Cheapest Countries in Europe List
Miami Beach, United States
I found a thread inside the Lonely Planet message forum (Thorn Tree) containing one-man's perception of the cost of travel inside Europe, sorted by country (and sometimes city, type of accommodation). There are obviously more than a few countries missing from this list (like Germany), but I wonder how accurate his impressions are.
Over the years I have listed countries of Europe, starting with the cheapest. I used my own experience, notes from correspondents on the Lonely Planet Thorn Tree, the site for Town Twinning Europe, and the site Balkanology.
Azerbaijan, Armenia, Russia, and Belarus are hard to list here. In almost every other country accommodation costs are in line with other day-to-day expenses, but not in Russia and most other states of the former Soviet Union. Ukraine comes almost lowest in this order of tourist costs if you rent an apartment for a week, or can use one of the few two-star hotels.
West Europe tends to jump into our minds, because they have been visited longer, but if you want mountains you can choose Slovakia and not Switzerland, if a baroque town choose the Czech Republic and not Austria, if charming old towns Hungary, not Italy, if clean Protestant architecture then Estonia not Sweden.
- Armenia, using home stay
- Ukraine, using home stay
- Moldova
- Bulgaria
- Slovakia
- Romania
- Armenia, using a hotel
- Albania
- Lithuania
- Latvia
- Estonia
- Serbia
- Poland (excluding Krakow)
- Czech Republic (excluding Prague)
- Hungary
- Macedonia cheap
- Montenegro (excluding Podgorica)
- Croatia
- Podgorica
- Slovenia
- Portugal
- Southern Spain
- Krakow
- Turkey
- Southern Italy
- Greece
- Prague
- Northern Italy
- Netherlands
- Sweden
- Finland
- France
- Austria
- Ireland
- Norway
- Switzerland
- Denmark
- Ireland
- Britain
Recently in this country...
Comments:
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Anguilla · 1
Argentina · 32
Belize · 2
Bolivia · 4
Brazil · 51
Bulgaria · 41
Cambodia · 11
Chile · 3
Colombia · 11
Costa Rica · 10
Dominican Republic · 4
Ecuador · 17
Egypt · 25
El Salvador · 1
Grenada · 13
Guatemala · 13
Honduras · 6
Hungary · 23
Indonesia · 14
Israel & Palestinian Terr. · 50
Jordan · 28
Laos · 6
Lebanon · 10
Malaysia · 14
Mexico · 9
Nicaragua · 1
Panama · 2
Peru · 105
Philippines · 11
Poland · 8
Puerto Rico · 12
Romania · 66
Singapore · 3
Slovakia · 18
St. Martin · 3
St. Vincent & Grenadines · 16
Syria · 29
Thailand · 45
Trinidad & Tobago · 11
Turkey · 85- United States · 100
Uruguay · 4
Venezuela · 8
Vietnam · 10
Turist
July 7th, 2008
So, in this case Moldova is the cheapest country to visit
Erik
July 7th, 2008
Why is Ireland listed twice at #34 and #38?
Romania is spiffy. Since Moldova and Bulgaria are nearby, it becomes a hat trick choice, I say, with perhaps Serbia as a bonus. Ukraine would be great but the tourist visa hassle lessens the appeal in my opinion.
Kevin @ TheTravelEditor.com
July 11th, 2008
In southern Europe, once you leave cities the prices drop, and sometimes quite substantially. We visit the rural areas around Piacenza in northern Italy several times a year (my wife's family comes from there), and you can eat and drink fabulously well without breaking the bank. I can't comment on accommodation prices, but there are plenty of B&Bs and agriturismo places around. By the way, my Italian friends all say that you eat incredibly well near Piacenza, and Italians would know.
I've also found similar price disparity near Valencia and in Greece.
Ivan
October 24th, 2008
Where are Belgium, Luxemburg and Iceland in the list?
Roja
February 19th, 2010
Where's Germany?! It's either too expensive, or too cheap!!!
I lived in Berlin for three months, and it's a paradise a student can afford. You can live a fabulous life in Berlin with 650 Euros per month (including the rent). My room was fully furnished (glassware, kitchenware, TV, etc) and I paid 345 Euros per month!!!! Isn't that great or what!!!! I don't know why Germany is not listed here!
mos
June 25th, 2010
An inexpensive and beautiful tourist destination is Romania.
A beer is 1.5 - 3 EUR, coffee is 1 to 1.5 eur, a hot dog is 1.3 to 1.8 eur.
A trip by train from Bucharest to the sea is 8 to 11 EUR (225 km).
Most beautiful places in Romania is Sinaia, Brasov, Sighisoara, Sibiu, Iasi, Maramures, the Danube Delta.
Giorge
July 20th, 2010
Cyprus is Very Expensive Country-Island. One of the most expensive countries in Europe and famous World Destinations. Why is not in the list….Number 40 or 45 lets say… ???
timtim
August 25th, 2011
Since when is Krakow a country?
Romania and Hungary is just the same, many things in Hungary are cheaper than in Romania, many just the opposite. I couldn't tell which one is cheaper, despite I'm living in both of the countries.
Krakow is also fu**ing cheap, let it be a city or country… Whatever you want. Croatia too.
this is bullshit
Vinod Vaya
December 15th, 2011
This is really very informative and I have been to Lithuania, Latvia, Ukraine multiple times and found they deserve the rank given.
However If am surprised for Berlin. Is it really so cheap? How nice it would have been such places & contact information is also available.
Good information!!!