How much does a trip to Spain cost
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If you’re planning on travelling to Spain, you’re probably wondering how much you need to budget for your trip. While your travel costs will depend on your travel style, generally speaking Spain can be a surprisingly affordable place to travel.
Accommodation costs are generally affordable and food and drinks are reasonably-priced. Many of Spain’s best attractions are very affordable or even free and, while some activities could set you back a fair amount, there’s plenty to do at lower price points too.
How much should I budget for a trip to Spain?
A reasonable budget for two for a week in Spain is around €1,270.
The above cost is based on staying in good, mid-range accommodation and having a few meals out per week, while preparing some yourself. It makes allowances for a couple of sightseeing activities, but doesn’t take into account expensive activities like adventure sports or private tours.
Generally speaking, the longer you travel, the cheaper it costs per day, while fly-in, fly-out trips can be more expensive.
How much does accommodation cost?
You can expect to spend between €60-€120 a night, per couple, on accommodation in Spain. This will get you a private room with your own bathroom in a 3-4-star hotel or apartment rental.
See latest hotel deals in SpainHostels are, of course, cheaper, but a private room with a shared bathroom will still cost around €55 per night. A bed in a dorm room also averages around €25 per night, per person, although there are definitely cheaper options out there.
See the highest rated hostels in SpainAs in many countries, accommodation in larger cities is more expensive than in smaller ones. Accommodation in Barcelona, in particular, can be quite be more than the above prices, especially around weekends in summer. You'll find beach resort towns are also at their peak in summer, with prices falling significantly in the winter months.
How much should I budget for food and drinks in Spain?
Budget to spend around €450 for two for a week in Spain. This assumes you’re cooking some of the time and drinking some alcohol.
If you enjoy eating out, you can expect to pay around €45 for a nice dinner for two, including an alcoholic drink. A meal at a pub is likely to be around €30 for two, with cheaper meals available (especially for lunch) for around €12 each.
Assuming that you’ll be eating out some of the time, budget at least €40 a week for groceries. If you enjoy a few drinks, you’ll need to increase this amount – beer costs around €1 for a 500ml bottle and good bottle of wine is around €7, from a shop, although there are cheaper options available. Milk typically costs around €1 for a two-litre bottle and you can expect to pay around €2.5 for a cappuccino from a local café.
Spain also has a wonderful market culture and visiting local markets can be a great way to stock on up fresh produce and meat. Barcelona's Mercado de La Boqueria is extremely popular with visitors, however there are a range of local markets to choose from wherever you are in the country.
How much does it cost to get around Spain?
Getting around Spain is easiest with a train. Transport costs fluctuate depending how much you travel, but budgeting around €80 for two per week is a good starting point. This should allow you to take a couple of intercity train routes. If you’re planning on doing any tours or using hop-on hop-off buses, you’ll need to up your budget a bit.
If you can, book intercity trains in advance for the best rates. Fares can go up significantly closer to the time. You can book train tickets on the Renfe website.
If you're spending all your time in a city, the above cost can also include a day trip out of town. The metro is the best way to get around within cities in Spain - hotels can often help with metro cards or point you in the right direction to get one.
What should I expect to spend on activities?
A lot of the best things to do in Spain are free. However, there definitely are some attractions that cost money – entry fees to a museum or an art gallery are usually around €10 - €30 per person. If you want to do organised day trips or join smaller tour groups to learn more about some of the sites, budget around €60 per activity per person.
In summary
Spain is a beautiful destination to visit and can be an affordable place to travel. Cooking your own meals, carefully selecting accommodation or limiting meals out will definitely help you to reduce your travel costs. Slow travel is another great way to help your budget to stretch further, while exploring a place in more depth.
Travelling through Spain is definitely possible on a budget – just pick your priorities and compromise on the rest or consider travelling in the off-season and avoiding school holidays to cut down on costs. And, if you’re on the luxury end of the scale or wanting to treat yourself, the sky’s the limit.
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Last Updated 15 July 2022
