Discover the beauty of the Camino de Santiago without breaking the bank. Learn how to plan a budget-friendly pilgrimage, including tips on accommodation, food, and transportation.

We therefore recommend a paper guide, or Android application / iOS application ( Pilgrim Camino Frances, Camino Ninja, Camino Love, ...)

First, we need to distinguish between three main factors that will influence your daily budget: accommodation (or the lack thereof if you plan to camp), food, and inevitable miscellaneous expenses.

The cost of the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage is a topic that rightly concerns many future pilgrims. The budget required is far from negligible, and can sometimes be more expensive than a two-week all-inclusive vacation!

Unfortunately, there's no one-size-fits-all answer, as it all depends on your level of comfort, whether it's in terms of accommodation or food (restaurant or self-catering).

Then there's the price difference depending on the country. France, Spain, Portugal. For example, the cost of living is lower in Spain and Portugal than in France.

Going completely self-sufficient (with a tent, stove, etc.) is undoubtedly the least expensive option. It's also the most demanding, considering that comfort is necessarily lower than in a room (even in a dormitory), and camping food is not quite the same as cooking in a real kitchen with all the necessary equipment.

Let's be honest, it's not the choice of the majority of pilgrims. There are also those who leave with 1 euro in their pocket and rely on charity and providence. Discussing these topics would take us too far, and besides, it wouldn't give you the answer to your question: how much should you budget for the Camino de Santiago?

1 - Accommodation Costs in France

Let's look at the cost of a typical pilgrimage day for most pilgrims, which includes staying in a pilgrim hostel, preparing your own meals in the communal kitchen, and a few snacks throughout the day (fruits, pastries, drinks). As we explain in the page dedicated to pilgrim accommodations in France, many pilgrims book their accommodation by phone, even though this reduces the spontaneity of your journey. During peak months, those who haven't booked may not find a place for the day...

To truly appreciate the evolution of the cost of the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage, you should know that in 2015, the overall budget (accommodation, food, etc.) was estimated at around 35 euros per day (this is an average over 30 days of walking. It depended, and still depends, on the route taken).

In France, in 2025, a real pilgrim hostel or communal hostel will cost you between 17 and 20 € (a few are as low as 15 €), which is only slightly more expensive than in 2015. We're not talking about bed and breakfasts at 45 € or more... but if that's within your budget, why not, or if you want to treat yourself!

Add approximately 6 to 9 € for breakfast when it's included (always in these establishments). In France in particular, between accommodation only (quite rare), accommodation with breakfast included, or "mandatory" half-board, it's very difficult to find your way around.

But if you make your own breakfast, once you've counted the bread, butter, and jam for example (or cheese, bread...), it will cost you about the same (not to mention that you'll probably have to carry the butter and jam in your backpack...). Then there's lunch and dinner. Depending on the location, you can find a small restaurant or roadside diner for 15/20 €. This is not an essential expense. In principle, there are many pilgrim hostels where you can cook. If you can't, you'll need to plan for things like sandwiches.

2 - Accommodation Costs in Spain

In Spain, albergues are a bit cheaper, as are restaurants, around 13 € (full meal with wine included), and for food in general, with a few exceptions, prices are similar to those found in France in small local shops.

As in France, you might immediately think of going for the "wild camping" option (without a tent). Of course, this will significantly reduce the cost of your pilgrimage. But wild camping is not something you can just do on a whim (even if some people have done it). It's really a different way to experience the pilgrimage. Even if you're sure to meet other pilgrims along the way, you'll be cutting yourself off from the atmosphere of the evening meal and the bonds that are formed there. There is at least one advantage to sleeping in a tent, and that's that you'll avoid the "snorers".

Beware. Wild camping is prohibited in Spain. Some people do it anyway, so you'll have to be careful and cunning (or ask people for permission to sleep in their field)... because the Guardia Civil is on the lookout.

For more information on camping or wild camping in Spain, see the page Accommodation on the Camino de Santiago in Spain.

3 - Food Budget

Apart from camping, the only area where you can play around a bit is food. That's why the estimated range given above is wide. If you eat a homemade sandwich at lunchtime (around 4 €), pasta in the evening, also 4 € (pasta + sauce), your daily budget will be closer to 10 to 15 € and this is a very tight estimate - because in addition to the 8/10 € for meals, you need to add a fruit or two or a dessert of some kind + drinks), but for 30 days or more, you'll need to vary your menus. And you won't always be able to stick to 8 € per meal. So there will be days at 15/16 € €, and days at 20 € or 25 € (food budget)... especially since inflation in recent months hasn't helped.

4 - Overall Pilgrimage Cost

Unless you're wild camping, in 2025, in France, if you stay in pilgrim accommodation, expect a daily budget between 35 and 55 € (35 € being a really minimum range, not easy to maintain for 30 days) and for Spain between 30 and 45 € - which is quite close in the end.

It may not seem like much, but for 30 days for example, the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage in France will cost you between 1050 € and 1650 € (1050 € being the real minimum budget, and by being very careful), in Spain, it will be more like between 900 € and 1350 €. It's far from negligible, and if you're going for 2 months, you obviously have to multiply by two! Over 3000 € for the pilgrimage, that's expensive!

Obviously, everyone is different. So it's up to you to decide how much you want to spend on your pilgrimage. Comfort or not, peace of mind regarding accommodation, a relative restriction of small pleasures, like having a cold drink on a café terrace for example.

The price range of around 50 € per day is an average that includes accommodation in a pilgrim hostel, 3 meals a day (with a maximum of self-catering), and a few small pleasures like having a coffee around 10 am, with or without a pastry, some fruit (fresh or dried) for snacking during the day, and a drink once you arrive at your destination (believe me, it feels good!).

To this, you must obviously add the cost of transportation to reach your starting point and return.

This is a quick overview.

To go further and get details on the budget for pilgrim accommodation and the sites or applications dedicated to them, read the page what's the budget for accommodation when doing the Camino (way of St. James) in France? and for Spain, cost of pilgrim accommodation in Spain.