The cheapest countries in Europe

By Wyatt Redd | October 11, 2016

So you’re on the last leg of your extended backpacking trip to Europe, you know the one all your friends and family warned you would be way more expensive than you expected and whose warnings you shrugged off, and now you find that you are rapidly running out of money.

So you have two options really, either ask for someone to lend you some cash and prove them all right or find somewhere where the rate of currency exchange favors you a little more than Western Europe.

Well, if you are looking for some places where you can stretch your dollar a little further look no more. Here is a comprehensive rundown of all the cheapest countries in Europe where you can live quite comfortably on as little as fifteen dollars a day.

Here are the cheapest countries in Europe to extend your travel time.

Czech Republic

The Czech Republic is probably the most “touristy” place on this list, and you can find tons of backpackers making their way through Prague, its capital. And no wonder, Prague is a wonderful city filled with old world charm. It has the advantage unique to much of Eastern Europe in that, unlike much of the modernized capitals of Western Europe, it feels really old, almost Medieval. That and the fact that you can get a huge meal in a Chinese take-out restaurant for about $4 U.S. and a hostel bed for around $11-12 means that the Czech Republic could be a great place to spend some time while you are waiting for your flight home.

Hungary

Hungary is a bit farther into the heart of Eastern Europe and certainly feels that way. Like Prague, Budapest gets its fair share of backpackers eager to see some of the unique architecture and thermal spas that the city is famous for. Or maybe they are drawn by the fact that you can find a three-star hotel room for $25 a night and live on a grocery budget of less than $80 a week while still getting a heavy helping of culture and history in an enchanting city that has just enough hint of the exotic to impress your friends back home.

Romania

Romania is the home of Dracula according to Bram Stoker, and the Transylvania region is an incredible mixture of beautiful and occasionally creepy vistas. Much of the country feels like stepping into a time warp where the middle age rhythms of daily life haven’t changed much for the people in the rural countryside. In the major cities like Brasov and Bucharest you can easily find plenty of modern conveniences, and the fact that they are available for rock bottom prices is a welcome relief. Romania remains the perfect mixture of old world and new for the budget conscious traveler.

Poland

Poland may not jump to the front of your mind when you think of old world charm, which is a shame because this post-communist country has thousands of years of rich history, and more than its share of architectural and artistic wonder. In fact, Krakow, with its ancient Jewish district of Kazimierz and its incredible abundance of quirky bars, restaurant, and friendly people, may honestly be the most beautiful city in Europe at night, when the soft candle light from innumerable cafes spills out onto 19th-century streets. In addition, Poland is one of the cheapest countries in Europe, with the Zloty being equal to about 29 cents at the time of this writing, and an average meal costing about 13-15 Zloty in a restaurant. One could easily spend a week in Poland for about $100 and not be bored for a moment seeking out the breathtaking sadness of Auschwitz in the tiny Polish town of Oswiecim or the charming port of Gdansk.