How much does it cost to travel in Spain? Budget tips for your next trip!

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How much does it cost to travel in Spain? Food, accommodation and transport costs. Everything you need to know to plan your next trip to Spain. Learn how to organize your travel budget and enjoy your next holiday even more!
Night falling over La Almudena Cathedral, in Madrid.

How Much Does it Cost to Travel in Spain? I’m sure it costs less than you imagine and a little more than you want to spend! So let’s talk about money and how to make the most of your travels without going bankrupt. Welcome to the Spanish edition of “How Much does it cost to Travel”, where we breakdown our costs and share the budget of our Spain trip.

Last editions we broke down our expenses and proved that Portugal is one of the cheapest destinations in Europe and also that The Philippines is an affordable paradise. Now the task is a little bit more complicated. Spain is not as cheap as Portugal and it has a ‘disadvantage’ of having lots of good parties. Which is really tempting to us and also a money drainer!

Before we start talking about how much it costs to travel in Spain, let me explain that our travel plan is to stick to a budget of $50 USD per day per person. If you are not familiar with this travel budget plan, have a look at this awesome book: How to Travel the Word for $50 per day by Nomadic Matt. You will understand how easy and possible it is to travel on a shoestring.

Spain was the second country we explored during our Love and Road Project. We have already traveled there before, as tourists, not as nomads and travel bloggers. And that’s a completely different way to approach the cities and collect information. Traveling to Spain on a budget was a good experiment for us, we had the opportunity to try many different ways to save money, travel wisely and have fun there. We are pretty happy with the result and proud to share the details of how much it costs to travel in Spain.

 How much does it cost to travel in Spain?! This view is priceless! Welcome to Gabo de Gata!
Gabo de Gata and its priceless view!

 

How much does it cost to travel in Spain? Is Spain expensive?

» Spain in figures:

[the values are in Euros, at the end of the article we’ll convert the totals to US dollars. All prices are for two people.]

Days: 36

Cities: Madrid / Toledo / Barcelona / Valencia / Sevilla / Elche / Murcia / Almería / Mojacar-Cabo de Gata / Málaga / La Linea de La Concepcion.

Inbound: Flight from São Paulo (Brazil) to Madrid 

Outbound: Flight from Málaga to Marseille (France)

 How much does it cost to travel in Spain? Transportation is not that expensive, specially if you book in advance!
Transportation is not that expensive, especially if you book in advance.

» Transport cost in Spain = € 431.65

[not included our inbound and outbound flights]

Intercity: € 320.55

Local transport: € 111.10

We saved a lot in Spain by traveling with BlaBlaCar. Never heard about it? It’s a website based on shared economies that connect drivers and travelers. You pay less than a bus or a train ticket and you can make new friends. With BlaBlacar we traveled to 5 different destinations in Spain. The cost of 5 shared rides for two people was € 76,00. Just to compare, look how much we spent on the other modals:

1 train trip = € 43.60

3 bus trips = € 66.95

1 car rental for 3 days = € 134.00

Enjoy the busy streets of Spain, beautiful architecture and good restaurants. Keep reading to discover how much does it cost to travel in Spain.
Oh, the streets of Spain… such beautiful architecture!

» Accommodation costs in Spain = € 419.00

Hotel – 4 nights = 109.00

Airbnb – 16 nights = 310.00

Friend’s house – 4 nights = 0.00

House sitting – 12 nights = 0.00

Great isn’t it?

During our Spanish tour, we used some tricks and hacks on free accommodation to minimize our expenses. Apart from having a bed for free in a friend’s house, there are other ways to find cheap accommodation in Spain.

If you like staying in hotels, you will find plenty of them around Spain. You can choose by the rates, prices, or locations. If you are looking for a fancy or unique stay, there are plenty of great hotels in Spain, such as the Meliá Barcelona Sarrià and other high-end brands.

In the coastal cities, most of the hotels have studios with kitchenettes, which can be a great deal. When we visited Cabo de Gata, a beautiful destination on the Spanish coast, we got a studio room for a really cheap price on Booking.com.

For cheap and comfortable accommodation in Spain, we found Airbnb to be another good solution. We got amazing places with awesome hosts and spent such a small amount of money.

Now the best advice for free accommodation in Spain [and everywhere around the world] is: Become a House Sitter. There are many house owners seeking trustworthy and reliable people to look after their houses and pets. This is such a cool way of traveling that we even wrote a post about house & pet sitting. It’s one of our top 10 articles.

If money is not a problem check these hotels out. They are the crème de la crème!

In Barcelona: Mercer Hotel, Casa Camper & Alma Barcelona.

In Madrid: Hotel Orfila, Hesperia Madrid & The Westin Palace Madrid.

In Ibiza: Destino Pacha ResortUshuaia Ibiza Beach & Hacienda Na Xamena.

How Much does it Cost to Travel in Spain? Local drinks like Horchata are less than 3 Euros a glass!
Rob and his Horchata?

» Cost of food in Spain = € 762.63

Groceries: € 334.44

Here is everything we bought in supermarkets or street markets. At the places we stayed through Airbnb or house sitting we had kitchens, so our breakfast and sometimes lunch/dinner were prepared at home. This was a great way to keep the budget low and eat well. In the groceries cost is also included the toiletries and cleaning products we bought on the way.

Eating out: € 418.19

We always carry in our bag some water, fruits and a sandwich, that helps cut the cost of eating out a lot. We also try to avoid the touristy restaurants, we always search for local places. In Madrid, we had a feast eating in some amazing local restaurants. Imagine a meal and a beer for just €5, amazing isn’t it?! Don’t be jealous, you can try this too, we wrote a delicious guide to eat cheaply and well at the Spanish capital. 😛

How Much does it Cost to Travel in Spain? Don´t worry, the Jamón is delicious and not so expensive!
Spain’s famous Jamón is delicious and not so expensive!

Spain is not an expensive country to eat, especially because of their Tapas Culture. Small bites of delicious food at a reasonable price can be found everywhere. Even though the food is the biggest figure on our ‘How much does it cost to travel in Spain’ spreadsheet, that’s why it is so important to choose an accommodation where you can cook, we definitely saved a lot by having meals at home. 

How much does it cost to travel in Spain and visit all the attractions? To enjoy the Spanish architecture you don´t need to spend a penny!
To enjoy the Spanish architecture you don’t need to spend a penny!

 

» Attractions cost in Spain = € 107.35

Spain is an open-air museum with tons of attractions to visit and see. Art galleries, parks, heritage sites, a bunch of beautiful and interesting stuff. Most of them charge an entrance fee, which can ruin your budget on a long-term trip. However, the solution is very simple, instead of cashing out money, first research about the attractions and if they have a day with free entrance.

 

In Málaga, we had an amazing time exploring the city and its attractions without spending a penny. Most places have free admission weekends, and we listed all of them on a great guide about Malága. Worth mentioning that Malága and the whole Andalucia region are packed with attractions for couples, read our guide to romantic things to do in Southern Spain here

Madrid is another budget paradise, two of the biggest museums in the city are open to the public for free on some days of the week.

A savvy traveler knows how to find ways to save money! Barcelona is an expensive city (compared to other Spanish towns), although our second visit there was a real budget success. That’s because we discover the authentic Catalan style of fun. We learned how to enjoy Barcelona like a local, and when you do local things, your money stretches a lot! For those traveling with family, here are some tips for visiting Barcelona with kids. Traveling alone? Read this post about Barcelona solo traveling!

How much does it cost to travel in Spain? Not so much, specially because view like this are for free!
Rob enjoying the view from the Bunkers of Carmel, in Barcelona.

Another important tip for those who want to travel to Spain on a budget is to book the tickets for the attractions in advance. In Barcelona for example, you can save hours of your day if you buy the ticket to Sagrada Família online.

The free walking tours are a great way to get to know the city and save money too. We went on walking tours in almost all the places we visited in Spain and thumbs up! You can search for the tours on the internet, Tripadvisor is the best place to find them and to check for reviews. In Valência, the walking tour was outstanding! In a single day, our local guide explained to us about culture, history, food, and drinks. Because of him we enjoyed the city a lot and I got hooked up on Agua de Valencia, and Rob tried Horchata, two typical and delicious drinks.

How much does it cost to travel in Spain? Choose local drinks and food, a good way to save money and enjoy the local culture!
Agua de Valencia gives you an instant smile!

» Cost of a night out in Spain= € 311.00

As I already said, Spain is a paradise for partying and having fun. How can we ignore the summer mood in Barcelona, the beach parties at Costa del Sol, and so many festivals?? Tough to resist! We enjoyed all of them, no regrets! 😉 And I think by the amount of fun we had, we didn’t lose [that much] control of how much we should spend traveling in Spain.

Viva la Fiesta!! Spain is the perfect destination for those who love a good party! How much does it cost to travel in Spain and party?!
Viva la Fiesta!!

» Other costs in Spain= € 117.65

WC: € 1.20

Souvenirs: € 9.40

Internet / Print: € 3.00

Pharmacy: € 28.60

Locker: € 3.60

Clothes: € 71.85

 

This time we included a new category on our ‘How much does it cost to travel in Spain’ spreadsheet: clothes. I know clothes are not properly a cost of traveling, but for us, full-time travelers, garments are a part of our budget and in Spain, it was hard to ignore the nice clothes and amazing designers. A couple of t-shirts wouldn’t harm our Spanish travel budget. 😀

How much does it cost to travel in Spain?! Less then you imagine! Many cultural activities are free of charge!
On Spanish streets you’ll find many cultural activities free of charge.

 

So, how much does it cost to travel in Spain?

It cost us € 2,144.18! This amount was for two people for a 36-day trip, in June/2014, so it was 1,468.76 USD per person. 

Cost to travel in Spain per person / per day = 40.80 USD

Congratulations to us, we made it!!! Spain in the Summer for less than 50 USD per day per person. We had tons of fun, we enjoyed cities, beaches, and the amazing Spanish cuisine. See? You don’t need to be rich to travel, either sacrifice your fun to save every penny. The key is to research a lot, check prices, find smart ways to save money and plan your Spain budget wisely.

It was only possible to find out how much it costs to travel in Spain because we took notes of all our expenses. The best advice I can give to you is to keep a track of everything you buy and pay. And never, absolutely never, give up on the fun and unforgettable moments just for saving some bucks. You are in a different country with amazing culture and attractions to enjoy, do it!

 

Planning a trip to Spain?!  Pin this post for later!!

How much does it cost to travel in Spain ? Food, accommodation and transport costs. Everything you need to know to plan your next trip to Spain. Learn how to organize your travel budget and enjoy your next holiday even more!

 

PS 1: Our cost does not include the inbound and outbound flights to/from Spain. The cost of transport will always depend on where you are coming from and where is your next destination.

PS 2: We didn’t add the price of our travel insurance in the costs because ours is a worldwide yearly coverage one, and the price for this type of plan is very different from monthly or weekly travel insurance. Before contracting yours,  request a quote from SafetyWing or HeyMondo, we used both and had good experiences.

If you need more information read our Travel Insurance Guide here.

 

Now let’s talk about yourself, do you keep track of your travel expenses? Have you already traveled to Spain? How much does it cost to travel in Spain your style?

73 thoughts on “How much does it cost to travel in Spain? Budget tips for your next trip!”

  1. Thanks for showing the good, the bad, the cheap, and the pricey. I love how affordable it is to see the best attractions in Spain and how many of them are free – definitely makes it appealing to visit.

    Reply
  2. Nice post! Spain is definitely not expensive, and there are great value for money options if you look hard enough. I also thought that the local food was excellent for the price, I had a full meal of tapas and wine for as low as 10-12 euros in some towns and that seemed amazing to me!

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  3. I lived in Spain for a couple of years, and I have also been a tourist there as well. Living there tends to be a lot cheaper than being a tourists, but there are definitely ways to save money. I like your tip about buying food at the supermarkets. It is so much cheaper! Also, the Spanish are really big on “bocatas”, which are big sandwiches that typically don’t cost so much money either. Perhaps that is a good way to save money on lunch as well : )

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  4. Congrats. $40/perspn/per day is great! 12 days of house sitting was a good help. We probably spend the same amount but the breakdown would be a little different. Spain is one of the cheapest places to tour in Europe!

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  5. Spain is a great destination for your budget! We stayed in Granada last year and it was ridiculously cheap. We received free tapas with every drink! In the evenings at sunset people gathered at the viewing points and drank wine ( 4-8 euro per bottle) or beer(1-2 euro) in the open. However, we did splash out on an apartment with stunning views overlooking the Alhambra though!

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  6. It has surprised me how little you can spend in some places in Europe – and still have a fantastic time. Great post and thanks for being to open about the costs.

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  7. We also found Spain surprisingly affordable, even for a family. We also hit the grocery store and avoid the tourist restaurants. We had some of the best meals eating in the neighborhoods or locals areas and saved a ton of money.

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  8. Great post, my country is sunny and affordable, what else could you ask for? 🙂
    Tip: next time include in your itinerary Granada, please!!! It is really beautiful and incredibly cheap (they usually give you free tapas everytime you order a drink there…)

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  9. Thanks for the informative article guys 🙂 We’re considering making Spain a temporary base in the very near future, so this helps us with our budgets! We typically spend about $100 / day when we’re travelling in Europe, so I think we should be ok in Spain. I would suggest house sitting as a way to save money on accommodation 🙂

    Cheers!

    Reply
  10. Hey Natalie, another fab post guys! I always admire how you manage and remember to write down EVERY cost (even the WC!) That is some serious commitment right there. Amazing and so useful… I’m so dappy and quite often feed my face so quickly that I forget to make a note of the cost ;)… going to be taking a leaf out of your book from now on. Great photos also… will be sharing this one!

    Gabby

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  11. Spain is such good value in my opinion! I couldn’t believe how inexpensive it felt on our first trip here earlier this year. The price of Airbnbs, groceries and eating out was so reasonable. And the cava, 2€ for a glass in a bar!? Amazing.

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  12. What great tips. Some, like house sitting, work better for a couple or single, rather that a family with kids! We find the number one way to keep expenses under control is to eat local – like you! Cook or make sandwiches and eat off the beaten path. You get even better food for an even better price when you do that!
    Great post!
    Natalie, The Educational Tourist

    Reply
    • Thanks for stopping by Natalie!! I´m glad you liked the post!

      Cooking at home or eating at local diners are definitely the best way to save some money, specially travelling as family and with kids.
      Happy travels,
      Nat

      Reply
  13. Hey guys, great post! I’ve traveled to Spain twice but many years ago and just for a weekend at a time. They were great weekends, but at the time I wasn’t really keeping track of expenses. I really thought your costs would be higher though. Guess you guys are doing something right! 🙂

    Reply
    • Spain is great fun and still one of the cheapest destinations in Europe, the secret is to keep track of all your expenses… That´s how we keep our bank account under control 😉
      Cheers,

      Nat

      Reply
  14. GREAT breakdown! We’ve looked for budgets for Spain and this one is definitely the only one that aligns with our style of travel. We’ll be keeping this around for when we get to Spain (It’s our goal for the moment) and BlaBlaCar is a great suggestion and something we hadn’t known about!! Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
    • So happy that you found the post useful!
      If you need any more info about Spain send us a message, we have been there a couple of times and LOVE it!
      While in Europe give a chance to BlaBlaCar, safe & cheap!!

      All the best,
      Nat

      Reply
  15. It takes a lot of effort to calculate your expenses and I’m always impressed when you do. It is super helpful for those wanting to estimate travel expenses. Well done again!

    Reply
    • Thanks Tracie!!
      In the beginning was quite hard to keep track of everything, but now it´s easy and the best way to keep our expenses under control.
      Before we started travelling I was always searching for blog posts with costs of travelling, and sometimes was hard to find useful information. That´s why we decided to do our “How Much does It Cost” posts, it might help someone out there planning to travel!
      😀
      Cheers,

      Nat

      Reply
  16. I love when big cities have there museums and things for free, its like they are saying COME LEARN… but for someone whose been around Bolivia, Nicaragua and Colombia for 2 years…Europe seems crazy expensive so price saving tips are always welcome!

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  17. Impressive list yet again, much more thorough than my own records.

    If that 310 euros is from just one night, you guys truly are the party animals!! 😉

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  18. Very useful post for us as we’ll be touring Spain as part of the Euro leg on our 18 month career break. Our budget will be blown out of the water with Ibiza but we are comfortable with that. It’s good to see a realistic breakdown though and thanks for the heads up on Blablacar!

    Reply
    • You are welcome Gemma!
      Give a try to BlaBlaCar, it’s cheap and safe!
      And please don´t tell me about Ibiza, we had to crossed it off out travel plan, otherwise we would be broke 🙂

      All the best,

      Nat

      Reply
  19. Great post, i loved your descriptions and rationale for each spend….sometimes it’s not just about the money, but how you choose your spends that makes it so interesting!

    How many nights out did that part of the budget cover?

    Rock on guys,
    Mike

    Reply
  20. Well done guys! We keep crossing paths around the world. One of these days we need to meet up!

    So I am a big fan of budget and expense posts, so I love seeing what others are doing and spending too. Of course we are a family of 4 and you are a couple, so a few differences. I can’t wait to share this with our readers as well. Keep it going!

    Reply
    • Hey Heidi!!
      Thanks for stopping by!
      And yes, feels like we are chasing each other…:-D
      Now we are back in Thailand, maybe we can catch up around here.
      I keeping following your budget posts, and I have to tell you that I am very impressed with your figures. It´s not easy to travel full time as family with kids, and still manage to keep the budget under control! Well done!!!
      All the best,
      Nat

      Reply
  21. Hi Natalie Deduck,
    Thank you for the breakdown but Spain is a bit expensive compared to Uganda because in Uganda very few euros can be used for big things here we can help to organize tours to Uganda for individuals and groups of people who would wish to see the gorillas,tree climbing lions ,buffalo’s,and many more wild animals at a very cheap rate.

    Reply
  22. Just got back from Spain. We are not budget minded travelers because we have done well in life but I enjoy reading your blog. Our video blog on YouTube is aim at Travelers just like us. How ever some of your travel tips are great for us.

    Reply
  23. After reading this, it has just kept me thinking, why is travel in Africa much more expensive? Imagine a gorilla permit would cost you $600 per person for one hours sighting in Uganda. You have not added your accommodation and transportation costs. The only difference with Europe would be the experience. May be it is time we rethink our traveling ways

    Reply
  24. This is such a great article! I thoroughly enjoyed reading through this, you’re photos brought back a lot of good memories from when I visited Spain a few years back. I really do want to go back. The locals were really friendly.

    Reply

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