Málaga village sees house prices fall by almost 13% while property costs continue to rise across the province

Buying a home in Málaga remains a major financial challenge for many families, but property prices are not following the same trend in every municipality across the province. While housing costs continue to rise in much of the region, some inland villages are recording price reductions that contrast sharply with the wider market.

The most notable example is Mollina, in the Antequera district, where the average asking price of properties for sale has fallen by 12.9% over the past year, according to Idealista's property market statistics for October 2026.

Following this decline, the municipality's average asking price stands at €1,150 per square metre, making it the location with the largest year-on-year decrease among the Málaga municipalities included in the report.

However, Mollina is not the cheapest place to buy a home.

That distinction belongs to Alameda, another inland municipality in Málaga province, where the average asking price is €900 per square metre.

The difference between the two villages highlights two separate market trends: one municipality where house prices have fallen significantly and another where properties remain the cheapest in the statistics, despite becoming more expensive over the past year.

Mollina records the biggest house price drop in Málaga province

Mollina's property market is experiencing an unusual trend compared with much of the province.

According to Idealista's figures, the average asking price of residential properties reached €1,150 per square metre in October 2026, following a year-on-year fall of 12.9%.

This represents the largest percentage decrease recorded among the municipalities included in the provincial statistics.

To put the decline into perspective, it is useful to consider what the current average price could mean for a typical property.

At the average asking price, a hypothetical 80-square-metre home would have an estimated value of €92,000.

For a property measuring 100 square metres, the equivalent calculation would be approximately €115,000.

These amounts are not confirmed selling prices, nor do they guarantee that properties are available for exactly these figures. They are estimates calculated by multiplying the property's floor area by the municipality's average asking price.

The actual cost of an individual home will depend on its location, condition, characteristics, age and size.

Nevertheless, the figures reveal a substantial difference compared with advertised property prices in Málaga city and many coastal municipalities.

Why is Mollina's property price decline so significant?

Mollina's performance stands out because it comes against a background of rising housing costs across Málaga province.

In October 2026, the average asking price across the province reached €4,322 per square metre, representing an annual increase of 6.3%.

While the provincial average continued to rise, Mollina recorded a decline of almost 13%.

This contrast demonstrates that Málaga's property market does not behave uniformly.

Inland municipalities can experience very different trends from the province's principal tourist and residential destinations along the Costa del Sol.

Factors such as the number of properties available, their characteristics, changing demand and the composition of advertised listings can all influence the average prices recorded.

In smaller property markets, the addition or removal of a relatively small number of listings can also cause noticeable changes in reported statistics.

Therefore, Mollina's recorded decline does not necessarily mean that every homeowner has reduced their asking price by the same percentage.

Rather, it reflects a fall in the average advertised price of the properties analysed by Idealista compared with October 2025.

Alameda is the cheapest place to buy property in Málaga, according to Idealista

Although Mollina leads the annual price declines, Alameda ranks as the most affordable municipality among those included in Idealista's provincial report.

In October 2026, its average asking price stood at €900 per square metre, making it the only municipality in the published comparison with an average below €1,000.

Using a hypothetical 80-square-metre property as an example, the estimated price would be €72,000.

For a 100-square-metre home, the calculation would rise to €90,000.

That represents a difference of approximately €20,000 compared with Mollina for an 80-square-metre property, using the published average prices for both municipalities.

However, unlike Mollina, Alameda has not experienced an annual decline.

The figures show that house prices in Alameda have increased by 3.6% compared with October 2025.

The municipality has recorded a 1.9% fall over the past three months, but its year-on-year trend remains positive.

This demonstrates that a municipality can remain relatively affordable within the province even while property prices are increasing.

It is also important to clarify that Alameda is the cheapest municipality among those included in Idealista's statistics, not necessarily the cheapest across every town and village in Málaga or on every property website.

Colmenar and Caleta de Vélez also record falling house prices

Mollina is not the only municipality in Málaga where advertised property prices have declined over the past year.

Other locations recording decreases include Colmenar and Caleta de Vélez, although their reductions are less pronounced.

In Colmenar, an inland municipality, the average asking price stands at €1,212 per square metre, following an annual fall of 4.7%.

This keeps the village considerably more affordable than Málaga city.

Meanwhile, Caleta de Vélez presents a different situation.

The coastal community in the Axarquía has recorded an annual decline of 2%, but its average asking price remains considerably higher at €3,136 per square metre.

The contrast between these municipalities illustrates why falling prices do not necessarily mean that buying a property is inexpensive.

One location can experience a price reduction while remaining relatively costly, while another can record increases and still be considerably more affordable.

For this reason, comparing municipalities requires looking at both percentage changes and average prices per square metre.

Cómpeta records the largest property price increase in Málaga

At the opposite end of the market from Mollina is Cómpeta, in the Axarquía, where advertised property prices have recorded the largest annual increase in the statistics.

According to October's figures, the municipality experienced a rise of 31.7%, taking its average asking price to €2,064 per square metre.

The difference between the annual price movements in Cómpeta and Mollina exceeds 44 percentage points.

Other notable increases include Almayate Bajo, where prices rose by 28.6%, and Archidona, which recorded an increase of 28%.

These figures highlight how some inland and Axarquía municipalities are experiencing significant price growth, even when their absolute property values remain below those seen in the major coastal markets.

Price trends can vary considerably from one municipality to another, making it inappropriate to generalise the entire provincial market from the performance of only a few towns.

Málaga city reaches €3,941 per square metre

The difference between inland villages and Málaga city remains considerable.

In October 2026, the average advertised residential property price in the city stood at €3,941 per square metre.

That is more than four times the figure recorded in Alameda.

For a hypothetical 80-square-metre home, the estimate based on Málaga city's average price would be €315,280.

In Alameda, the equivalent calculation would be €72,000.

This produces a difference of approximately €243,280.

For Mollina, the estimated amount would be €92,000, representing €223,280 less than the equivalent calculation for Málaga city.

These comparisons demonstrate the scale of geographical price differences within the province, although they should not be interpreted as comparisons between identical homes.

Property types, individual characteristics and local conditions can significantly affect the actual cost of a purchase.

Marbella, Benahavís and Estepona remain among Málaga's most expensive property markets

The Costa del Sol continues to have some of the highest residential property prices in the province.

Marbella tops the list of the most expensive municipalities included in the report, with an average asking price of €5,974 per square metre.

It is followed by Benahavís, where the average reaches €5,534 per square metre.

In Estepona, the figure stands at €5,070 per square metre.

The comparison with Alameda is particularly striking.

In Marbella, a hypothetical 80-square-metre home would have an estimated price of €477,920, compared with €72,000 in Alameda.

That represents a difference of more than €400,000 when using the published municipal averages.

These figures demonstrate how strongly location influences advertised property values within the same province.

While some coastal municipalities have average asking prices at the upper end of the market, several inland villages continue to offer significantly lower figures.

Why are property prices lower inland than on the Costa del Sol?

Distance from major urban and tourist centres is one factor that helps explain the differences between municipalities.

Málaga city and much of the Costa del Sol have a high concentration of services, economic activity, infrastructure and residential demand.

Some coastal property markets also attract substantial interest from second-home buyers and international purchasers.

By contrast, many inland municipalities have a different residential structure and a property market that is less closely linked to certain tourism-related segments.

This can translate into lower average prices, although location alone does not explain every difference.

The availability of housing, property characteristics, employment opportunities and road connections can also influence buying decisions.

For someone who works in Málaga city and needs to commute regularly, for example, the initial savings from buying an inland property should be weighed against travel costs and journey times.

Access to healthcare facilities, schools, shops and public services is also worth considering.

The purchase price is therefore an important factor, but not the only one when deciding where to live.

Is now a good time to buy a home in Mollina or Alameda?

October's figures show that both municipalities have average asking prices below those found in much of Málaga province, but their market trends differ.

Mollina stands out for its 12.9% annual price decline, while Alameda offers the lowest average asking price in the comparison, at €900 per square metre.

However, neither of these factors guarantees that every advertised property represents a good buying opportunity.

Before purchasing a home, buyers should assess its condition, verify its legal and planning status, and calculate any additional expenses.

It is also important to consider purchase taxes, notary and land registry fees, mortgage costs and potential renovation work.

Municipal property statistics can provide a useful starting point for comparing locations, but they cannot replace a detailed assessment of an individual home.

Furthermore, Idealista's data primarily reflects advertised asking prices, rather than the final amounts agreed between buyers and sellers.

This distinction is essential when interpreting property market statistics.

Málaga's property market reveals two very different realities

The figures for October 2026 highlight significant geographical differences across Málaga province.

On one hand, the provincial average has reached €4,322 per square metre, while certain Costa del Sol municipalities exceed €5,000.

On the other, inland locations such as Alameda, Mollina and Colmenar continue to record significantly lower average prices.

The direction of price movements is equally varied.

While Mollina has recorded the largest annual decline in the report, Cómpeta has experienced an increase of more than 30%.

These contrasting trends demonstrate that the wider rise in housing costs is not affecting every municipality in the same way.

They also highlight why the place where house prices are falling fastest is not necessarily the cheapest place to buy.

Mollina and Alameda represent two different aspects of Málaga's more affordable property market: Mollina has recorded the largest annual decline, at 12.9%, while Alameda has the lowest average asking price in Idealista's comparison, at €900 per square metre.

In a province where the average advertised property price exceeds €4,300 per square metre, these differences are once again drawing attention to inland Málaga as an alternative for buyers looking beyond the expensive markets of the capital and coast.