How much does it cost to walk the Camino de Santiago?

ByMoises Campos
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Camino de Santiago / Pixabay

If you are interested in doing a pilgrimage route, it is important that you know that how much it costs to walk the Camino de Santiago. This way, in addition to planning your trip according to your means, you will know how much money you need to take with you.

Necessary expenses to do the Camino de Santiago

Expenses to consider when estimating a budget include: transport, daily meals, accommodation and incidentals.

Transport to and from

The first aspect that must be taken into account in order to know how much it costs to walk the Camino de SantiagoThe main thing to know is the cost of getting from your home to the place you have chosen to start the pilgrimage.

This price will depend on where you live, the starting point of the Camino de Santiago and the means of transport you prefer to use (private car, plane, train or bus).

The difficulty of access to the site also affects both the cost and the travel time. Although, for all these reasons, the cost is very variable, it is possible to estimate it in a range between 60 and 100 euros.

You must bear in mind that once you arrive in Santiago de Compostela or have completed the planned journey, you must return home, so this cost must be added according to the possibilities offered by the destination you have selected.

The city of Santiago has many communication options with the main Spanish cities both by train and by plane and with many more by bus and train.

Daily meals

Food demands a good portion of the budget for the Camino de Santiago. At least three meals a day - breakfast, lunch and dinner - should be considered.

Throughout the Camino de Santiago the prices in restaurants are usually affordable and many offer the pilgrim's menu for walkers who have their credentials.

The cost of meals can be estimated to be between 20 and 25 euros per day, distributed as follows:

  • 2 to 3 euros for breakfast, either buying in shops or eating in restaurants.
  • Midday meal from 10 to 12 euros.
  • Approximately 8-10 euros for a simple dinner.

It is also possible to use the kitchens in several hostels to prepare your own meals. However, in this case it is not recommended to take food from one hostel to another.

Stops should also be made during the stages, to have a break, or to have something to eat, either in a bar or in a shop.

So, you can estimate an amount of 1 euro if you buy something in a shop and between 3 and 5 euros if you eat in a bar.

Accommodation

At this point, there are several options on the Camino de Santiago. The most popular option for pilgrims are hostels.Within these there are religious, public and private.

Each type of hostel has a different cost; from religious ones that have no price, but ask for a contribution, public ones with lower prices, and private ones whose price is stipulated by their owners.

In the private ones it should be considered that prices change according to the season, being higher in the period between July and August, when there are more hikers.

If you arrive at the end of the stage and there is no hostel available, you will have to opt for an overnight stay in one of the local guesthouses or hostels.

With all this, an approximate cost for accommodation can be calculated as follows:

  • Donation hostels. Although no specific amount is charged, what is donated usually averages between 4 and 5 euros. This money helps the shelter to continue its work.
  • Public hostels. Depending on the autonomous community and the locality, prices range from 6 to 8 euros per night.
  • Private hostels. Prices vary greatly depending on the location, the time of year and the equipment offered by the hostel. An average price can be estimated at between 8 and 12 euros per night.

It is recommended that when you have passed through several stages, you get a good night's rest in a private room in a guesthouse or hotel, as this will not affect the total budget of the trip too much.

Other costs and contingencies

The Way of St. James can also be enjoyed by visiting its towns and villages, getting to know their food, festivals and traditions.

It is therefore advisable to provide for an item of the budget for the trip to Santiago for museums, churches, guides, souvenirs and typical products. Plus whatever you have planned when you get to Santiago Cathedral.

You should also set aside a portion of the budget for unforeseen expenses, such as replacing broken shoes, buying plasters for sores, or medicine for a cold.

Conclusion

The cost of walking the Camino de SantiagoIn a week and being very balanced with the expenses, it can be estimated between 300 and 350 euros. This amount can be adjusted even further by better controlling meals and cooking in the hostels.