Benahavis, with just over 9,000 residents, tucked into the hills behind Marbella on the Costa del Sol has reached a unique position in Spain’s statistics. According to new data published by the Spanish Tax Agency, it is now the second wealthiest municipality in the entire country by average declared gross income, at 79,041 euros per resident. A year ago it was 56th. Nationally, Pozuelo de Alarcon near Madrid remains in first place with EUR 92,564, a position it has held for six consecutive years. The rest of the top ten is split between the Madrid and Barcelona metropolitan areas, making Benahavis the only municipality from outside those two regions to break into the top ten this year. The town is home to some of the most exclusive residential developments in Europe. La Zagaleta, a private estate of 900 hectares with only 420 permitted plots, was sold in 2024 to an Abu Dhabi holding group in a deal estimated at over EUR 400 million. Average prices per square metre in enclaves like this run to around EUR 7,679, with annual increases of up to 18% in some areas. Individual villas can reach EUR 26 million. Benahavís is Spain’s second wealthiest municipality
Benahavis, with just over 9,000 residents, tucked into the hills behind Marbella on the Costa del Sol has reached a unique position in Spain’s statistics. According to new data published by the Spanish Tax Agency, it is now the second wealthiest municipality in the entire country by average declared gross income, at 79,041 euros per resident. A year ago it was 56th. Nationally, Pozuelo de Alarcon near Madrid remains in first place with EUR 92,564, a position it has held for six consecutive years. The rest of the top ten is split between the Madrid and Barcelona metropolitan areas, making Benahavis the only municipality from outside those two regions to break into the top ten this year. The town is home to some of the most exclusive residential developments in Europe. La Zagaleta, a private estate of 900 hectares with only 420 permitted plots, was sold in 2024 to an Abu Dhabi holding group in a deal estimated at over EUR 400 million. Average prices per square metre in enclaves like this run to around EUR 7,679, with annual increases of up to 18% in some areas. Individual villas can reach EUR 26 million. 