Sometimes it feels like you don’t tap your card or pay with tenners too often before you’ve spent £50. But in pretty pockets of sun-toasted Spanish coastline, you can get far more bang for your buck. And you can do so while the picturesque Portuguese border is in sight too. Where exactly? The Costa de la Luz. 
 
We’re talking about Isla Canela and Isla Cristina, to be precise. Tiled immaculately, painted colourfully and peppered with local, authentic charm generously, this region of Spain is a winner for the wallet. And that’s thanks to it being a more up-and-coming Costa, as opposed to some of its Brit-fave bigger siblings. So, here’s how you can eat there for under £50 a day… 

Stick to light brekkies – around £3 all in 

Make it a no to brunch but a yes to pastries from bakeries like Pastelería Pavón in Isla Canela. Though the cakes can be quite icing-heavy, so if that sounds a bit too decadent, save the idea for an elevenses sugar fix. 

The supermarket (Mercado is a winner) is otherwise your best bet for cheap first-thing bites. Bagging something yummy from there will only set you back about €2-3 (£1.70-2.70*), and you’ll be pretty impressed by the flakiness of the croissants and pain au raisins! They do orange juices, iced coffees and more too. Let’s face it, we all like a supermarket sweep on holiday. 

Eat menú del día at lunch 

You don’t have to fork out for lunch here – you can get so many reasonably priced set menus in Spain. Casa Silveira offers a stellar option during the day for €10 (around £8.70*) – that includes a tasty salad or fried fish to start, then mains consist of seafood paella, tuna with onions, and more. Alternatively, La Barricata nails good-value tapas dishes in cute digs.  

Do dinner like a local 

Dinner will no doubt be your most important or exciting meal of the day – which probably means the most expensive too. So you’ve got to leave the biggest buffer to accommodate. In this case, the early bird also catches the pre fixe menu, so you could break away from the locals’ habits and not dine as late in the evening. 

If you’d rather immerse yourself in all things Spanish, follow other people’s lead with mealtimes and book for between 8-9pm – or maybe later! Then, most mains at great restaurants could set you back between £18-26 (€21-23*). Tierra Y Mar in Ayamonte is fab if you fancy steak, salmon or other Mediterranean dishes, and they'll bring warm bread and oil too. LPA (TheCulinaryBar) boasts an even swisher setting in Ayamonte – think colourful décor pops, velvets and indoor plants. There, scallops, ceviche, confit meat and salads are popular. The squid ink croquettes are also highlights! 

As for in Isla Cristina, Mesón El Gato is known for cooking clams and prawns, as well as rice dishes on request. Again, similar price ranges. 

Shop for supermarket snacks – similar to breakfast 

On-the-go chomping champions don’t sit down to swanky afternoon teas with hefty price tags – nope, they hit the supermarket again. That way, you can spend roughly the same amount as at breakfast for a post-lunch pastry (that’s €2-3 – or £1.70-2.70*). You can also find packs of nuts, biscuits and more down the many aisles. And don’t forget the fruit available too – it's so fresh! Some nuts like pistachios can cost more, but you’ll still be looking at a few quid for most snacks. Did someone say Lay’s?  

Limit your alcohol and extras – see what the budget says 

Booze can get expensive: fact. So cutting it out – or even just drinking it less when you’re away – can really reduce how much you spend on holiday. After all, you can’t beat a Fanta Lemon, can you? Whether it’s a can of something fizzy or a freshly squeezed juice, you can find loads of dry alternatives that are kinder on the budget. Hydration is key, let’s not forget. 

Plus, pudding fans, we hate to say it, but they can get spenny too! If you can go without dessert, then that means a smaller bill – of around €10 (£8.70*) less. Or a compromise could be hitting the supermarket for some post-dinner chocolate or sweets instead, for a snip of the price. Sorted. 

Bonus tip: Stay in a villa 

If you’ve got a Jet2Villa in one of the region’s other resorts in mind, rather than a hotel, it’ll be even easier to keep costs down. That’s because you’ll have your own kitchen – and often a barbecue – to cook up a storm using supermarket-bought ingredients, rather than eating out.  

*Costs correct on original publish date.