14 Priciest European Countries and How to Enjoy Them on a Budget
Are you trying to do Europe on a budget? If you are, there are some countries that you need to avoid. Europe is not a super cheap destination to travel to. Sure, there are more affordable countries to travel to, like Albania or Poland, but if you are looking for a luxury vacation, you’ll want to head to a country known for being a bit more expensive.
I’ve compiled a list of the most expensive countries in Europe that you should avoid if you’re a budget traveler or head to if you’re a luxury traveler.
1. Iceland
Iceland is the most expensive country to visit in Europe. It’s located in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean and is not the easiest (or cheapest) country to reach. Once you’re there, most people will want to rent a car to see the entire island. This is a good call because a Golden Circle will take you to all the tourist spots and not let you explore much.
The average daily rate in the summer in Iceland (the high season) is $286 per night! These are practically American prices! But in all seriousness, Iceland is an incredible country that’s on a lot of people’s bucket lists, and when it comes down to it, if you want to stay here on a budget you’re going to have to book hostels, skip the car rental, and stick to the tourist spots.
2. Monaco
This microscopic country inside France is the second most expensive country in Europe. And when I say microscopic, I mean it! You can walk across the entire county in just one hour! It’s right on the ocean with huge mountains backing it and enormous skyscrapers down to the shoreline.
The great thing about Monaco is its proximity to France. You can stay close to Monaco in France for a fraction of the price.
Some of the best cities to base yourself in are Cap-d’Ail, Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, and La Turbie. These cities all border Monaco but are in France, so they will be a lot cheaper (to give you an idea of how much more budget-friendly, France isn’t even on this list!).
Then you can travel to Monaco every day if you want to and get to know this luxurious little country! If you want to stay in Monaco, be prepared to spend an average of $282 per night on accommodations during the high season!
3. United Kingdom
Next, we have the UK with an average price of $281 per night. This country is on almost every American’s bucket list and for a good reason. Its capital, London, is one of the coolest cities in the world and has tons of medieval history, great shopping, and they speak English!
If you’re looking for that UK charm on a budget, I recommend not staying in the center of London and instead staying in Greenwich or Camden. These are the suburbs of London with plenty of public transport that will take you to and from the center at all hours of the day. There’s also an abundance of five-star accommodations in the center of London and all over the UK if that’s more your style.
4. Greece
Greece is one of the cheapest countries, and yet the most expensive. If you stay in the capital city of Athens, you’ll get an incredible experience for a quarter of the price compared to Santorini and Mykonos.
Even in Santorini and Mykonos, you can find cheap accommodations and incredibly luxurious stays. Some of the top places to stay in Greece are called cave houses. Some even have private pools just steps from your bed that lead outside to an incredible terrace! These will cost you around $700 per night in the high season. Greece’s average nightly cost is about $272, making it Europe’s fourth most expensive country.
5. Spain
Similar to Greece, Spain has both expensive and cheap accommodations. Places like Barcelona, Ibiza, and San Sebastian are going to be places that bring Spain’s average to $255 per night.
However, if you want a cheap destination in Spain, head to Gran Canaria. It’s an island off the west coast of Africa with beautiful white sand beaches and is part of the Canary Islands archipelago.
Then there’s Seville, a city in the south of Spain and the capital of the Andalusia region famous for its Seville Cathedral, built in medieval times. There’s also the mountain city of Granada which sits at the base of the tallest mountain in mainland Spain, Mulhacen.
6. Switzerland
Switzerland is one of the places on this list where you can’t find anything cheap. Even a McDonald’s meal will cost you around $20 per person! Switzerland is such an expensive country because the wages here are so high that businesses are forced to raise their prices to match them.
Some of the most expensive cities in Switzerland include Zermatt, a mountain town with a view of the most iconic mountain in the world, the Matterhorn. Then there’s Basel, a city on the Rhine River, known for its incredible architecture, proximity to the mountains, and, of course, lots of river activities!
Lastly, there’s Lausanne, a beautiful city on the banks of Lake Geneva with incredible views, history, and an Olympic Museum. The average price for accommodations in Switzerland is $232 per night, which is worth it for the mountains and incredible hiking alone!
7. Croatia
My wife and I stayed for a month in Dubrovnik, Croatia during the off-season and got a great deal on an apartment with an ocean view outside the center. However, it would’ve cost four times as much if we had stayed here during the high season! The average nightly price in Croatia is $227, and this isn’t the only expensive part of Croatia.
Like Switzerland, the price of food is insane. Not just going out to eat, but grocery prices as well. Grocery prices are shockingly about 20% higher than in the rest of Europe without any real reason. The two most expensive cities in Croatia are the coastal cities of Dubrovnik and Split. They have great beaches, upscale lodging, and lots of history.
8. Italy
If you hope to live in La Dolce Vita in Italy, know it will cost you! The average cost of accommodations here is $227 per night during the high season. I’ve visited Italy countless times while living in Nice, France, and during the summer months, prices skyrocket.
Rome, Sardina, and Venice are some of the top tourist destinations in Italy and they know it. For this reason, they can charge as much as they want for hotels and Airbnbs and still be fully booked all summer.
If you want a cheap way to see Italy, try visiting during the shoulder or off-season, or travel to a lesser-known city like Genoa, Napoli, or Palermo.
9. Portugal
Portugal is quickly becoming one of the top tourist destinations in Europe. For this reason, prices have risen by 30% in just the last year! A sad part about this is that Portuguese people are forced to relocate due to higher prices or rent their apartments on sites like Airbnb or VRBO.
The average price during the high season is $222 per night, with some of the most popular destinations being the Algarve Coast, Lisbon, and Porto. With Portugal having no government restrictions for Airbnb and similar sites, prices will continue to rise while the Portuguese people and culture leave these beautiful cities.
10. Ireland
For an average price of $213 per night, you could stay in Ireland during the high season! And if you want to see Ireland without all the rain and clouds it’s famous for, your best bet will be to come during the high season (summer).
Ireland is known for its rolling green hills, beautiful ocean cliffs, and, delicious beer.
Prices in Ireland are higher than in the rest of Europe because of the lack of supply. The demand for accommodation is high, however, there are just not enough places for the number of people wanting to travel here. This means that over the next few years, as room and board continue to be built, the prices could drop!
11. Belgium
When I visited Belgium in 2018, my wife and I stayed in a room in someone’s apartment far outside the city center of Brussels. It was about a 45-minute walk to the center, but I guess it gave us a different perspective of Belgium we would have never seen if we had stayed closer!
The average nightly price here is $208, and the reason it’s so high is the same as Ireland’s, supply and demand. The number of visitors here is rising by about one million per year and Belgium doesn’t have the infrastructure to handle this increase.
12. Netherlands
The Netherlands is a country people from around the world come to… explore. It’s incredibly, beautiful don’t get me wrong, but the reason many people come here is legal marijuana and the famous Red Light District. Many Americans see it as the Las Vegas of Europe when, in reality, that couldn’t be farther from the truth. If Las Vegas was a medieval city on the water with incredible architecture, then maybe.
You can stay in this amazing country for an average of $208 per night. The Netherlands has high prices because of bad housing policies and foreign investors buy all the properties in major cities. Hopefully, prices will drop as the government discovers better policies for its citizens.
13. Denmark
Denmark has the highest taxes in Europe with a 56% tax on its citizens. This incredibly high tax affects people visiting the area. For this reason, the average nightly price is $202. Are you wondering which is the most expensive city in Denmark? You probably already know the answer. It’s Copenhagen, the nation’s capital.
This city is most known for Nyhavn, a little harbor lined with bright, colorful houses. It’s in the city center and has a famous city square called Kongens Nytorv.
14. Austria
Last up on the list we have Austria, the fourteenth most expensive country in Europe. This is another country that if you’ve been here, you get why it’s pricey. It has massive mountains, rolling green hills, hundreds of the most adorable cities you’ve ever seen, and a rich history.
It’s the first country on our list with an average nightly price of under $200 per night, at $197.
After traveling to Austria numerous times and staying in the most expensive cities, I can tell you that the best ones you can’t miss are Vienna, Innsbruck, and Salzburg. These cities will leave you speechless and make you instantly fall in love with Austria, while also robbing you of a big chunk of money.
What Do You Think?
Which of these countries do you think is worth the price? Have you been to any of them? Let me know in the comments! Thanks for reading!
