the Beckham Law flat 24% option changes the math for qualifying newcomers.
Altea ranks meaningfully higher on safety. Use our tool below to personalize the estimate based on your income and lifestyle.
Altea is approximately 30% less expensive than Fuengirola based on cost of living including rent. This makes Altea a more budget-friendly option for expats considering a move.
Altea has a FIRE Score of N/A/100, indicating its suitability for financial independence and early retirement. The city's safety index is 84, which is relatively safe.
Recommended profile: Altea is well-suited for retirees seeking a balanced lifestyle.
About Fuengirola
Fuengirola is one of the Costa del Sol's better-value beach towns, with a cost of living index of 59/100 and a 1-bedroom outside the center at $813/mo. The catch is income: the average local net salary of $1,791/mo barely covers a mid-range budget of $1,378/mo, so remote workers and retirees on outside money do far better here than job seekers. With a digital nomad score of 78/100, a large active expat community, and AGP just 19 km away, it is a practical base rather than a glamorous one. Come for the climate and the low transport and internet costs, not for local wages.
About Spain
Retirees and remote workers get a genuine European base without the Northern Europe price tag: rent for a 1-bed outside the center averages $804/mo, well under NYC costs. Healthcare scores 77.3, life expectancy is among the highest in the EU, and a large expat community softens the medium English proficiency. The catch is tax: standard rates climb to 47%, though the Beckham Law flat 24% option changes the math for qualifying newcomers.
$1,568/mo
Cost of Living (Without Rent)
Rent Per Month
Attractiveness
City Details
About Altea
Altea is a small, safe, and affordable base for retirees, with a 76/100 retiree score, an 84/100 safety index, and a 1-bedroom in the center at $810/mo. The catch is scale: 24 thousand people, an arid climate, and English that is common mainly in tourist areas, so daily life rewards some Spanish. Digital nomads get a decent but not stellar 67/100, and the $1,627/mo income floor for the Spain Digital Nomad Visa is easy to clear on a $1,900/mo mid-range budget. If you want a quiet, low-cost Mediterranean town rather than a big expat hub, Altea delivers.
About Spain
Retirees and remote workers get a genuine European base without the Northern Europe price tag: rent for a 1-bed outside the center averages $804/mo, well under NYC costs. Healthcare scores 77.3, life expectancy is among the highest in the EU, and a large expat community softens the medium English proficiency. The catch is tax: standard rates climb to 47%, though the Beckham Law flat 24% option changes the math for qualifying newcomers.
$1,761/mo
Cost of Living (Without Rent)
Rent Per Month
Attractiveness
City Details
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| Metric | Fuengirola | Altea |
|---|---|---|
| 1BR Apartment (Center) | $1051.34 | $810 |
| 1BR Apartment (Outside) | $813.03 | $648 |
| 3BR Apartment (Center) | $1766.24 | $1404 |
| 3BR Apartment (Outside) | $1303.66 | $1080 |
| Safety Index | 74 | 84 |
| Internet Speed | 100Mbps | 100Mbps |
| Walkability Score | N/A | N/A |
Monthly cost by categoryOne person, computed from each city's own average prices
| Category | Fuengirola | Altea |
|---|---|---|
| Total (rent included) | $1,432/mo | $1,239/mo |
| Excluding rent | $619/mo | $591/mo |
| Rent | $813/mo | $648/mo |
| Groceries | $158/mo | $162/mo |
| Dining out | $157/mo | $130/mo |
| Entertainment & lifestyle | $95.00/mo | $91.00/mo |
| Utilities & connectivity | $198/mo | $165/mo |
| Transport | $11.00/mo | $43.00/mo |
Usage-based estimates from this city's own average prices. A row marked N/A means that city is missing data, so no figure is shown instead of a stale one.
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