The Costa Tropical attracts a massive number of tourists each year. The area benefits from an excellent climate with average temperatures of around 20°C and this helps to bring in a large number of expats and second home (vivienda secundaria) owners. The area is not as over developed as some of the other Costa regions and so is still a good representation of traditional Spanish life. The towns and villages in the area range from strong tourist resorts to small fishing villages and there is something for everyone.

The town of Calahonda is a popular tourist resort and has been developed for that purpose. There are new build properties at every turn, many of which are apartments (pisos) and timeshare (multipropriedad) developments are springing up all over the town. The majority of the population are not Spanish as many of the properties on offer are aimed at the second home market. The town is filled with everything you could want, from golf courses to beaches and the number of expats choosing to settle there full time is growing. There are medical centres for healthcare and the town has both primary and secondary schools for those who have children. Property prices are not cheap though, due mainly to the location and the demand.

Almunecar is a municipality in the province of Granada. The tourist industry has grown there over the last few decades and the improved transport links have brought in lots of foreign visitors. The expat community is growing with residents from all over Europe. There are some employment opportunities for English speakers, though mainly within the tourism industry.

La Herradura is an attractive destination for those who like water sports and the tourism industry is growing steadily. As with Almunecar, there is a steadily increasing expat community from all over Europe. Property prices are rising in the area but there are still some bargains to be had if you are prepared to do a little renovation work.

Ugijar is a town with a long history. The town offers much for the expat (expatriados), with a whole range of property choices from apartments to villas (chalets). Employment opportunities will again be mainly in the tourist industry, which is still far from the mainstream tourism experienced in other areas.

Murtas is a small town in the province of Granada. This is a good choice for those expats who want to be a little more off the beaten track and who are looking to experience the traditional Spanish lifestyle. Properties are traditional houses (casa de epoca) and there are very few new build properties available. Prices are on a par with the regional average and there are bargains to be found if you are prepared to renovate (renovar).

The town of Orgiva is situated in the Alpujarra Mountains. There is a population of less than 7000 and the tourist industry is growing, although many of the foreigners in the area are residents. It is estimated that nearly half of the population are expats, coming from locations all over Europe. There are several shops in the area which aim to serve the expat population, although the cinema does not show English language films. The properties on offer are many traditional Spanish homes and prices are on a par with the regional average.

Polopos is a village in the mountains just south of Granada and just a short drive from the coast. This is one town that has not been affected by tourism and expats in the area are few and far between. Many people may be put off by the location of the village in the mountains, although the journey there is along a beautiful route. There are no real employment opportunities in the village as the main industry is farming. Most shopping needs are met by mobile retailers who visit the village on a regular basis.

Salobrena is another small town but this time on the coast and is ideal for those who want to visit the local mountain ranges for skiing. The town has a long history and mass tourism has not yet arrived although there are some hotels which are regularly full. Expats who choose the town will be able to enjoy the traditional Spanish way of life, although there is not a large expat community at the moment. The proximity to the coast means that property prices may be slightly higher than the regional average.

Albondon has a growing tourism industry although it is still a fairly small town. There are a few expats in the area and employment opportunities will mainly be in the tourism sector for English speakers. The demand for property in the area is quite high as there are few new developments, so prices may be a little high due to this.

Capileira is a village high in the mountains and is the highest village that traffic can reach. There is a reasonable tourist industry developing for the village as many stop there en route to the mountains. There are a few developments in the village which are mainly intended for holiday accommodation (apartamento de vacaciones) and there is a small community of expats, though those who want to make their home there should be aware that there is no secondary school.

Granada is a city and it is situated by the Sierra Nevada Mountains. There is a growing community of expats from all over the world, particularly South America. This city is the best option for those who want to move to the area for work, as there are opportunities in all areas, although skilled jobs will always be given to those with fluent Spanish. English speakers will find that their opportunities are limited to the tourist industry or retail work. Properties will vary in price depending upon the part of the city you are in, although few areas are considered to be very expensive.

The small town of Roquetas de Mar is mainly a tourist resort and the vast majority of visitors are Spanish citizens, although the town is now being discovered by other Europeans. The town has a handy language school for those who want to learn to speak Spanish and most employment opportunities will be limited to tourism such as bars and hotels.