Explore Costa Cálida
The Mar Menor's sheltered waters, Mediterranean bays and seaside homes offer different coastal lifestyles.
About Costa Cálida
The Costa Cálida, the "warm coast", is the coastline of the Region of Murcia. It earns its name: lots of sun, mild winters and warm water, especially in the Mar Menor, a large lagoon with calm, shallow water popular with families. To the south-west, the coast turns into quiet bays and coves around Mazarrón and Águilas.
It is one of the most affordable coasts in Spain. All four places on the site ask between €1,649/m² in Águilas and €1,914/m² in Mazarrón, so you get much more for your money than on the Costa Blanca or Costa del Sol. It also feels more Spanish, with fewer international buyers.
Cartagena, an old port city with Roman remains, and Murcia, the regional capital, give the coast city life within easy reach.
What to know first
- One of the cheapest coasts in Spain, from €1,649/m² in Águilas to €1,914/m² in Mazarrón
- Warm water and calm beaches, especially in the Mar Menor
- Quiet bays and coves around Mazarrón and Águilas
- A more Spanish coast, with fewer international buyers
- City life close by in Cartagena and Murcia
Asking prices compared
Ranked on asking price per m². Municipalities and sub-municipal entries are listed apart, because a district cannot be ranked against the municipality that contains it.
| Place | Asking price / m² | Population | Price tier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whole municipalities | |||
| Mazarrón | €1,914/m² | 35,449 | Budget |
| Cartagena | €1,741/m² | 220,704 | Budget |
| Murcia | €1,740/m² | 479,405 | Budget |
| Águilas | €1,649/m² | 37,811 | Budget |
How the prices spread
Prices on this coast are very close together. Mazarrón asks the most, Cartagena and Murcia are level, and Águilas is the cheapest. The choice is therefore mainly about the kind of place you want: city, port or quiet seaside town.
The table shows average asking prices, not sale prices. Within one town, prices can vary a lot from one area to the next.
Who each part suits
History and a marina
A port city with a Roman theatre, a lively centre and long-distance trains.
Authentic and affordable
A Spanish fishing town with beaches on both sides and the lowest prices here.
A city near the coast
The regional capital, with culture, a university and trains to Madrid, half an hour from the sea.
Cities in Costa Cálida
Browse properties by city
Murcia
Costa Cálida
€1,740/m² · Population 479.405
Cartagena
Costa Cálida
€1,741/m² · Population 220.704
Mazarrón
Costa Cálida
€1,914/m² · Population 35.449
Águilas
Costa Cálida
€1,649/m² · Population 37.811
The case for
- Low prices
Much cheaper than the Costa Blanca or Costa del Sol.
- Warm water
The Mar Menor is warm and calm, ideal for families and water sports.
- Sun and mild winters
One of the sunniest coasts in Spain.
- Authentically Spanish
Fewer international buyers, more local life.
- Favourable taxes
A 8% transfer tax on resale homes, and a reduced rate for some buyers.
The case against
- Few trains on the coast
- Water quality in the Mar Menor
The lagoon has had serious pollution problems in recent years. Check the current situation.
- Fewer international services
Less help in other languages than on the Costa Blanca.
- Prices are rising fast
Murcia had the fastest price rise in Spain in early 2026.
- Dry and hot in summer
Water is scarce in the region, and summer afternoons inland are very hot.
Questions buyers ask
- Where is the Costa Cálida?
- It is the coast of the Region of Murcia, between the Costa Blanca to the north and the Costa de Almería to the south-west.
- Why is it so affordable?
- It has fewer international buyers than the coasts around it, and fewer flights and trains. Prices are rising quickly, though.
- Is there a train along the coast?
- Hardly. Cartagena has long-distance and regional trains, but no trains run to Águilas, and Mazarrón has no station.
- How do I get there?
- Region of Murcia International Airport at Corvera serves the whole coast, and Alicante airport is about an hour away.
- What is the Mar Menor like?
- A large saltwater lagoon with calm, warm water. It has had pollution problems in recent years, so check the current situation before you buy nearby.
- What taxes do I pay when buying?
- On a resale home, 8% transfer tax, and a reduced rate on a main home for buyers aged 40 or under or large families, subject to conditions. New-build homes pay VAT instead of transfer tax.
Where you might be better off elsewhere
If you want a more international coast with more services in your own language, the Costa Blanca is just to the north. If you want the same low prices with even more desert-like landscapes and mild winters, look at the Costa de Almería. And if a good train connection matters, Valencia and the Costa del Azahar are better connected.