The pilgrimage budget planner

In short: Allow 40 to 50 euros a day for bed, food and small items. For two weeks that is around 600 to 700 euros, plus travel and gear.

A pilgrimage is one of the cheapest ways to travel for weeks on end. Even so, many people are surprised by the total at the end, because the costs are spread out: bed, coffee, pilgrim menu and laundry are small on their own but add up. A budget planner helps you keep track before you set off and on the way.

What a pilgrimage really costs

Your daily costs depend mainly on two decisions: where you sleep and how you eat. The other items are small.

These are guide values for Spain as of 2026, and travel and gear are not included. You pay much more in France, Switzerland and Norway. The breakdown is on the costs page, where you will also find our calculator.

The costs many people forget

Besides bed and food, there are items that rarely appear in a first calculation. These include the journey home from Santiago, luggage transfers, washing machines and the bus to your starting point. Travel health insurance should be included too.

Also expect at least one more expensive night. After two weeks in a dormitory many people treat themselves to a single room, and it is money well spent. A rest day costs money too, as you pay for the bed without covering any distance. That is why the budget planner includes a reserve of around ten percent.

Gear: where spending pays off

The biggest one-off expense is usually shoes and a backpack. Quality pays off here, as both go with you every day. You can save on the rest: much of it can be borrowed, bought second-hand or found in your wardrobe.

Check in the planner what you already have. Often less is missing than you think. Our packing list will help with this.

Saving without missing out

You save the most by cooking together. Many albergues have a kitchen, and pasta for four costs only a few euros per person. You can still have the pilgrim menu, just not every evening. Don't save on plasters, insurance or a rest day when your body needs it, though.

Keeping track on the way

The planner includes an expense log for 14 days. Note down briefly each evening what the day cost. It takes a minute and shows you early on whether you are staying within budget.

Always carry enough cash for two to three days. Cards mostly work in towns, but not always in small albergues and village bars, and cash machines are rare in villages. There's more on getting there and what it costs under getting to the Way of St James.

Sample calculation for two weeks

This is how a mid-range trip on the Camino Portugués might look. The amounts are examples, and yours may differ a lot.

Calculations like this show how much of the total goes on travel. On short routes it is often the largest single item. For pilgrimage routes in Germany there is no flight, but the bed usually costs more.

Costs by region

Spain and Portugal are among the cheapest countries for pilgrims, as they have a dense network of albergues. In France a gîte costs more but often includes dinner. Italy lies in between, and some monasteries take guests for a donation.

Switzerland and Norway are much more expensive. In Germany and Austria you mostly sleep in guesthouses and inns, so expect higher amounts there. That also applies in the Altmühltal. On the other hand, you save on travel. For routes outside Europe, permits, agencies or guides are often added.

Bed and food in detail

Public albergues are the cheapest way to sleep without booking. Private albergues cost a little more and often offer smaller rooms and better showers. Guesthouses or single rooms cost considerably more, but on a long route they are a real treat now and then.

For food, the pilgrim menu is the classic choice, often with three courses. At lunchtime a bocadillo is enough, and a coffee in a bar costs little. The total comes from the small things: a second coffee, an ice cream, a drink in the afternoon. That's no reason to go without, it just belongs in the budget.

Paying by cash or card

A mix of both works for most trips. Before you leave, check what your bank charges for withdrawals abroad. Many travel banks offer cards with no fees. Keep a second card separate from your wallet in case one gets lost.

How much buffer makes sense

A reserve is worth having. It makes sure that a rest day or a taxi to the doctor doesn't end your trip. About ten percent is a good figure, and on long routes it can be more. Whatever is left at the end pays for a farewell dinner in Santiago.

Checking your budget with the calculator

On the costs page you will find our budget calculator, where you can set days, bed and food. The PDF planner goes further: it also covers travel, gear and reserve and stays with you on the way with its expense log. At the end you will see what the trip really cost.

What's in the PDF

• Guide values for budget, mid-range and comfortable trips
• Template for your total budget
• Expense log for the road

For anyone who wants to know what the trip really costs. The PDF has 3 pages and prints well.

How to get the PDF

Enter your email address and confirm your sign-up using the link in the first email. We will then send you the link to the PDF by email. You can unsubscribe from the newsletter at any time.