Candles for lighting. In movies there's always a million lit candles everywhere. Was their use really common at all? Especially for common people?

by armyofBEErobots

In TV and movies, there's always a ton of lit candles in any indoor night scene. Very ubiquitous, but of course media isn't real life.

How much did candles cost? Did commoners often make their own, doing so sparingly because of costs?

Did the affluent actually light their entire castle every evening? Or were candles more of a "sometimes" thing.

Thanks!

mipmipmip

As a followup question, did those who could read tend to read by this kind of light?