Being in the south, the Costa del Sol has warmer weather than the Costa Blanca. In the summer, the Costa del Sol sees upwards of a whooping ten hours of sunshine a day, with almost no expected rainfall, and with daily averages of 28 – 31 °C.

In 2026, the Costa del Sol (centered around Málaga) is generally warmer in the winter, while the Costa Blanca (centered around Alicante) can be slightly hotter in the peak of summer. Because the Costa del Sol is further south and protected by the Sierra Nevada mountain range, it enjoys more "subtropical" winters with average daytime highs around 17°C to 18°C, making it the warmest place on the Spanish mainland in January. The Costa Blanca, while also very sunny, can be more prone to the "Levante" winds that bring a slight chill in the spring. However, the water temperature in the Costa Blanca tends to stay slightly warmer for longer in the autumn because the Mediterranean basin there is shallower and more enclosed than the open Alboran Sea of the Costa del Sol. For 2026 travelers looking for a "winter sun" escape, the Costa del Sol is the clear winner, but for those seeking the ultimate "beach heat" in July or August, the Costa Blanca's microclimate often results in slightly higher humidity and peak temperatures.