By Ivo Benz Melo · Client Manager at moveWise · Last updated: 2 November 2026

💡 The short answer: Alicante suits remote workers, retirees and families who want a mid-sized Mediterranean city with an international airport and lower rents than Valencia or Málaga. On our 2027 budgets (built on October 2026 prices), a single person spends about €1,566 a month and a couple about €2,543, with rent at Idealista's September 2026 average. Most non-EU newcomers use the Digital Nomad Visa or the Non-Lucrative Visa. Plan your padrón and residence card (TIE) appointments early.

Key facts for Alicante (October 2026 data)

• Population: 366,221 residents in the municipality of Alicante/Alacant, the official figure at 1 January 2025 (Real Decreto 1117/2025; Ayuntamiento de Alicante).
• Region and languages: capital of the province of Alicante, in the Valencia region (Comunitat Valenciana); Spanish and Valencian are both official.
• Average asking rent: €13.9 per m² a month in September 2026, up 5.9% in a year (Idealista); Fotocasa's figure for the same month is €14.94.
• Typical rents: 13.9 × 50 = €695 for a 50 m² flat; 13.9 × 80 = €1,112 for 80 m² (Idealista asking prices, September 2026).
• Monthly transport pass: the Móbilis Mensual costs €35 for unlimited tram and bus travel for 30 days (Ayuntamiento de Alicante).
• Airport and rail: Alicante-Elche Miguel Hernández airport, with direct flights to many UK and European cities, and high-speed trains to Madrid (average 2025 fare €31.34, CNMC).
• Climate: average temperature 11.7 °C in January and 25.5 °C in July, about 2,851 hours of sunshine and 37.5 days with at least 1 mm of rain a year (AEMET normals 1981–2010, Alicante station).
• Residence card (TIE): issued by the Policía Nacional; in Alicante city the residence-card office is the Brigada Provincial de Extranjería y Fronteras at Calle Campo de Mirra 6 (Policía Nacional office directory). First card fee: €16.08.
• Public health service: the Generalitat Valenciana's regional health system (Conselleria de Sanitat), which issues the SIP health card.
• Rent controls: Alicante is not a declared stressed housing zone (zona tensionada) as of 30 September 2026.

This guide is for non-EU nationals, from the UK, the US, Canada, Australia and elsewhere, deciding whether Alicante, or the wider Costa Blanca, is the right base for a move in 2027.

You will learn what a month really costs, which areas suit which lifestyle, which visa fits you, and the local steps after arrival: padrón, TIE, then healthcare. Every figure links to its source; MoveWise Legal Managers wrote the visa sections from the Spanish files they handle every week.

The most common mistake we see is choosing the city first and the visa second: the visa decides how much income you must prove and where you apply.

In this guide:

• What changed in 2026
• Is Alicante right for you?
• The best areas to live in Alicante
• Cost of living in Alicante
• Visas and paperwork in Alicante
• Healthcare, schools and getting around
• Working remotely, climate and lifestyle
• Pros and cons of living in Alicante
• Moving to Alicante, step by step
• Timeline and how much the move costs
• Most common mistakes (and how to avoid them)
• Frequently asked questions
• How MoveWise can help

What changed in 2026

Visa thresholds rose with the minimum wage, rents kept climbing and Alicante launched a new transport pass.

• Digital Nomad Visa income: the minimum wage (SMI) for 2026 is €1,221 a month in 14 payments, €17,094 a year (Real Decreto 126/2026). The visa asks for 200% of it: for applications filed from Spain with the Unidad de Grandes Empresas y Colectivos Estratégicos (UGE-CE), we prepare to about €2,849 a month gross; some consulates publish €2,442.
• Non-Lucrative Visa income: unchanged at €2,400 a month (400% of IPREM, which has been frozen at €600 since 2023), plus €600 for each family member.
• Border checks: since 10 April 2026, the EU Entry/Exit System (EES) records short-stay visitors digitally instead of stamping passports (European Commission). If you enter as a visitor and apply for the Digital Nomad Visa from Spain, keep your boarding passes and travel records, because there is no stamp to show. Holders of a long-stay (D) visa and residence permits are outside the EES.
• Transport: the Móbilis Mensual (€35) launched on 1 October 2026. The youth version costs €29.75 and the council expects it to fall to €15 from January 2027 if the discounts are extended.
• Rents: Alicante's asking rents rose 5.9% in the year to September 2026, the fastest rise among Spain's six main expat cities (Idealista).
• Rent increases: a decree in force since 8 October 2026 (Real Decreto-ley 29/2026) caps annual rent updates at 2% until the end of 2027 unless both parties agree otherwise. It must still be approved by Parliament, with a vote expected on 12 November 2026, so budget on the official index (IRAV, 2.54% in September 2026) until it is confirmed.

Is Alicante right for you?

Alicante fits people who want a real city with beaches, mild winters and lower rents than the bigger coastal cities.

✅ Remote workers on the Digital Nomad Visa who want an airport and fast trains within reach. On our single budget, the city leaves a cushion of €1,283.40 a month under the €2,849 threshold, before tax.

✅ Retirees on the Non-Lucrative Visa. A retired couple's budget fits under the €3,000 a month the visa requires (see the budgets below), and the coast north and south of the city has long-established international communities. Our guide to retiring by the sea in Spain compares the coastal towns.

✅ Families who want public, concertado or international schools within one urban area.

✅ People who want the Costa Blanca without living in a resort. Alicante is a working city all year, with the beach towns a tram or bus ride away; our Costa Blanca guide covers Benidorm, Altea, Jávea, Torrevieja and the other towns.

❌ Big-city careers and nightlife: if you want a capital's job market, culture and international flights to everywhere, look at Madrid or Valencia.

❌ People who struggle with heat: August averages a maximum of 30.8 °C and a minimum of 21.2 °C (AEMET), so nights are warm. Northern Spain is cooler.

❌ Anyone hoping to apply for the Non-Lucrative Visa while visiting: it is applied for at a Spanish consulate in your country of residence, not from Alicante.

👉 Check whether you qualify for the Spain Digital Nomad Visa — answer a few questions and a MoveWise Client Manager will tell you honestly whether your income and documents fit, before you commit to a lease. You can also see how our Spain Digital Nomad Visa service works.

The best areas to live in Alicante

The beach districts cost the most and the inland residential districts the least. In Idealista's district data for October 2025, the latest breakdown we could check, Playa de San Juan–El Cabo was the dearest district and Virgen del Remedio–Juan XXIII the cheapest, about a third lower per m² (El Español, quoting Idealista). Rents have risen since, so use the ranking, not the old figures.

Centro and the Old Town

The shopping streets, the seafront Explanada, the Mercado Central and the old quarter below the castle hill, all walkable.

• Who it suits: singles and couples without a car who want shops, restaurants and the station close by.
• Rent: above the city average in the 2025 district data.
• Watch out for: night-time noise in the bar streets of the old quarter and holiday flats in older buildings.

Playa de San Juan and Cabo de la Huerta

A long sandy beach lined with newer apartment blocks, connected to the centre by tram, with Cabo de la Huerta's rocky coves at its southern end.

• Who it suits: families and remote workers who want the beach on the doorstep and modern buildings with lifts, pools and parking.
• Rent: the most expensive district in the 2025 data.

Benalúa, La Florida and Babel

Residential districts near the main railway station, with local shops and everyday prices.

• Who it suits: people who want city life without central or beach rents, and frequent train travellers.
• Rent: below the city average in the 2025 data.

Campoamor, Carolinas, Altozano and San Antón

Dense, local neighbourhoods just north of the centre, with markets and older blocks.

• Who it suits: budget-conscious singles and couples who want to live among Spanish neighbours and practise their Spanish.
• Rent: below the city average in the 2025 data.
• Watch out for: older buildings without lifts or air conditioning; check both before you sign.

San Blas and the newer northern developments

Newer residential areas (locally called PAU) with parks and modern blocks with communal facilities.

• Who it suits: families who want space, parking and newer buildings at a lower rent than the beach.
• Rent: below the city average in the 2025 data.

San Vicente del Raspeig

A separate town on the city's northern edge, home to the main campus of the University of Alicante.

• Who it suits: students, academics and people who want a lower-key town with city services next door.

El Campello and the coast north

Coastal towns on the tram line north of the city, with a more relaxed pace and sea views.

• Who it suits: remote workers and retirees who want a small-town feel with the city one tram ride away.
• Watch out for: more holiday rentals, so check that a long-term lease is a real home lease, not a seasonal contract.

💡 Pro tip: small flats list at a higher price per m² than the city average, so check real listings for the exact size you need before you lock in a budget. A 50 m² flat at the city average is a floor, not a promise.

Cost of living in Alicante

A single person spends about €1,566 a month and a couple about €2,543 on our 2027 budgets, private health insurance included. The method is the same as in our guide to the cost of living in Spain, so you can compare Alicante line by line with other cities.

Single person, 50 m² flat

• Rent: 13.9 × 50 = €695
• Electricity: €80 (OCU's typical regulated bill, August 2026: €79.75)
• Water: €35 (our planning allowance; OCU's 2025 study puts Alicante above €400 a year)
• Fibre and mobile: €28 (Digi's fibre with unlimited mobile data)
• Transport, Móbilis Mensual: €35
• Groceries: €350 (our planning allowance)
• Eating out, eight set lunches (menú del día) at the €14.70 national average: €117.60
• Health insurance without copayments: €75
• Personal spending: €150
• Total: €1,565.60 a month

With Fotocasa's rent (14.94 × 50 = €747), the total is €1,617.60.

Couple, 80 m² flat

• Rent: 13.9 × 80 = €1,112
• Electricity: €105 (FACUA's average regulated bill, September 2026: €104.31)
• Water: €35
• Fibre and two mobiles: €36
• Transport, two Móbilis Mensual passes: €70
• Groceries: €550 (OCU's average supermarket spend, €6,602 a year ÷ 12)
• Eating out, 2 × 8 × €14.70: €235.20
• Health insurance without copayments, two people: €150
• Personal spending: €250
• Total: €2,543.20 a month

With Fotocasa's rent (14.94 × 80 = €1,195), the total is €2,626.20.

Retired couple on the Non-Lucrative Visa

Retirees usually pay more for insurance, so we budget €150 a person.

• Rent, 80 m²: €1,112
• Electricity, water, fibre and mobiles: €105 + €35 + €36 = €176
• Groceries: €550
• Eating out: €235.20
• Health insurance without copayments, two people over 60: 2 × €150 = €300 (our planning allowance; get quotes)
• Transport, two Móbilis passes: €70
• Personal spending: €250
• Total: €2,693.20 a month

That is €306.80 under the €3,000 a month a couple must show for the Non-Lucrative Visa. Not included in any budget: a car, flights, pets, private schooling and income tax.

Can you live on the visa minimum income in Alicante?

Yes, on these budgets, for both a single person and a couple. Margins before tax:

• Single, €1,565.60: €1,283.40 under the Digital Nomad Visa figure from Spain (€2,849); €876.40 under the consular €2,442; €834.40 under the Non-Lucrative Visa (€2,400).
• Couple, €2,543.20: €1,374.18 under the Digital Nomad Visa figure from Spain for two (€3,917.38); €814.80 under the consular figure for two (€3,358); €456.80 under the Non-Lucrative Visa for two (€3,000).

⚠️ Common mistake: treating the Digital Nomad Visa threshold as spending money. It is gross income: income tax and, for the self-employed, Social Security (a reduced flat rate in the first period if you qualify) come out of it. Non-Lucrative Visa funds can be savings, but the pensions or interest you receive become taxable once you are tax-resident.

Renting in Alicante: the rules that change your costs

• Deposit: one month's rent (fianza), plus at most two months of extra guarantees on a home lease of up to five years. For a €695 flat, the most you can be asked for upfront is €695 + €695 + €1,390 = €2,780.
• Agency fees: paid by the landlord, not by you (Ley 12/2023, the Housing Law).
• Annual updates: for leases signed after 26 May 2023, at most the IRAV index (2.54% in September 2026): €17.65 more on €695, or €28.24 on €1,112.
• Temporary lets: since 1 July 2025, short-term and seasonal rentals advertised online need a national registration number, so a listing without one is a warning sign.

Visas and paperwork in Alicante

Most non-EU newcomers use the Digital Nomad Visa (remote work for foreign companies or clients) or the Non-Lucrative Visa (no work in Spain, living on savings or passive income). Students use the student visa, usually applied for at a consulate; higher-education students who are already in Spain legally can also apply from Spain, with at least two months of their legal stay left. The local steps after approval are the same: padrón, TIE, healthcare and tax.

Digital Nomad Visa

You can apply in two ways.

• From Spain: you enter as a visitor and file online with the UGE-CE through a representative. The UGE-CE must decide within 20 working days; if it does not, the application is approved by positive administrative silence (art. 76 Ley 14/2013), although the formal resolution can arrive later. The permit lasts up to three years.
• From a consulate: you get a visa of up to one year and then apply for the residence permit.
• Income: 200% of the SMI, about €2,849 a month gross from Spain, plus €1,068.38 for the first family member and €356.13 for each additional one (UGE-CE FAQ).
• Fee: Modelo 790 code 038 per applicant, at the current amount shown on the official form.

The full rules are in our Spain Digital Nomad Visa requirements guide.

Non-Lucrative Visa

• Where: at the Spanish consulate for your place of residence, before you move. It cannot be started from Spain as a visitor.
• Means: €2,400 a month, €28,800 for the first year, plus €600 a month for each family member (art. 62, Real Decreto 1155/2024; Ministerio de Inclusión, Seguridad Social y Migraciones).
• Fee: Modelo 790 code 052, €10.94 per applicant (Orden PJC/617/2025), plus the consular visa fee.

Not sure which fits? Our Non-Lucrative Visa requirements checklist explains the route for retirees, and the Spain Non-Lucrative Visa service page shows how we prepare it.

👉 Planning to retire in Alicante? Ask a MoveWise Client Manager to check your pension and savings against the Non-Lucrative Visa rules — we will tell you whether your income or savings meet your consulate's figure with a safe margin, and how to document them.

Padrón: registering at the city council

Registering on the municipal register (empadronamiento) is free in Alicante: "Todos los trámites del Padrón Municipal de Habitantes son GRATUITOS" (Ayuntamiento de Alicante).

• Where: in person, with an appointment, at the citizens' offices (OAC) Labradores (Calle Labradores 14) or Séneca (Calle Portugal 17). Labradores appointments are booked by phone only, on 010 or 900 153 862; Séneca can also be booked online.
• Online: through the council's electronic office, only with a digital certificate or electronic ID.
• Documents for non-EU nationals: TIE or passport, plus proof of address: your lease in force in your name, the latest rent receipt and ID copies of all owners. Foreign official documents need a sworn translation into Spanish.
• One appointment per address: several people living at the same address need only one appointment.
• Renew every two years: non-EU nationals without long-term residence must renew their padrón entry every two years, or the council can remove it (renewal procedure).

Our padrón guide explains why the certificate matters for your TIE, healthcare and renewal.

💡 Pro tip: the council will not see you if the ID you show differs from the one used to book the appointment. Book with your passport number, and bring the same passport.

TIE: your residence card

You apply for the Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero (TIE) with form EX-17 and fee Modelo 790 code 012, €16.08 for a first card (Policía Nacional), at a fingerprint appointment booked through the national cita previa system for the province of Alicante.

• Alicante city: the Brigada Provincial de Extranjería y Fronteras at Calle Campo de Mirra 6 handles residence cards; its office at Calle Ebanistería 6 handles NIE numbers and residence certificates.
• Elsewhere in the province: police stations in Benidorm, Elche, Torrevieja and other towns handle foreigners' procedures; the booking system shows which offer fingerprint appointments.
• Deadline: with a visa from a consulate, apply within one month of entering Spain; with a permit granted from Spain, book as soon as you have the resolution.

⚠️ Common mistake: leaving the TIE appointment until your visitor days are almost used up. Without the card, you re-enter Spain as a visitor, so plan trips abroad around the appointment.

Healthcare, schools and getting around

Healthcare

Public healthcare in Alicante is run by the Generalitat Valenciana's health system, which issues the SIP health card. Whether you can use it depends on your visa.

• Digital Nomad Visa, self-employed: you must join the Spanish self-employed scheme (RETA), which gives you public cover.
• Digital Nomad Visa, employee: Spanish Social Security, or equivalent private insurance (in practice, if you keep a certificate of coverage from home). Policies with copayments or waiting periods are not accepted (UGE-CE FAQ).
• Non-Lucrative Visa: health insurance with an insurer authorised in Spain, which in practice means a private policy; most consulates require it without copayments.
• Buying into the public system later: after one year of continuous residence and padrón registration, with no other public cover, the convenio especial costs €60 a month under 65 or €157 from 65 (Ministerio de Sanidad).

Once you are covered and on the padrón, you register at the health centre (centro de salud) for your address to get your SIP card and a family doctor. Our guide to healthcare in Spain for expats compares the options.

Schools and family

You can choose between public schools, concertado schools (privately run, publicly funded) and private international schools. Public and concertado schools teach in both Spanish and Valencian, and the balance depends on the school.

• What families spend: about €1,300 a year per pupil in public schools and more than €8,700 in private ones, including books, uniforms, meals and activities (OCU, school year 2026–27).
• International schools: several operate in and around Alicante and along the Costa Blanca, with British, American and International Baccalaureate programmes. We do not rank them: visit, ask for the school's official authorisation and the curriculum it follows, and check how its qualifications are recognised for university entry.
• Admissions: register on the padrón first, because schools, like most local services, use it as proof of where you live.

Our guide to schools in Spain for expats explains the three systems, and our Digital Nomad Visa guide covers which family members can join you.

Getting around

• Tram and bus: the TRAM d'Alacant links the centre with Playa de San Juan, El Campello and the coast up to Benidorm, with a line onward to Dénia; city buses cover the rest. The Móbilis Mensual (€35) covers both for 30 days.
• Commuter rail: the Cercanías line links Alicante with Elche and Murcia; in 2026 a monthly Cercanías pass costs €20 (€10 for young people) under the State discount scheme.
• High-speed rail: direct trains to Madrid, at an average fare of €31.34 in 2025 (CNMC).
• Airport: Alicante-Elche Miguel Hernández airport, connected to the city centre by bus.

Working remotely, climate and lifestyle

Working remotely

Fibre is widely available (Digi's fibre with unlimited mobile data costs €28 a month nationally), and the city hosts the European Union Intellectual Property Office, so there is an established international professional community.

If you work for a foreign employer, you may be able to opt for the Beckham Law (24% on employment income up to €600,000 for six tax years) if you were not resident in Spain in the previous five and meet its other conditions; ordinary self-employed people generally cannot use it. Check your case with a qualified tax adviser.

Climate

AEMET's normals for the Alicante station (1981–2010):

• Winter: January averages 11.7 °C, with a mean daily maximum of 17 °C.
• Summer: July averages 25.5 °C and August 26 °C, with mean minimums above 20 °C.
• Rain: 311 mm a year over 37.5 days with at least 1 mm; September is the wettest month (56 mm), often in short, heavy storms.
• Sun: about 2,851 hours a year, from 164 hours in December to 330 in July.

Language and lifestyle

You will use Spanish for almost all paperwork; Valencian (valencià) is co-official and appears on signs and forms. The city's official name is Alicante/Alacant.

The big local festival is the Hogueras de San Juan (Fogueres de Sant Joan) in June, when giant sculptures fill the streets and are burnt on the night of 24 June. Many towns in the province also hold Moors and Christians festivals.

Pros and cons of living in Alicante

✅ Pros

• Lower rent than the bigger coastal cities: €13.9 per m², against €16.3 in Valencia and €16.5 in Málaga (Idealista, September 2026).
• Mild winters: January averages 11.7 °C, and only 37.5 days a year bring at least 1 mm of rain.
• Easy travel: an international airport and high-speed trains to Madrid.
• Cheap local transport: €35 a month for unlimited tram and bus.
• A real city all year: shops, services and offices do not close after summer.

❌ Cons

• Rents are rising fast: up 5.9% in a year, the steepest rise among the six main expat cities.
• Hot, humid summers: August nights average 21.2 °C.
• Storm season: heavy rain in September and October.
• Appointments: padrón and TIE slots can be hard to find.
• Two official languages: forms and school life involve Valencian as well as Spanish.

For other options, compare Valencia and Málaga, or see our rankings of the best cities in Spain for digital nomads and the best places to live in Spain for expats.

Moving to Alicante, step by step

1. Choose your visa and check the income threshold for your household (Digital Nomad Visa or Non-Lucrative Visa).
2. Collect your documents: criminal record, civil-status certificates and proof of income, with apostilles and sworn translations.
3. Apply: online from Spain with the UGE-CE for the Digital Nomad Visa, or at your consulate for the Non-Lucrative Visa or a Digital Nomad visa.
4. Book temporary accommodation, then sign a long-term home lease in your name once you know your approval date; you need it for the padrón.
5. Register on the padrón at an OAC (Labradores by phone, Séneca online or by phone).
6. Apply for your TIE: book the fingerprint appointment, pay Modelo 790 code 012 (€16.08) and bring form EX-17, then collect the card when it is ready.
7. Register with Social Security and the tax office: self-employed Digital Nomad Visa holders join RETA and file modelo 036, ideally in the month of approval; employees who may qualify for the Beckham Law must file modelo 149 within six months of the start date shown in their Social Security registration or certificate of coverage.
8. Get your SIP health card at your local health centre, or activate your private policy.
9. Diary your renewals: padrón every two years if you do not hold long-term residence, and your permit before it expires.

Timeline: what to realistically expect

Typical ranges from our files, not guarantees.

• Documents: apostilled documents such as criminal records typically take 4 to 6 weeks.
• Digital Nomad Visa from Spain: the UGE-CE must decide within 20 working days; a request for more documents (requerimiento) adds time.
• Non-Lucrative Visa: realistically three to five months from starting your documents to landing in Spain, as consular appointments vary widely.
• TIE: the fingerprint appointment and the card typically take several weeks, depending on the police office.

How much it costs to move to Alicante

• Official fees: Modelo 790 code 038 for the Digital Nomad Visa from Spain (the amount shown on the official form); Modelo 790 code 052 for
• the Non-Lucrative Visa, €10.94; TIE €16.08; padrón free.
• Documents: a UK apostille costs £45 per document plus postage (GOV.UK); sworn translations are priced by each translator, so ask two or three for quotes.

Single remote worker from the UK, Digital Nomad Visa:

• First month's rent: €695
• Deposit: €695
• TIE: €16.08
• Three UK apostilles, 3 × £45 = £135: about €161.24
• Subtotal of items with a fixed amount: €1,567.32

With the maximum extra guarantee of two months (€1,390), the subtotal becomes €2,957.32. Add the 790-038 fee, sworn translations, temporary accommodation and travel.

Retired couple from the UK, Non-Lucrative Visa:

• Modelo 790-052, 2 × €10.94: €21.88
• TIE cards, 2 × €16.08: €32.16
• First month's rent and deposit, 2 × €1,112: €2,224
• Three UK apostilles: about €161.24
• Subtotal of items with a fixed amount: €2,439.28

With the maximum extra guarantee (€2,224), it becomes €4,663.28, plus consular visa fees, sworn translations and insurance. The couple must also show €36,000 of means for the first year.

Most common mistakes (and how to avoid them)

1. Applying for the Non-Lucrative Visa as a visitor in Alicante. Fix: it is a consular visa; apply in your country of residence before you move.
2. Preparing a Digital Nomad Visa from Spain to the consular €2,442. Fix: for the UGE-CE we prepare to €2,849, because the lower figure gives the officer a reason to question the file.
3. Signing a 12-month lease before approval. Fix: start with a registered temporary let and sign the long-term home lease once you know your approval date.
4. Health insurance with copayments. Fix: ask the insurer for a certificate stating no copayments (sin copagos) and no waiting periods (sin carencias).
5. Booking the padrón with one ID and showing another. Fix: use the same passport number for the booking and the appointment.
6. Forgetting the two-year padrón renewal. Fix: diary it; an expired entry can be removed and breaks the record of continuous residence you will need later.
7. Travelling before the TIE without spare visitor days. Fix: plan trips around the fingerprint appointment.

Frequently asked questions

Is Alicante a good place to live?

Yes, for most remote workers, retirees and families who want a mid-sized coastal city. It combines about 2,851 hours of sunshine a year, an international airport and high-speed trains to Madrid with rents below Valencia and Málaga. The trade-offs are hot summer nights, fast-rising rents and the paperwork of a two-language region.

What is the cost of living in Alicante?

About €1,566 a month for a single person and €2,543 for a couple on our 2027 budgets, including a 50 m² or 80 m² flat at Idealista's September 2026 average, utilities, transport, food, private health insurance and personal spending. A retired couple paying more for insurance spends about €2,693. Income tax, a car and private schooling are extra.

What are the best areas to live in Alicante?

It depends on your lifestyle. Centro and the Old Town suit people without a car; Playa de San Juan suits beach lovers and families but costs the most; Benalúa, San Blas and Campoamor offer lower rents; San Vicente del Raspeig suits students; El Campello offers a small-town feel on the tram line.

How much is rent in Alicante?

€13.9 per m² a month in September 2026, up 5.9% in a year (Idealista). That is about €695 for a 50 m² flat and €1,112 for 80 m². Fotocasa's figure for the same month is higher, €14.94 per m². Small flats and beachfront districts list above the average.

Can I move to Alicante from the UK?

Yes, but since Brexit UK nationals need a residence visa to live in Spain for more than 90 days in any 180. The usual routes are the Digital Nomad Visa (about £2,385 a month gross from Spain at October 2026 exchange rates) or the Non-Lucrative Visa (about £2,009 a month). Documents need a UK apostille, £45 each.

Can I apply for a visa while I am in Alicante as a tourist?

Only for some routes. The Digital Nomad Visa can be filed online from Spain with the UGE-CE while you are legally in the country as a visitor. The Non-Lucrative Visa cannot: it is applied for at the Spanish consulate for your place of residence before you move.

Where do I get my TIE in Alicante?

At a Policía Nacional fingerprint appointment booked through the national cita previa system. In Alicante city, residence cards are handled by the Brigada Provincial de Extranjería y Fronteras at Calle Campo de Mirra 6. You need form EX-17, the €16.08 fee (Modelo 790 code 012) and your passport; check your appointment confirmation for any other documents the office asks for.

What are the best international schools on the Costa Blanca for expat families?

No official ranking exists, and we do not publish one. Several international schools operate in and around Alicante and along the coast, with British, American and International Baccalaureate programmes. Shortlist by curriculum and commute, visit, ask for the school's official authorisation, and budget more than €8,700 a year per pupil on average for private schooling.

Do I need to speak Valencian to live in Alicante?

No. Spanish is enough for daily life and almost all paperwork, and the city council publishes its procedures in Spanish. Valencian is co-official, so you will see it on signs and forms, and children in public and concertado schools learn both languages.

How MoveWise can help

• Module 1, eligibility assessment: we check your income, contract or pension, family situation and documents against the threshold that applies to you, and tell you which route fits before you spend money on apostilles or a lease.
• Module 2, full preparation and submission: a Legal Manager prepares your file, reviews every document and translation, submits the Digital Nomad Visa online to the UGE-CE (or prepares your consular file for the Non-Lucrative Visa) and answers any requerimiento.
• After approval: we can support the local steps in Alicante, from the padrón and TIE to Social Security and tax registration.
• Our guarantee: a full refund of our fee if your application is refused, under the conditions of our service agreement.
• What clients say: more than 500 client reviews on Trustpilot.

👉 Book a free consultation with a MoveWise Client Manager — tell us about your income, family and timing, and we will tell you honestly which visa fits your move to Alicante and what to prepare first.

Sources and legal references

• Real Decreto 1117/2025, official population figures at 1 January 2025 (BOE)
• Ayuntamiento de Alicante, official population figures
• AEMET, climate normals 1981–2010, Alicante station
• Ayuntamiento de Alicante, Móbilis transport pass
• Ayuntamiento de Alicante, padrón registration and change of address
• Ayuntamiento de Alicante, padrón renewal for non-EU nationals
• Policía Nacional, foreigners' offices directory
• Policía Nacional, TIE procedure
• Real Decreto 126/2026, minimum wage 2026 (BOE)
• UGE-CE, Digital Nomad Visa FAQ
• Consulate General of Spain in Washington, telework visa
• Ministerio de Inclusión, Seguridad Social y Migraciones, non-lucrative residence
• Orden PJC/617/2025, immigration fees (BOE)
• Ministerio de Sanidad, convenio especial
• European Commission, Entry/Exit System
• CNMC, 2025 annual railway report
• GOV.UK, getting a document legalised
• El Español, Alicante rents by district (Idealista data, October 2025)

This guide is general information, not legal advice. Immigration rules and consular practice change frequently; the information was verified on 2 November 2026. For advice on your situation, speak to a qualified professional.

Contact Us

While the requirements for obtaining a visa for Spain are straightforward, preparing the necessary documents and navigating the application process can be challenging. Mistakes or incomplete paperwork could put your application at risk.

If you have any doubts or questions about the process, you can book a free consultation for the following visa types, we’ll be there to help you every step of the way:

Digital Nomad Visa Spain -> BOOK TODAY a 100% Free Consultation

Non-Lucrative Visa Spain -> BOOK TODAY a 100% Free Consultation

Student Visa Spain -> BOOK TODAY a 100% Free Consultation

Hasta pronto!