Mijas and Estepona sit on either side of Marbella: Mijas to the east, closer to Málaga, and Estepona to the west, towards Gibraltar. Both combine a historic centre, beaches and golf, share the same general purchase-tax rates and attract many international buyers. They differ in price and in how close they are to Málaga airport.
Mijas had 95,104 registered residents on 1 January 2025, and Estepona 79,621 (INE (opens in a new tab)).
The price difference
| Area | Asking price per m² | €300,000 buys about |
|---|---|---|
| Campo de Mijas | €2,943 | 102 m² |
| Altos de Estepona | €3,441 | 87 m² |
| Mijas Pueblo | €3,570 | 84 m² |
| Mijas, municipality | €3,711 | 81 m² |
| Benamara - Atalaya, Estepona | €4,306 | 70 m² |
| Estepona Pueblo | €4,400 | 68 m² |
| La Cala de Mijas | €4,593 | 65 m² |
| Estepona, municipality | €4,961 | 60 m² |
| Selwo, Estepona | €7,118 | 42 m² |
Mijas’s municipal asking-price index was €3,711 per m² in August 2026, about a quarter below Estepona’s €4,961. Applying the two indices to an illustrative 90 m² home gives €333,990 in Mijas and €446,490 in Estepona, a difference of €112,500 before taxes and fees. Mijas Pueblo asked €3,570 per m², about 19% less than Estepona Pueblo’s €4,400.
Same general purchase-tax rates
Both municipalities are in Andalucía, so the general purchase-tax rates are the same: 7% transfer tax (ITP) on a resale home, or 10% VAT plus 1.2% Andalusian stamp duty (AJD) on a typical new home bought from a developer. On an illustrative 90 m² resale home at the two municipal averages, the 7% transfer tax would be about €23,380 in Mijas against about €31,250 in Estepona, assuming the purchase price is the taxable base and no reduced rate applies. Annual IBI bills depend on the property’s cadastral assessment and applicable reliefs: Mijas’s published ordinary urban rate is 0.4826%, and Estepona’s 2026 budget maintains IBI support for qualifying registered residents. Compare the latest property-specific bill when assessing ownership costs.
General information, not advice. Confirm your position with a Spanish lawyer or tax adviser.
What Mijas offers
More space for the money. At the August 2026 indices, €300,000 equates to about 81 m² across Mijas against 60 m² in Estepona.
Málaga airport close by. About 18 minutes from Las Lagunas, 20 from Mijas Pueblo and 25 from La Cala, against about 55 minutes from Estepona (Rome2Rio, October 2026), and the C1 train from neighbouring Fuengirola.
The Nordic schools in neighbouring municipalities. Swedish and Finnish schools in Fuengirola and the Norwegian school in Benalmádena, alongside St Anthony’s College, a British school for ages 3 to 18, in Mijas.
Village, beach and golf in one municipality. A white Andalusian village on the hillside, five Blue Flag beaches in 2026 and twelve golf courses counted by the town hall. Mijas Pueblo’s botanical route around La Muralla covers 12,875 m² with 140 plant species (Turismo Mijas (opens in a new tab)). See Which area suits you.
What Estepona offers
A larger new-build share of purchases. New homes accounted for 25.6% of recorded residential property transactions in Estepona in 2025, against 10.6% in Mijas (IECA, Estepona (opens in a new tab); IECA, Mijas (opens in a new tab)).
A renovated historic centre and a long coastline. A remodelled historic centre, a municipal art route of more than 70 murals across its neighbourhoods, a working fishing port and 23 km of coastline.
Hospitals and international education within the municipality. A public hospital and Hospiten Estepona, with 24-hour emergency care; British-curriculum options include Queens British Grammar School, Mayfair School and The International School Estepona, while Colegio Internacional Atalaya offers the IB Diploma.
Closer to Gibraltar. Gibraltar airport, with flights to London and other UK cities, is about 45 km from Estepona.
Who each place suits
Estepona suits buyers drawn to its historic centre and coastline, its hospitals and international schools within the municipality, and its proximity to Gibraltar.
Mijas suits buyers who want more space for their budget, Málaga airport close by, the Nordic schools within reach, and a choice of village, coastal and golf settings.
Asking-price figures: idealista, August 2026. Population: INE, 1 January 2025. Housing transactions: IECA, calendar year 2025. Distances: route planner (Rome2Rio), October 2026. Prices and tax rules change; confirm current figures before deciding.
