Between 2013 and 2023, rents rose by 45 per cent in these coastal towns. Credit: Josemanuel / Creative Commons
The cost of renting a home in Denia, Javea and Calpe has soared over the past decade, placing enormous pressure on residents and particularly on younger people attempting to move out and gain independence. Newly published figures from Spain’s National Statistics Institute (INE), covering rental prices in 2023 for towns with more than 20,000 inhabitants, paint a troubling picture: renting is no longer simply expensive, it is becoming unattainable.
In the Costa Blanca region, only three municipalities meet that population threshold – Denia, Javea and Calpe – and all three have endured rental increases far above the national average. Between 2013 and 2023, rents rose by 45 per cent in these coastal towns, compared to a national growth rate of 33 per cent. Even more stark is the comparison with the rise in the cost of living. During the same period, inflation (IPC) increased by just 19.4 per cent, meaning rental prices are growing more than twice as fast as basic living costs.
Today, the average rent across these three municipalities stands at €588 per month. That amount already surpasses half of the minimum wage, which in 2023 equated to €540 per month when distributed across 12 payments. For local workers on low salaries, and for younger people attempting to move out of the family home, the numbers are simply unworkable. A decent standard of living becomes a difficult – if not impossible – objective when more than half the monthly income is absorbed by rent.
The differences between the towns are significant
Javea stands out as the most expensive, with an average monthly rent of €647, nearly double what tenants paid a decade ago. Denia and Calpe are slightly lower, at €562 and €555 respectively, yet both have still seen increases of more than 40 per cent over the last ten years. In Calpe, prices have continued rising even over the last 12 months, demonstrating that the upward trend shows no sign of stabilising.
However, even these figures fail to capture the full reality. The INE’s data is based on tax information and divided into monthly averages, which means seasonal rentals are not accurately reflected. In many cases, landlords will only let their properties from September to May, so they can switch to lucrative holiday lets during the summer months. Tenants are frequently asked to leave when the tourist season begins. In addition, many of the available rentals are small, unsuitable for families, or require significant renovation.