THE COST OF WALKING THE CAMINO DE SANTIAGO.
We first walked the Camino de Santiago several years ago and returned again most recently in March 2026. One of the things we’ve noticed over multiple Camino walks is that although the Camino is still one of the most affordable long-distance walking trips in Europe, the “cheap Camino” people often talk about is slowly changing.
Some costs have remained surprisingly stable – especially coffee, wine and simple pilgrim meals in smaller villages. But accommodation prices on certain routes have definitely increased, particularly on the more popular stretches and in larger towns.
We’ve also realised that the real cost of the Camino is often different from what first-time pilgrims expect.
Before our first Camino, we assumed accommodation would be the biggest challenge financially. In reality, the smaller daily spending – coffees, bakery stops, pharmacy visits, laundry, beers with other pilgrims, and the occasional private room when exhausted – added up far more than we anticipated.
This guide is based on our own Camino experiences across different routes and is designed to help you build a realistic budget for your walk.
Do you have to pay to walk the Camino de Santiago?
One thing that still surprises us is how many people think there’s an official fee to walk the Camino de Santiago.
We were recently talking to a family member about the Camino – trying to convince them to walk it, as we so often find ourselves doing – and they genuinely believed you had to pay hundreds or even thousands of euros to take part.
We suspect part of this misconception comes from seeing expensive organised tours online. If your first introduction to the Camino is a luxury self-guided package, it’s easy to assume the Camino itself is something you have to “book.”
But one of the most beautiful things about the Camino is that, fundamentally, it’s still incredibly simple. There is no fee to walk it. You don’t need special permission. You don’t need to book through a company. You can simply choose a route, arrive, and start walking.
Of course, there are practical costs along the way – accommodation, food, transport, gear and the occasional café stop or glass of wine – but the Camino itself remains open to everyone.
Honestly, we think that accessibility is part of what makes the experience feel so special. Whether someone walks with a very small budget or spends more for comfort, everybody shares the same trail.
What surprised us most about Camino costs
One of the biggest surprises for us was how much your Camino budget can change depending on your energy levels.
At the beginning of our first Camino, we planned to stay mostly in dormitories and spend very little money. And sometimes we did.
But after a long day walking on the Camino del Norte, or after several difficult stages in a row, suddenly a private room and a proper meal felt worth every euro. And before we knew it, we had spent around €2,000 each!
Since then, we’ve become much better at recognising where our Camino budget tends to creep upwards. Sure, there have been some splurges – I remember a day of pouring rain on the Camino Mozarabe, at the end of which we had suddenly treated ourselves to a lovely €90 private room. But some of our favourite Camino days were also the cheapest – for example, on the Via de la Plata, we regularly found ourselves sitting outside a tiny village bar with a €1.50 coffee and tortilla after an early morning start.
The Camino can absolutely still be done on a budget. But we think many online budget estimates don’t fully reflect the reality of how most pilgrims actually spend over several weeks.
Is the Camino still cheap in 2026?
We’d still consider the Camino one of the best-value long-distance walking experiences in Europe.
Compared with many hiking holidays or organised walking tours, it’s still entirely possible to walk the Camino on a relatively modest budget – particularly if you stay in albergues, carry your own backpack and keep things simple.
However, we do think some older Camino budget advice online is now a little outdated.
The cost of walking the Camino in 2026 is noticeably higher in some areas than it was even a few years ago. We’ve personally noticed accommodation prices increasing on several routes, especially in more popular towns and during busy months. Private rooms, in particular, can now cost significantly more than many older Camino guides suggest.
Interestingly, food and drink prices in Spain and Portugal have felt more stable to us overall. A coffee, pilgrim menu or glass of wine still often feels surprisingly affordable compared with prices in countries like the UK or USA – although there have definitely been gradual increases in recent years.
One thing we’ve learned over multiple Camino walks is that budgets also change because pilgrims change.
At the beginning of a Camino, many people imagine they’ll happily stay in dormitories every night, cook their own meals and spend as little as possible. But fatigue changes decisions.
After several weeks of walking, comfort often becomes more valuable than saving a few euros. A private room after days of poor sleep, extra snacks during a difficult stage, or a long meal and drinks with new Camino friends all become part of the experience for many pilgrims.
That’s why we think it’s more realistic to budget for a comfortable Camino rather than aiming for the absolute minimum possible spend.
The much-fabled idea that you can walk the Camino for €20 a day? Technically, yes – but in our opinion, you would need to be extremely disciplined and willing to sacrifice quite a bit of comfort to achieve it consistently in 2026.
For most pilgrims, a slightly more flexible budget leads to a far more enjoyable experience overall.
Where we spend our money on the Camino
For us, accommodation is almost always the biggest overall Camino expense and usually accounts for around half of our total budget.
Most of the time, we stay in albergues – probably around 60% of the time on our longer Camino walks – but our spending rises quickly when we start mixing in private rooms.
And honestly, after a difficult few days walking, those private rooms can suddenly feel very tempting.
We’ve found that our Camino spending often changes depending on energy levels, weather and how social the route feels. On some stretches, we’re perfectly happy staying in simple dormitories night after night. On others, especially after poor sleep or heavy rain, we’re much more likely to pay extra for privacy and rest.
The next biggest cost for us is usually food, coffee stops and small daily purchases along the way.
Before our first Camino, we underestimated how quickly these smaller expenses would add up. A coffee and pastry in the morning, a cold drink during a hot afternoon stage, a pilgrim menu in the evening, a few supermarket snacks for the next day – individually they rarely feel expensive, but over several weeks they become a significant part of the budget.
Socialising also becomes part of the experience financially. Evening drinks with other pilgrims, group meals, or deciding to stay out a little longer in a town you’re enjoying can all gradually increase your daily spend. Of course, if you don’t drink alcohol or prefer quieter evenings in the albergue, your costs may end up noticeably lower than ours.
We also usually have a few one-off expenses before each Camino. Our gear is fairly well dialled in now after multiple walks, but there’s almost always something we need to replace – trail shoes, a merino t-shirt, waterproofs or toiletries for example.
If you’re walking your first Camino, these initial gear purchases can add a substantial amount to your overall budget, especially if you need to buy a backpack or walking equipment from scratch.
Below, we break down each of these costs in more detail.
Which is the most expensive Camino route?
In our experience, there isn’t one Camino route that is dramatically more expensive than all the others. However, we have definitely noticed that certain routes make it easier to spend more money – sometimes without even intending to.
The Camino del Norte is probably the route where our budget has increased the fastest overall.
One of the main reasons for this is accommodation availability. Compared with routes like the Francés, there are fewer albergues on some stretches of the Norte, and after long walking days we occasionally found ourselves with limited options apart from private rooms.
Along parts of the northern coast, particularly during busy periods, private accommodation can also become surprisingly expensive. Finding a decent room for under €80–90 in some coastal towns is no longer always easy.
Food and drinks can also cost noticeably more on the Norte, especially in more polished seaside towns such as San Vicente de la Barquera, where prices sometimes feel closer to a holiday destination than a traditional pilgrim route.
By contrast, the Camino Francés generally feels much easier to walk on a tighter budget.
There are far more pilgrim albergues, more competition between accommodation providers, and usually more flexibility if somewhere is full. Anecdotally, we’ve also found private rooms on the Francés easier to find for under €50 compared with the Norte.
Food prices on the Francés can also be very reasonable, especially in smaller inland towns and villages where pilgrim menus still offer excellent value.
That said, because the Francés is the busiest route, there are definitely occasional “tourist trap” cafés along the way. We’ve occasionally stopped for a coffee and quietly laughed when it cost twice as much as the previous village only a few kilometres earlier.
The Portuguese Coastal Camino generally still feels relatively affordable overall, particularly through Portugal itself where food and drink prices are often noticeably lower than in Spain.
However, we’ve consistently noticed prices rising once crossing into Galicia, especially around Vigo and some of the busier coastal areas where dining out can become more expensive than pilgrims might expect.
Which is the cheapest Camino route?
In our experience, there isn’t necessarily one Camino route that is dramatically cheaper than all the others. However, some routes definitely make it easier to keep your daily costs low.
Overall, we’ve usually found the Camino Francés to be the easiest route for budget-conscious pilgrims.
There are simply more accommodation options than on any other Camino route – particularly municipal and basic pilgrim albergues – which helps keep prices competitive. Even when one albergue is full, there are often several alternatives nearby, making it much easier to avoid expensive last-minute private rooms.
We’ve also generally found private rooms on the Francés more affordable than on routes like the Norte, especially in smaller inland towns.
The Portuguese Camino can also feel relatively inexpensive, particularly the section through Portugal between Porto and the Spanish border.
One thing we noticed almost immediately when crossing into Spain was the subtle jump in prices. A glass of wine that might cost €1.50 in Portugal can suddenly become €2.50 once you cross into Galicia. The difference isn’t huge individually, but over several weeks of walking those small daily increases definitely add up.
That said, the least expensive Camino routes we’ve personally walked have actually been the southern routes – especially the Camino Mozárabe and the Vía de la Plata.
Walking through southern Spain, we regularly had days where we spent surprisingly little without even trying particularly hard to budget. It wasn’t unusual for us to spend around €20–25 per person for an entire day -including an albergue bed, breakfast, supermarket supplies for lunch and an evening meal out.
Southern Spain still feels noticeably cheaper overall than many northern Camino regions, particularly when it comes to food, drinks and everyday café prices.
We also found some fantastic municipal and donation-based albergues on these routes, many of which felt incredibly welcoming and community-focused compared with some of the busier routes further north.
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 (easily found on routes like the Frances, Primitivo and Via de la Plata) | 30 Euros to 50 Euros |
| Hotel room in a more touristic area | 60 Euros – through to 150 (there’s a broad range). |
*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 our favourite things about the Camino is that some of the best moments are also some of the least expensive.
We still remember simple breakfasts in tiny village cafes, long lunches that stretched into the afternoon, and €12 pilgrim menus that somehow tasted incredible after walking 25km.
At the same time, food costs can creep up more quickly than many pilgrims expect – especially if you stop frequently for coffees, pastries or snacks throughout the day.
We’ve also noticed that prices can vary massively depending on location. Small inland villages on the Francés often feel very affordable, whereas larger coastal towns on routes like the Norte can feel significantly more expensive.
| 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 is a realistic daily budget for the Camino?
One of the most common questions we get asked is how much you should realistically budget per day for the Camino de Santiago.
The honest answer is that it depends heavily on how you walk – and just as importantly, how you feel as the days go on.
From our own experience walking multiple Camino routes, most pilgrims tend to fall into a few broad spending patterns:
Budget Camino (€20–€30 per day)
This is possible, but it usually requires discipline and consistency.
It typically involves staying in municipal or donativo albergues most nights, cooking or buying supermarket food, and limiting café stops and social spending.
We’ve met pilgrims who comfortably walked within this range, but it usually meant very simple routines and fewer spontaneous “comfort decisions” along the way.
Moderate Camino (€30–€60 per day)
This is where we think most pilgrims naturally end up without trying too hard.
It usually includes a mix of albergues and occasional private rooms, regular pilgrim menus, café stops during the day, and some social spending in the evenings.
This is also the range where the Camino starts to feel less like “budget travel” and more like a balance between comfort and simplicity.
Comfortable / Luxury Camino (€70–€120+ per day)
At this level, you’re rarely thinking about cost day-to-day.
It usually involves more frequent private rooms, eating out without any restriction, rest days in cities, and generally prioritising comfort and recovery.
All that said – it’s possible to sprinkle in a few luxurious touches to your Camino, without spending a fortune. You can find our guide to that here.
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.
How to do the Camino cheaply?
We’ve met pilgrims walking the Camino on very small budgets, and it is absolutely possible to keep costs low if needed.
That said, we’d personally recommend finding a balance between budget and enjoyment.
Sometimes spending a little extra = whether on better food, an occasional private room, or taking a rest day – can make the overall experience much more enjoyable and sustainable.
Here are the strategies we’ve personally found most effective for reducing costs without making the Camino feel difficult or restrictive:
- Stay in Municipal and Donativo Albergues where you can.
- Some Albergues have breakfast included in the rate or offered very cheaply (2 euros approx).
- Pick Albergues that 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 we’d budget differently now
On our first Camino, we had a fantastic time. At the time, we genuinely thought it might be a once-in-a-lifetime experience, so we spent more freely than we probably needed to – and honestly, I don’t regret it at all.
Since then, we’ve also walked Camino routes on very tight budgets, and while that can absolutely be done, we’ve found it can sometimes make the experience more physically and mentally challenging.
Over time, we’ve realised that for us, the goal is no longer simply to spend as little as possible.
The Camino is still absolutely possible on a budget, but after walking through Spain more than ten times, there are certain things we’d now happily prioritise spending a little more money on.
We’d personally budget slightly more for:
- social meals with other pilgrims
- occasional private rooms for recovery or when it’s just a difficult day
- better rain gear and footwear before starting
- rest days in cities we enjoyed
- laundry in bad weather (when it’s not going to dry!)
Some of the things that once felt like “extra expenses” now feel like part of the overall experience.
More Camino resources
If you’ve landed on this page, you may be interested to know that we’ve got oodles of comprehensive guides to the Camino de Santiago on this website. Routes guides for major routes, packing guides, training information and more.
>>FIND OUR CAMINO DE SANTIAGO PAGE HERE<<
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Written by Emma
Wine Lover. Yogi. Hiker. Writer.
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