Budget in 2017

Welcome to the forum @Jaco Klynsmith ;-)

It really depends on how much luxury you want, but as a rule of thumb here some typical daily costs:

Accommodation: Donativo (which doesn't mean free!) to 8-10 Euro for public albergues, up to 15 Euro for private albergues, private rooms can be found from 20-25 Euro upwards.

Meals: from 10-12 Euro (menu del dia/peregrino), more for a la carte food, less if you prepare your own food and don't eat out.

That are the two main ones, add to that costs of treats (cafe con leche, vino, tapas) and the occasional entrance ticket for a museum or similar.

So, I would say - if you self-cater, stay only in the cheapest albergue and severely restrict your treats you could get by with 25 Euro/day or even less.

Buen Camino, SY

I think I add, other new pilgrims might be interested in the same topic my 5-er rule for donativo albergues:

If you can give 5 Euro for each of the following: place to sleep, place to wash yourself and your clothes, dinner, breakfast and add any small change that weighs heavily in your wallet anyway ;-)

Obviously, you can give more, even much more!, if you have the means and if you can't give much, or anything at all, just 'pay' with a smile and some help in cleaning etc.

Buen Camino, SY

Jaco Klynsmith said:

Hi,

Most of the posts I find on budget are from a few years ago. What is a realistic daily budget?

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I do not know if Windhoek is a big city-never been there-but last May I met a guy from Windhoek and his wife who have a butcher's shop there and is from Swedish origen-a tall blond guy.
I met him last May at the privat albergue casa da Fernanda in Vitorino de Piães Portugal and he definitively can tell you about the camino and the budgets.
In 2015 we walked our last camino and we had an average of 50€ a day for my wife and myself.
But most of the time we chose for hostals and hotels .
Buen camino

I had a truly wonderful Camino last year with a strict 5€/day budget. Of course, mostly basics: sleeping outside, in donativos (where I always put 5€) and in 5€-tops albergues; eating simple self-cooked food. I still had occasional "commercial" treats (I mean the ones you have to pay for), like tapas, coffee (con hielo for me!) or else.

Like SYates said, it's all about one's "luxury" expectation The more you have, the more you spend. I believe one can manage a fine, happy and comfortable Camino from ~10€/day...
Buen Camino!

ask for your passada as you go through each town, then sleep under the stars and you can do it for nothing

realistically, around 20-30 euros/day staying at albergues (that's the cafés and beers included). having your own shower and room would put you at around 40-50 euros/day (if travelling with someone willing to share a room, this option can be almost as cheap as the albergues). splurge at a nice B&B or hotel and you are looking at +70 a day.

but no matter what you do, you won't be paying for transport!

Jimmy Smith said:

What is a Passada? and who do you ask?

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alms for pilgrims, who you ask is up to you

Last March and April my wife and I averaged about 40 euros a day while walking.

Hi @Jimmy Smith
Here are quick answers to your questions.

Jimmy Smith said:

1. Did you carry a tent?
2. I take it you mostly slept outside.
3. What weight in food did you start out with
4. and was that extra to your E5 budget,.
5. Which Camino did you do?
6.What was your pack weight?
7. These are the sorts of hints and tips I look for.
8. Thank you.

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1. No, a tarp+strings+pegs (+my walking sticks). Basic model, ~1kg -> which is very heavy for a tarp... Also was my "poncho" -> great one!!!
2. In France, yes (20 nights outside out of 31). In Spain, no (5/37). Not counting Santiago.
3. Don't remember exactly, but ~1kg of various things + 1kg of oat flakes (I do remember that one!)
4. Apart transportation to starting point/back home + albergue /post cards/a shirt in Santiago, all was included in the 5€/day budget. Extra within the budget would be unnecessary/avoidable/comfort stuffs, like transportation through big cities/night in albergue when pouring rain or sick/chocolate, fruit juice, empanadas and other "fancy" edible treats/eating out once or twice/drinks in bars: so many coffees!/...
5. The Arles route in France, then the C. Aragones and Frances. 2 months 1/2
6. ~10kg (12 with the food at the beginning )
7. I may open a thread about this experience...
8. You're welcome!

Bonus: 3 capital things when planning such a low-budget trip!
1) DON'T go expecting people to provide for you and pay your journey (giving-receiving is a extremely tricky topic, especially when money in involved. I won't start it here)
2) DO know what kind of journey you're signing up for. No private accommodation or Menu del Peregrino down this route!
3) Expect awe and admiration as well as incomprehension, disgust, suspicion and anger. In some people's minds, the Camino sometimes seems to be reserved to "clean" pilgrims (that is to say, with enough money to at least sleep in public albergue)... Not talking about anyone in particular or criticizing "wealthy" pilgrims. Just sharing personal experience and making a blank observation. Again, we're talking about money here and even worse, having few money and still doing amazing journeys. Like some say, it's easier to talk about sex than money!

Buen Camino!