How much does a Camino cost?

The costs naturally vary greatly depending on your personal comfort level, but I will try to give an overview here.

Calculating the costs of travel to and from the Camino de Santiago is unfortunately not straightforward.

From Cities in Europe you can sometimes fly from under €30. If you come from the US or Australia, it is usually way more expensive.

In short: Depending on your location, the season, how far in advance you book, and other factors, your travel costs can range from around sixty to a few hundred euros.

How much money you need to invest in equipment depends primarily on two factors:

1. What do you already own?

2. Are you planning for a one-time Camino trip, or do you want to use the gear long-term?

Pants: Depending on the quality level: €25-150. The cheapest options are available at Decathlon or McTreck. If you are planning long-term, investing in quality brands like Vaude or Maier Sports is advisable. A second pair of shorts (or for women: sport leggings) is theoretically in the same price range.

Shoes: The Camino Portugues can even be walked in sneakers. Otherwise, trail runners are usually recommended. The most blister-free, though not the most durable, are from New Balance. These can often be found on sale for around €60, but if you’re looking for a specific model, expect to pay closer to €100. It’s worth investing in quality shoes, as blisters are the most common reason for stopping.

T-Shirts: There is a good selection available for around €10. Two, preferably three, should be included.

Socks and Underwear: No need to invest much here either. Decathlon offers hiking socks for a few euros. Whether you get blisters or not seems to be more about personal type rather than the socks. Double-layer socks like Wrightsocks are supposed to prevent blisters but cost €15-20 per pair and don’t last longer than one Camino. A cheaper alternative is to wear fine liner socks under regular hiking socks.

Backpack: A pilgrim backpack can be costly. Budget €100-150 for this. The cheap models from Decathlon are not very good; it’s better to go with reputable brands. If you have an average build and size, consider asking around to see if you can borrow a pilgrim backpack from someone you know.

Poles: Hiking poles are not necessary on every Camino route. They are also a matter of personal preference; some people always use poles, others only occasionally. Decathlon offers an entry-level model for €10, which is sufficient if you only use the poles occasionally. For ultra-light quality poles, you can spend €50-100.

Fleece Jacket and Rain Jacket: Both are available for about €10 at Decathlon. While the rain jacket does a reasonably good job, it’s worth spending a bit more on the fleece jacket, as the very cheap ones tend to make you sweat excessively. A good fleece jacket costs around €40-50.

Sleeping Bag and Towel: If you plan to sleep in hostels, you will need to bring your own sleeping bag and towel. Once again, Decathlon is the first stop, with decent towels available for around €10.

For the sleeping bag, it depends greatly on the season. In summer, a simple liner sleeping bag, available for under €20, is sufficient. In winter, you’ll need heavier models starting at €60.

So, let’s assume you don’t own anything and need to buy everything new:

If you buy cheaply, because you don’t plan to discover your inner hiker (spoiler: it’s like tattoos, it rarely stops at one Camino 🙂 ), then you can manage with about €200 plus a backpack (around €100 if you can’t borrow one).

For recommended gear, you should budget around €350 plus about €100 for the backpack.

Of course, you can always spend more, but it’s not necessary.

The cheapest option is public albergues (hostels). They are not available everywhere, but they can be found in most major overnight stops. The cost for a night ranges from nothing to five euros.

Private albergues and hostels offer a bed and a shower for €10-20, though prices can be higher in popular cities.

Private rooms vary greatly in price depending on the season, location, and availability.**

For example, in Caldas de Reis, there is a large selection of rooms available for just €35, whereas in Porto or León, finding a place in the city center for under €60 outside of winter is rare.

On average, expect to pay around €45 per night for a single room (sometimes with a shared bathroom, sometimes with a private bathroom). If sharing a double room, the cost is more like €30 per person.

You can always spend more for greater comfort, but most pilgrims prefer simple and affordable accommodations.

In almost every place along the Camino, you can eat very cheaply if you don’t have high demands. You can either buy bread and cheese at a supermarket for around €3 or opt for the cheapest dish on the menu at a local bar, which is often available for about €8. In albergues, you can often cook for yourself, so a pack of pasta and some sauce can also be a very economical option.

Realistically, expect to spend around €5 for coffee and a sandwich in the morning (if not included), €7 for a sandwich and a drink at a bar for lunch, and €15 for dinner.

So, the cost for the budget option is about €10, but realistically, it’s more like €30 plus drinks. Don’t forget that you also need to eat at home, so the additional expense is relatively small.

The cheapest version of walking the Camino de Santiago breaks down as follows:

Equipment: €300, including a backpack
Accommodation per night: €10
Food per day: €10

For a Camino Portugués starting in Porto with 13 stages, the total cost is €560. For a Camino Francés with 32 stages, the total cost is €940.

If you opt for decent equipment, stay in single rooms, and dine at affordable restaurants, the costs look like this:

Equipment: €450, including a backpack
Accommodation per night: €45
Food per day: €30

For a Camino Portugués starting in Porto with 13 stages, the total cost is €975. For a Camino Francés with 32 stages, the total cost is €2,850.

Please Note: These estimates apply if you need to buy all your equipment new. If you already own some gear or can borrow it, your costs will be significantly lower. Similarly, if you mix hostels and hotels or buy some food from supermarkets and eat out on other days, your expenses will also decrease.

If you book my advisory services, additional costs ranging from €80 to €450 will apply, depending on the route and level of support. This includes the reassurance that everything has been considered and the ability to call for help if something goes wrong.