How Much Does Daily Travel in Europe Really Cost?
Travel costs in Europe vary dramatically depending on the region. Central Europe and the Iberian peninsula remain the strongest value destinations on the continent, allowing travelers to experience historic cities and high-speed transit at a fraction of the cost of Scandinavia, Switzerland, or the United Kingdom.
2026 Daily Spending Benchmarks by Country
The following numbers represent all-inclusive daily spending per person, covering a clean dorm bed or shared private room, three meals, local public transit, and one paid attraction per day:
| Country |
Backpacker Tier |
Value / Mid-Range Tier |
Smart Comfort Tier |
| Hungary (Budapest & Regions) |
€35 to €42 |
€75 to €95 |
€140 to €180 |
| Poland (Kraków, Warsaw, Gdańsk) |
€38 to €45 |
€80 to €100 |
€145 to €190 |
| Slovakia (Bratislava & Tatras) |
€40 to €48 |
€85 to €105 |
€150 to €195 |
| Czechia (Prague, Brno, Olomouc) |
€42 to €50 |
€90 to €115 |
€160 to €210 |
| Portugal (Lisbon, Porto, Algarve) |
€48 to €56 |
€95 to €125 |
€170 to €230 |
| Slovenia (Ljubljana, Bled, Piran) |
€50 to €58 |
€100 to €130 |
€180 to €240 |
| Spain (Madrid, Andalusia, Valencia) |
€52 to €62 |
€105 to €140 |
€190 to €260 |
| Germany (Berlin, Leipzig, Cologne) |
€60 to €72 |
€120 to €160 |
€210 to €290 |
| Austria (Vienna, Salzburg, Graz) |
€68 to €82 |
€135 to €180 |
€240 to €330 |
What Each Tier Delivers
- Backpacker Tier: Staying in an 8-bed or 6-bed hostel dorm, cooking one meal or eating breakfast at supermarkets, lunch at traditional lunch diners (milk bars, tascas, étkezde), using public transit, and taking advantage of free museum days.
- Value / Mid-Range Tier: Staying in a private double room in a 3-star boutique hotel or Airbnb (cost split between two people), dining out for lunch and dinner, enjoying evening drinks and coffee, and paying for major monuments.
- Smart Comfort Tier: Staying in a well-located 4-star boutique property, dining at sit-down regional bistros, taking high-speed first class rail or occasional app taxis, and booking guided tours.