There is no verified, source-backed ranking of the 17 cheapest European countries to visit in 2023. The strongest official comparison available instead measures household prices and restaurant-and-hotel prices—not a visitor’s complete trip budget. On that basis, Bulgaria and Romania had the EU’s lowest overall household-consumption price levels in 2023, while Bulgaria, Romania, and Hungary were among the lowest for restaurants and hotels.
What “cheapest to visit” can mean
A country can look inexpensive by one measure and not another. The relevant distinction is whether a figure compares everyday prices, hospitality prices, or what travelers actually spend on trips.
- Household-consumption price levels compare the prices of a broad basket of goods and services with the EU average. They indicate relative price levels, not the total cost of a holiday.
- Restaurants-and-hotels price levels focus more closely on hospitality, but still do not provide a full visitor budget or a like-for-like itinerary.
- Tourism expenditure per night records what residents of a country spend on trips. It does not show what visitors pay in that country.
- Daily travel-spending estimates can help with budgeting only when their included categories and exclusions are clear.
What official 2023 price comparisons show
Eurostat’s price-level indices set the EU27 average to 100. For household final consumption in 2023, Bulgaria and Romania each stood at 60% of the EU average, and Poland at 66%. Eurostat described the lowest levels as Bulgaria and Romania at 60% each, followed by Poland at 66%. The indices draw on price surveys covering more than 2,000 consumer goods and services, but they are not complete tourist budgets. Eurostat’s 2023 household price-level results were published on 20 June 2024.
For restaurants and hotels, the lowest figures among the EU countries reported were Bulgaria at 52% of the EU average, Romania at 65%, and Hungary at 72%. This measure is more relevant to eating out and lodging than the overall household index, but it still does not establish the total cost of a particular visitor’s trip.
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| Measure | Country and 2023 result | What it tells a traveler |
|---|---|---|
| Household final consumption prices, EU average = 100 | Bulgaria: 60%; Romania: 60%; Poland: 66% | Relative prices for a broad household basket, not the cost of a holiday. |
| Restaurants and hotels, EU average = 100 | Bulgaria: 52%; Romania: 65%; Hungary: 72% | Relative hospitality price levels, not a complete trip budget. |
Both sets of figures are 2023 data reported by Eurostat in 2024. They cover EU comparisons; they do not establish a ranking of every European country.
Why tourism spending figures do not rank destinations
Eurostat reported average tourism expenditure of €97.6 per night for EU residents on trips with at least one overnight stay in 2023. Its lowest resident-origin amounts were Greece (€48 per night), Poland (€52), and Czechia (€57). These are amounts spent by residents of those countries while traveling—not prices faced by visitors to Greece, Poland, or Czechia. Using them as a destination-cost ranking would reverse what the statistic measures. Eurostat’s tourism-trip figures were published on 16 October 2024.
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Can the 17-country ranking be verified?
No. The cited official statistics support comparisons of EU price levels and resident-origin tourism spending, but they do not establish the complete list or order of the “cheapest 17 countries in Europe to visit in 2023.” A list that presents 17 destinations as a definitive visitor-cost ranking would need comparable destination-level evidence, such as costs for the same travel dates, trip length, lodging standard, meals, transport, and activities. Those values are not established by these sources, so naming or ordering 17 countries would imply more certainty than the evidence supports.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How to use current travel-budget guidance
The Post Office Travel Money guide provides daily spending-money ranges for selected destinations. Its scope includes food, drink, local transport, attractions, low-cost activities, and daily spending, while excluding flights and accommodation. It is current guidance, not historical 2023 pricing, and the guide says costs vary with exchange rates, season, destination, and travel style. See the Post Office Travel Money guide for its stated scope and current estimates.
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For a useful comparison, first decide whether you are comparing everyday prices, hospitality prices, or out-of-pocket spending during a trip. Then match the destination, dates, trip length, lodging, and spending categories. A city break and a beach holiday are not directly comparable unless those differences are accounted for. The guide’s daily spending figures cannot stand in for full trip costs because flights and accommodation are excluded.
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