Prices and quotes
How much does it cost to renovate a flat in Marbella in 2026
· 4 min read
In Marbella and the Costa del Sol, a full home renovation typically ranges between €500 and €900 per square metre in 2026, depending on the quality of materials and the starting condition. A complete bathroom usually costs between €6,000 and €10,000, and a kitchen between €7,000 and €14,000. These are indicative ranges: the real price depends on the size, on what is behind the walls, on how many bathrooms and kitchens are involved, and on the quality you choose.
Indicative ranges by type of renovation
These are the figures we work with on the Costa del Sol in mid-2026, VAT included and for mid-range properties. They are useful for getting an idea before requesting a quote, not for contracting: no serious professional can fix a price without seeing the property.
| Type of renovation | Indicative range | What it usually includes |
|---|---|---|
| Cosmetic refresh | €300 – €450/m² | Paint, laminate flooring, new sanitaryware and the odd light point. Installations untouched. |
| Mid-range full renovation | €500 – €750/m² | All of the above plus new electrics and plumbing, complete bathroom and kitchen, skimming and joinery. |
| High-specification full renovation | €750 – €1,100/m² | The same with high-end materials, air conditioning, home automation, bespoke joinery and layout changes. |
| Complete bathroom | €6,000 – €10,000 | Pipework, wall and floor tiling, sanitaryware, screen, units and lighting. |
| Complete kitchen | €7,000 – €14,000 | Units, worktop, appliances, electrics, extractor and flue. |
The four things that really move the price
1. Size and starting condition
The price per square metre falls as the property grows: fixed costs — setting up, protection, rubble removal, travel — are spread over more floor area. A 60 m² flat works out more expensive per metre than a 120 m² one. And an empty flat is not the same as one you are living in: if the work has to be phased and furniture protected, the job takes longer and the price rises by 10 to 20 %.
2. What is behind the walls
This is the item that blows up most quotes. If the wiring is thirty years old, it is not patched: it all goes, with a new consumer unit. The same applies to the soil pipes in an older building. On the Costa del Sol there is a large stock built in the seventies and eighties with installations that do not meet current regulations, and that has to be checked before quoting, not after starting.
3. How many bathrooms and kitchens are involved
In a full renovation, roughly half the budget goes on the bathroom and the kitchen. They are the rooms with installations, waterproofing, tiling and specific fitted furniture. A three-bedroom, two-bathroom flat costs considerably more than a three-bedroom, one-bathroom flat, even with the same floor area.
4. The quality of the materials
Between decent porcelain tile and a high-end one there can be a €25/m² difference in material alone. Multiplied across the whole property, that is thousands of euros. The same goes for taps, joinery and appliances. That is why a serious quote names the specific model or an equivalent: without a brand, the word “quality” means nothing and allows the material to be downgraded without telling you.
Why two quotes for the same job differ by €15,000
It is almost never the margin. It is because they do not include the same things. When comparing two quotes, check item by item whether both cover these points, which are the ones usually missing from the cheaper one:
- The complete electrical installation, with a new consumer unit and certificate, not just “light points”.
- Rubble removal with the skips actually needed, which in a full renovation is several.
- The permit or responsible declaration and its municipal fee.
- The finishing work: skirting, sealing, trims and paint touch-ups after installation.
- VAT, which on a €50,000 job is several thousand euros of difference depending on whether it is shown or not.
How much is paid, and when
The usual and reasonable approach is to pay by milestones: part at the start, part halfway through and the rest on delivery, once you have seen the finished work. A typical split is 30 % at the start, 40 % halfway and 30 % on completion. Be wary of anyone asking for the full amount up front, or more than 50 % before starting: staged payment is your only lever to keep the work moving at the agreed pace.
How to find out your real price
The only way to get a reliable figure is for someone to visit the property, measure it, check the consumer unit and the soil pipes, inspect the condition of the windows and any damp, and write it all down item by item. That is what we do during a visit of around 45 minutes, and you have the detailed quote 48 hours later. It is free and commits you to nothing.