Destination: Spain
LONELY PLANET'S OFFICIAL GUIDEBOOK INFORMATION
Money & costs
Spain is, as locals will quickly tell you, not as cheap as it once was. What you spend on accommodation (probably your single greatest expense) will depend on various factors, such as location (Madrid is pricier than Albacete), season (August along the coast is packed and expensive), the degree of comfort you require and a little dumb luck. At the budget end you'll pay €11 to €22 for a bed in a youth hostel (depending on the hostel, season and your age).
The cheapest bearable pension (small private hotel)/hostal (budget hotel) is unlikely to cost less than €15/25, but reckon on more in the cities and resorts. Depending on where you are, you can stumble across good rooms with attached bathroom from as little as €30/50 (up to €50/70 in the more popular locations).
Eating out is still more variable. A menu del dia (daily set menu) can cost as little as €6 to €12. Bank on spending a minimum of €20 on a full dinner (including house wine).
Most sights are fairly cheap. Keep an eye out for free days (especially on Sunday and set days for EU citizens).
Public transport is reasonably priced, although high-speed trains are pricey. Internal air transport is generally also steep.
A backpacker sticking to youth hostels, lunch-time snacks and travelling slowly could scrape by on €40 to €50 a day. A more comfortable mid-range budget, including a sandwich for lunch, a modest evening meal, a couple of sights and travel will come to anything from €100 to €150 a day.
HOW MUCH?
El Pais newspaper: €1
Admission to dance clubs: €10-20
Cocktail: €6-8
Seat at a Real Madrid or FC Barcelona match: from €30
City metro ride: €1.10
Litre of petrol: €0.82-0.98
Litre of bottled water: €0.35
Cana (small glass) of Mahou beer: €1
Souvenir T-shirt: €10-24
A tapa: €1-3
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