Foreign renters are flocking to Malaga as Nerja sees huge overseas demand

Foreigners are showing huge interest in renting homes in Malaga province, with Nerja now one of the Spanish towns where international searches account for half of all rental demand.

New figures from property website Idealista show just how strongly overseas house-hunters are targeting the Costa del Sol. Around one in four searches for rental homes in Malaga province comes from outside Spain, putting it among the country’s most popular destinations for international tenants.

Nerja draws renters from around the world

Nerja is the standout local figure, with 50 per cent of rental searches coming from abroad during the first quarter of 2026.

Only a handful of Spanish towns recorded an overseas share of 50 per cent or more. Mallorca and Alicante dominate the top of the list, while Nerja joins Mogán in Gran Canaria in reaching the halfway mark.

Interest in Nerja comes from several countries, with the United States, UK and Sweden among the main sources of searches.

Other popular destinations on the Costa del Sol and nearby coast also attract strong international interest. Almuñecar recorded 45 per cent of rental searches from abroad, while Salobreña reached 43 per cent.

Malaga is still a major expat rental market

Malaga province recorded 24 per cent of rental searches from overseas, putting it just behind Alicante and the Balearic Islands nationally. British renters are particularly important to the Malaga market, followed by Americans and Germans. That mix reflects the wide range of people now looking at the Costa del Sol not just for holidays, but as a place to live.

Malaga city itself recorded a 20 per cent international share, with American, German and French renters showing the greatest interest.

Idealista’s figures come from searches for rental properties rather than completed tenancy agreements, so they do not show how many homes were actually rented by foreigners.

Coastal Spain continues to attract overseas renters

Much of the strongest international demand is concentrated along Spain’s Mediterranean coastline and on the islands. Alicante and the Balearics each recorded 26 per cent of rental searches from abroad, while Santa Cruz de Tenerife reached 19 per cent and Valencia 18 per cent.

For British expats and anyone considering a move to Spain, the figures provide another indication of how competitive popular coastal rental markets can be. With overseas applicants competing with Spanish tenants for the same homes, finding a long-term rental in sought-after areas such as Nerja can be challenging.