How much does a full renovation cost in Málaga? What the price depends on
Renovating a flat or a whole house usually starts with a sum on the kitchen table, before you've called anyone. And the first question comes before the plans or the materials: how much is it going to cost?
The short answer: it depends on what the job involves and on the finishes. As a market reference, in 2026 a full renovation runs at roughly €400 to €1,200 per square metre. The price of a full renovation in Málaga only comes once the house has been seen and it's clear what you want to change.
Below you'll find what the price depends on, how to make a first estimate from your square metres, and what else goes into the sum.
What the price of a full renovation in Málaga depends on
Two flats of the same size on the same street can need very different quotes. In one, the installations are fine and it's enough to replace the floors, carpentry and paint. In the other, walls have to be opened up to replace the wiring and pipes, a partition has to be moved, and the kitchen and bathroom redone. This is what gets looked at when assessing a home:
| What we look at | What to check | Why it moves the price |
|---|---|---|
| Floor area | Square metres of the home, number of rooms and bathrooms | More square metres means more material and more hours from every trade |
| Installations | Whether the electrics and plumbing are the original ones | Replacing them means opening up walls and floors, which brings in building work, flooring and painting |
| Layout | Whether partitions are moved or the kitchen is opened onto the living room | Moving a partition means redoing what runs inside it |
| Kitchen and bathroom | How many there are and what is changed in each | They are the most expensive rooms per square metre |
| Finishes | Flooring, tiling, sanitaryware and carpentry | For the same work, they can double the price per square metre |
| Type of home | Flat, house or villa | A house often involves roofing, insulation or outdoor areas that a flat doesn't have |
Some of it can't be seen until the walls are opened. An older house can hold surprises under the tiling or the floor, and whatever needs repairing comes before the finishes.
A full renovation covers demolition, plumbing, electrics, drywall, flooring, carpentry and painting. You'll find it set out on our page for full home renovation. If you only want to change the kitchen or the bathroom, see full kitchens and bathrooms.
How to make a first estimate of your renovation
With the size of your home and three steps you can get a first idea before asking for a quote:
- Start from the floor area. Multiply the size of the home by the range that fits what you're after. For basic to mid-range finishes, €400 to €600 per m²; for high-end finishes, €800 to €1,200 per m².
- Place yourself within the range. If the installations are in good shape and no partitions are moved, the figure tends towards the low end. If everything is replaced and the layout changes, towards the high end.
- Check what else goes into the sum. VAT, the building permit and the construction tax and, if you have to live elsewhere during the works, the rent. You'll find it in the next section.
An example of how the sum works: a 90 m² flat with basic to mid-range finishes, at €400 to €600 per m², comes to roughly €36,000 to €54,000. With high-end finishes, at €800 to €1,200 per m², it comes to roughly €72,000 to €108,000. It's a calculation to give you an idea, not a quote: the real condition of the house can move that figure.
These are indicative market figures for Spain in 2026, not Solteana's prices.
What else goes into the sum: VAT, permit and timescale
There are three things worth bearing in mind from the start.
VAT: 10% or 21%. Spanish VAT law applies the 10% rate to renovation and repair works on a home if all of the following hold:
- It is commissioned by a private individual for personal use. A homeowners' association also qualifies, as does a property rented out as someone's main home.
- The house was built or last refurbished at least two years earlier.
- The materials supplied by the contractor do not exceed 40% of the taxable base (the amount before VAT).
- It is paid by card, bank transfer, a cheque made out to a named payee, or a deposit into an account.
If any of those conditions fails, 21% applies. In a full renovation with a new kitchen, bathroom and floors, the materials can exceed that 40%, so it's worth asking how the work will be invoiced before you sign.
The permit and the construction tax. Depending on what is touched, the town hall requires a building permit or a declaración responsable (a sworn statement filed with the council). The works also pay the tax on construction, installations and works (ICIO). Each town hall sets it in its own bylaw, and the law does not let it go above 4% of the material execution cost.
The timescale. In our projects, a whole flat takes between two and three months, because each trade waits for the previous one to finish. If you have to live somewhere else during that time, the rent is also part of what the renovation costs.
What to ask for in a quote so you can compare it
If you ask for several quotes, they will be easier to compare if they all set out the same things:
- Itemised work with measurements, so you know what each trade includes.
- Finishes in writing: flooring, tiling and sanitaryware, each with its reference.
- VAT shown clearly: whether it's included and at what rate.
- Timescale, payment terms and guarantee.
- What is left out: permit, tax, furniture or appliances.
If two quotes for the same house look very different, the gap almost always lies in what one includes and the other leaves out. Comparing them item by item clears it up.
How we work at Solteana
We are a construction and renovation company, and we work across the whole province of Málaga, from the city itself to Marbella, Fuengirola or Estepona.
Before starting, we lock in the price with a signed quote, using a digital signature, and that price holds until the end of the project. You get one quote and one point of contact, with an on-site foreman and Andriy stopping by to check on things. We buy almost all the flooring, tiling and bathroom fittings from Porcelanosa, with whom we have a supply agreement. And we give you a three-year guarantee: if something goes wrong because of us or the work, we come back and fix it at no cost.
You can see what a full renovation includes, look at the projects we've done or ask us for a quote directly.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to renovate a 90 m² flat in Málaga?
It depends on what the job involves and on the finishes. As a market reference for 2026 (these are not Solteana's prices), basic to mid-range finishes (€400 to €600 per m²) come to roughly €36,000 to €54,000. High-end finishes (€800 to €1,200 per m²) come to roughly €72,000 to €108,000. These are indicative figures: the real price of your flat comes from seeing it.
What VAT applies to a full renovation of a home?
10% if it is commissioned by a private individual for their home, the house is more than two years old and the materials supplied by the contractor do not exceed 40% of the taxable base. Payment must be by card, bank transfer, a cheque made out to a named payee, or a deposit into an account. If any of that fails, 21%.
Which parts of a full renovation weigh most on the price?
The installations, the kitchen and the bathroom, and the building work they bring with them. Replacing the electrics or the pipes means opening up walls and floors, and then the flooring and painting have to be redone. After that come the finishes: with the same work, the flooring, tiling and sanitaryware you choose can double the price per square metre.
How long does a full renovation of a flat take?
A whole flat takes us between two and three months, and a complete bathroom about two weeks. A villa with an extension, roofing and a pool can run to ten months.
Do you need a permit for a full renovation?
Depending on what is touched, the town hall requires a building permit or a declaración responsable. The works also pay ICIO, which each town hall sets and which the law caps at 4% of the material execution cost.
Which areas do you work in?
Across the whole province of Málaga: the city, Torremolinos, Benalmádena, Fuengirola, Mijas, Marbella, Estepona and the inland area. If you'd like us to see your home, ask us for a quote.