Costs & Budget
Spain offers more for less money than most Western European countries. Food, drinks, and accommodations are noticeably cheaper than in Germany, Austria, or Switzerland — especially away from tourist hotspots.
Daily Budget per Person
| Style | €/Day | Accommodation | Food | Transport |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Backpacker | €35–55 | Hostel (€15–25) | Supermarket + 1× Menú del Día | Bus, Blablacar |
| Budget | €55–85 | Pensión / Hostal (€30–50) | Menú del Día + evening Tapas | Bus + Renfe Media Distancia |
| Mid-range | €85–150 | 3★ Hotel / Apartment (€60–100) | 2× Restaurant | Rental car or AVE |
| Comfort | €150–280 | 4★ Boutique Hotel / Parador (€100–200) | Fine dining restaurants | Rental car + domestic flights |
| Luxury | €280+ | 5★ Hotel / Parador Suite (€200–500+) | Fine Dining / Michelin-starred restaurants | Convertible rental car / Private driver |
Price Examples (2025/2026)
| What | Price |
|---|---|
| Café con leche | €1.20–1.80 |
| Caña (small beer, 0.2l) | €1.50–2.50 |
| Glass of wine (house wine) | €2.00–4.00 |
| Menú del Día (3 courses + drink) | €10–16 |
| Tapa (in a bar) | €2.50–5.00 (often free with a drink in Granada!) |
| Paella for 2 (restaurant) | €25–40 |
| Jamón Ibérico (100g, market) | €5–12 |
| Supermarket shopping (day, 2 people) | €12–22 |
| Bottle of Rioja (supermarket) | €4–10 |
| Alhambra (entry) | €14 |
| Sagrada Família (entry) | €26 |
| Prado (entry) | €15 (free after 6 PM!) |
| AVE Madrid–Barcelona | €25–110 (depending on advance booking) |
| Rental car (small car/day, high season) | €30–60 |
Money-Saving Tips
- Use Menú del Día: The best value for money in all of Spain. 3 courses with bread, drink, and often dessert or coffee for €10–16 — even in really good restaurants. Only at lunchtime (1:00–4:00 PM), the evening menu is significantly more expensive.
- Free Tapas in Granada: In Granada, you get a free tapa with every drink (€2–3) — it can replace half a dinner. The best tapas streets: Calle Navas and Calle Elvira.
- Museums for free: Almost all major museums have free time slots: Prado (Mon–Sat after 6 PM, Sun after 5 PM), Reina Sofía (Mon & Wed–Sat after 7 PM), Picasso Museum Barcelona (Thu after 5 PM, first Sunday of the month).
- Renfe Early Bird: AVE tickets often cost only €25–35 when booked 2–3 months in advance instead of €80–110. The Renfe app shows the cheapest options.
- Accommodations inland: Cities like Toledo, Salamanca, Córdoba, and Cáceres are 30–50% cheaper than coastal towns and Madrid/Barcelona.
💡 Tipp
Spain offers one of the best value-for-money experiences in Western Europe. The Menú del Día is your best friend: For €10–16, you get a full 3-course meal with a drink in almost any restaurant — often better than some dinners for three times the price.