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The Camino de Santiago/Way of St James is not for everyone. But those who want to walk one (or several) of the routes that lead to Santiago de Compostela often do some research and planning before they embark on their Camino adventure. If you are one of them, today’s article might be for you. We’ll be diving into the actual costs we incurred walking the Camino Portugués. While we did it at a more leisurely pace than the usual 25km/day, the daily costs would be comparable for those who travel in a similar style to us.
Travel Cost Assumptions
When reading this article, please note that our travel costs are based on a couple travelling together. We are independent, budget-conscious travellers who plan our trips carefully and track our spending as we go. Our travel style is reasonably consistent wherever we go, which makes it easier to compare travel costs between destinations and over time:
- Accommodation: We usually stay in self-catered accommodation (homestays, locally owned guesthouses, hostels and short-term rentals) - ideally with a private bathroom, though kitchens and other areas may be shared.
- Dining and Groceries: We typically eat two meals a day at home and eat out once a day or every few days (favouring locally owned restaurants away from tourist hotspots).
- Experiences: Many of our activities are free or low-cost. When we do pay for attractions or activities, we choose carefully - our budget is limited, just like everyone else's.
- Transportation: We walk frequently and use public transport wherever possible. We only occasionally hire a vehicle. Entry and exit costs between countries are not included (though we may reference them separately).
- Other: Our daily costs also include essentials like communication, insurance and basic admin required to stay location-independent.
Because we follow a consistent approach and keep a close eye on our spending, these numbers reflect what we actually paid - not estimates.
We walked a total of 183km, combining the Camino Portugués de la Costa, Central and Variante Espiritual
We started our Camino from Caminha (on the Portuguese/Spanish border), walking a combination of the Camino de la Costa, the Camino Central and the Variante Espiritual. All up, we stayed in 17 locations (all for one night, except Combarro, where we stayed two nights).
Check out the map below or read our detailed post for our entire route.
Map of Accommodation, Points of Interest, Eateries and Transport
Below is a map of the recommended accommodations, points of interest, eateries, and transport terminals or stops mentioned in this article.
Camino de Santiago Travel Costs Summary
When we did our Camino, we spent just under EUR42 per person per day. Given prices keep increasing year on year, the equivalent in 2025 would be about EUR52:
| Expense Category | Actual Costs (EUR per person per day) | Adjusted for Inflation (EUR per person per day) | Percentage of total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation | 17.53 | 22.79 | 44% |
| Groceries and Dining | 17.84 | 20.72 | 40% |
| Transport | 1.26 | 1.89 | 4% |
| Health | 2.92 | 3.39 | 7% |
| Other | 2.34 | 2.72 | 5% |
| Total | 41.90 | 51.52 |
But let’s talk about each expense category in more detail…
How much should you budget for accommodation on the Camino?
We slept in a variety of accommodation standards, from dorm beds in municipal and private albergues to a 4-star hotel. We mixed it up quite a bit. Not only because albergues were not always available. Sometimes, a double room with a private bathroom costs the same as two dorm beds, and we wanted to have a good night’s sleep occasionally (which is much easier to achieve when you don’t share the room with 10+ other people).
As prices have increased since we did the Camino Portugués, the below has been updated to reflect 2026 low-season prices:
| Day | Name | Stage | Type | Distance in kilometres | EUR Cost (for 2 people) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | Arca Nova Guesthouse | Porto - Caminha | Ensuite double | by train | 55.00 |
| 1 | Albergue de Peregrinos Municipal A Guarda | Caminha - A Guarda | Bunk beds in dorm | 7.9 | 20.00 |
| 2 | Albergue da Estrela | A Guarda - Viladesuso | Bunk beds in dorm | 17.0 | 72.00 |
| 3 | Hostel Albergue Baionamar | Viladesuso - Baiona | Bunk beds in dorm | 14.3 | 38.00 |
| 4 | El Retiro | Baiona - Nigrán | Ensuite double | 9.4 | 35.00 |
| 5 | Hesperia Vigo | Nigrán - Castrelos Park | Ensuite double | 15.8 | 50.00 |
| 6 | Hotel Arsus | Castrelos Park - Vigo | Ensuite double | 5.5 | 43.00 |
| 7 | Albergue Santiago de Vilavella | Vigo - Redondela | Bunk beds in dorm | 15.0 | 34.00 |
| 8 | Hostel Albergue O Meson | Redondela - Puentesampayo | Bunk beds in dorm | 9.3 | 34.00 |
| 9 | Albergue Nacama | Puentesampayo - Pontevedra | Bunk beds in dorm | 11.8 | 44.00 |
| 10 | Hotel Xeito (we stayed 2 nights) | Pontevedra - Combarro | Ensuite double | 11.5 | 55.00 |
| 11 | Mosteiro de Santa María da Armenteira | Combarro - Armenteira | Ensuite twin | 10.6 | 80.00 |
| 12 | Hostal O Legado de Ramira | Armenteira - Ponte Arnelas | Ensuite double | 13.6 | 63.00 |
| 13 | Albergue A Salazon | Ponte Arnelas - Vilanova de Arousa | Bunk beds in dorm | 11.9 | 34.00 |
| 14 | Albergue Corredoiras | Vilanova de Arousa - Padrón | Bunk beds in dorm | 2.9 (plus 26.8 by boat) | 36.00 |
| 15 | Albergue Da Capellania | Padrón - A Escravitude | Bunk beds in dorm | 7.5 | 34.00 |
| 16 | Albergue Peregrinos Milladoiro | A Escravitude - O Milladoiro | Bunk beds in dorm | 11.6 | 36.00 |
| 17 | Albergue Santiago KM-0 | O Milladoiro - Santiago | Bunk beds in dorm | 7.5 | 48.00 |
| Total | 183.1 (excluding boat) | 811.00 |
Replicating our itinerary in 2025 would cost EUR866 for 19 nights (or ~EUR23 per person per night) – with accommodation costs ranging from EUR10 (for a basic municipal albergue) to EUR40 per person per night (for a Monastery stay with an ensuite).
On the Camino, it's not always 'you get what you pay for': Two dorm beds might cost as much as a double room with your own bathroom
How much should you budget for groceries and dining on the Camino?
Proportionally, we spent more on dining out than we usually would. This was primarily because we didn’t want to carry more than snacks and water daily.
We usually had one substantial hot meal per day (typically the pilgrim’s lunch or menú del día) and a simple, cold evening meal, often a bocadillo (a baguette sandwich) with whatever we could get our hands on – jamón (cured ham), queso (cheese), tomatoes, tortilla (Spanish omelette), you name it.
If our accommodation didn’t provide breakfast or we knew there would be no cafeteria/bar nearby to have breakfast, we would buy enough ingredients to make two bocadillos: one for dinner and another one for breakfast the following morning.
If you plan to cater similarly during your Camino (in 2025), budget (at least) EUR21 per person per day.
A simple bocadillo like this with tomatoes, jamon, patatas and tortilla was often our dinner on the Camino
How much should you budget for your health on the Camino?
This expense category includes the cost of our travel insurance. While arguably, not all of it would relate to our medical cover, our travel insurance costs per day might be (quite a bit) lower (than yours) given that we usually buy an annual policy. Another factor impacting your travel insurance costs would be your age (and any pre-existing conditions).
Apart from your travel insurance, other health-related expenses you may want to budget for include remedies for any blisters, chafing or injuries you may (hopefully not) experience during your Camino. While albergues (should) have a First Aid Kit, we recommend carrying a small one.
While our daily expenses in this category would equate to about EUR3.50 per person per day in 2025, health-related expenses are very subjective. So, do your sums based on your specific needs.
How much should you budget for transportation on the Camino?
In our case, these were the costs for the two boat rides involved in doing the Camino de la Costa/Variante Espiritual:
- the border ferry across the Minho River to enter Spain and
- the boat ride from Vilanova de Arousa to Pontecesures follows the route St James’ remains travelled.
While our travel cost summary does not contain any of the below (as it is very subjective), you may also want to budget for:
- your airfare to Portugal, France or Spain (and back home);
- public transportation costs to travel to the start point of your Camino (most likely a train or bus), and
- If you skip walking in certain sections, do you have any expenses for buses or taxis for that section?
If you do the Variante Espiritual, budget for the boat ride from Vilanova de Arousa to Pontecesures
What other expenses should be considered for the Camino?
Bank Fees
You’re bound to incur these if you’re from a country that doesn’t use the EUR. Again, it’s very subjective as it depends on the fees charged by your bank and the bank that operates the ATM you withdraw money from. To avoid (or at least reduce) the latter, use ATMs in Portugal, France and Spain that don’t charge them. You can learn which banks charge how much using the ATM Fee Saver app.
Travel Money Tips
Securing your currency needs overseas can be expensive, but it doesn't have to be. We've saved a significant amount of money over the years simply by knowing what (not) to do. Here are our key tips:
- How not to get caught out by bad FX rates and exorbitant commissions;
- How to exchange cash on your overseas trip;
- Which debit/credit card is best for your overseas trip; and
- How do you avoid unnecessary fees when withdrawing cash?
If you need to transfer money to pay for your travels upfront, we recommend Wise and XE Money Transfer (we use them interchangeably, depending on which one offers the better FX rate and lower commission).
Camino Gear
Our travel cost summary does not include any specific Camino gear (as we didn’t buy any gear specifically for the Camino). While we used our travel pack/day pack (given our location-independent lifestyle), you may want to budget for a lightweight but sturdy hiking backpack.
Likewise, well-fitting, lightweight, waterproof hiking shoes are a must on the Camino. I now use the Xero Shoes Scrambler Trail Low WP for this kind of multi-day walking — they’re lightweight, handle wet conditions well, and dry quickly. A good rain jacket or poncho is just as important. Another worthwhile investment (for your Camino and other future multi-day hikes) is lightweight, collapsible trekking poles.
The only costs we incurred under this category were the cost of the Pilgrim’s Passport (also called Credencial) and a shell for our backpacks—both together less than EUR10 per person.
Communications
In our case, this category included our mail-scanning service costs and the maintenance of a small credit balance on our smartphones for emergency calls and messages.
We had no additional communication costs on the Camino itself. Despite working online throughout the walk, every accommodation we stayed at offered Wi-Fi. Some connections were faster than others, but all were sufficient for responding to messages, publishing articles, and sharing updates.
If you prefer to have mobile data while walking — particularly for navigation, weather checks, or staying in touch — it’s worth setting this up before you arrive.
Stay connected the moment you land
We use Airalo eSIMs on (almost) every trip to avoid roaming charges and the hassle of buying a local SIM. You can install your eSIM before you travel and get online as soon as you arrive. Airalo works in 200+ countries (we've used it across the Americas, Europe and Asia), but not everywhere - so check coverage before you buy.
New to Airalo? Use code NEWTOAIRALO15 for 15% off
Already a customer? Use AIRALOESIM10 for 10% off
Entry Visa
While not relevant in our case, depending on your passport/country of origin, you may need to consider the costs for the Schengen Visa—EUR90 per adult as of 2025.
Experiences
Now, we know the Camino in itself is one unforgettable experience. What we mean here are those little expenses you may incur along the Way (or after your Camino if you stay for a day or two in/around Santiago): entry fees (or donations) when you visit a museum or church, for example.
Budget some money for entrance fees and donations when you visit churches and museums on your Camino
Laundry
Yep, we all need to wash our clothes at some stage. And while some pilgrims wash their clothes by hand, at some stage, you are mostly likely to use the washing machine (or dryer) available in your albergue or a self-service laundromat in one of the towns you’re passing through. Consider EUR3-5 per load (and the same again if you use the dryer) in an albergue (slightly more if using a laundromat).
Luggage Transfer
We only used a luggage transfer service once—before our actual Camino start—to get Paul’s travel pack forwarded from Caminha in Portugal to Santiago de Compostela. The equivalent costs in 2025 would be EUR35 (for one 45-litre travel pack). If you, too, are planning to walk the Portuguese Camino, check out Top Santiago for a quote. They have daily options, too. Correos and Pilbeo are other operators you could use if you’re planning to walk a different route.
If you don't want to carry your stuff on your back like a turtle, budget for luggage transfer on your Camino
How much cash should you bring with you?
Since restaurants and accommodations along the Portuguese Camino don’t always accept credit cards, you must carry cash (though not too much for safety reasons). We paid 39% of our total spend in cash (EUR). The most significant portion of that was on accommodation. ATMs are in all small towns/larger villages, so you don’t need to withdraw/exchange everything at once. Just make sure they don’t charge exorbitant withdrawal fees.
Have you done the Camino de Santiago (recently)?
What route did you walk? What did it cost you? And what other expenses would you include in a Camino travel budget? Please let me know.
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