With everybody keeping an eye on their budgets, we thought it was worth doing some homework on the costs associated with holidaying in Spain.

With bargain flights, being offered constantly by the various low cost airlines it is important to have an idea just how much more an average holiday can cost you.

Although it is still possible to eat out reasonably, the costs can still add for the average family of 4. So with this in mind we have taken note of some typical items that people are likely to need on a self-catering holiday on the Costa Blanca if eating out proves too costly.

The items listed below are just a sample taken from a few supermarkets and with so many to choose from you can soon get a feel for the prices and probably make plenty of shrewd buys. All prices in Euros.

Shopping List

Packet of ham          2.00        Coffee 200g                     1.99
Fresh Chicken          4.50        Tea PG tips 40 bags          1.90
Mince 1kg                4.65        Corn flakes 375g              2.30
Beef Burgers (Fresh) 3.00         Coco pops     500g            1.40
Bread (cut loaf)        1.00         French Stick                       0.39
Crossant (8)             1.55        Digestive biscuits (2 packs) 1.49
Choc digestive 2 packs 1.95        Sliced Bread        0.99
Eggs 12 (med)        1.07             Donuts (4)            1.99
Magdelanas (12)        0.59        Tuna 3 large tins        3.38
Oven chips 1kg        1.20
BBQ potatoes 450grm    0.69        Pizza (Frozen)        1.75
Pizza (Fresh)        2.49                  Jam & Marmalade    0.90
Vanilla ice cream     1.15             Lollies (10)            1.40
Plain crisps 250grm    0.99         Mayonnaise            1.24
Ketchup            0.59                   Penne/Spaghetti 1kg    0.75
Tin of beans        0.75                 Cheese Cheddar 450kg 4.80
Fresh milk 1litre        0.78            Flora    500gm        2.47
Tin of pineapple (large) 1.20        San Miguel 12 Cans 4.90
Wine white (Liria)    1.49               L Antignon White wine 0.95

Lambresco            1.59                 Nappies (36)        6.00

Water 1.5L              0.16               Water 5Litre        0.55
Cola 2 litres         0.33        Orange juice 1 Litre    0.55
Pineapple 1 Litre         0.59        Orange Fizzy 1 Litre    0.33
Pineapple tin         1.09        Peach halves        0.99
Tin fruit cocktail         1.20        Chocs snickers etc 350g 1.99
Jaffa cakes    1.75g         1.09        Choc biscuits        0.99

The list of supermarkets is considerable ranging from a few that are familiar like LIDL and ALDI and then the bigger Spanish outlets including Mercadona, Consum, Gamma and Eroski. Other international stores include  Super Valu and Carrefour.

The other good news is that Iceland is now opening sites here so if you simply have to have UK products you will have plenty of choice. Locally you will usually be able to find smaller British supermarkets like Quick Save and other independent options but these do tend to be more expensive so you probably wouldn’t want to do all the shopping here.

If you still like the idea of eating then without too much effort you will still find some good value restaurants and cafes depending on your particular tastes. If Chinese is a favourite then you can still get a menu of the day from around 5euros and that usually includes a drink and sometimes a bottle of wine to take home.

With traditional English breakfasts now being offered at 2 euros and more and more restaurants, looking for trade to keep them going you can eat out for some meals at least and not break the bank to do it.