City Cards · Costa Blanca, Alicante province · Benidorm and La Nucía

City Card No. 05 · COSTA BLANCA NORTH

Benidorm and La Nucía

A year-round resort city, and the quieter hill town just behind it.

Retirees Families Nomads

POCKET GUIDE FOR LA NUCÍA AND POLOP

Polop and La Nucía · €1.99

Benidorm

Two long beaches, open all year

La Nucía

Hillside town, sports city

Getting around

TRAM to Alicante along the coast

Rent, 60 m² flat

€1,060 a month

The short version

Live in the hills, use the coast.

Benidorm never closes: its Levante and Poniente beaches, shops and health services run all year, which suits retirees who want everything close by.

La Nucía, ten minutes inland, is greener and quieter, with a large sports city and a strong international community. It is also the start of our favourite drive, the CV-70 up to Guadalest.

Benidorm and La Nucía suits you if

  • You want services open all year, not just in summer
  • You like the idea of a quiet hill town with the coast close by
  • You want easy day trips inland to Polop and Guadalest

Look elsewhere if

  • You dislike high-rise skylines and nightlife (Benidorm centre)
  • You do not want to drive (La Nucía)

Money

What living here costs

ItemTypical cost (2026)
Flat of 60 m², Benidorm€1,060 a month
Family flat of 90 m², Benidorm€1,590 a month
Flat of 60 m², La Nucía€660 a month
Family flat of 90 m², La Nucía€990 a month
Utilities and internet€110–170 a month

Flat sizes use asking rents on idealista for September 2026 (Benidorm €17.7 per m², La Nucía €11.0 per m²; Spain average €15.1). Signed rents are often a little lower, and furnished, sea-view or new-build homes cost more. Other figures are indicative ranges for planning, not quotes.

The trade-off

Benidorm is busy; La Nucía needs a car.

The two places solve each other’s problems, which is why many people live in one and use the other.

Weighing Benidorm and La Nucía?

Benidorm or La Nucía?

Start with a free discovery call. We tell you honestly whether it is worth going further.

Coaching and guidance only, not legal advice. Not an immigration lawyer or agent.

Compare with another card

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No. 06

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A working port under the Montgó, with ferries to the Balearics.