Live… average daily cost

[debbie r]

I see lots of people asking re cost…. My hubby and I have just done 18 days Santo Domingo to Astorga. Using dorm beds and a mix of Peregrinos Menu / self catering, stopping for coffee a couple of times a day and generally but not always taking our own breakfast/lunch .. we have averaged out at €25 a day excluding getting to and from Camino. Less than I was expecting…

 

[henrythedog]

I see lots of people asking re cost…. My hubby and I have just done 18 days Santo Domingo to Astorga. Using dorm beds and a mix of Peregrinos Menu / self catering, stopping for coffee a couple of times a day and generally but not always taking our own breakfast/lunch .. we have averaged out at €25 a day excluding getting to and from Camino. Less than I was expecting…

Each, I assume? That’s good going.

 

[Skinnybiker]

I see lots of people asking re cost…. My hubby and I have just done 18 days Santo Domingo to Astorga. Using dorm beds and a mix of Peregrinos Menu / self catering, stopping for coffee a couple of times a day and generally but not always taking our own breakfast/lunch .. we have averaged out at €25 a day excluding getting to and from Camino. Less than I was expecting…

That's very good, in fact quite amazingly economical, I'd say. Last year I managed a few €40 - 50 days; one albergue was about €22 for dinner & bed. It would be interesting to read how others have managed.

 

[debbie r]

Each, I assume? That’s good going.

Oh yes, each!!

 

[good_old_shoes]

Thank your for the information. Reassuring for those who want to walk but are on a low budget!

Cooking your own dinner and preparing/carrying your own breakfast/lunch really helps to keep cost low, as does using albergues (especially cheaper municipals and parroquials).

Even if it's not possible to do that every day, it still helps if you choose those cheaper options when possible, at least from time to time.

Buen Camino!

 

[Roland49]

In 2019 I had daily expenses of 23€ in average. Excluding transportation.
I didn't expected that 25€ is possible in 2023.

 

[Kathar1na]

I see lots of people asking re cost…. My hubby and I have just done 18 days Santo Domingo to Astorga. Using dorm beds and a mix of Peregrinos Menu / self catering, stopping for coffee a couple of times a day and generally but not always taking our own breakfast/lunch .. we have averaged out at €25 a day excluding getting to and from Camino. Less than I was expecting…

I see from one of your earlier posts that you averaged €17 a day on your Camino Francés in 2019. So I guess that these are the benchmarks for comparison of average daily cost:

Spring 2019: €17
Spring 2023: €25

That’s a 47% increase …

 

[debbie r]

In 2019 I had daily expenses of 23€ in average. Excluding transportation.
I didn't expected that 25€ is possible in 2023.

I guess we are quite frugal - on my own I did €15 in 2019… mostly self catering. As someone said above menu and bed somewhere around €21-23 but obviously if you cook up some pasta and veggies much less.

 

[naplesdon]

Kudos to you. I am too much of a foodie not turn down a menu del dia everyday, that alone would bust your budget.

 

[lt56ny]

You spend how much you can and the manner of how you want to walk.

 

[DwainS]

Kudos to you. I am too much of a foodie not turn down a menu del dia everyday, that alone would bust your budget.

I went to a Michelin recommend restaurant in Logrono a few days ago. That put me a little over budget for that day

 

[Roland49]

I guess we are quite frugal - on my own I did €15 in 2019… mostly self catering. As someone said above menu and bed somewhere around €21-23 but obviously if you cook up some pasta and veggies much less.

Did go for the Menu de peregrino on 75% of my walking days. Other days selfcatering or fruits from the supermercados. Almost every time it was excellent value for the money.
The most expensive day was the day before my flight home in Porto, where I met most of my camino-family and we ate Dinner at Sandeman's (40+€).

 

[JabbaPapa]

It is a lot easier duo than solo -- well done !!

 

[MacMac]

I have been walking StJdP - Arzua the past 35 days, Camino Frances to Leon, San Salvador Leon-Oviedo and the Primitivo from there.

Private albergues have been between 12€ and 20€ for the bed (municipals and church albergues between 7€ and 14€). Dinner menu Peregrino has been 12€-17€. So including a few Tinto de Verano and Cervezas and Cafes con Leche and sometimes desayuno, I am averaging around 40€ per day.

However, that is not much for what I get for that cost. The albergues and cafes and restaurants have to earn and survive, having been severely hit 2020-2022.

On my first Camino Frances in 2016, the same as above cost me an average of about 28€ per day. So an increase of around 40%.

However inflation in Europe the past 7 years has been around the same mark.

 

[EvleenMann]

i went to one in Santiago, acona , in my hiking boots. the meal was 10 courses for 44€ but the wine cost almost the same. just get house wine...but it was delicious on my 68th birthday, 15 May, and straight after 7pm mass in the cathedral, where the Botufumeiro was unexpectedly swung. Talk about blessings. But yes, cost equivalent of 6 pilgrim meals...a blow out

I went to a Michelin recommend restaurant in Logrono a few days ago. That put me a little over budget for that

 

[Perambulating Griffin]

i went to one in Santiago, acona , in my hiking boots. the meal was 10 courses for 44€ but the wine cost almost the same. just get house wine...but it was delicious on my 68th birthday, 15 May, and straight after 7pm mass in the cathedral, where the Botufumeiro was unexpectedly swung. Talk about blessings. But yes, cost equivalent of 6 pilgrim meals...a blow out

Was in Lume (1 star) just a few days later! Exceptional... 2 of us with the full 7 courses each and we shared the wine pairings for each (else we'd have been under the table!). Came to less than an ordinary meal out at a medium reasonable gastro-pub at home.
Meant to post about how grateful I am that Ivar made a video highlighting the market and Chef Lucia Frietas. THANK YOU @ivar (also... spouse saw you walking your little boy to school so we know you are *real*! ...and left you to your peace).
Indeed, we took 6 full days in SdC this trip... a combination of Seminario Menor and Martin Pinario... and we went to as many museums as we could (the museum of Pilgrimage was outstanding, and I remain a fan of the Martin Pinario museum too), to an Irish music night in a pub I hadn't realised even existed, were blessed with a vow renewal by Fr. Manny in the chapel, had the Pilgrim Lunch (which felt like the feast at Canna)....
All of this and returned home with money in my pocket and a large chunk of my budget unspent.
BTW, there is now a pension between Salceda and O Pino, run by a Spanish woman and her son who returned to Spain from the US during COV. Fantastic lodgings, great supper and breakfast... Very economical if you have a friend to share and quite reasonable if you just need a rest on your own. We broke up the Arzua to SdC stage into two nights instead of just making a run for it (beds, beds... you know the drill), and so found this lovely pension: Mar de Friesa.

 

[lbeckhusen]

Thank your for the information. Reassuring for those who want to walk but are on a low budget!

Cooking your own dinner and preparing/carrying your own breakfast/lunch really helps to keep cost low, as does using albergues (especially cheaper municipals and parroquials).

Even if it's not possible to do that every day, it still helps if you choose those cheaper options when possible, at least from time to time.

Buen Camino!

Please, when mentioning Donativo Albergues, they should not be considered a “cheap” alternative! The generous donations they receive help keep this ancient tradition alive!

 

[debbie r]

Please, when mentioning Donativo Albergues, they should not be considered a “cheap” alternative! The generous donations they receive help keep this ancient tradition alive!

Couldn’t agree more- always spend more on donativo days to show gratitude for generosity and hopefully to make up a bit for those who cannot afford or chose not to be generous back…

 

[Linda V]

Please, when mentioning Donativo Albergues, they should not be considered a “cheap” alternative! The generous donations they receive help keep this ancient tradition alive!

The minimum amount for a bed is between 8-10 euro’s otherwise they can’t pay the bill for electricity, water etc.

 

[good_old_shoes]

Please, when mentioning Donativo Albergues, they should not be considered a “cheap” alternative! The generous donations they receive help keep this ancient tradition alive!

I didn't say anything about donativos, but "cheaper municipals and parroquials". Many of those charge a fixed fee, just like a private albergue, but usually cheaper, and often those come with a kitchen (or at least microwave) instead of a restaurant (or fixed price version of a "communal dinner" that some private albergues offer) which also helps to keep cost down.

There are some municipal/ parroquial donativos also, that's true, and of course donations are important for those.

With a 25-30€ daily budget that's still a good option I'd say. Or are 20-25€ donation for bed, dinner and breakfast (as the mentioned budget in this thread) considered not enough donation nowadays?

 

[Old Kiwi]

In 2019 I averaged just under 20 euros a day staying in albergues mostly self catering with some pilgrim meals.