Area guide
Just east of Marbella, right by the beach, this is Costabella.
Costabella is one of the oldest residential areas in Marbella East, and the history of the area explains a lot about what you see here today.
The urbanisation dates back to the 1960s and was originally developed as a holiday urbanisation by international owners, specifically Germans. So from the beginning, Costabella was built for holiday visits, not permanent living. And you can feel that today, both in the properties and the area itself.
The villas here are smaller than what you normally find in the urbanisations around Marbella East, and most are single-storey homes. They were often built as relatively simple holiday homes, often with just two bedrooms, a living area, kitchen and garden — the focus was simply on utility.
The area is densely built, with smaller plots, and the streets are narrow. It was built for walkable beach living, so the scale and architecture were much more modest.
This is one of the reasons Costabella feels so different from its neighbour, Los Monteros. Los Monteros was developed around the same era, but with a completely different vision and buyer profile — designed as an exclusive residential area, with large plots and luxurious Andalusian-style mansions intended for high-end, year-round living. You can still see that difference today, even though the two areas sit next to each other.
Some of the original villas in Costabella still look very much like they did decades ago, while others have been completely renovated or demolished and rebuilt. So you can have a modest older villa sitting right next to a brand-new property worth several million euros.
Let's move on to the beach. Costabella sits directly between the A-7 and the Mediterranean Sea, and in many parts of the urbanisation, you're just a few minutes' walk from the beach. Along the beachfront, you'll find several restaurants and a few beach clubs, including the popular Bono Beach.
So for buyers who want to walk to the beach every morning, you do have that here.
You're also only around 10 minutes from Marbella centre by car, and Elviria is next door, where you'll find supermarkets, restaurants, schools and more everyday amenities.
Now the trade-offs. The first is the A-7 coastal highway — it runs directly behind parts of Costabella, so depending on exactly where you buy, there can be road noise.
And even though the overall property stock in Costabella isn't generally at the same luxury level as some of the neighbouring areas, you are still paying high-end square metre prices for the location.
There's another thing to be aware of here, especially if you're looking for a permanent home. Because of Costabella's location right next to the beach and so close to Marbella, quite a few homeowners use their properties as short-term rentals — you can charge a high premium to holiday renters, often families wanting to rent a villa walking distance to the beach.
And since the area is densely built, with properties sitting on smaller plots, having a neighbouring property used as a holiday rental can have a much bigger impact on your day-to-day experience than it would in a large villa development with big plots and more distance between the houses. So if you're buying here to live permanently, it's worth keeping in mind who your neighbours might be.
On the flip side, if you are an investor, this is one of the reasons Costabella can be a very attractive area generating high yields.
For bigger shopping, schools and most everyday errands, you're leaving the area by car. Within Costabella itself, you have the beach, several restaurants and a local supermarket, but for most other things, you'll be heading to Elviria or Marbella.
One house might be an original 1960s villa with a small plot and in need of renovations. The next could be a completely rebuilt villa with modern finishes. One street might feel quiet and residential, while another can be more affected by traffic from the A-7 coastal road. And one neighbour might be living there year-round, while another might be renting their property to holiday visitors.
So here, the exact street, the position of the property, the distance to the beach, the condition and history of the individual home, and even the properties next door all matter.
For buyers who want to be close to the beach without being too far from Marbella, Costabella is definitely an area worth considering. Just make sure you do in-depth due diligence on the property you like, because in Costabella, that's a must. Get in touch — I represent buyers only, so my job is to work for you, not the seller.
Questions
Costabella was built in the 1960s as modest holiday villas on small plots, while neighbouring Los Monteros was designed from the start as an exclusive, large-plot villa area for year-round living.
Yes. Its beach proximity and closeness to Marbella make it popular for short-term holiday rentals, and it can generate high yields for investors.
Individual property condition and history vary a lot street by street, so in-depth due diligence is essential — including checking for road noise from the A-7 and confirming whether neighbouring properties are used as short-term rentals.
About 10 minutes by car, with Elviria right next door for everyday amenities like supermarkets, restaurants and schools.
Looking at more than one area? Compare them all in the Costa del Sol area guides, or see how buying works.