Barcelona summer camps cost more than other Catalan cities

Families in Barcelona face higher costs for summer camps compared to other Catalan cities, with an average weekly price of €150 for a full day including lunch. This figure, which does not include subsidies, can reach €600 per month for one child, or €1,200 for two children, according to a report.

In contrast, Girona's average weekly cost is €96, Tarragona's is €110, and Lleida offers the most economical option at €67, though the latter two end earlier in the day. Municipalities in the Barcelona metropolitan area also show higher prices than other provincial capitals. For example, Santa Coloma de Gramenet charges €123 per week.

Smaller towns, with populations under 20,000, often have even lower prices. Roses averages €61 per week for a full-day camp with lunch, and Castell-Platja d'Aro charges just €51.

Local Subsidies Drive Price Differences

These regional price differences stem from varying levels of municipal subsidies. Some local councils subsidise a portion of the camp costs, allowing families to pay less. Aina Espona, head of the summer camp campaign for the Pere Tarrés Foundation, explained that while the cost remains the same, families in smaller, rural areas do not bear the full price. She noted that Barcelona's municipal budget cannot support similar levels of subsidy.

Xavi Florido, deputy head of school programmes at Fundesplai, added that outside Barcelona, some councils tender municipal camps, resulting in very affordable, heavily subsidised prices. In Barcelona, most camps are privately run, though families can access grants and support workers for children with special needs.

In Girona, the council partners with local non-profit organisations, paying them a per-student fee that exceeds what families contribute. Queralt Vila, Girona's Councillor for Education, Participation, and Citizen Services, stated that the exact amounts paid by the council and families vary based on income-based subsidies, special needs, and family structure. This year, Girona allocated over €625,000 to summer camps, accommodating 3,300 children.

Jordi, 43, a single parent in Girona, will pay €800 for his daughter Laia's two months of camp, benefiting from a 5% single-parent discount. He recalled paying double last year when he enrolled her in a non-municipal camp, spending €1,600, almost a month's salary.

Barcelona's "T'estiu molt" Campaign

Barcelona's municipal campaign, "T'estiu molt" (I love summer), allows participating organisations to receive accreditation if they meet specific criteria, including price caps (€153.10 for standard camps, €175.35 for sports camps) and inclusivity. This enables them to access grants and support staff for children with special educational needs (SEN).

However, Florido pointed out that the council's subsidy for each SEN child does not fully cover the cost of a support worker. This year, 290 organisations are part of the "T'estiu molt" campaign, offering over 1,000 activities and more than 395,000 places for children and adolescents up to 17 years old.

Grants are primarily for vulnerable families and are income-dependent. Espona noted that these grants are subject to a budget ceiling and only cover ten days of camp, not the full duration. Recognising these limitations, the Pere Tarrés Foundation also offers its own grants. Florido acknowledged that while grants reach more people, income thresholds are becoming increasingly restrictive, ranging from €0 to €10,000 gross annual income per family member.

This year, €5.1 million has been allocated to grants for 37,797 children. In 85% of cases, the grant covers up to 90% of the activity cost.

Rising Costs and Family Strategies

Specialised camps, such as sports, English, art, horse riding, or sailing, are typically more expensive, costing around €250 for sailing or €240 for theatre. School-based camps are generally more affordable, at about €130, and are the most requested in Barcelona.

Laura and Jaume, parents of three, previously chose the cheaper school camp option. Now, their two older daughters want to attend the basketball club camp. For two weeks, including one week of residential camp, they will pay €900. Adding the younger child's school camp, which costs €256 with a large family discount, their total for fifteen days is €1,156, half of Laura's salary. To cover the remaining school holiday weeks, they will rely on grandparents and take separate holidays, reserving two weeks to be together as a family. They stated they cannot afford to spend an entire salary on camps.

Summer camp prices in Barcelona have increased by 2.9% this year, continuing a trend since 2023, with rises of 2.4% from 2024 to 2025 and 2.5% from 2023 to 2024, according to Barcelona City Council data. In contrast, prices in cities like Girona have remained stable for the past two years.

The rising costs in Barcelona are due to several factors, including increased food prices, transport expenses, and improved monitor salaries. Espona highlighted the dramatic increase in coach costs and a shortage of drivers, noting a 2.5% rise in coach prices last year. Most camps offer at least one excursion per week. Florido explained that Barcelona's competitive market encourages camps to adjust prices or offer unique activities to stand out.

Moving forward, families will continue to seek a balance between affordability and childcare needs during the long summer break, with local government policies playing a key role in determining accessibility.