How much money to prepare for a holiday in Barcelona?

In Barcelona - as in all of Spain - is paid in euros. There are countless exchange offices as well as ATMs. The best way to pay is with international Visa, Visa Electron, Master Card or Dinners Club cards.

Tip: If you want to withdraw from ATMs for free and pay no fees when paying, read on my article about the amazing Revolut app.

Those are the times when Barcelona was considered a cheap country. According to one of the studies from 2009, Barcelona 38th most expensive country in the world.

Cheap accommodation in Barcelona you can get approx €15 / night in the hostel (10 people in a room), the prices of regular hotel rooms range somewhere between €70 - €250 / night.

A moderately expensive meal will cost you approx for €20-40. Of course, you can eat cheaper in Barcelona - there are plenty of them fast food (Mc Donalds, KFC, Burger King) and provincial enterprises, where you can eat i for €8-15. It probably won't be an experience, but not everyone has money to throw around. Lunch menu prices (menu del dia) they are usually lower than when you have a meal from the classic menu (à la carte). 

If you can do with a cold kitchen, you can spend your stay in Barcelona on baguettes, which you can add salami, cheese or some vegetables. You can buy baguettes in any decent store for about €0,5. Several grocery chains operate in Spain, for example Caprabo, Lidl, Mercadona, Dia or Condition.

Average daily cost if you don't want to spend a lot

If you are going to Barcelona and at the same time don't want to spend a lot, you can fit in with a little moderation daily costs up to €70 per day including accommodation. What will you spend this amount on?

  • Attraction: €15 (one paid and others free)
  • Meal: €40,50
    • Breakfast: €3
    • Lunch: €15
    • Dinner: €20
    • Others (dessert, beer, wine,...): €2,5
  • Transport around the city: €2,40 single ticket (see more article about traveling around the city)
  • Accommodation: €30

Average daily cost if you have no spare cash

If you have really deep pockets, the above-mentioned daily costs can be cut down even more - with a lot of frugality, you can fit in up to €30 per day including accommodation. 

  • Attractions: €5 (free walking tour of the city with a guide - so-called free walking tour, recommended allowance for the guide; free attractions)
  • Food: €10
    • Breakfast: €0 (free in the hostel)
    • Lunch: €4 (various eastern bistros, kebap, takeaway, etc.)
    • Dinner: €5 (you can cook something yourself at the hostel or buy something for lunch)
    • Beer: €1 (from the supermarket)
  • Transport: €0 (you will walk everywhere, it is possible)
  • Accommodation: €15 (multi-bed room in hostel)

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  • Discount tourist cards—save on city transportation and get free admission to museums and landmarks, plus great discounts at shops and restaurants.
  • Buy tickets online—save money, time, and stress by purchasing admission to attractions from the comfort of your home through the Barcelona Tourist Office’s online store; if you’ve never bought tickets online before, read my detailed guide along with my personal experience on how to do it.
  • Find Accommodations—plenty of hotels, hostels, and guesthouses at reasonable prices. You can book immediately and pay after your stay.
  • Rent a car—if you don’t want to walk or want to venture further out of Barcelona, try Rental Cars. They’ll deliver the car to the airport, and you won’t have to worry about a thing.

Map with my tips for places in Barcelona

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