Europe ranges from $35/day in Romania to $180/day in Switzerland - knowing realistic daily costs by country lets you plan a trip that matches your budget.
Planning tool: The Travel Budget Planner helps calculate your total trip cost based on daily estimates by country.
Daily Budget Categories
What to Include
- Accommodation: Hostels, budget hotels, Airbnb
- Food: Groceries, local restaurants, occasional treats
- Transportation: Local transit, occasional intercity travel
- Activities: Museums, attractions, tours
- Misc: Tips, souvenirs, unexpected expenses
These categories capture most travel spending. Breaking down your budget this way helps identify where your money goes and where flexibility exists. Accommodation typically accounts for the largest share, followed by food, then activities and transportation.
Budget Levels
Different travel styles land at different price points.
Shoestring ($40-60/day) means hostel dorms, grocery store food, lots of walking, and sticking mostly to free attractions. Possible in Eastern Europe. Tight in Western Europe.
Budget ($60-100/day) gets you private hostel rooms or budget hotels, a mix of cooking and eating out, public transit with the occasional taxi, and access to major paid attractions.
Moderate ($100-150/day) covers mid-range hotels or nice Airbnb stays, restaurant meals, some organized tours, and most attractions you want to see.
The budget level you choose shapes the entire trip experience. Shoestring travel involves trade-offs and requires flexibility. Moderate travel provides comfort with some constraints. Understanding these tiers helps match expectations with resources.
Western Europe Daily Costs
Expensive Countries
Switzerland
- Budget: $120-180/day
- Moderate: $200-300/day
- Even hostels run high here. Food is expensive everywhere.
Norway, Sweden, Denmark
- Budget: $100-150/day
- Moderate: $180-250/day
- Groceries help offset restaurant costs
Iceland
- Budget: $130-180/day
- Moderate: $220-300/day
- Camping and cooking essential for budget travel
Mid-Range Countries
France
- Budget: $70-100/day
- Moderate: $120-180/day
- Paris runs higher. Countryside is more affordable.
Germany
- Budget: $60-90/day
- Moderate: $100-150/day
- Beer is cheap; accommodation reasonable
UK/Ireland
- Budget: $80-120/day
- Moderate: $140-200/day
- London costs significantly more
Netherlands, Belgium
- Budget: $70-100/day
- Moderate: $120-170/day
- Amsterdam pricier than other Dutch cities
Western Europe generally costs more than Eastern or Southern Europe, but prices vary significantly within each country. Major cities run 20-40% higher than smaller towns, and tourist-heavy areas command premium prices. Factor this in when planning your itinerary.
Italy
- Budget: $70-100/day
- Moderate: $120-180/day
- Venice and Milan run expensive. Southern Italy is more affordable.
Spain
- Budget: $60-90/day
- Moderate: $100-150/day
- Great value for food quality
Eastern Europe Daily Costs
Affordable Countries
Poland
- Budget: $35-55/day
- Moderate: $60-90/day
- Excellent value for food and accommodation
Czech Republic
- Budget: $45-65/day
- Moderate: $70-110/day
- Prague runs higher due to tourism
Hungary
- Budget: $35-55/day
- Moderate: $60-90/day
- Budapest very budget-friendly
Romania, Bulgaria
- Budget: $30-50/day
- Moderate: $50-80/day
- Some of Europe’s best value
Croatia
- Budget: $50-75/day
- Moderate: $80-130/day
- Dubrovnik is pricey. Inland areas are more affordable.
Baltics
Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania
- Budget: $45-65/day
- Moderate: $70-100/day
- Tallinn and Riga slightly higher
Eastern Europe offers dramatically better value than the west. The same daily budget that feels tight in Paris feels generous in Budapest or Prague. The quality of food and accommodation remains high - only the prices differ.
Southern Europe Daily Costs
Portugal
- Budget: $50-75/day
- Moderate: $80-120/day
- Lisbon and Porto cost more. Algarve varies by season.
Greece
- Budget: $50-80/day
- Moderate: $90-140/day
- Islands cost more. Mainland is affordable.
Turkey
- Budget: $35-55/day
- Moderate: $60-90/day
- Excellent value; Istanbul slightly higher
Southern Europe strikes a middle ground between Western and Eastern prices. Portugal, Greece, and Turkey offer excellent value while Spain and Italy approach Western European costs in major cities. The food quality across Southern Europe often exceeds what you’d get at similar prices elsewhere.
Sample Trip Budgets
2 Weeks Western Europe (Budget Level)
| Category | Daily Cost | 14 Days |
|---|---|---|
| Accommodation | $45 | $630 |
| Food | $30 | $420 |
| Transport | $15 | $210 |
| Activities | $15 | $210 |
| Misc | $10 | $140 |
| Daily Total | $115 | $1,610 |
Plus flights: $600-1,200 round trip
2 Weeks Eastern Europe (Budget Level)
| Category | Daily Cost | 14 Days |
|---|---|---|
| Accommodation | $25 | $350 |
| Food | $20 | $280 |
| Transport | $10 | $140 |
| Activities | $10 | $140 |
| Misc | $5 | $70 |
| Daily Total | $70 | $980 |
Plus flights: $700-1,400 round trip
These sample budgets illustrate how country choice dramatically affects total cost. A two-week trip to Eastern Europe costs less than a week in Western Europe at the same daily budget level. Geographic strategy matters.
Cost-Saving Strategies
Accommodation
- Book hostels with kitchens
- Consider private rooms in hostels (often cheaper than hotels)
- Use Airbnb for longer stays
- Stay outside city centers
Food
- Shop at grocery stores for breakfast and snacks
- Eat lunch (often cheaper) instead of dinner at restaurants
- Seek out local spots, not tourist areas
- Picnic in parks with grocery store finds
Transportation
- Book trains early for best prices
- Consider bus alternatives (Flixbus)
- Walk when possible
- City passes often include transit
Activities
- Many museums have free days or hours
- Walking tours (tip-based) are affordable
- Parks, markets, and neighborhoods are free
- Research free attractions before arrival
Cost-saving strategies apply regardless of which countries you visit. The techniques that work in expensive Switzerland also work in affordable Poland - the savings just compound on top of already lower base prices.
Seasonal Variations
High Season (June-August)
Accommodation runs 30-50% higher. Popular destinations are crowded. Book everything well in advance.
Shoulder Season (April-May, September-October)
Better prices, decent weather (usually), and fewer crowds.
Low Season (November-March)
Lowest prices (except around Christmas and New Year). Some attractions run reduced hours. Weather might limit what you can do.
Shoulder season - April through May and September through October - often provides the best combination of reasonable prices, decent weather, and fewer crowds. Worth considering for both budget and experience reasons.
Currency Considerations
Euro Zone
Many countries use euros - convenient for multi-country trips.
Non-Euro Countries
UK (pound), Switzerland (franc), Sweden/Norway/Denmark (crowns), Poland (zloty), Czech Republic (koruna), Hungary (forint)
Exchange Tips
- Use ATMs for best rates (check foreign transaction fees)
- Avoid airport exchanges
- Credit cards widely accepted in Western Europe
Currency considerations affect both convenience and cost. Multi-country trips through the eurozone are simpler than trips requiring multiple currency exchanges. Factor in transaction fees when calculating true costs.
Building Your Travel Budget
Step 1: Choose Countries
Pick based on what interests you and what you can afford.
Step 2: Estimate Daily Costs
Use the ranges in this guide based on how you like to travel.
Step 3: Calculate Trip Total
(Daily Cost × Days) + Flights + BufferStep 4: Plan Savings
The Travel Budget Planner helps map out a savings timeline.
Tracking While Traveling
Daily Expense Log
Worth tracking spending by category while traveling. Prevents budget creep, catches overspending early, and gives you data for planning future trips.
The 50/50 Check
Halfway through your trip, check if you’ve spent about 50% of your budget. If not, adjust.
Tracking during the trip prevents budget surprises. A few minutes daily to log expenses catches overspending before it’s too late to adjust. The data also improves future trip planning.
Common Questions
How much for a month in Europe?
Budget: $2,500-4,000 (Eastern Europe focus) Moderate: $4,000-6,000 (Mixed countries) Comfortable: $6,000-10,000 (Western Europe focus)
Is Western Europe worth the extra cost?
Different experience, not better or worse. Western Europe offers iconic attractions; Eastern Europe offers value and authenticity.
Should I buy a rail pass?
Worth calculating point-to-point tickets first. Passes often aren’t cheaper unless you’re moving between cities frequently.
How far in advance should I book?
Flights: 2-3 months ahead Accommodation: 1-2 months (longer for peak season) Trains: 2-4 weeks for best prices
Plan Your European Trip Budget
The Travel Budget Planner combines pre-trip estimation with expense tracking - calculate your total trip cost using these daily estimates and track spending while traveling. Works in Google Sheets.
Get the Travel Budget Planner →
Related
- Travel Budget Planner - Plan and track your trip
- How to Plan a Trip Budget in Google Sheets
- Vacation Savings Calculator
- Road Trip Budget Planner
European travel budgets vary dramatically by country. Eastern and Southern Europe offer excellent value, while Scandinavia and Switzerland require significantly more resources. Use these daily cost estimates to plan a trip that matches your budget - and track spending while traveling to stay on track.