Alicante Travel Budget 2026 — How Much to Spend on Holiday?
Real costs for accommodation, food, transport and attractions — with a comparison to Mallorca and Tenerife
TL;DR — The Quick Answer
Alicante is one of the cheapest Mediterranean coastal destinations in Western Europe — 17% cheaper than Mallorca (Expatistan, April 2026). 3-star hotel: €76–164/night (off-season vs. July-August). Set lunch menu: €12–17. TRAM ticket: €1.45. Daily budget: €30 (backpacker), €70–100 (standard), €190+ (comfortable).
Alicante consistently appears in rankings of the cheapest seaside holiday destinations in Europe. According to Expatistan data from April 2026, the city is 17% cheaper than Palma de Mallorca — with comparable weather and equally beautiful beaches. The real answer to "how much does a week in Alicante cost?" depends mainly on when you travel.
Accommodation Costs in Alicante 2026
A 3-star hotel in Alicante averages €76–85 per night off-season (January-March, November) and €155–164 in peak season — July and August (BudgetYourTrip, 2026). The most expensive month is July, with an average of €228 per night for a 3-star room (Skyscanner). The cheapest is March, from €104 per night.
| Accommodation type | Off-season | July–August |
|---|---|---|
| Hostel dorm bed | €13–17 | €25–35 |
| Budget hotel 2-star | €40–60 | €80–110 |
| 3-star hotel (mid-range) | €76–104 | €155–228 |
| 4–5 star hotel | €120–160 | €250–400 |
| Apartment (Airbnb) | €60–90 | €120–241 |
For excellent value, consider a rental apartment in Gran Alacant — a calm coastal neighbourhood 10 km from the city centre. See our complete Gran Alacant guide for beaches, transport and local tips. For a detailed month-by-month cost breakdown, read our cost of living in Gran Alacant 2026. Apartments at Brisa Alacant offer a great base for exploring the Costa Blanca at prices often lower than a city-centre 3-star hotel.
Food and Restaurant Costs in Alicante
The menú del día — a traditional Spanish set lunch (starter + main + dessert + drink) — costs €12–17 in Alicante (TodoAlicante). It's one of the best ways to eat well on a budget in Spain: three courses in a proper restaurant for a fraction of the à la carte price. A dinner for two at a mid-range restaurant costs around €50 (Numbeo, April 2026).
- Set lunch menu (3 courses + drink): €12–17
- Meal at a cheap restaurant (1 person): ~€15
- Dinner for 2 at mid-range restaurant: ~€50
- Tapas plate + beer: €4–8
- Cappuccino: €1.89
- Local beer 0.5L: €3.00
- Bottled water 1.5L (supermarket): €0.58–0.65
Transport Costs in Alicante
Public transport in Alicante is among the cheapest in Spain. A single TRAM ticket (zone 1) costs €1.45, and a Bono 10 (10-trip card) is just €5.25 (TRAM d'Alacant) — saving over 60% vs. single tickets. Note: TRAM serves routes north of the city centre (El Campello, Benidorm). Gran Alacant, south of the airport, is served by Vectalia buses only. For a full breakdown of routes, timetables and connections, see our complete guide to public transport in Alicante.
- TRAM single ticket (zone 1): €1.45
- TRAM Bono 10: €5.25 (€0.52 per trip)
- Bus C-6 from airport ALC to city centre: €4.85
- Taxi from ALC airport to city centre: ~€23–25 (fixed rate €19–21 + €4.25 airport surcharge)
- Car hire: from €25/day (March, off-season), avg ~€85/day in peak season
- Electric bike hire: from €15/day
Attractions — Ticket Prices 2026
Alicante is unusually generous to budget travellers. Santa Bárbara Castle — the city's landmark — has free entry on foot (official castle website); only the lift costs €2.70. MARQ, the Provincial Archaeological Museum of Alicante, charges just €3 — and it's free on Sundays (MARQ).
- Santa Bárbara Castle: free (lift €2.70, family pack 2+3 = €12)
- MARQ Archaeological Museum: €3 (free Sundays)
- Explanada de España, Barrio Santa Cruz, beach: free
- Terra Mítica Benidorm: €37–41 (online/gate)
- Aqualandia Benidorm: €35–37
- Tabarca Island boat trip: ~€15–20 return
Daily Budget — 3 Scenarios
- • Hostel dorm: €17
- • 2× set lunch: €14–17
- • TRAM: €1–3
- • Free attractions
- • Coffee, snacks: €5
- • 3-star hotel (half cost): €40–80
- • Lunch menu + dinner: €25–35
- • Transport: €3–6
- • 1 paid attraction: €3–15
- • Drinks, coffees: €8–10
- • 4-star hotel (half cost): €80–120
- • Lunch + dinner: €40–55
- • Taxi/Uber: €10–20
- • Attractions (parks): €20–40
- • Shopping, extras: €20–30
Alicante vs. Mallorca vs. Tenerife — Which is Cheaper?
Alicante is 17% cheaper than Palma de Mallorca according to the Expatistan cost of living index (April 2026). Accommodation costs 36% less in Alicante than in Palma. For a one-week spring holiday for 2 people:
| Destination | 7 nights 3-star | Food 7 days | Transport + attractions | Total (2 people) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alicante (spring) | €420–615 | €280–350 | €70–100 | €770–1,065 |
| Tenerife (south) | €700–1,000 | €350–490 | €150–200 | €1,200–1,690 |
| Mallorca (Palma) | €630–980 | €420–560 | €150–200 | €1,200–1,740 |
Sources: BudgetYourTrip, Expatistan, GuideToCanaryIslands — data April 2026
10 Tips to Save Money in Alicante
- 1Visit in May or September — warm weather (25–28°C), sea swimmable, hotels up to 40% cheaper than July.
- 2Buy a Bono 10 card — €5.25 for 10 trips instead of €14.50 for 10 singles. Over 60% savings.
- 3Eat the menú del día at lunch — 3 courses with drink for €12–17. À la carte equivalents cost €25–35.
- 4Walk up to the castle for free — Santa Bárbara Castle entry on foot is free. The lift costs €2.70. Same view.
- 5Take bus C-6 from the airport — €4.85 vs €23–25 taxi. Saves €20 from the very first minute of your holiday.
- 6Shop at Mercadona — water €0.58, beer €0.99, bread €1.54. Supermarket breakfasts save €8–15/day.
- 7Visit MARQ on Sundays — free entry to the Provincial Archaeological Museum on Sundays and public holidays.
- 8Travel without checked luggage — Ryanair and Wizz Air charge €100–120 per leg for a suitcase. A 40L backpack fits as hand luggage.
- 9Tapas instead of a sit-down dinner — on Calle Castaños and Calle San Francisco, tapas + beer cost €2–5 each. Dinner for two for under €20.
- 10Book your rental car in March or November — from €25/day vs €85/day in peak season. For 7 days that's a €420 saving.
When to Visit Alicante — Seasonal Price Guide
Alicante has one of Europe's longest beach seasons — the sea is swimmable from May to November. The price difference between off-season and peak is significant: a 3-star hotel in July costs over twice as much as in March (Skyscanner).
| Month | 3-star hotel (avg) | Temperature | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| January–February | €76–85 | 12–18°C | Cheapest — sightseeing, no beach |
| March | €104 | 15–20°C | Cheapest month for flights (Skyscanner) |
| April–May | €110–130 | 20–26°C | Best price-to-weather ratio |
| June | €130–150 | 26–30°C | Prices rising — Hogueras de San Juan |
| July–August | €155–228 | 30–34°C | Peak — most expensive, busiest |
| September | €110–130 | 27–30°C, sea 25°C | Best month for warm-sea lovers |
| October–November | €85–105 | 20–24°C | Great for sightseeing, no heat |
Book an Apartment in Gran Alacant
Brisa Alacant offers modern long-term rental accommodation on the Costa Blanca — 5 minutes by car from Carabassi beach, with a pool, terrace with sea views and fully equipped kitchen. An ideal base for exploring Alicante, Santa Pola and the Costa Blanca — often at a lower price than a city-centre 3-star hotel.
Check Availability and Prices →Frequently Asked Questions
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Rafał Prońko
Owner of Brisa Alacant
Owner of the Brisa Alacant long-term rental apartment since 2023, I regularly visit Costa Blanca and know the region from personal experience. All the places described on this blog I have visited myself — photos and tips come from my own visits. I help guests discover the best attractions in the Alicante region.
Read also
Public Transport in Alicante — Bus, Tram & Train
How to get around Alicante cheaply: TRAM, ALSA buses, Renfe trains and taxis — prices and timetables 2026.
FinanceCost of Living in Gran Alacant 2026
Food, transport, shopping and entertainment costs in Gran Alacant — updated figures for 2026.
GuidesGran Alacant — Complete Neighbourhood Guide
Everything about life in Gran Alacant: beaches, restaurants, shops and local transport.