Living in Monda: The Pros and Cons of Rural Life Near Marbella

Monda, country living

Deciding to buy property in Spain is a big decision and it is made even more difficult if you are not familiar with the location. Some people are happy living amongst the hustle and bustle in a town centre, others enjoy living by the beach (most popular and often the more expensive option!) and others are enchanted by the idea of inland Spanish properties.

Foreign buyers prefer the coast

Figures in the Sur in English report that 90 per cent of Costa del Sol property is purchased by foreign buyers, with 33 per cent of apartment sales in Málaga province snapped up by international buyers, with most expats opting to buy property on or as close to the coast as possible. With such high demand and a dwindling supply of coastal properties, prices are constantly rising, particularly in highly-sought after areas like Marbella. 

With this in mind, could it be worth considering looking at rural houses for sale (for example property in Monda, Spain) which are located within easy reach of Marbella? 

To find the answer, let’s start by looking at the many benefits of considering buying inland properties.

1.Get more for your money

The most obvious benefit of looking at rural houses for sale, is that you will be able to get much more property for the price. The cost of villas for sale with private pools will be considerably lower in Monda, than in Marbella. For example, the cost per square metre is 1,590€ Monda as opposed to 5,371€ in Marbella (October 2024 – Indomio.es). 

It isn’t only the price of your rural home that will be cheaper, the cost of living is lower in the countryside. This means you will have more free change to nip out for a drink and bite a to eat, without paying the tourist prices in the more popular coastal resorts.

In many cases, it is also possible to live more off-grid existence, as many rural homes have solar panels and access to their own water supply.

2. More space

How many times have you looked out of your window and said to yourself, I wish there were some houses for sale with land near me? Quite often when you look for property close to town or the coast, you can find the perfect apartment, town house or villa, but it has a small balcony terrace or garden. This is because land for development is now extremely scarce on the coast, therefore outdoor space can be limited and you will pay a premium.  Whereas in the countryside, it is still possible to find rural houses for sale on large private plots and if you fancy building your own home, there is the possibility of sourcing cheap land for sale.

3. All the benefits but none of the noise

Living in Monda is great for families who want to experience life in a traditional white village environment surrounded by most beautiful countryside in the Sierra de la Nieves National Park.  Who wouldn’t want their children to enjoy the freedom of being amongst almond and olive groves, lakes and mountains, and the opportunity for outdoor pursuits, be it bird watching, hiking, horse riding or even skiing in Sierra Nevada?

But what if you still hanker after the bright lights of the city centre, shops, international restaurants, beach clubs and of course the beautiful Mediterranean beaches…no problem, Marbella is literally less than 30 minutes’ drive in the car.   This means you can enjoy the laid-back village lifestyle, abundance of fresh air and countryside, yet within a few minutes you can be sunning yourself on one of the many Blue Flag beaches.

4.Closer to nature

In today’s hectic world, the chance to live in a peaceful, uncrowded environment surrounded by nature is a privilege. In the countryside, you don’t need to be walking about for long before you come across some wonderful examples of native wildlife. The Sierra de la Nieves area is awash with wild boar, Ibex, eagles, hawks and lizards. For those with four-legged friends, there is plenty of space for your dogs and cats to run around free and without danger of being bothered or bothering others.

Cons of living in the countryside

As with every choice in life, there are upsides and downsides that must be considered before making any firm decisions. This is also the case when considering investing in inland Costa del Sol property and putting down roots in the country. 

1.Mobility and healthcare

If you are planning on retiring and are tempted by the relatively cheap property for sale in Spain’s campo, it is important to consider the implications of mobility and access to healthcare.   On one hand, if you are reasonably fit and live a healthy life, you can benefit immensely from the clean country air and lifestyle. However, on the other hand, if you become ill and require regular medical treatment, it could become an issue.

 Similarly, a family with young children may need access to medical facilities to patch up cuts and scrapes and administer in the event of an accident. Of course, Monda has an ‘ambulatorio’ which offers basic care, but for anything more serious you may need to travel to the nearest large town or city to for hospital treatment.

Another consideration is the when you do need to travel, you may find yourself at nature’s mercy with muddy roads, rock falls and felled trees hampering your progress. You need to forget about owning a snazzy city car, instead a good sturdy 4×4 is the most sensible option.

2.Communication and deliveries

Online shopping is a lifesaver but receiving timely deliveries in the countryside is virtually impossible. Luckily companies like Amazon offer lockers and you can rent a post box, but if you are planning on running any type of business or you rely on receiving regular post to property, country life may not be for you.

3. Utilities

In the campo, temperatures tend to be a few degrees hotter in the summer and colder in the winter. It is all well and good to be hooked up to solar panels so you can generate your own electricity but in the cold of winter it may be enough to keep you warm.  Similarly, you may have your own water supply on your land but its essential to have it tested to make sure it is fit for human consumption. If you are hooked up to utilities, in the event of an outage you may find that it takes a little longer to reconnect you – in which case patience is required in spades.

In conclusion, as with any important decision concerning your family, finances and lifestyle, careful consideration is required.  Weighing up the pros and cons can be difficult from your armchair thousands of miles away, perhaps the best way to truly find out whether you would prefer living in the town, on the coast or in the country is to visit Monda (or your preferred countryside location) at different times of the year. Although the Costa del Sol is considered an all-year-round destination, there are definite high and low seasons, which mean that some bustling town centres can become extremely quiet during the winter. Similarly, in the countryside, you may find the freedom and lack of crowds exhilarating in the summer but less appealing in the winter.

The only way to decide the most type of Costa del Sol property most suited to your family is by speaking to the experts and undertaking thorough research.

If you would like more information about property in Monda, Spain, or help finding the right other property for sale in Andalucia, call +34 952 457 761 or email [email protected] .