Is It Still Profitable to Rent an Apartment in Almería for Tourists?

Monika
Sep 28
3 min read

Tourist rentals have become one of the hottest real estate investments across Spain’s coast. Almería, long overlooked compared to Málaga or Alicante, is now firmly on the radar of both investors and policymakers. But is it still profitable in 2025? Let’s break it down.

Tourist Rentals in Numbers: How Many Are There?

The first challenge is simply knowing how many tourist apartments exist in Almería. Here, official sources disagree:

Junta de Andalucía (regional government): reports 12,445 registered tourist apartments in the province.
INE (National Statistics Institute): counts 6,601 apartments dedicated to tourist use (as of November 2024).

Even if the true figure lies between the two, one thing is clear: the growth is undeniable. In proportional terms, Almería now has 1.5 tourist rentals for every 100 homes – more than double the density of Seville, a city where the issue has already sparked heated debate.

Where Are These Rentals Concentrated?

Most rentals are found along the coastal strip, with hotspots including:

Zapillo Beach (Almería city): one of the busiest areas, with rentals advertised at up to 174 € per person per night in July.
Nueva Almería & San Miguel Beach: where prices range from 30 € per night per person to 100 € or more in premium locations.
Historic centre (Plaza Flores area): significantly more expensive than nearby streets like Navarro Rodrigo, which can be four times cheaper.
Cabo de Gata (San José, Las Negras, Isleta del Moro, Rodalquilar): rentals are dispersed but highly present across villages.
Mojácar & Vera: traditional tourist magnets with strong seasonal peaks.

Interestingly, tourist rentals also reach into so-called ciudades dormitorio (commuter towns) in the Bajo Andarax region such as Viator, Benahadux, and Gádor, where demand has pushed supply beyond the coastal front.

Profitability: Almería in the National Context

According to a recent study (pisos.com, August 2025), Almería ranks as the third most profitable Spanish capital for investing in tourist rentals, with an average gross ROI of 6.94% – just behind Tarragona (8.07%) and Castellón (7.05%).

In some specific municipalities, the returns are even higher. Cinco Días (June 2025) highlights Adra (Almería) as the most profitable coastal municipality in Spain, with a 13.4% gross return on tourist rentals.

Holiday rental prices have also risen sharply:

Average weekly beachfront rental in Spain: ~1,270 € (up 7% year-on-year and nearly 40% higher than in 2020).
In Almería’s case, this trend is reinforced by stable demand year-round, since the city itself has beaches, not only surrounding towns.

Legal and Regulatory Framework:

Since August 2025, important changes apply:

To register a property in the Tourism Registry, approval from the community of property owners is now required.
A qualified majority is needed: at least 3/5 of owners and 3/5 of ownership shares.
Communities can also vote to increase community fees by up to 20% for tourist rentals.
An additional tourist registration number is now mandatory.

On top of this, the Ministry of Consumer Affairs has announced action against illegal advertising: more than 65,000 unlicensed tourist rental ads will be removed from leading platforms for lacking registry numbers or valid licences.

Costs That Impact Real ROI

While gross ROI looks strong, investors must consider:

Management fees: 20–25% of revenue if outsourced.
Cleaning costs: typically 10–18 € per hour.
Community fees, utilities, and insurance.
Maintenance and replacements: linens, furniture, appliances, etc.
Taxation: income from tourist rentals is taxed at 19–21%.

These can reduce profitability significantly if not managed carefully.

Conclusion: Is It Still Profitable?

Yes — Almería remains one of the most profitable provinces in Spain for tourist rentals. Demand is strong along the coast, from Zapillo to Mojácar, and yields can reach national highs, especially in areas like Adra.

However, the sector is also under increasing scrutiny and regulation. Investors must navigate stricter licensing, community approvals, and higher operational costs.

The market is still attractive, but success now depends on choosing the right location, ensuring full compliance, and running operations efficiently.

👉 In short: Almería is still a profitable bet, but no longer an effortless one.

At Andamara Partners we can assist with the license and NRA number: info@andamara.com