If beach life is important, prices on the Costa del Sol are still reasonable - around EUR 90-150,000 for two bedroom apartments, though prices are higher in the most fashionable areas, like Sierra Blanca, Marbella, and on the beachfront. On the Costa Brava, foreign buyers have to compete with Barcelona natives wanting a weekend property, but a villa with a private pool can still be had for just over EUR 500,000. Inland from the Costa Brava, the medieval villages of the Baix and Alt Emporda have almost the feeling of Tuscan hill towns, and stone townhouses or rustic farmhouses start at around the same figure.
While most British buyers head for the Costas, or look at farmhouses or village houses (particularly in the 'white villages' of Andalusia), culture vultures and investors may prefer to look at purchasing property in Spanish cities. San Sebastian, in the Basque country, is one of the most expensive places to buy, with even small apartments selling for EUR 250,000, but both Basques and foreign investors see it as a good rental investment. Madrid, Seville and Barcelona are also thriving cities with interesting investment potential - though Barcelona has become very expensive, and the market is faltering following the Catalonian independence referendum. (Madrid and Barcelona have both introduced bans on short-term tourist rentals, which could make the cities less interesting for buyers wanting to finance a holiday home through tourist lets.)