Costa Cálida or Costa Blanca (2026): is buying a home cheaper in Murcia or Valencia?
For a resale home the Costa Cálida is cheaper: the Region of Murcia charges a flat 7.75% transfer tax against 9% in the Valencian Community, so a €200,000 resale home pays €15,500 in Murcia and €18,000 on the Costa Blanca. Above €1,000,000 the gap widens, because Valencia charges 11% on the whole value. For a new build it turns round: both charge 10% VAT, and the AJD stamp duty is 1.5% in Murcia against 1.4% in Valencia, or 0.1% there on the buyer's main home.
Key facts
- Resale ITP: a flat 7.75% in the Region of Murcia since 25 July 2025; 9% in the Valencian Community since 1 June 2026.
- On a €200,000 resale home the tax is €15,500 on the Costa Cálida and €18,000 on the Costa Blanca.
- Above €1,000,000 Valencia charges 11% on the whole value; Murcia stays at 7.75%.
- New build: 10% VAT in both, plus AJD of 1.5% in Murcia and 1.4% in Valencia, or 0.1% in Valencia on any buyer's main home.
- The notary, registry and lawyer cost the same in both at the same price.
- Both regions' reduced rates for young buyers depend on income, and the calculator applies neither.
What is the big picture?
The Costa Cálida is the coast of the Region of Murcia: Cartagena, La Manga and the Mar Menor, with Murcia city and Lorca inland. The Costa Blanca is the coast of Alicante province, in the Valencian Community, and includes Torrevieja and Orihuela Costa, just north of the regional border. Each region sets its own purchase taxes, and for a resale home Murcia’s are lower: a flat 7.75% against 9% in Valencia since 1 June 2026. For a €200,000 resale home bought as a second home:
| Place | Buyer | Taxes | Fees, typical | Total on top | Share of price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spain, Region of Murcia | Resale, price €200,000 | €15,500 | €3,114.05 | €18,614.05€17,314.05 to €20,214.05 | 9.31% |
| Spain, Valencian Community | Resale, second home, price €200,000 | €18,000 | €3,114.05 | €21,114.05€19,814.05 to €22,714.05 | 10.56% |
That is €15,500 of transfer tax in Murcia and €18,000 in Valencia. The fees (notary, registry, lawyer) follow national scales and market rates, so they are the same on both coasts at the same price.
How big is the gap at different prices?
Both rates are flat up to €1,000,000, so the gap is a steady share of the price. Above that, Valencia charges 11% on the whole value, not only the part above the limit, while Murcia stays at 7.75%:
| Price | Murcia (ITP) | Valencia (ITP) |
|---|---|---|
| €150,000 | €11,625 | €13,500 |
| €200,000 | €15,500 | €18,000 |
| €300,000 | €23,250 | €27,000 |
| €500,000 | €38,750 | €45,000 |
| €1,000,000 | €77,500 | €90,000 |
| €1,500,000 | €116,250 | €165,000 |
Both taxes are charged on the higher of the price and the Catastro’s reference value, so the figures assume the price is the higher one.
Is there a lower rate for a main home?
Not for most buyers in either region. Neither has a general main-home rate on a resale, so a main home pays the same as a second home:
| Place | Buyer | Taxes | Fees, typical | Total on top | Share of price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spain, Region of Murcia | Resale, price €200,000 | €15,500 | €3,114.05 | €18,614.05€17,314.05 to €20,214.05 | 9.31% |
| Spain, Valencian Community | Resale, main home, price €200,000 | €18,000 | €3,114.05 | €21,114.05€19,814.05 to €22,714.05 | 10.56% |
Both have reduced rates for a main home, and both depend on income, which the calculator does not ask:
- Murcia: 3% for a buyer aged 40 or under whose general taxable income, less the personal allowance, is below €40,000, and for large families and buyers with a disability of 65% or more, with income limits (Decreto Legislativo 1/2010, article 6).
- Valencia: 6% up to €180,000, and 8% above, for a buyer under 35 on a first main home with a general plus savings tax base of €30,000 or less, and lower rates for large families and buyers with a disability (Ley 13/1997, articles 4 and 13).
A buyer who meets one of these tests pays less than the tables show. The Murcia guide and the reduced rates guide give the conditions.
Which is cheaper for a new build?
The Costa Blanca. A new build bought from a developer pays VAT at 10% in both regions, and AJD stamp duty on the deed instead of transfer tax. The AJD decides it:
- as a second home, Valencia’s 1.4% is a little below Murcia’s 1.5%;
- as the buyer’s main home, Valencia charges 0.1% on any main home, with no age, price or income condition (Ley 13/1997, article 14.Uno.a), while Murcia charges its general 1.5% unless the buyer passes one of its income tests.
| €200,000 new build | Murcia (AJD) | Valencia (AJD) |
|---|---|---|
| Second home | €3,000 | €2,800 |
| Buyer’s main home | €3,000 | €200 |
With the VAT and fees:
| Place | Buyer | Taxes | Fees, typical | Total on top | Share of price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spain, Region of Murcia | New build, price €200,000 | €23,000 | €3,114.05 | €26,114.05€24,814.05 to €27,714.05 | 13.06% |
| Spain, Valencian Community | New build, main home, price €200,000 | €20,200 | €3,114.05 | €23,314.05€22,014.05 to €24,914.05 | 11.66% |
| Place | Buyer | Taxes | Fees, typical | Total on top | Share of price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spain, Region of Murcia | New build, price €200,000 | €23,000 | €3,114.05 | €26,114.05€24,814.05 to €27,714.05 | 13.06% |
| Spain, Valencian Community | New build, second home, price €200,000 | €22,800 | €3,114.05 | €25,914.05€24,614.05 to €27,514.05 | 12.96% |
Where is each one cheaper?
| Buyer | Cheaper | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Resale, any buyer, up to €1,000,000 | Costa Cálida | 7.75% against 9% |
| Resale above €1,000,000 | Costa Cálida, by far | Valencia’s 11% on the whole value |
| New build, second home | Costa Blanca, slightly | AJD of 1.4% against 1.5% |
| New build, buyer’s main home | Costa Blanca | AJD of 0.1% on any main home |
| Young buyer on a low income, main home | Depends on the tests | Reduced rates in both, with income limits |
Do non-residents pay more in either region?
No. In both regions the transfer tax and stamp duty do not depend on residence or nationality, so a buyer living abroad pays what the tables show. A buyer who is not resident in Spain needs an NIE to sign at the notary; see non-resident buyers in Spain.
What this comparison does not cover
- Property prices, which this comparison leaves aside.
- How and when each region’s tax is filed: see the guides to Murcia and the Costa Cálida and to the Costa Blanca.
- Protected housing (VPO) and purchases by companies.
- The municipal plusvalía tax (normally the seller’s), the yearly IBI property tax and mortgage costs.
- Rate changes proposed for 2027 and later.
Questions people ask
Is it cheaper to buy in Murcia or on the Costa Blanca?
For a resale home, Murcia: its transfer tax is 7.75% against 9% in the Valencian Community, €15,500 against €18,000 on a €200,000 home. For a new build, the Costa Blanca, whose AJD stamp duty is lower, and only 0.1% if the home is the buyer's main home.
Is Torrevieja in Murcia or the Valencian Community?
Torrevieja and Orihuela Costa are in Alicante province, part of the Valencian Community, so a resale home there pays 9%. Just south of the regional border, the Mar Menor, La Manga and Cartagena are in the Region of Murcia and pay 7.75%.
Which is cheaper for a new build, Murcia or Valencia?
Valencia. Both charge 10% VAT. The AJD stamp duty is 1.4% in Valencia against 1.5% in Murcia on a second home, and 0.1% in Valencia on any buyer's main home: €200 against €3,000 on a €200,000 new build. Murcia's 0.1% is only for buyers who pass an income test.
Do young buyers pay less in Murcia or Valencia?
Both have a reduced rate with an income test. Murcia charges 3% on a main home to a buyer aged 40 or under whose taxable income is below €40,000. Valencia charges 6% up to €180,000, and 8% above, to a buyer under 35 on a first main home with an income tax base of €30,000 or less. The calculator applies neither.
Do non-residents pay more in Murcia or Valencia?
No. In both regions the transfer tax and stamp duty do not depend on residence or nationality, so a buyer living abroad pays the same as a resident.
Sources
- Decreto Legislativo 1/2010, texto refundido de tributos cedidos de la Región de Murcia (articles 6 and 7)BOE (consolidated copy of the BORM text)
- Ley 13/1997 de la Generalitat Valenciana (articles 4, 13 and 14)BOE (consolidated copy of the DOGV text)
Behind the figures
Every amount on this page is worked out by the engine from rule files that cite these pages.