Before getting to know the different costs related to the Camino de Santiago, we must point out that the Camino is a network of several jacobean routes that cross different regions of Spain, Portugal and France, so prices may vary slightly from one route to another.
You may also be interested in: Tips to choose the right route of the Camino for you
For instance, it would not be the same to walk the Northern Way, crossing the Basque Country, which is known for its higher prices, than to walk the English Way, that runs entirely through Galicia and prices are more affordable.
At the same time, the duration of your trip will also have an impact on your budget. It is not the same to do a 30-day pilgrimage than walking just the last 100k in 5 or 6 days.
Now that you know what can affect your budget, below you will find some more specifics about the costs that every pilgrim will face in the Camino de Santiago.
HOW MUCH THE EQUIPMENT FOR THE CAMINO COSTS
It is worth mentioning that most pilgrims do the Camino carrying more than the necessary weight. There are certain items that you cannot forget, which we will focus on, but there are others that are each pilgrim’s choice.
The equipment that must always be included in your luggage is:
- Footwear: we consider that the most suitable footwear for the Camino is a pair of trekking boots. We recommend brands like Adidas and Salomon, with prices around 70-90€.
- Backpack: a 35-40 litres backpack should be enough for any time of the year. They usually costaround 40-50€.
- Water bottle: keeping hydrated during the walks is extremely important. We recommend to carry a refillable bottle, better if it is plastic-free, of at least 1 litre. This should cost no more than 10€.
- Clothing: it is more important that the clothes you choose are comfortable, breathable and non-rubbing than wearing very technical clothes. In another article we talk aboutthe necessary clothes for the Camino, but the sum of all of them should not exceed 100€. Tip: remember that you can do your laundry along the Camino, don’t carry too many clothes!
There certainly are many more things that your can take to the Camino, such as a toiletry bag, a small first-aid kit or a sleeping bag. However, the items mentioned above is what we would call essentials, especially because you should take them from home and not acquire them once you get to the Camino.
HOW MUCH IS ACCOMMODATION IN THE CAMINO?
If you want to avoid all the hassle of looking for accommodation in the Camino or finding yourself without a place to sleep, we can help you. Do not hesitate to ask for a quote without obligations to see if it meets your needs.
The answer to how much accommodation costs is very difficult and ambiguous, First of all, there are high and low seasons that go from April to October and from November to March, respectively.
There are more pilgrims, and thus more demand, during summertime than in wintertime. In fact, there is a lot of accommodation that closes during low season for staff holiday or maintenance works.
Additionally, there are different types of accommodation: hostels, guesthouses, hotels… which make it more difficult to give a straight answer to the question. The most commonly chosen accommodation in the Camino are hostels – albergues. The public ones cost around 8€ per person per night, following a first come first served basis and giving priority to pilgrims on foot over cyclists. This can lead into an unnecessary rush to be the first to arrive. The private hostels can cost between 10-17€per person per night. Bear in mind that you might not find this type of accommodation in every stage of each Camino route.
Plan your adventure!
Enquiries are welcomed and without obligations.HOW MUCH IT COSTS TO EAT ALONG THE CAMINO
Generally speaking, the majority of accommodation in the Camino serves breakfast, which makes it a very accesible meal with an approximate cost of 3-5€. For lunch and dinner you will find a wide range of options. You can either buy some food in a supermarket or go out and explore the town you are in to get to know the local cuisine- we thouroughly recommend this option, there are real gastronomic gems in the Camino. Set menus or some tapas will rarely exceed 10-12€.
The total daily food costs should not be over 20€. If you want to save a little more, look for accommodation that have an available kitchen where you can cook your own meals.
HOW MUCH TRANSPORTATION COSTS
You might need transportation for different reasons: to get to the starting point of your Camino, to return home at the end or perhaps you need a transfer half way through your Camino. If you live outside Spain, you will probably need to buy flight tickets, which will increase your budget significantly.
Depending on where you start your Camino, you can fly to Santiago, Madrid or another regional capital and, from there, take a train or a bus. Prices will vary based on distance, dates, etc., but just so you can get an idea, a train from Santiago to Sarria costs around 20€.
You can also use apps such as Blablacar to look for shared transport, which will help you save a little extra, though availability is more scarce. Should you wish to check public or private transport options, you can contact us and enquire.
POSSIBLE INCIDENTALS ALONG THE CAMINO
Not everything always goes as planned, so you need to count on some possible unexpected expenses: medicines for a sickness or injury, tickets for a museum or cultural visit, and extra night somewhere you like…
Our advice is that, if you can afford it, spare no expense. The Camino de Santiago has a unique historic and cultural heritage in the world, let alone its rich gastronomy, which makes it difficult not to spend a little bit more at times.
Estimated budget
Now that we have gone through the main expenses you will encounter in the Camino and that these can vary depending on season, route and duration of the trip, here is a practical example that will give you a better picture of the costs:
Let’s say you are going to walk from Ponferrada to Santiago in high season, staying in hostels and, since this is your first experience in the Camino, you buy all the necessary equipment. In addition, you travel to Santiago to take a train to Ponferrada. Your estimated budget would be 400-500€.
As we mentioned, there are several factors that will affect your budget.
If you want us to help you plan your experience, we can send you a personalised quote with no obligations. Should you like our proposal we could take care of transport arrangements, accommodation and meal reservations so that you would only need to worry about walking and enjoying the experience. If you like, leave us your contact details and we will be more than happy to help you.
¡Ultreia Peregrino!
Plan your adventure!
Enquiries are welcomed and without obligations.
