Planning a summer holiday in Europe often means balancing sun, sea, and sand with the cost of a meal, a hotel room, or a glass of wine. A new analysis of Eurostat data by Euronews Business reveals sharp differences in price levels across seven of the continent's most visited destinations, offering a clearer picture of where your holiday budget will stretch furthest.
The analysis uses Eurostat's price level indices, which compare the cost of a standard basket of goods and services across countries. While these figures reflect national averages—meaning prices in tourist hotspots like Mykonos or the Côte d'Azur may be significantly higher—they provide a useful benchmark for travellers.
Overall Price Levels: Turkey Leads on Affordability
Turkey emerges as the cheapest destination overall. A basket of more than 2,000 consumer goods and services that costs €100 on average across the EU would set you back just €59.6 in Turkey—a saving of 40.4%. At the other end of the scale, France is the most expensive among the seven, with a price level index of 100.3, just above the EU average. Italy (97.1), Spain (91.6), Greece (87.4), Portugal (86.6), and Croatia (78.4) all fall below the EU benchmark.
For those seeking a balance of affordability and quality, Portugal and Croatia offer notable value. Portugal, in particular, stands out in the crucial "restaurants and hotels" category, where it is the cheapest among the seven. A basket of restaurant meals and accommodation services costing €100 across the EU would cost just €73.6 in Portugal—26.4% below the average. Turkey follows closely with an index of 78.3, while France (116) and Italy (110.8) are the most expensive.
Food and Drink: A Tale of Two Extremes
Food prices are relatively uniform across most of the destinations, with one clear exception. Turkey again offers the best value: a food basket costing €100 across the EU would cost only €75.6 there. Spain is the only other country below the EU average, at €94.6. France is the most expensive for food, at 7.9% above the EU average, while Italy, Greece, Portugal, and Croatia all hover slightly above the benchmark.
The picture for alcohol is dramatically different. Turkey is by far the most expensive destination for alcoholic drinks, with a price level index of 210.2—more than double the EU average. Greece (154) and Croatia (133.9) also charge well above the norm. At the other end, Italy is the cheapest, with an index of 81.9, followed by Spain at 90.1. France (100.9) and Portugal (107.1) are close to the European average.
Non-alcoholic drinks show less extreme variation, ranging from Italy's 81.8 to Croatia's 133.5.
Tobacco, Transport, and Seafood
Tobacco prices vary enormously, from €25.4 in Turkey to €191.1 in France—a sevenfold difference. All other countries are below the EU average, but none comes close to Turkey's low prices.
For travellers using public transport, Turkey is again the cheapest, with an index of 68.3 compared with the EU average of 100. France is the only country above the EU average, at 112.8. Portugal, Spain, and Croatia cluster around 80, while Greece is just below the EU benchmark.
Seafood lovers heading to southern Europe will find relatively small price differences, ranging from €95.4 in Portugal to €112.7 in Greece.
For those considering alternatives to the classic beach holiday, Central European destinations offer cultural richness without the coastal premium. Meanwhile, travellers seeking cooler climates might explore Europe's top 'coolcation' destinations for 2026, led by Iceland, Finland, and Norway.
