Destinations / Spain / Altea
Altea, Spain
Data grade A: official records Updated Oct 2026
Whitewashed hilltop town on the northern Costa Blanca, quieter and more upmarket than its neighbours.
On this page: What it buys · Where to look · All-in costs · Visas · Healthcare · Properties
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
asking price per m2
about 2,900 euros/m2 (approx)
gross rental yield
4 to 5% approx
population
about 23,000
sunshine
about 2,800 h/year
nearest airport
Alicante airport, 50 min
Altea is the pretty one: a white old town stacked above a pebble bay, an arts scene, and none of Benidorm’s towers (they are banned here). It draws Dutch, Norwegian and Belgian buyers who want calm over nightlife. Stock is tighter and pricier per square meter than the towns around it.
What your money buys here
Typical buys at each band, drawn from current local asking prices. Use the price per square metre in the bar above as your anchor: multiply it by the size you need and you will spot an overpriced listing in seconds. Figures are approximate, lean to the cautious side, and get refreshed as our data passes land.
$200k
A 1-2 bed apartment below the old town, a walk from the seafront
$350k
A 2-3 bed apartment with sea views, or a townhouse near the center
$500k
An entry-level villa in Altea Hills or La Sierra with bay views
Albir, La Nucia and Polop: Albir for flat walkable seafront, the hill towns for villa value with the same views. Going one town over usually buys a size or quality upgrade on the same budget, and these smaller markets are where patient buyers find the mispriced gems. Fewer listings means more waiting, so set the alert and be ready to travel when the right one appears.
This stretch of Spain sits in one of the world's best-served leisure corridors: year-round direct flights link the coastal airports with the UK, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium and Scandinavia, and North America is one stop away via Madrid or a major European hub.
Where to look
1. Casco Antiguo: the postcard old town, cobbles and galleries
2. Altea Hills: gated hillside villas with big sea views
3. La Olla beach: quiet seafront living north of the center
All-in cost at $350k
Property price: $350,000
Transfer tax (ITP, resale, varies by region): 6 to 11%
Notary and registry: roughly 1,500 to 2,500 euros
Independent lawyer (recommended): roughly 1% of price
Rule of thumb: budget 10 to 13% on top (about $385,000 to $395,000 all-in)
Figures approximate; exact rate depends on region and property. New builds pay IVA instead of ITP.
Visas for a US passport
Digital nomad visa: Yes. Remote income requirement (roughly 2,800 euros/month), family can join, path to long-term residency.
Non-lucrative visa: Yes, for savings or passive income. No work in Spain.
Buy-to-reside: No. Spain’s golden visa ended in 2025.
90-day rule: Without a visa, 90 days in any 180 in Schengen.
Healthcare and insurance
Public system access once resident and registered with the padron. Private insurance (required for most visas) typically runs 150 to 300 euros/month for a family of four. English-speaking GPs are common on the coasts.
Schools and family
Free public schooling for residents; places assigned after padron registration. International schools cluster on the coasts and in the big cities, typically 6,000 to 15,000 euros/year.
Serious about Altea?
Talk it through with a relocation and buying advisor. Visas, timing and the buying process, in one call.
Sources: Idealista price reports, official sale records (Registradores, notaries), regional tax tables, Spanish government visa pages. Figures marked approx are indicative and verified in our monthly data pass. Guidance, not legal or financial advice.