Where is Rojales?
Rojales sits in the south of Alicante province, in the farming plain known as the Vega Baja. The Segura river runs right through the old town, which is why the place exists at all.
The coast at Guardamar del Segura is about 10 to 15 minutes away by car. Torrevieja, with its big shops, hospitals and markets, lies a short drive south. Orihuela and Murcia are easy to reach by road.
The municipality is bigger than the town itself. It includes several well known residential areas: Ciudad Quesada, Doña Pepa, Lo Marabú and Rojales Hills. Ciudad Quesada was laid out in the 1970s by the Spanish businessman Justo Quesada as a planned residential community, and it grew into a full town with shops, medical services and schools.
What is it like to live in Rojales?
There are really two moods here, and both are useful. The old town is genuinely Spanish: a stone bridge over the river, small bars, a weekly market and fiestas that are not staged for visitors. The urbanisations on the hills above are international, with villas, pools and plenty of English, Norwegian and German spoken.
Day to day life is easy. Supermarkets, banks, pharmacies, bakeries and a health centre are all local. There is a weekly market in the town centre on Thursdays with fruit, vegetables and household stalls, and it is only a few minutes by car from Quesada.
Things that give Rojales its own character:
- The Cuevas del Rodeo, cave houses cut into the hillside, restored and now used by craftspeople for workshops, exhibitions and a small museum.
- An art and craft fair held at the caves on the first Sunday of the month, with music and cultural events through the year.
- The Casa de las Conchas (Shell House), a private house covered in hundreds of thousands of shells collected from local beaches, now open to visitors.
- The river, its 18th century bridge, weir and waterwheel, and walking and cycling paths along the banks.
- A summer water park near Ciudad Quesada, handy if grandchildren visit.
It is quieter than the coastal resorts in winter, but not empty. Rojales has one of the largest international resident populations in Spain, so shops and bars stay open all year.
How much does property cost in Rojales?
All figures below come from our own listings at the time of writing (September 2026). They are rounded and meant as a guide, not a valuation.
- Apartments: typically around €290,000, with the cheapest one and two bedroom flats starting near €105,000 to €150,000.
- Townhouses and smaller houses: mostly around €250,000.
- Bungalows: around €325,000.
- Villas: typically around €550,000, rising past €1 million and up to about €2.65 million for the very largest.
Rojales is villa country. Detached homes make up most of what sells here, and about 70% of our listings have a pool, private or communal. A typical property is a three bedroom home of around 120 m² built.
Roughly a third of what we list is new build. That matters for costs: new build is 10% IVA plus 1.4% stamp duty (AJD), while resale in the Valencian Community carries 9% transfer tax (ITP), rising to 11% on the part above €1 million from 1 June 2026. Budget separately for notary, land registry and legal fees.
If your budget is tighter, nearby Benijofar is worth a look, as prices on smaller houses can be gentler.
Is Rojales good for golf?
Yes, and it is one of the main reasons people choose it. La Marquesa Golf sits inside Ciudad Quesada, barely a kilometre from the town, so many owners walk or take a buggy to the first tee.
La Marquesa is an 18 hole, par 72 course opened in 1989 and designed by Justo Quesada Samper, the man behind Ciudad Quesada itself. It has wide fairways, gentle terrain and thousands of palm trees, plus a par 3 16th built as a copy of the famous island green 17th at Sawgrass. It is known as forgiving and good value, which suits regular play.
Three more courses are within a short drive. La Finca Golf at Algorfa is about 15 minutes away: an 18 hole, par 72 Pepe Gancedo design opened in 2002, with a resort hotel and a tougher back nine. Vistabella Golf is roughly 15 to 20 minutes, and Villamartín around 20 to 25 minutes towards the coast.
How far is Rojales from the beach and the airport?
Rojales is not a beach town. It is an inland town with beaches close by, which is a fair trade for more space and lower prices.
The long, dune backed and pine fringed beaches of Guardamar del Segura are about 10 to 15 minutes by car. The beaches of La Mata and Torrevieja are around 15 to 20 minutes. The Torrevieja and La Mata salt lakes, good for walking and flamingo spotting, are closer still.
For flights:
- Alicante-Elche (ALC): around 30 to 40 minutes by car.
- Región de Murcia (RMU, Corvera): around 45 to 55 minutes by car.
A car is close to essential here, especially if you live on one of the hillside urbanisations.
Who buys in Rojales, and is it a good place to rent out?
Buyers are mostly northern European. British residents are the largest foreign group in the municipality, many of them retired, followed by growing numbers of Norwegians, Swedes, Germans, Dutch, Belgians and Poles. The presence of a Norwegian school in the area says a lot about how settled that community is.
Typical purchases are year round homes and long stay winter bases, rather than pure summer lets. Families do move here too, drawn by space, safety and the international schooling options around Ciudad Quesada.
For rentals, the picture is steady rather than spectacular. Demand is strongest for winter lets of several months, from golfers and northern Europeans escaping the cold, and a detached home with a private pool and easy parking rents most easily. Summer holiday demand exists but is stronger nearer the beach. If you plan to let short term, check the tourist licence position for the specific property before you commit.
If you would like a straight answer about a particular street, urbanisation or budget, call in to our office in Cabo Roig or have a look through the homes listed above.
Frequently asked questions
Is Rojales the same as Ciudad Quesada?
No. Ciudad Quesada is a large residential area within the municipality of Rojales, built from the 1970s onwards. Rojales town is the older Spanish centre by the river, a few minutes away.
Do I need to speak Spanish to live in Rojales?
You can manage without it, as many businesses deal with international residents every day. Learning some Spanish makes a real difference in the town centre, at the health centre and with paperwork.
Are there shops and services open in winter?
Yes. Rojales has a large year round resident population, so supermarkets, bars, restaurants and medical services stay open through the winter months.
What are the community fees like?
Detached villas on individual plots often have no community fee at all, or a very small one for road upkeep. Apartments, bungalows and gated developments with shared pools and gardens do have monthly or quarterly fees, so always ask for the exact figure.
Is it hilly, and does that matter?
Parts of Ciudad Quesada and Rojales Hills sit on slopes, which gives good views towards the salt lakes and sea. If you want to walk everywhere rather than drive, look at the flatter areas closer to the town centre or the golf course.
Can I buy in Rojales if I am not an EU citizen?
Yes. There is no restriction on non-EU buyers owning property here. You will need a Spanish NIE number and a Spanish bank account, and residency rules for time spent in Spain are separate from ownership.