Murcia, Spain: city and region guide to climate, the Mar Menor, property, taxes and moving

Murcia is a city in south-east Spain and the capital of the Region of Murcia. With 479,405 residents it is the country’s seventh-largest city. The region is known for the Mar Menor saltwater lagoon, the Costa Cálida and a hot, dry climate. It suits families who want sea, sunshine, affordable property and light regional taxes on wealth.

Below: where Murcia is, what the climate is like, how to get there, what to see and which beaches to choose, followed by a detailed section on moving there: residence permits, property prices in the city and on the coast, neighbourhoods, regional taxes, British schools, hospitals, the Russian-speaking community and the drawbacks worth knowing in advance.

Where is Murcia?

Murcia is both a city and a region. The Region of Murcia (Región de Murcia) is an autonomous community made up of a single province, so “Murcia province” and “Murcia region” are the same territory. It lies between the Valencian Community (Alicante province) to the north-east and Andalusia (Almería province) to the south-west. The city of Murcia sits inland in the Segura river valley, not on the sea.

• Country: Spain.
• Region: the autonomous community of Murcia, 45 municipalities, 1,589,138 residents as of 1 January 2025.
• Capital: the city of Murcia, 479,405 residents. That is more than Palma de Mallorca and fewer than Zaragoza and Málaga.
• Other large towns: Cartagena (220,704), Lorca (98,969), Molina de Segura (78,458).
• Coastline: the Costa Cálida, running from the Mar Menor lagoon on the border with Alicante province to Águilas on the border with Andalusia.
• Language: Spanish is the only official language. Unlike Valencia or Catalonia, there is no second regional language.
• Foreign residents: about 16% of the region’s population and 13% of the city’s.

One piece of geography matters for a move: the region’s southern border runs right past Torrevieja and Orihuela Costa. Many people searching for “Murcia” are really choosing between the Mar Menor coast and the southern end of the neighbouring Costa Blanca. It is one continuous strip of resorts, split by an administrative border and by different taxes.

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Climate and weather in Murcia

The climate is Mediterranean semi-arid: very little rain, plenty of sun, mild winters and hot summers. Summers in the city are noticeably hotter than by the sea, because the Segura valley is shielded from the sea breeze. On the coast around the Mar Menor the heat is gentler but the humidity is higher.

According to AEMET normals, Murcia city averages 18.6 °C over the year, 10.6 °C in January and 27.6 °C in August, with 297 mm of rain and 2,967 hours of sunshine. The wettest month is October; July is almost completely dry (3 mm). On 15 August 2021 the Murcia observatory recorded 46.2 °C and Alcantarilla, on the edge of the metropolitan area, 47.0 °C: both were records for their stations. In July the city averages 25 tropical nights, when the temperature does not drop below 20 °C.

How to get to Murcia

• Región de Murcia International Airport (Aeropuerto Internacional Región de Murcia): in Corvera, south of the city, at Avda. de España, 101, Valladolises. In 2025 it handled about 949,000 passengers, 89% of them on international flights.
• Alicante-Elche Airport: the largest airport nearby, with 19.95 million passengers in 2025 and far more destinations. Residents of Murcia and of the Mar Menor coast use it a lot.
• High-speed train from Madrid. The Madrid to Murcia high-speed line opened in December 2022; at launch the journey took from 2 hours 45 minutes.
• From Russia there are no direct flights: travellers connect through another European city and then fly to Alicante, Corvera or Madrid.

What to see in Murcia and the region

• Murcia Cathedral: Gothic inside, with a Baroque façade. Its 90-metre bell tower (95 m with the weathervane) is the second tallest in Spain after the Giralda in Seville. Inside is the Vélez Chapel with its star-vaulted dome.
• Real Casino de Murcia: a 19th-century club with an “Arab” courtyard and a ballroom.
• Salzillo Museum: 18th-century sculptures by the master, made for the Holy Week processions.
• Spring festivals: the Bando de la Huerta on the Tuesday after Easter (7 April in 2026, a local holiday) and Holy Week.
• Cartagena: a port city with a Roman theatre. Its remains were found in 1988, and the museum designed by Rafael Moneo opened in 2008.
• Caravaca de la Cruz: a pilgrimage town around the Basilica of the Vera Cruz in the north-west of the region.
• Lorca: a fortress and a Baroque old town on the road to Andalusia.
• Coastal nature parks: Calblanque near Cartagena (wild beaches between cliffs) and the salt flats of San Pedro del Pinatar.

Costa Cálida and the Mar Menor: beaches

The Costa Cálida, the “warm coast”, falls into two very different parts. In the north-east is the Mar Menor, a saltwater lagoon of 135 km² with an average depth of 4 metres. It is separated from the open sea by La Manga, a 22 km sand spit. The lagoon water is warm and calm, which is why families with children come here. On the outer side of La Manga and around Cabo de Palos you are already on the open Mediterranean.

To the south-west the coast turns rocky, with coves: Mazarrón and Águilas. This is also home to the region’s largest British community: on 1 January 2022 Mazarrón had 4,601 registered UK nationals.

In 2026, 33 beaches in six municipalities of the region received the Blue Flag:

• Águilas: 10 beaches, the most in the region, including Levante, Poniente, Las Delicias and Calarreona.
• Cartagena: 9, including Levante-Cabo de Palos, Calblanque, Cala Cortina, Isla Plana and La Azohía-El Cuartel.
• Mazarrón: 6, among them Bahía-La Reya, Nares and Grande-Castellar.
• San Javier and San Pedro del Pinatar: 3 each, plus Banco del Tabal on La Manga.
• Lorca: 1, Calnegre beach.

There is a downside to the Mar Menor too. Since 2016 the lagoon has suffered from excess fertiliser run-off and algal blooms, and in 2019 and 2021 tonnes of dead fish washed ashore. In 2022 Spain granted the Mar Menor and its basin legal personhood. Before buying on the lagoon shore, look at the latest water-quality monitoring data rather than the developer’s brochure.

When to visit Murcia

For the beach, June to October: the shallow Mar Menor warms up faster than the open sea. For the city, spring and autumn: from March to May and in October and November daytime temperatures are 20–26 °C. In July and August Murcia averages 34 °C in the daytime, so the city empties in summer as residents head to the coast. In January days are around 16–17 °C and almost always sunny, which makes winter the season for golf and walking.

Moving to Murcia: residence permit, property, taxes, schools

The Region of Murcia appeals to people who want to live by the sea and pay less than on the neighbouring Costa Blanca. Appraised property values here are a third below the Spanish average, transfer tax on a purchase is 7.75% against 9% in Alicante, and for most families wealth tax is effectively zero. The trade-offs are the heat, the need for a car and an almost non-existent Russian-speaking community. Here is everything in order.

Which residence permit suits life in Murcia

There are no Murcia-specific rules: the national routes apply. Most people move on one of two.

• Digital nomad visa: for remote work for clients outside Spain. Required income is from €2,849 a month, plus €1,069 for the first family member and €356 for each additional one. From inside Spain the application goes to the UGE, and the fee is €73.26.
• Non-lucrative residence permit (no lucrativa): for living on savings, rental income, dividends or a pension. You need at least €2,400 a month for the main applicant (€28,800 a year) and €600 a month for each family member. You apply at the Spanish consulate where you live, and the fee is €10.94.

Once in Spain with the permit, you register at the town hall (empadronamiento) and give fingerprints for the foreigner’s identity card; the card fee is €16.08. The police appointment is tied to the address where you are registered, so choose the municipality first and book the appointment afterwards.

Where to live: city or coast

The main choice is between Murcia itself, a large city with universities, hospitals and a high-speed train to Madrid, and the coast, which is cheaper and quieter but where everything depends on a car.

• Central Murcia, Santa Catalina – San Bartolomé: the old town around the cathedral and the most expensive area, €3,780/m² in August 2026 according to idealista.
• The north of the city: San Miguel, Juan Carlos I – Avenida de Europa, Juan de Borbón: newer districts with parking and pools, €2,879–3,330/m². Convenient for families with children and a car.
• El Palmar: the south of the municipality, home to the Arrixaca university hospital and the British school El Limonar.
• Pedanías, the outlying villages in the huerta (market gardens): houses with land cost less than flats in the centre. The cheapest according to idealista are La Paz (€716/m²), Los Ramos (€866/m²) and El Raal (€927/m²). The fastest risers over the year were Beniaján (+33.5%) and Sucina, closer to the Mar Menor (+29.2%, €2,143/m²).
• Mar Menor: San Pedro del Pinatar, San Javier with the Santiago de la Ribera seafront, Los Alcázares and La Manga. Resort towns on the warm lagoon with many foreign residents, close to the border with Torrevieja.
• Cabo de Palos and Cartagena: the open sea, yachts, a port and the region’s second large city with its own hospital.
• Golf resorts: gated communities with golf courses set back from the coast. La Torre Golf Resort (Roldán, Torre-Pacheco municipality), for example, is home to King’s College, a British school.
• Mazarrón and Águilas: the south-west, with coves and a British community, further from the airports.

How much property costs in Murcia

According to idealista, in August 2026 a flat in Murcia city cost an average of €1,740 per square metre: 10.8% more than a year earlier and still 40% below the Spanish average (€2,924/m²). A 150 m² flat in the centre, in Santa Catalina, would cost about €567,000 at the district’s average price, and in a new district in the north around €430,000–500,000.

Rents are noticeably lower than in the big coastal cities; check the rate for your area against SERPAVI, the government rental price index on the Ministry of Housing website, and against current listings.

For the coast, the Ministry of Housing’s official appraisal is more reliable: it is the value banks use when valuing a home for a mortgage. It is lower than asking prices, but it allows a fair comparison between the city, the coast and the neighbouring towns of Alicante province:

On this appraisal Murcia city stands at €1,580/m², two thirds of the Spanish average (€2,355/m²). New homes (under five years old) in the city are appraised at €2,300/m², almost one and a half times the price of resale property. San Javier on the Mar Menor (€1,953/m²) is the most expensive of the region’s municipalities in the table and noticeably cheaper than Torrevieja (€2,254/m²), which is just a short drive away. The ministry does not publish separate figures for Los Alcázares and San Pedro del Pinatar.

Taxes in the Region of Murcia

For anyone moving with capital, Murcia’s taxes are one of the strongest arguments. The region has cut the transfer tax on purchases, reduced wealth tax to zero for everyone not caught by the national large fortunes tax, and all but abolished inheritance tax within the family.

• Transfer tax on resale property (ITP): 7.75% since 25 July 2025 (previously 8%). On a €600,000 villa that is €46,500 in tax. Across the border in Alicante the same purchase would cost €54,000 (9%), and above €1 million the rate there rises to 11%. Large families buying their first main home pay 3%, subject to the conditions in the law.
• New builds: VAT (IVA) plus stamp duty (AJD) of 1.5% (since July 2025, previously 2%).
• Wealth tax. Since 2025 Murcia has applied a rebate (bonificación): a resident pays wealth tax only up to the amount they would owe under the national large fortunes tax (ITSGF). That tax applies to the part of net wealth above €3 million after a €700,000 allowance, so net wealth of up to €3.7 million pays nothing (and a main home of up to €300,000 per person is not counted). For comparison, in the Valencian Community the tax-free threshold from 2026 is €2 million, and everything above it is taxed. How wealth tax works and who has to file is covered in our article on taxes in Spain.
• Inheritance and gifts. Spouses, children, grandchildren and parents (groups I and II) get a 99% deduction from inheritance tax. For gifts the 99% deduction applies to groups I, II and III, provided the gift is made before a notary; for gifts of money, their origin must be documented. A comparison of the regions is in our article on inheritance and gift tax in Spain.
• Income tax (IRPF): a regional scale from 9.5% to 22.5% (above €60,000), on top of which comes the national portion. In the Valencian Community the top regional rate in 2026 is 29.35%, so on a high income the difference is noticeable.
• Beckham Law. If you are moving to work or set up a business, look at the Beckham Law: it replaces the progressive scale with a flat 24% for six years and works the same in every region.
• Self-employed (autónomos). The region pays new autónomos who were registered as unemployed before signing up €1,000 to get started and refunds 24 months of the reduced contribution (“Cuota Cero Ampliada”); applications for the 2026 programme close on 15 October 2026.

Tax planning is best done before the move: when you become tax resident, how you structure the purchase and how assets are split within the family determine the amounts you pay for years to come. If you would like to go through your own situation, you can book a consultation.

Schools: British and bilingual

• King’s College, The British School of Murcia: at La Torre golf resort (Roldán, Torre-Pacheco), closer to the Mar Menor than to the city. British curriculum from 18 months to 18 years, IGCSE and A-Levels, a member of the National Association of British Schools in Spain (NABSS).
• El Limonar International School Murcia: in El Palmar, in the south of Murcia municipality. Open since 1990, it teaches the English and Welsh curriculum for ages 3–18 and is also a NABSS member.
• State schools with a British curriculum. Under the agreement between the Ministry of Education and the British Council, the region has five such schools: the primary schools CEIP Luis Costa (Murcia), CEIP José María de Lapuerta (Cartagena) and CEIP Tierno Galván (Molina de Segura), and the secondary schools IES La Flota (Murcia) and IES Los Molinos (Cartagena). Tuition is free; admission follows the general rules and depends on your registered address.
• Language. There is no second regional language: all teaching is in Spanish, which makes it noticeably easier for a child to settle in than in Valencia or Catalonia.
• Russian school. We found no officially registered Russian school in the region. How to keep up a child’s Russian and enrol them in the Spanish system is covered in our article on schools in Spain.

Healthcare

• Public system: the Servicio Murciano de Salud. Employees and the self-employed get access through social security. For the non-lucrative permit you need private insurance from a Spanish insurer with no co-payments.
• Virgen de la Arrixaca University Hospital in El Palmar: the largest hospital in the region.
• Santa Lucía Hospital: in Cartagena.
• Los Arcos del Mar Menor Hospital: in Pozo Aledo (San Javier), opened in 2011. It serves Los Alcázares, San Javier, San Pedro del Pinatar and Torre-Pacheco and has a 24-hour emergency department.

Transport: hard without a car

Murcia city has urban buses, and since December 2022 a high-speed train has linked it to Madrid. On the coast and in the golf resorts a car is essential: there is no commuter train to the Mar Menor and buses are infrequent. A family living by the sea often needs two cars. Corvera is the closest airport, but Alicante-Elche has more flights.

The Russian-speaking community in Murcia

Murcia is not a Russian-speaking region. According to the INE census of 1 January 2025, the whole region had 1,313 Russian nationals, fewer than Torrevieja alone (5,343). Murcia city has 404 Russians, almost a third of the region’s total, and 4,990 Ukrainian nationals. The number of Russians in the city has barely changed since 2021 (408).

The latest breakdown by municipality is the padrón of 1 January 2022. At that point the most Russians lived in Murcia city (398), followed by Cartagena (156), San Javier (112), San Pedro del Pinatar (80), Molina de Segura (79), Lorca (55), Águilas (54) and Los Alcázares (42). The whole Mar Menor, excluding Cartagena, had about 230. For comparison, neighbouring Torrevieja had 4,004 Russians that same year.

The practical conclusion: if a Russian-speaking environment, shops and children’s clubs matter to you, look at Torrevieja. It sits on the border with the Region of Murcia, and Corvera airport is close by as well. If a Spanish environment, taxes and prices matter more, choose the Murcia side. More on the towns of Alicante province is in our articles on Alicante and moving to Alicante.

Drawbacks of living in Murcia

• The heat. In July the city averages 34 °C in the daytime, with 25 tropical nights in the month and records above 46 °C. Summer is unbearable without air conditioning in every room, and the electricity bill reflects it.
• Water and the Mar Menor. The region is one of the driest in Spain: drinking water comes from the Taibilla river, the Tagus-Segura transfer and desalination plants. The Mar Menor itself has been in ecological crisis since 2016, which affects both swimming and the value of waterfront homes.
• Transport. There is no commuter train on the coast, Corvera airport has few flights, and in the golf resorts you cannot manage without a car.
• Few Russian speakers. 1,313 Russian nationals in the whole region: the environment here is Spanish and British.
• The city is not on the sea. From Murcia you have to drive to the beach, and apart from Cartagena there is no large city with full infrastructure on the coast.

Neighbours: what Murcia is compared with

To the north-east is Alicante province: Torrevieja, Orihuela Costa and the whole Costa Blanca, with a large Russian-speaking community, Valencian taught in some schools and higher taxes on purchases and wealth. To the south-west is Almería and the rest of Andalusia: there, too, residents who do not pay the large fortunes tax get a full wealth tax rebate, and ITP is 7%.

Key facts about living in Murcia

• Murcia is Spain’s seventh-largest city and the regional capital; the sea is on the Costa Cálida and the Mar Menor lagoon.
• Property is a third cheaper than the Spanish average: €1,740/m² in the city according to idealista (August 2026), €1,580/m² on the ministry’s appraisal.
• Taxes are the strong point: ITP of 7.75%, wealth tax effectively zero up to €3.7 million, and a 99% deduction on inheritance within the family.
• Two British schools in the region and five state schools with a British curriculum.
• The drawbacks: heat, water and the ecology of the Mar Menor, dependence on a car and almost no Russian-speaking community.

Frequently asked questions about Murcia

Where is Murcia?

In south-east Spain, between Alicante province and Andalusia. The city of Murcia is the capital of the autonomous community of Murcia and lies inland in the Segura river valley. The region’s coast is called the Costa Cálida, with the Mar Menor lagoon in its north-east.

Is Murcia a city or a region?

Both. The Region of Murcia is a single-province autonomous community with 45 municipalities and 1,589,138 residents. The city of Murcia is its capital, with 479,405 residents as of 1 January 2025.

Which airport is closest to Murcia?

Región de Murcia International Airport in Corvera, south of the city, which handled about 949,000 passengers in 2025. Alicante-Elche Airport, which served 19.95 million passengers in 2025, has more destinations.

How much does a flat cost in Murcia?

According to idealista, an average of €1,740 per square metre in the city in August 2026, 10.8% more than a year earlier. The centre, Santa Catalina – San Bartolomé, is the most expensive (€3,780/m²) and the outlying villages the cheapest. The Ministry of Housing appraisal for Q2 2026 is €1,580/m².

What is the property transfer tax in Murcia?

Transfer tax on resale property (ITP) in the Region of Murcia has been 7.75% since 25 July 2025. Large families buying their first main home pay 3%, subject to conditions. New builds carry VAT and 1.5% stamp duty.

Is there wealth tax in Murcia?

Since 2025 a resident of the region pays wealth tax only up to the amount of the national large fortunes tax. That tax applies to net wealth above €3 million after a €700,000 allowance, so with net wealth of up to €3.7 million nothing is due; a main home of up to €300,000 is not counted.

How many Russians live in Murcia?

According to the INE census of 1 January 2025, 404 Russian nationals live in Murcia city and 1,313 in the whole region. The city has 4,990 Ukrainian nationals. The coast’s Russian-speaking community lives mainly next door, in Torrevieja.

Where can you live by the sea in the Region of Murcia?

On the Mar Menor lagoon: San Pedro del Pinatar, San Javier, Los Alcázares and La Manga; on the open sea: Cabo de Palos, Mazarrón and Águilas. In 2026 the most Blue Flag beaches were in Águilas (10) and Cartagena (9).

Where do you give fingerprints for a residence card in Murcia?

At the National Police office for the area where you are registered, by appointment. So you first register at the town hall of your chosen municipality and only then book the fingerprint appointment.

Are there British schools in Murcia?

Yes. King’s College, The British School of Murcia at La Torre golf resort and El Limonar International School in El Palmar. Another five state schools follow the Ministry of Education and British Council programme.

Sources

• INE: population of the municipalities of Murcia province, padrón 2025
• INE: population of large cities by nationality, 2025 census
• INE: population of the regions by nationality, 2025 census
• INE: Murcia, municipal population by nationality, padrón 2022
• AEMET: climate normals, Murcia
• AEMET: climate normals, San Javier airport
• AEMET: Region of Murcia climate summary, August 2021
• BOE: Law 19/2022 on the legal personhood of the Mar Menor lagoon
• ADEAC: Blue Flag beaches 2026
• Aena: Región de Murcia International Airport
• La Moncloa: opening of the Madrid to Murcia high-speed line
• idealista: property prices in Murcia, August 2026
• Ministry of Housing: appraised housing values by municipality
• BOE: Legislative Decree 1/2010 of the Region of Murcia on ceded taxes
• BOE: Law 3/2025 on the Region of Murcia budget for 2025
• Spanish Tax Agency: Murcia wealth tax rebate
• Spanish Tax Agency: Murcia regional income tax scale
• SEF: Cuota Cero Ampliada programme 2026
• Ministry of Education: British Council programme schools in Murcia
• NABSS: King’s College, The British School of Murcia
• NABSS: El Limonar International School Murcia
• MurciaSalud: Los Arcos del Mar Menor Hospital
• Murcia Tourist Office: the cathedral