But the real cost of owning a property starts after the asking price.

Buying a home may involve property transfer tax, notary fees, registration costs, legal fees, technical inspections and, in some cases, an estate agent’s commission.

And after the purchase comes the annual cost of ownership: property taxes, electricity, water, internet, insurance, maintenance and repairs.

That is why Dealehome compares the same practical scenario in each market:

a 2-bedroom home suitable for living, located in a coastal area, but not necessarily directly on the beachfront.

We do not use national average property prices, because they tell a buyer very little about what they can actually purchase.

Instead, we compare specific coastal regions.

Four Realistic Coastal Property Markets

For this comparison, we use:

Spain — Torrevieja, Costa Blanca
Greece — Halkidiki
Italy — Calabria, around Tropea and Cetraro
Bulgaria — Sozopol and the southern Black Sea coast

The prices below are indicative of the 2026 market and should not be treated as fixed valuations for every property.

In Torrevieja, for example, current listings for 2-bedroom townhouses can be found at around €137,300–€159,900, with sizes of approximately 42–76 m². Cheaper properties can also appear around €99,000, although they may require renovation.

In Calabria, the difference is striking. In Cetraro, there are examples of 2-bedroom properties of around 90 m², located only about 40 metres from the sea, at approximately €125,000. Around Tropea, 2-bedroom properties can also be found broadly within the €110,000–€150,000 range.

This demonstrates why national averages can be misleading:

the specific coastal region matters far more than the name of the country.

1. Spain: Torrevieja and Costa Blanca

Spain becomes particularly interesting when we compare what the same budget actually buys.

Around Torrevieja, a 2-bedroom townhouse may be available for approximately €140,000–€160,000, although the floor area will often be smaller than what the same money could buy in Calabria or parts of Bulgaria.

Current listings show 2-bedroom properties around:

€137,300
€159,500
€159,900

Better-positioned, renovated or newer properties can easily reach €200,000–€250,000 or more.

But the asking price is not the final purchase price

For a resale property in Spain, the buyer normally pays ITP — Property Transfer Tax.

The important point is that the tax rate is not identical throughout Spain. It is determined by the autonomous community where the property is located.

Therefore, it would be misleading to say:

“Property purchase tax in Spain is X%.”

without first knowing the exact region.

New-build properties follow a different tax system and normally involve VAT instead.

In our detailed Spain guide, we will use Comunidad Valenciana, because Torrevieja is located there, and calculate the full purchase cost under the applicable regional rules.

What kind of lifestyle do you get?

One of Costa Blanca’s major advantages is the possibility of a much more year-round coastal lifestyle.

The region offers:

• established infrastructure;
• international communities;
• airports;
• healthcare services;
• supermarkets and restaurants;
• public transport;
• towns that continue functioning well outside the summer season.

The trade-off is that the same budget often buys fewer square metres.

So a buyer may receive a smaller home, but in return gain access to a highly developed year-round Mediterranean environment.

2. Greece: Halkidiki

Halkidiki is particularly attractive to buyers from Bulgaria because it is accessible by car and offers an enormous choice of coastal villages and resorts.

For a 2-bedroom maisonette or small house outside the most expensive beachfront locations, a realistic budget now often starts at around €150,000.

In more sought-after locations or for newer properties, prices can easily exceed €200,000.

Property transfer tax

The standard Greek property transfer tax is 3%, with an additional municipal surcharge equal to 3% of the amount of the tax itself.

In practice, this results in an effective rate of approximately 3.09% for a standard transaction.

For a taxable value of €150,000, the calculation is approximately:

€4,500 transfer tax
plus
€135 municipal surcharge

for a total of approximately:

€4,635

And that is only the tax.

The buyer may also need to budget for:

• notary fees;
• Land Registry or Cadastre registration;
• lawyer;
• engineer;
• estate agent commission where applicable.

Depending on the property and professional services involved, total additional acquisition costs can be materially higher than the transfer tax alone.

After purchasing the property, owners also pay the annual Greek real estate tax known as ENFIA.

What lifestyle do you get?

Halkidiki offers:

• a long summer season;
• a very large selection of beaches;
• easy road access from Bulgaria;
• proximity to Thessaloniki;
• a strong holiday property market.

However, anyone considering year-round living should examine the exact location carefully.

A small seasonal resort village and a settlement with easy access to Thessaloniki can provide completely different lifestyles during winter.

So the question is not simply:

“Halkidiki or not?”

It is:

“Which part of Halkidiki suits the way I want to live?”

3. Italy: Calabria

Calabria may be one of the biggest surprises in this comparison.

Southern Italy does not have the same property prices as Tuscany, Liguria or many areas of northern Italy.

In Cetraro, for example, there are current examples of properties of approximately 90 m² with two bedrooms, located around 40 metres from the sea, for approximately €125,000.

In the same area, larger properties with sea views may also appear at surprisingly accessible prices.

Around Tropea, 2-bedroom properties can also be found broadly within the region of €110,000–€150,000, although the exact location, condition and property type have a major impact on the price.

Purchase taxation is more complex

For the standard purchase of a second home from a private seller, the general registration tax rate is 9%.

However, there is a very important distinction.

Under certain circumstances, the taxable base may be linked to the property's cadastral value, rather than simply being calculated from the agreed sale price.

That means it would be incorrect to automatically calculate:

€150,000 × 9% = €13,500

and present €13,500 as the tax due for every €150,000 property.

The real figure depends on:

• the cadastral value;
• the type of transaction;
• the seller;
• whether the property qualifies for specific tax treatment.

This is precisely why the detailed Italy article will explain the tax calculation using a concrete property example.

What lifestyle do you get?

Calabria offers a very different proposition from Costa Blanca.

You may receive:

• more living space for the same money;
• access to the Mediterranean;
• smaller towns and villages;
• lower property prices than many famous Italian regions;
• traditional Italian coastal living.

However, infrastructure and year-round services can vary significantly between towns.

A buyer considering permanent living should therefore check not just the beach, but also:

• hospitals;
• supermarkets;
• airports;
• public transport;
• schools;
• winter services;
• road connections.

A beautiful summer destination is not automatically the same thing as a convenient place to live twelve months of the year.

4. Bulgaria: The Southern Black Sea Coast

With a budget of approximately €150,000, parts of Bulgaria’s southern Black Sea coast still offer the possibility of buying a genuine house or townhouse with two bedrooms rather than only a small apartment.

In the more expensive parts of Sozopol, Nessebar or directly beside the sea, prices can be considerably higher.

However, if the buyer is willing to live approximately 5–15 minutes from the beach, the choice increases substantially.

What do you pay when buying?

A buyer in Bulgaria needs to consider:

• local property acquisition tax;
• notary fees;
• Land Registry fee;
• lawyer, where used;
• estate agent commission, where applicable.

The local acquisition tax is not identical throughout the country.

The municipality determines the applicable rate within the limits set by Bulgarian law.

For this reason, in the detailed Bulgaria article we will calculate the cost for a specific coastal municipality, rather than using a misleading single national percentage.

A person buying a property for €150,000 should therefore not assume that €150,000 in available funds is enough.

A separate budget should always be reserved for the transaction itself.

What lifestyle do you get?

For a Bulgarian buyer, the advantages include:

• comparatively low everyday costs;
• lower household electricity prices than in many Western and Southern European markets;
• no language barrier;
• easier administration;
• proximity to family and existing social networks;
• easy access by car.

The main limitation in some Black Sea resorts is seasonality.

A town that is extremely busy in July may feel completely different in January.

This makes the exact town particularly important for anyone considering permanent rather than seasonal living.

What Will You Continue Paying After the Purchase?

The property price and purchase taxes are only the beginning.

An owner should also budget for:

electricity + water + internet + local property taxes + insurance + maintenance + community fees where applicable + repairs

Electricity costs alone can vary materially between countries.

According to comparable Eurostat household electricity data, Bulgaria remains cheaper than Greece, Spain and Italy, while Greece, Spain and Italy generally have higher household electricity costs.

This does not mean that every household will receive the same bill.

Actual consumption depends on:

• heating;
• air conditioning;
• insulation;
• property size;
• tariff;
• energy efficiency;
• personal lifestyle.

That is why the annual cost of ownership should be considered alongside the purchase price.

What Do You Actually Get for Around €150,000?

This is not a ranking.

Each market offers a different combination of property, cost and lifestyle.

A buyer who wants maximum space for the budget may favour one region.

Someone who wants a year-round Mediterranean lifestyle may make a completely different choice.

Another buyer may place the highest value on being able to reach their property by car from Bulgaria.

The Most Important Question Is Not “How Much Does the House Cost?”

A more useful question is:

“How much will it cost me to buy it, own it and live in it?”

A house advertised for €145,000 in one country may require significantly more initial capital than a property advertised at the same price elsewhere.

And the reverse can also be true.

A more expensive property may still be the more suitable choice if its location offers:

• better year-round infrastructure;
• an airport nearby;
• healthcare;
• easier transport;
• rental potential;
• a lifestyle better suited to the buyer.

Price per square metre does not measure quality of life.

That is why searching for a property should involve more than price and location.

It should also include the characteristics that determine how you will actually live there.

Coming Next on Dealehome

We will analyse each country separately and calculate the realistic cost of buying and owning a specific 2-bedroom coastal property.

Spain: Costa Blanca + ITP + notary + registration + local property tax + utilities and annual ownership costs.

Greece: Halkidiki + transfer tax + notary + ENFIA + utilities and annual running costs.

Italy: Calabria + registration tax + cadastral value + notary + annual property costs.

Bulgaria: Southern Black Sea coast + municipal acquisition tax + notary + registration + annual ownership costs.

How much does a 2-bedroom house near the sea cost in 2026?

In the more accessible coastal regions examined in this article, indicative prices can range from approximately €110,000–€160,000 in Calabria, €135,000–€190,000 around Torrevieja, around €150,000 and above in parts of Halkidiki, and approximately €130,000–€170,000 in parts of Bulgaria’s southern Black Sea coast.

The exact price depends heavily on distance from the sea, condition, property type and individual location.

Is €150,000 enough if the property itself costs €150,000?

Usually not.

A buyer should plan additional funds for:

• taxes;
• notary fees;
• registration;
• legal services;
• technical checks;
• estate agent commission where applicable.

The amount required varies significantly between countries and regions.

Which country has the lowest property purchase costs?

The systems cannot be compared using only one percentage.

Greece has a standard transfer tax of approximately 3.09% including the municipal surcharge, while Spain uses regional tax rates, Italy may use a different taxable base depending on the transaction, and Bulgaria’s acquisition tax depends on the municipality.

The total purchase cost therefore needs to be calculated for the specific property and specific region.

Which country offers the most property for €150,000?

In the regions examined here, parts of Calabria and Bulgaria’s Black Sea coast can often offer more floor area for the same budget than markets such as Torrevieja.

However, size is only one part of the decision. Infrastructure, taxation, accessibility, seasonality and year-round quality of life may be equally important.