Comparing "On the Ground" Costs Among Destinations

I think it's important to not only consider how expensive a destination is but also how profound of a "menu" of sites/activities that destination offers. There are several places in Europe which are inexpensive, but outside of a handful of things, they do not offer much in relative terms. This balance between costs and things to do I describe as "good value" destinations, where you get the most "bang for the buck" as the Americans like to say.

In my experience, some "good value" destinations in Europe have been:
Turkey
Spain
Portugal
Mainland Greece
Poland
Sicily

It's easy to say one place where you pay dearly but get amazing scenery in return - Switzerland. Apparently when the Swiss want a value vacation they go next door to Austria.

I would think the general rule of thumb is, go further south and east. I bet the UN or similar has info comparing costs of living in various places. And there's the infamous "cost of a Big Mac" survey that is done very so often.

I bet the UN or similar has info comparing costs of living in various places.

This could help - https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/rankings_by_country.jsp?title=2022&region=150

Though cost of living can be tricky, remember as a tourist you won't be paying for things like housing, healthcare, education, taxes, utilities etc. that normally go into a cost of living calculation

Hi Jake, people have responded with the geographical cost difference. Another factor: I was just sharing some examples of this yesterday when a friend was browsing through one of my France travel photo books. I have days where I have spent next to nothing other than food & a hotel room and had a marvelous time! The ones I was showing her were at Rouen, Chartres, Le Mans, & Angers in France. I spent time in beautiful churches which also have great free entertainment at night during the summer with the night light/music illuminated on the front face of the cathedrals. The museums were inexpensive and uncrowded, and I spent most of one day at the fortress in Angers. The medieval lanes in Le Mans were wonderful, etc. When I share my total cost in a trip report here on the forum, I always have someone asking if it's a typo because I don't spend much relatively. I still add fun activities - cooking classes, city bike trips, etc. too.

All of that detail to show that just moving out by 1-2 hours on a train from the most popular cities can yield a significant savings. Personally, I do those type of trips because I love the smaller cities, along with a few days in the touristy ones. It's important to talk through what your family actually wants to do before possibly going this route.

I found Berlin surprisingly inexpensive for the capital city of an affluent country in 2015; things may have changed since then. Zagreb's another good option. Budapest isn't terribly expensive, either.

I'd agree with Jean that with the exception of a few countries (Switzerland, Scandinavia and Finland, primarily), you can cut your lodging costs substantially and your restaurant costs noticeably by going to wonderful secondary cities. Museums and other sights outside the capitals are also usually quite a bit less expensive. You'll need to avoid summer recreation areas popular with locals (beaches, mountains) for the best deals, of course, and be mindful of special events that drive up costs for short periods--like Semana Santa and Feria in Seville. Just a few examples of such alternatives to the famous destinations: Padua, Ravenna, Naples (though it's hardly "secondary"), Salerno and Sicily in Italy; Seville, Cordoba, Granada, Cadiz, Valencia, Bilbao and many others in Spain; and Bayonne (Basque Country), Toulouse, Montpellier and Lyon in France. Those are just a few examples. All those places have several days' worth of sights in the city or in very nearby towns. Occasionally one of the smaller cities has a really good deal on a local sightseeing pass; the capital/famous-city passes tend to be overpriced.

I'm not a fan of long stays in high-cost cities with multiple day trips to cheaper towns. I like to find a cluster of interesting places--even if they're small--that justifies several days in the area, then I pick one of the towns (usually the largest for the best transportation links) and stay there for 4 nights or so. Short day trips can be made by cheap regional train or by bus. You find out about such places by reading multiple guide books, not just the ones written by Rick.

I agree with Jean - a lot depends on where you go in a particular country. I was paying €125 a night for a hotel in Berlin but in a small town 30 minutes outside Münster, I paid only €55 a night for a 3 bedroom apartment with a full kitchen, balcony and washer. It’s all relative. You really just have to do the math ahead of time and plan your destinations with cost as a factor.

When eating out and the bottled water is about 8 euros euros, but the wine is 4.5 Euros-
Drink the wine to save money.
Oops- doesn't work for the kids- darn!

Portugal and Spain are the cheapest countries to visit in Western Europe. The consumer association here in the U.K. do an annual survey of holiday costs including car hire, price of a meal etc and these countries came out on top this year. Bulgaria, Turkey and Hungary were the best priced Eastern European options.

In my experience, Prague and anywhere in Turkey are inexpensive once you're there. Switzerland was so expensive I wanted to cry every time I ordered food. Italy is in the middle, with Naples and the south very reasonable.

Re: 55 Euro per night for 3 bed room apt in North Germany in small town close to Münster/Westf.....fantastic. I have paid that amount for a single in a Pension or small hotel in Germany, usually a non en-suite room. Of course, pre-pandemic, my Pension charged 45 Euro for a single with the WC and shower room in the hallway.

I've sworn off the expensive large European cities, as I've already been to them all a few times.

If I'm going to Scandinavia, it's going to be on a cruise ship--a good value. We also like cruises of the Eastern Mediterranean. We have taken two repositioning cruises from the U.S. ending in Italy--other great values.

I was very surprised to see Spain to be so reasonably priced. And the farther east you go, the less expensive. We find Budapest to be a preferred big city--and it's much less expensive than Prague.

I found Berlin surprisingly inexpensive for the capital city

Berlin isn't that inexpensive anymore, but it's still a bargain compared to Munich and Hamburg. Berlin was closed off from the rest of Germany and it was really very inexpensive that time. After the fall of the wall and the move of the government, the prices could of course not be increased all at once.

If you assume a typical one-week itinerary for your average family,
what are some destinations that are relatively inexpensive once you're
there, based on all-in costs? Maybe I can reconsider some places that
cost an extra $300/per in airfare than the "great deal," but then make
up the $1,200 once we're on the ground.

I wont say don’t go someplace only for cost, because I think that’s got to be pretty obvious, but I will say that if cost is a factor and you do your homework you might find places you hadn’t imagined that are as, or more, interesting to you than many common destinations (here is a thread with some ideas that you might want to see if they light your fire: https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/general-europe/back-doors-to-the-back-doors-of-europe )

First, but not at the sake of making tourism difficult, stay outside of the tourist zones as that will significantly cut your lodging expenses and if you do a little research you can usually find better and cheaper restaurants, often just two blocks outside the tourist zones. Avoid generalizations; David has a point in generality and he did single out Budapest as large and inexpensive so he recognizes exceptions (Bucharest is the 9th largest capital city in Europe and Budapest is 14th, out of 44 to 50 depending on the definition); and they are both inexpensive destinations.

Next, the most obvious choice is Portugal or Spain or Eastern Europe and Google “Cheap European Destinations” and you will get a lot of hits, many with emphasis on this year.

So since you mentioned Paris (not the most expensive); compare it with Budapest (not the cheapest).
According to Numbeo.com Consumer Prices in Paris are 52.4% higher than in Budapest, but knowing how much of that 52.4% filters down to tourism would be another whole study and there is one and it’s at budgetyourtrip.com which says that to visit Budapest is little less than half the cost to visit Paris:

Paris: You should plan to spend around $252 per day on your vacation
in Paris, which is the average daily price based on the expenses of
other visitors. Past travelers have spent, on average, $45 on meals
for one day and $23 on local transportation. Also, the average hotel
price in Paris for a couple is $329. So, a trip to Paris for two
people for one week costs on average $3,533.

Budapest: You should plan to spend around $94 per day on your vacation
in Budapest, which is the average daily price based on the expenses of
other visitors. Past travelers have spent, on average, $23 on meals
for one day and $11 on local transportation. Also, the average hotel
price in Budapest for a couple is $103. So, a trip to Budapest for two
people for one week costs on average $1,317.

Your traveling style will have a huge impact on your actual cost, but I think it's fair to assume that the percentage spread remains constant if your travel style remains constant in one location vs. another. So the “cost” isn’t as important a number as the percentage spread.

Not selling Budapest, but there are literally hundreds of similar destinations and one of them might fit your fancy this year when prices are up and money is tight.

I just got back from Bucharest a few weeks ago and the site pretty much nailed the fact that Bucharest and Budapest cost about the same to visit.

Of course, think outside of the cities too because while Budapest and Bucharest are about the same cost; the smaller destinations in Romania appear to be quite a bit cheaper than similar in Hungary; and if you get out of Paris the gap between France as a whole and Budapest also probably narrows.

I have found hat most of Europe is more or less the same in prices. The most significant price difference I have just experienced is Croatia vs Bosnia. Example. Gelato in Croatia €2.50 a scoop. Bosnia €1 equivalent. Same with compare others prices in both countries. I use the gelato price as a coherent comparison factor, since it is everywhere. Although my major look see on a menu is beer prices.
You will never get gelato at €1 scoop anywhere in the traditional Europe countries.

Apparently when the Swiss want a value vacation they go next door to Austria.

Yes many shop in Germany or France and take the second skiing holiday of the year in Austria. Otherwise anywhere is cheaper than Switzerland.

The only people who don't complain about Swiss prices when they come to visit are the Irish. But since their per capita GDP now exceeds Switzerland, they can afford it.

You will never get gelato at €1 scoop anywhere in the traditional Europe countries.

Never say never ;-)

https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g187895-d1749932-r364174126-Gelateria_La_Carraia-Florence_Tuscany.html

My experience shows:

Most expensive countries in Europe
Norway and Switzerland
Northern Europe more expensive than Southern Europe
Western Europe more expensive than Eastern Europe
Large cities in Europe are generally more expensive than smaller cities and towns, some only an hour or two from those large cities.

We have found that we would rather stay in a Bed and Breakfast near a smaller city or town (not in big city) than an expensive hotel. We get a free breakfast and lodgings are usually at a great location.

When we plan a European trip, we avoid an itinerary that requires us to fly within Europe.

Retail cars are not good in a large city, parking is expensive and traffic is terrible.

Also, plan your trip, book lodging and some day tours in advance, we will waste less time trying to just go.

The prices for tourism in Europe do vary quite a bit. Check out https://www.budgetyourtrip.com/europe for some idea. But I would trust it more for deciding if something is in or near your budget and for relative costs more so than I would for actual costs. For instance, daily costs in Eastern Europe are half or more than half those in places like London or Paris or Rome. Hotels in Eastern Europe can be half the cost too.

From that site, daily costs per person:

Sarajevo $57
Sofia $66.

Dubrovnik $82
Budapest $94
Prague $95.

Seville $109
Bucharest $114
Porto $114
Lisbon $115
Podgorica $117
Madrid $119
Berlin $120.

Vienna $126
Munich $130
York $132
Rome $147.

Barcelona $169.

London $184.

Paris $252

Also, smaller cities and towns are cheaper than large cities

York- The Minster Hotel, walking distance from city sites is $168 per night, we stayed there in 2017, excellent hotel. There were cheaper places, the Travelodge was $89 per night.

Cardiff, Wales- Premier Inn, $81 per night

London- Premier Inn, London County Hall $242 per night

Portugal and Spain are the cheapest countries to visit in Western Europe.

Just got back from a 60 day trip to Spain and our "in country" expenses for two people (everything except airfares to and from Europe) averaged €330 or USD$370 per day. This was staying at mostly four star hotels, travelling exclusively by public transportation and not eating out every night.

Don't get me started on airfares which from Australia to Europe are eye-wateringly expensive.

In central Western Europe Berlin, as mentioned above, is a good deal for a big city with a lot to so. Austria outside of Vienna and the Salzburg area is relatively cheaper than most of the German speaking world. It has felt to me like inflation has not hit prices in smaller Austrian towns as much as some other places. I think part of the reason for this is there are so many proprietor owned and operated businesses, and as such rises in labor costs have not affected their bottom line as much as in some other places.

Maybe more in touch with your original broader question, my family has found that on the parts of our trips where we are touring by bicycle, day-to-day costs are significantly cheaper.

On the fourth day of our first tour many years ago, I commented to my wife that we hadn't spent any money other than to eat, and that our food budget seemed lower than normal too.

I think this is because the cycling itself is what you are doing, more so than the mode of transit from place to place to see things. So we end up paying for less tourist stuff, a lot less shopping, less expensive impulse eating, less money on transit, etc. When cycle touring we tend to eat out of markets and picnic more often, just out of expediency and pleasure. It makes sense to have a picnic bag and then pull over somewhere pretty at mealtime. And when we are in town for the evening, we're more just hungry than looking for "experience dining."

Of course the bike rentals are a sunk cost, and it's comparatively pricey to have a tour company book your hotels and move your luggage. But if we find relatively affordable rentals, and plan our own route carrying just the necessary stuff in panniers, we definitely spend less than if we were doing regular touristing by public transit.

Also another big determiner in the money savings is If we have a kitchen. And then if we don't do the thing where you wildly overspend stocking it for your stay. I think you are right that Paris is pricey, but if you can find a reasonably priced apartment with a kitchen then the city has everything you need to occupy you for a week, and overall costs don't have to be sky high.

Our two week tour (including two cruises) of Egypt cost $3500 pp airfare from NYC included. For two persons $7000 divided by 14 = $500 per day.

We did a four week self drive tour of England and S. Wales in 2017, spent no time in London (largest cities Cardiff, York, Bath and Winchester), total cost without airfare was $8500 divided by 28 = $303 per day.

I have only traveled with my children as a result of airline sales as well. My son and I went into London and out of Barcelona back to the east coast for $350. Hard to pass up.

I generally look at a low fare to a good hub (Milan, London, Vienna, Paris, Amsterdam, etc, etc, etc...), choosing the hub based on which has the cheapest (as low as $18) flights on Ryan or somesuch to my desired destination. (Of course this only works perfectly if you pack light as the bags cost more to bring than the ticket.) I try to book my main flight as open jaw, leaving from somewhere closer to my destination. In general, I've found that when a particular city is very cheap to fly to, departing from another hub with the same airline rarely raises the price much and sometimes even lowers it.

I know exactly what you mean by "on the ground" costs though. Car rental is brutal in some areas in the summer and then there's the fuel, so walkability is key for budget.

I find that Italy is much more economic for groups than solo travelers (I am not saying this is an objective truth, just my experience with an absurd number of hours researching and several hundred saved airbnbs, hostels, hotels, etc...). Hostel culture doesn't seem as strong in Italy, so an airbnb might by $150 a night for 1 person... and $150 a night for 4 or 5- a better deal than a hotel or hostel with that many. Of course places hostels are shockingly cheap (Budapest, Krakow) will often have inexpensive hotels as well.

Speaking of, Budapest would be a fantastic city to visit as a family. It's highly walkable in the center, the food is affordable (and delicious), the attractions are not expensive, and it is both beautiful and fascinating.... but it is big enough that you could get a travel pass (cheap!) and take the tram to all the furthest reaches and not get bored for quite some time.

Bratislava is close enough for a day trip and it could also afford you a more budget friendly way to see Vienna.

I recommend Berlin.

We travelled to the following countries last year as a couple I'd rank them in this order
Most expensive
France expensive in the south of France
Italy Venice was expensive but not as bad a France
Spain - similar costs to NZ
Hungary (1/2 the price of Spain)
Serbia (1/2 the price of Hungary)
Macedonia (1/2 again)
Albania (similar to Macedonia)
Montengro back to Hungary prices
Croatia coast - same price as Spain
Croatia inland - similar to Servia
Slovenia similar price to Hungary

The actual costs are pretty irrelevant as we probably travle differently from you -we use local transit, don't hire cars, stay in local hotels, never cook. But the price variation was huge

Anyone who is concerned about costs should not consider cruises. We often get by for 1/4 of the cost of a cruise. We don't skimp. We just don't pay for 1st class hotels, 1st class restaurants, and 1st class tourist guides.

In our recent trip of 21 days to N Italy, we spent $6200 for our 2 person trip. This was at least $800 more than normal, since we spent money on tickets to wine, cheese, and rice tastings at the Salone du Gusto fair. Even so, our costs were about $300/day, including food, wine, hotels, airfare, etc.

In 2019, we spent $5500/2 for 23 days, or $240/day for our trip.

We favor travel to less expensive locations. We also stay in small hotels and don't mind hotels like Ibis which can be quite economical. Another serious cost savings is the use of CC miles. On our last 2 trips, our air fare has cost exactly $2.80.

Jake: I just wanted to say nice post. I fall victim to the same "trap" as you have multiple times where I overvalue the cost savings on an airfare only to give it back in the difference in hotel rates, food/costs and the like.
more expensive: Norway, Switzerland, Iceland, Paris
less expensive: Portugal, Southern Italy outside of well known tourist spots, Slovenia, Turkey, Greece (outside of the islands)

Wow, I hadn't checked my post in a while ... such great advice from everyone! It sounds like Budapest would be a great candidate, if we can find reasonable airfare--perhaps next spring. On that note, I just disobeyed myself and booked a trip to the Greek Isles this fall. The airfare was too good to pass up, so although it will be expensive once we're on the ground, I'm hoping it will still be a good value relative to its normal cost--which would be prohibitively expensive for us. I'm going to create a post about that, if anyone has advice to share!

Actually Greece is one of the more cost effective Western European destinations.

WizzAir Athens to Budapest $50 to $200 (depending on the date and the service); just saying

We found some really nice deals on our trip last year. 48 euros a night in Freiburg im Breisgau for our own apartment for four nights, about 550 francs for an apartment for a week in Wengen. Plus able to cook at home.
Stay a little outside the beaten path, or commit to longer than a couple nights and sometimes prices come down quite nicely.