Walking the Camino de Santiago is an incredible journey that doesn’t have to break the bank. Here, I’ll outline the primary expenses to help you budget, give you a breakdown of costs by category, and provide some tips on keeping costs manageable along the way. All of my averages are based on the 35 days I spent on the Camino (31 walking days, 1 rest day, 1 prep day, and 2 post-Camino hang out day).

1. Accommodation

Accommodation on the Camino ranges from simple pilgrim hostels (albergues) to private rooms and hotels. Here’s what to expect:

• Municipal Albergues: €5 - €15

  • Run by local governments or churches, offering basic bunk beds, often on a first-come, first-served basis. Typically inexpensive with many beds but have limited facilities and only accept walk-ins.

• Donativo Albergues: Donation-based (recommend: €5 - €15)

  • Run by volunteers or religious organizations; a donation is suggested instead of a set fee. These often include communal meals, reflections and foster a strong sense of community.

  • My favorite places to stay!

• Private Albergues: €10 - €15

  • Similar to municipal albergues but generally with more amenities, such as more comfortable beds, private bathrooms or kitchens.

• Guesthouses/Hotels: €30 - €60

  • Ideal for a more comfortable night’s sleep or to recharge after long days. Usually private rooms and personal bathrooms. Prior reservation is encouraged since these have limited spaces.

  • We booked Airbnbs (whole apartments) in large cities to have a break from hostel-style beds, have a w/d, and private kitchen and bathrooms.

Average Accommodation Cost per Day: €10-€20 (I spent $13.30 or €12.58 on avg)

2. Food and Drink

Most pilgrims budget for three meals a day: breakfast (coffee and tortilla), a sandwich for lunch, and a “pilgrim’s menu” or cooking for dinner. Here’s the breakdown:

• Breakfast: €3 - €5

  • Typically coffee, juice, and pastries or tortillas (Spanish omelets) found at cafés along the way or in albergues.

• Sandwiches: €5

  • Many cafes will sell sandwiches or you can buy your own bread and fillings for lunch so it’s quick and easy to make a spot for lunch. I usually never had a full

• Pilgrim’s Menu: €12 - €15

  • A three-course meal served at most restaurants or albergues along the route, which often includes wine and water, bread, salad/soup, main, and dessert.

• Groceries: €5 - €10

  • Many pilgrims buy groceries to prepare simple meals, especially in albergues with kitchens. This is the cheapest option and we would book places that had kitchens so we could cook.

  • I averaged $4.13 or €3.91 per day

• Drinks: €1 - €10 (depends on how much you drink)

  • A coffee or juice is usually €1 - €4; beer and wine are fairly cheap in Spain and a glass is around €1.5 and a bottle is €5.

  • I averaged $4.30 or €4.07 per day (I stopped drinking alcohol on Oct 1)

Average Food and Drink Cost per Day: €15 - €30 (I spent $25.03 or €23.67 on avg)

3. Transportation

Most people either begin their walk from Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port (France) or somewhere along the Spanish route. Transportation costs vary based on where you start.

• Train/Bus to Start/End: €30 - €60

  • You might be coming from Madrid (like I did) or other parts of France so your transport will differ.

  • My train from Madrid to Pamplona was $42 + bus from train station to bus station was $1.77 + bus to SJPP was $23 = ~$67

• Bus Between Cities (optional): €5 - €15 per trip

  • Some pilgrims take buses to skip certain stages or to explore other nearby cities.

Average Transportation Cost: €5 per day (I spent $2.91 or €2.75 on avg)

4. Shopping

This will vary person to person, based on how well you packed, if you need to restock, or if you want to buy any souvenirs.

• Additional Clothes: €10-€30 per item (optional)

  • I did not check the weather and massively under packed so I had to buy some warm clothes such as leggings, sweaters, a rain poncho, and compression socks for my skin splints. There are many places along the way to purchase things as needed.

  • I spent $2.71 or €2.56 on average.

• Self Care: €2-€5 (optional)

  • I purchased shampoo, conditioner, and moisturizer to restock on supplies. I also splurged on a massaged in Burgos because my body was in pain.

  • I spent $1.90 or €1.80 on average.

• Souvenirs: $10.23

  • Required payment for a stamp book at the beginning and the credential at the end.

Average Shopping Cost per Day: €3-€5 (I spent $4.91 or €4.64 on avg)

5. Misc.

There are a few other costs to consider, including laundry, sim card, and medication

• Laundry: €2 - €5

  • I usually shared the laundry with others to bring down the cost. You can also choose to wash your clothes my hand but I only did this at the beginning then I got too lazy.

• eSim: €15 - €20

  • I purchased a month eSim for Spain that was €20 for 20gbs from https://www.esim4travel.com/

Average Misc. Cost per Day: €2-€3 (I spent $1.62 or €1.53 on avg)

Budget Summary

To summarize, over the 35 days of the camino, I spent a total of $1,672.09 or €1581.06, which is $47.77 or €45.17 per day.

I think you can average between €33-€55 per day by being a bit frugal but not completely restricting yourself. You can definitely do the Camino even cheaper, if you went with the cheapest options across everything you need; but also spend much more if you opted for more private rooms and pilgrim menus (instead of cooking) for example.

Money-Saving Tips

1. Stay in Donativo or munical Albergues: They’re budget-friendly and offer a strong sense of community.

2. Cook When Possible: Buying groceries to make simple meals can help save money, especially in larger towns with supermarkets.

3. Share Laundry Costs: Teaming up with other pilgrims can save money on laundry expenses.

4. Limit Restaurant Meals: Eating the “pilgrim’s menu” for lunch, then buying snacks or cooking for dinner, can help balance your food budget.

Walking the Camino can be as affordable or luxurious as you choose. The most important thing is to enjoy the journey, knowing that with some planning, you can have a fulfilling experience within your budget!