The Most Affordable Cities in Europe

Based on airfare and cost of travel after arrival, these five European cities stand out as the most affordable for US travelers.

Lisbon, Portugal: Lisbon, the vibrant capital of Portugal, is accessible to US travelers for roughly $650 roundtrip, according to Dollar Flight Club. It also ranks as the second cheapest European city in the Post Office UK’s most recent City Costs Barometer, an annual study ranking the affordability of European cities based on metrics such as the ticket prices of city sightseeing tours, the entry fees for top attractions, and the average price of a cup of coffee. According to this study, the average weekend in Lisbon costs a traveler just about $288.38.

Krakow, Poland: Coming in at number four on the City Barometer, the average cost of a weekend in Krakow is about $304.91. A two-night stay at a three-star hotel is only about $147. Average flight prices to Krakow from US airports are roughly $350 one-way, and the city ranks number four in the Barometer's ratings of the cheapest European cities.

Budapest, Hungary: On average, travelers can explore Budapest, the bustling capital city of Hungary, for a $680 roundtrip airfare. Coming in at number seven in the City Barometer, the average nightly rate for three-star accommodations in Budapest is just $80.

Prague, Czech Republic: Prague ranked ninth among the ten cheapest cities in the study. US travelers can snag tickets to Prague for $690 roundtrip. On average, a three-star hotel in Prague costs $85, only about $20 more than the going nightly rate in Lisbon, the second cheapest city in the study.

Dublin, Ireland: Dublin brings up the rear of the City Costs Barometer, ranking thirty-second out of thirty-seven cities, but makes up for the price by having the cheapest roundtrip airfare, about $600 roundtrip from US airports. To make up for the admittedly higher costs of accommodation ($230+ per night at a three-star stay), consider booking a high-quality hostel, exploring free entry options like the National Gallery of Ireland, and investing in a Dublin Leap Card for transit discounts.

I’m not a big fan of choosing a destination because it’s cheap: If you want to see Westminster Abbey or the Tower of London, go to London. But, I am a fan of incorporating the cost of “destination overhead” in planning daily activities: The overhead cost is the rate of the necessities of just being in a destination area, without including all the things you want to do.

You can calculate a typical destination overhead based on transportation, accommodations, and meals before any out-of-pocket costs such as theater tickets, admissions, and taxis. Figuring in the overhead means planning expenses realistically. And it means not spending a lot of destination time chasing small cost differentials—taking 45 minutes traveling halfway across London, for example, to find a slightly cheaper dinner, or incurring the cost of a commute out of a city center to knock down the cost of a hotel.

If you want to see London or Paris, then go. Don’t go to Athens or Prague instead just because they’re cheaper—go to Athens or Prague only if you’re interested in visiting those cities. But if you do go to an expensive destination, don’t let penny-pinching make you miss out on the blockbuster attractions and local cuisine. Plan to budget enough to cover the full experience.

Ed Perkins contributed to this story.