THE COST OF WALKING THE CAMINO DE SANTIAGO IN 2025.
We first walked the Camino de Santiago a few years ago and we have walked it most recently in March 2025. Over that time, we have noticed some small changes to the average costs of walking the Camino de Santiago.
This post seeks to give you an idea of the average cost of walking the Camino de Santiago in 2025. We also include a Camino budget calculator. This will allow you to plan your own individual budget for your Camino de Santiago.
What is the cost of walking the Camino de Santiago in 2025
The cost of walking the Camino de Santiago in 2025, is higher than it was in previous years in some instances. Some prices have remained stable, but there are instances of albergue prices rising as well as the price of private accommodation going up in some touristic areas.
Over previous years, inflation has been high in many countries in Europe. Spain has not been immune from this. With some news reports claiming that grocery prices have risen by 30% since January 2023.
Anecdotally, the price of food and drinks in restaurants has remained fairy stable in Spain and Portugal. A study of menus at restaurants on the Camino from the last few years shows some slight increases, perhaps a change of 1 or 2 euros to account for increased grocery prices. For anyone looking for specific data, the Spanish consumer price index has risen by 3% this year.
Nevertheless, walking the Camino still remains an affordable option for anyone looking to walk on a budget.
This post seeks to set out the different types of costs and the options you will be presented with when choosing your accommodation and food & drink.
As you can see from the graphic above, the biggest cost associated with walking the Camino for us tends to be accommodation – this is likely to equate to around 50% of your total budget. Of course, this is based on our experience and each pilgrim will find differences.
The next biggest costs will be food & supplies -either in grocery stores or out in cafes/ restaurants. As well as “socializing” i.e. drinks in the evening, or going out with new Camino friends. If you don’t plan to socialize outside of the albergue and you don’t drink alcohol, this cost may be much lower.
On top of this, you will have the costs associated with purchasing items for the Camino. For example, a new backpack.
We cover all of these points in detail below.
Which is the most expensive Camino route?
Whilst there is not one route that is particularly expensive, there are aspects of each route that cost more than others.
On the Camino del Norte, it can be difficult to avoid paying for private accommodation during some stages due to the limited availability of albergues. Many albergues closed down during the pandemic and are yet to reopen, meaning you have to either walk a long stage or pay for private rooms. There are also some expensive towns where dining out is costly.
The Frances has more hostel accommodation, subsequently you can keep costs down for overnight stays. Restaurants in some areas also tend to be inexpensive. However, as this is the most popular route, there are a few “tourist trap” cafes on route which charge more than they should, for example 3 euros for a coffee rather than 1.50.
The Portuguese coastal is quite inexpensive, but do note that prices near to Vigo can become higher. Particularly for dining out.
Which is the cheapest Camino route?
Whilst there is not one Camino route that is cheaper than the others, there are aspects of each route that can be less expensive. Here are some examples:
On average accommodation on the Camino Frances is cheaper than on the other routes. This applies to private rooms and albergues. There are more municipal and basic albergues than on any other route.
Food and drink tends to be cheaper on the Portuguese route, for the section between Porto and when you cross to Spain. You’ll notice a jump in prices – for example 1.50 euro for a glass of wine in Portugal can become 2.50 once you cross into Spain.
How much does accommodation cost on the Camino de Santiago?
| Accommodation | Average cost (in Euros) |
| Municipal Albergue (dormitory room) | 8 to 12 Euros |
| Private Albergue (dormitory room) | 12 to 18 Euros (average) but we have seen some charging 20 Euros + |
| Private hostels (dormitory room) in cities, such as in Leon, Pamplona & Santiago* | 20 – 25 Euros |
| Private room in basic hotel/ pension | 30 Euros to 50 Euros |
*A note on private hostels – sometimes in cities on the Camino, we choose to stay in private hostels, rather than in pilgrim albergues. This is especially the case if we decide to spend a few days in the city, as private hostels (those not just for pilgrims) do not have curfews or early check out requirements.
Find out more about the best albergues on the most popular Camino routes below:
- Best albergues on the Camino Portuguese
- Best albergues on the Camino del Norte
- Best albergues on the Camino Frances
How much does food & drink cost on the Camino de Santiago
One of the most significant costs on the Camino de Santiago will be food & drink.
| Item | Average cost (in Euros) |
| Coffee | 1.50 to 2 Euro |
| Small Beer | 2 to 3 Euro |
| Glass of wine | 1 to 3 Euro |
| Pastry | 1.50 to 2Euro |
| Sandwich in a cafe | 3 to 6 Euro |
| Main course in a restaurant | 8 to 20 Euro |
| Pilgrim Menu or Menu del Dia | 12 to 20 Euro |
The food & drink prices above is based on “average” cafes, bars and restaurants rather than expensive places.
Do note, supermarket prices in Spain tend to be lower than in countries like the UK and a little less expensive in France. Travellers from the USA are likely to be pleasantly surprised with the cost of groceries in supermarkets in Spain.
What other expenses are there on the Camino de Santiago?
When it comes to other expenses on the Camino de Santiago, there are a few things to consider. We generally estimate that between 5 and 10 % of your overall Camino budget, will go on “one off costs.”
This is likely to include:
1/ Items you purchase before you travel
Set aside budget for the items you will need to buy before the Camino. This may be for example, backpack, trainers, walking equipment and clothing. You may also need to purchase new toiletries, or clothing for the evening for example.
Find our detailed packing list for the Camino here. Also take note of our post on the 23 items you should not pack for the Camino.
2/ Flights and transport to the start of your chosen route
Depending on which route you plan to walk, you are likely to have to take a flight and perhaps transport to the start of the route.
For example, to get the Camino Frances from Biarritz airport, two trains or a shuttle service are required.
You can find our guide to the best airports for different Camino routes here.
3/ Incidental costs along the way
It is inevitable that you will have to allow for incidental costs along the way. This may be a small cost, such as covering the cost of a trip to the pharmacy. Or, it could be to replace a lost hat or phone charger.
Allow a few euros for this kind of cost in your budget.
4/ Laundry costs
If you plan to do laundry on the Camino using machines, it is likely you’ll need to budget around 3 to 5 Euros per washing load for this. This assumes that you will do laundry in albergues.
If instead you use self-service laundry facilities in cities, then you can expect to pay between 10 and 15 Euros to include drying.
For more information on doing laundry on the Camino, check out our post here.
5/ Travel insurance
We would strongly recommend that travel insurance is required for your Camino trip. This is hugely useful if you get injured and cannot continue. Remember to pick insurance that will cover the number of days you are on your trip – some insurance has a 28 day limit for example.
Find more on insurance for backpackers here.
Camino de Santiago budget calculator PDF
In order to calculate your Camino budget, you may wish to download our PDF budget calculator. This PDF will help you to calculate your daily costs as well as your one off costs. Adding both together will provide your Camino budget.
How to do the Camino cheaply?
It is possible to walk the Camino de Santiago on a small budget if you choose to.
Here are some of our top tips for spending less on the Camino:
- Stay in Municipal and Donativo Albergues where you can.
- Some Albergue’s have breakfast included in the rate or offered very cheaply (2 euros approx).
- Pick Albergues that have have communal dinners – these can be cheaper than eating out in a restaurant.
- Shop in the supermarket for your breakfasts and lunches, prepare this in advance the night before and take it with you. Alternatively, a fresh baguette in a bakery can be really cheap.
- Find Albergues with kitchens so that you can cook in the evenings. If you buy a bag of pasta, you could take some with you for future evening meals. You could also find a friend in the Albergue willing to split a meal, sometimes it can be cheaper to cook for two.
- Look out for Pilgrim deals in restaurants, but be aware that sometimes they are a bit of a false economy.
- Drinks out in Spain and Portugal area quite cheap, but stick to local beer or wine or coffee if you want to save money. Soft drinks in bars are surprisingly expensive comparatively.
What else should you consider to prepare for the Camino?
There are four things that you need to do to prepare for the Camino. One is calculating your travel budget.
Find out what the other three things you need to do to prepare for the Camino here.
Would you like us to plan your walk for you?
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Written by Emma
Wine Lover. Yogi. Hiker. Writer.
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