Spanish coastal provinces Almería and Alicante record soaring housing prices amid economic paradox

Between 2021 and 2026 the coastal housing market in Almería province rose by 43.73%, with average prices climbing from €116,072 to €166,825. The share of foreign buyers increased to 17.84% of transactions, underscoring the region’s attractiveness to overseas investors. Similar upward trends were noted across other Andalusian coasts, where foreign participation ranged from 5% to over 34% and price growth exceeded 40% in many areas.

In the neighbouring province of Alicante, the first quarter of 2026 saw a record 750,879 people affiliated with Social Security, the highest March figure in its history. Despite this employment surge, per‑capita GDP remains low at €23,539, well below the national average, and inflation ran above the national rate at 3.64%. Rising housing costs have turned home ownership into a privilege for a small segment of the population, highlighting a widening gap between job creation and living‑standard improvements.