The Amalfi coast of Italy is numbered among Europe’s most sought-after. That’s hardly a surprise. The 100 kilometres offer majestic views as you go past a series of picturesque locations: Amalfi, Sorrento, Positano, Vietri sul Mare…

No wonder that since it became a staging post for Victorian aristos on the Grand Tour circuit, it has lured the world's rich and famous. With price tags to match as well. A villa with view over the sea here can set you back US$4million.

Yet head a short distance from here an you can have all this beauty and more – but without the hefty prices. Welcome to a little-known gem that has lain undiscovered for far too long. Welcome to the Cilento coast. The Cilento coast lies some 90 minutes to the south and runs for approximately 100 miles. It also runs along the Cilento national park, the second biggest in Italy and – along with Vallo Di Diano National Park – a Unesco World Heritage Site.

With the exception of perhaps Paestum, its genteel seaside towns and villages – Sapri, Ascea, Castellabate, Acciaroli – are not instantly recognisable but they offer the same blend of pretty coastal holiday spots, glorious sun and unparalled coastal views but without the large price tags of the Amalfi coast – which is still near enough to be visited on a day or weekend outing.

Paestum – a town with roots as far back as some 2,700 years ago and features imposing and well-preserved Greek artefacts – is also a World Heritage Site. Yet a 50sq m apartment here could be bought for just $100,000. In general, on the Cilento coast you should expect around $115,000 for a one-bedroom apartment and about $70,000 on top of that for two bedrooms – scarcely a fifth of what you would pay on the Amalfi coast. What’s more, some digging around – and a bit of persistence – can unearth even greater savings. One example: in Ascea, one-bedroom sea-view flat was recently made available at $100,000 and a second a mere 70 yards from the sea at $85,000.

A couple of the prime locations are located at almost opposite ends of the Cilento Coast, namely Agropoli and, some 90 minutes to the south, Scario. Prices will be somewhat more expensive here, but again, shopping around can unearth more affordable options. In Agropoli, a unit of new-construction condos some 1mile from the coast recently came up for sale from around $145,000 for one bedroom. If you must have a view over the sea, expect around $160,000 for a one-bedroom and a further $10,000-$15,000 for for a couple of bedrooms.

As ever, prices drop markedly if you are inclined to grapple with a home that may be habitable but requires some renovation. But for real estate hunters lured by the countryside but can’t resist a sea view, the hills overlooking Casal Velino are a wallet-friendly choice, with a new-construction one-bedroom flat available from as little as $90,000.