6 6 schools$2,100/mo avg rentLarge expat community
Working Spanish town embraced by expat families for its value and authenticity. Home to Laude San Pedro and St. George's School.
5/5
Safety
5/5
Family Friendly
5/5
Quality of Life
5/5
Expat Friendly
5/5
Healthcare
Large
Expat Community
7-32°C
Temp Range
Moderate
English Level
☀️ Climate & Weather
Monthly temperatures, rainfall, and sea conditions
32°C
Hottest (Aug)
9°C
Coolest (Dec)
26
Sunny days/mo avg
388mm
Annual rainfall
Avg highAvg lowSea tempRainfall
15°
🌊 Jan
15°
🌊 Feb
15°
🌊 Mar
16°
🌊 Apr
18°
🌊 May
21°
🌊 Jun
24°
🌊 Jul
25°
🌊 Aug
23°
🌊 Sep
21°
🌊 Oct
18°
🌊 Nov
16°
🌊 Dec
💰 Cost of Living
Monthly family budget estimates (USD)
At a Glance
$2,100
Avg. rent /mo
$10
Budget meal
$40
Mid-range dinner (2 ppl)
Dining & Drinks
Cappuccino$1.90
Domestic beer$2.30
Imported beer$3.50
Water (1.5L)$0.52
Groceries
Loaf of bread$1.25
Milk (1L)$0.85
Dozen eggs$1.95
Chicken (1 kg)$5.00
Transport
Taxi flag-drop$3.50
Taxi per km$1.15
Monthly transit pass$38
Gasoline (per liter)$1.65
Monthly Bills
Internet$35 /mo
Utilities (avg.)$130 /mo
Gym membership$35 /mo
Domestic help$700 /mo
Preschool / nursery$550 /mo
Comfortable
Family in a 2-3 bedroom apartment in or near the town centre, children at Spanish bilingual school, one car.
$3,100/mo
Rent$1,300
Groceries$530
Lifestyle & leisure$170
Transport$250
Utilities$130
Dining out$300
Healthcare$140
School fees (per child)$200
Domestic help$80
Established
Family in a 3-bedroom townhouse or villa apartment with pool, children at Swans or Laude international school, one car.
$6,800/mo
Rent$2,600
Groceries$780
Lifestyle & leisure$450
Transport$380
Utilities$165
Dining out$580
Healthcare$230
School fees (per child)$1,000
Domestic help$415
Premium
Family in a large villa with pool, two cars, children at Aloha College IB or similar, golf club membership, part-time housekeeper.
$12,000/mo
Rent$4,500
Groceries$1,200
Lifestyle & leisure$1,000
Transport$900
Utilities$250
Dining out$1,500
Healthcare$500
School fees (per child)$1,500
Domestic help$650
San Pedro de Alcantara offers excellent value for money — noticeably less expensive than Marbella or Nueva Andalucia while being immediately adjacent to both. It is one of the best-value locations for families who want top international schools and western Costa del Sol lifestyle without the Marbella price premium. All costs in EUR.
🌬️ Air Quality
Average monthly AQI (US EPA scale)
30Jan
28Feb
30Mar
32Apr
35May
38Jun
42Jul
43Aug
38Sep
33Oct
30Nov
28Dec
Good (0–50)Moderate (51–100)USG (101–150)Unhealthy (151+)
Yearly average AQI is 34. Best air quality Jan–Dec (best: Dec at 28).
👥 Demographics
35%
Expat Population
middle
Income Level
~32,000
Population
Nationalities
Spanish65%
British12%
Swedish/Nordic7%
German5%
Dutch/Belgian4%
Moroccan3%
Irish2%
🏘️ Community & Culture
Authentic Spanish town character alongside expat infrastructurePaseo del Rio — beautifully renovated town-to-beach promenadeThursday market — one of the largest on the Costa del SolDiverse expat mix across all age groups and nationalities
The Best of Both Worlds Between Marbella and Estepona
🌳 Parks & Recreation
3km Paseo del Rio river promenade to the beachBlue Flag beach with calm family-friendly waters5+ championship golf courses within 15 minutesSierra Bermeja natural park 20-30 min drive
Beachfront, River Walk, and Mountain Access
🚗 Getting Around
5 min to Puerto Banus, 10 min to Marbella centre45 min to Malaga Airport via AP-7 motorwayExtensive private school bus networks for international schoolsOwn AP-7 motorway junction for direct east-west access
Strategic Location Between Two Motorway Junctions
🛒 Daily Life
Thursday market — largest weekly market on western Costa del SolSwans and Laude international schools based in the townHC Marbella International Hospital 10 min awayFull range of supermarkets including Mercadona and Lidl
A Well-Stocked Town with Genuine Local Character
📝 Living with the Climate
Warm summers with comfortable Atlantic Poniente eveningsMild winters — lows rarely below 9 degrees CSouth-facing beach — excellent afternoon sea breezes in summerSea swimmable from June through October at 20-25 degrees C
Classic Western Costa del Sol Mediterranean Climate
