Spain needs a destination-specific budget rather than a generic Europe-wide average. Spain is easiest to budget when you compare the exact city, island or resort. Barcelona, Madrid and Ibiza can cost much more than smaller mainland cities or quieter coastal areas.
As a practical planning starting point, compare accommodation, food, transport and activities separately, then add flights for your actual dates. The ranges in this guide are planning estimates, not live quotes.
Plan your budget
How much will your trip cost?
Build a personalised estimate for flights, accommodation, food, transport, activities and other major travel costs.
Calculate My Trip →How much spending money should you plan for Spain?
For a typical trip, start by testing accommodation around £55–£100 per room per night, food around £30–£65 per person per day, local transport around £8–£20 per person per day and sightseeing around £10–£30 per person per day. Adjust upward for peak dates, premium locations and experience-led trips.
The cleanest way to calculate spending money is to separate everything already paid for from the costs you expect to face while travelling.
Prices can change considerably by season, booking date, location and travel style. Use these figures and examples as planning guidance rather than live quotes, and always compare current prices before booking.
Planning tip
Use this section as a planning range, then check live prices for your own dates before booking.
What should you pay before travelling?
A useful starting range is around £55–£100 per room per night for many ordinary stays, but location and season matter enormously. Spain is easiest to budget when you compare the exact city, island or resort. Barcelona, Madrid and Ibiza can cost much more than smaller mainland cities or quieter coastal areas.
Flights, accommodation, airport transfers and major pre-booked experiences are easier to manage when treated as separate trip costs rather than being taken from your everyday spending allowance.
Food and drink allowance
Allow roughly £30–£65 per person per day if you mix inexpensive meals with casual restaurants. Premium dining, frequent drinks and tourist hotspots can take the total much higher.
Mix inexpensive everyday meals with the restaurants, bars or special dining experiences that actually matter to you. This prevents a premium food budget from being applied unnecessarily to every meal.
Where to save money in Spain
Use public transport in the big cities, compare package prices with independent bookings for resorts, and avoid assuming a cheap flight means a cheap holiday.
The aim is not necessarily to make every part of the trip as cheap as possible. Look for the expenses that add the least to your experience and reduce those first. That leaves more of your budget for the things you will genuinely remember.
TravPost verdict
Final budget verdict
Spain can work across different travel styles, but the strongest budget is one built around your actual itinerary. Start with the major fixed costs, add realistic everyday spending and then leave room for the experiences that make the trip worthwhile.
Use the TravPost travel cost calculator alongside live flight and accommodation searches to create a personalised estimate before you book.
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Plan My Trip →Frequently asked questions
Planning your trip
How much spending money do I need for Spain?+
Start with food, local transport and unpaid attractions, then add optional spending and a contingency. Keep prepaid flights and accommodation separate.
Should accommodation be included in spending money?+
Usually it is clearer to treat accommodation as a separate fixed trip cost. Spending money can then cover the expenses you expect to pay while away.
Should I take all my spending money in cash?+
That depends on the destination. Having more than one payment method available can be useful, and you should check your own card provider's foreign transaction and cash-withdrawal charges.
How much should I budget for food each day?+
It depends on your dining style. Build a range based on inexpensive everyday meals plus any restaurants, drinks or special dining experiences you intend to include.
Should attraction tickets be included?+
Include anything you still expect to pay for after arrival. Tickets already purchased can be kept in the main trip budget instead.
How much emergency money should I keep?+
Keep a separate contingency rather than planning to spend your entire allowance. The appropriate amount depends on how many parts of the trip remain unpaid.