💰 Europe Trip Cost Breakdown: 2 Weeks, Real Numbers

Total Trip Cost Summary

Category	Budget (14 days)	Mid-Range	Comfortable
Flights (from US)	€400-700	€600-1,000	€1,500-4,000
Accommodation	€420-700	€1,120-2,100	€2,100-4,200
Food & Drink	€350-560	€700-1,260	€1,260-2,100
Transport (intercity)	€150-300	€250-500	€400-800
Transport (local)	€70-140	€100-200	€200-400
Activities & Entrance Fees	€50-150	€200-500	€500-1,000
Travel Insurance	€30-50	€40-80	€60-120
Misc (SIM, laundry, tips)	€50-100	€80-150	€150-300
Total per person	€1,520-2,700	€3,090-5,790	€6,170-12,920

Accommodation Breakdown

Budget (€30-50/night per person)

• Hostels (dorm): €15-35/night in Western Europe, €8-20 in Eastern Europe
• Budget hotels: €40-80/night for a double room
• Airbnb (shared): €25-50/night per person

Mid-Range (€80-150/night per room)

• 3-star hotels: €80-150/night in Western Europe, €40-80 in Eastern Europe
• Airbnb (private apartment): €60-120/night
• Boutique hotels: €100-200/night

City-Specific Hotel Prices (Mid-Range Double Room)

City	Average Price
London	€150-250
Paris	€130-220
Amsterdam	€140-230
Rome	€100-180
Barcelona	€100-170
Prague	€60-110
Budapest	€50-100
Lisbon	€80-140
Krakow	€40-80

Food & Drink Breakdown

Budget (€25-40/day per person)

• Breakfast: €0-5 (hostel breakfast or supermarket)
• Lunch: €8-15 (bakery, market, kebab, pizza slice)
• Dinner: €10-20 (budget restaurant or self-catering)
• Drinks: €3-5 (supermarket beer/wine)

Mid-Range (€50-90/day per person)

• Breakfast: €5-12 (café with coffee and pastry)
• Lunch: €12-25 (sit-down restaurant)
• Dinner: €20-40 (restaurant with wine)
• Drinks: €8-15 (bar/pub)

City-Specific Meal Costs

City	Budget Lunch	Mid-Range Dinner	Beer (Bar)
London	€10-15	€30-50	€6-8
Paris	€10-18	€25-45	€6-8
Rome	€8-12	€20-35	€5-7
Barcelona	€8-12	€20-35	€3-5
Prague	€5-8	€12-20	€2-3
Budapest	€4-7	€10-18	€2-3
Lisbon	€6-10	€15-25	€2-4

Transport Breakdown

Getting Between Cities

For a 3-city, 2-week trip:

• Budget airlines (Ryanair, easyJet): €30-80 per flight (carry-on only)
• High-speed trains: €20-120 per journey (book 2-3 months early)
• Buses (FlixBus): €10-30 per journey (cheapest, slowest)

Local Transport

• Metro/bus day pass: €5-12 in most cities
• Weekly transit pass: €15-35 (Paris Navigo: €30, London Oyster cap: ~€55/week)
• Walking: Free (and the best way to experience most European cities)

Money-Saving Strategies

Save 30-50% on Accommodation

• Book hostels with kitchens and cook 1-2 meals daily
• Travel in shoulder season (April-May, September-October) — prices drop 20-40%
• Consider smaller cities near major ones (Haarlem instead of Amsterdam center)
• Use Hostelworld's "flexible" filter for cancellable bookings, then check direct booking for lower prices

Save 20-40% on Food

• Make lunch your main restaurant meal (most European restaurants offer prix fixe lunch 30-50% cheaper than dinner)
• Supermarket breakfast and picnic lunch from markets
• Drink wine, not cocktails (wine is €3-5/glass in Southern Europe)
• Water is free in restaurants in most countries (ask for tap water / "acqua del rubinetto" / "eau du robinet" / "Leitungswasser")

Save on Activities

• Free museum days: first Sunday of month in Paris, free national museums in London
• Free walking tours (tip €5-10)
• City passes only save money if you visit 3+ paid attractions per day

Sample Budgets: Real Trip Examples

Budget: Paris-Barcelona-Lisbon (14 days, 1 person)

Flights: €550 | Hostels (dorm): €450 | Food: €490 | Transport: €190 | Activities: €120 | Insurance + misc: €100

Total: €1,900

Mid-Range: Rome-Florence-Venice (14 days, 2 people)

Flights: €1,400 | Hotels: €2,100 | Food: €1,680 | Transport: €400 | Activities: €500 | Insurance + misc: €200

Total: €6,280 (€3,140/person)

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a 2-week Europe trip cost?

Budget: €1,400-2,200 per person (hostels, self-catering). Mid-range: €3,000-5,000 per person (hotels, restaurants). Comfortable: €5,000-8,000+ per person. These figures exclude transatlantic flights (€400-1,000+).

What is the biggest expense on a Europe trip?

Accommodation is the biggest cost at 35-45% of total budget. Food and drink is second at 20-30%. Intercity transport is third at 15-20%. Cooking some meals and staying in hostels or apartments are the most effective ways to save.

How much spending money do I need per day in Europe?

Budget: €60-90/day in Western Europe, €35-55 in Eastern Europe. Mid-range: €120-200/day in Western, €70-120 in Eastern. This covers accommodation, food, local transport, and activities.

Is Eastern Europe really cheaper than Western Europe?

Yes, significantly. A mid-range day in Budapest costs €55-85 vs €120-200 in Paris. Beer costs €2-3 in Prague vs €6-8 in London. Overall, Eastern Europe is 40-50% cheaper for similar quality experiences.

How can I save money on a Europe trip?

Travel in shoulder season (20-40% cheaper), make lunch your restaurant meal (prix fixe is 30-50% cheaper than dinner), stay in apartments with kitchens, book trains 2-3 months early, and use free museum days.