Travelling around Europe does not have to mean spending hundreds of euros every day. A recent Thomas Cook comparison of more than 50 destinations identified 13 European cities where travellers can keep average daily costs at or below €100 per person.

The calculations included three-star accommodation, an inexpensive restaurant meal, coffee, local transport and paid attractions, making the list a useful starting point for planning an affordable September escape.

Tirana: €59 A Day

Albania’s capital offers the lowest estimated daily cost at just €59 per person. A three-star hotel averages around €32 per person per night, while a meal at an inexpensive restaurant costs about €8.50.

Tirana combines colourful architecture, lively cafés and easy access to museums and public squares, making it particularly attractive for travellers who want a low-cost city break without sacrificing atmosphere.

Bucharest: €66 A Day

Romania’s capital comes next at approximately €66 per day. Eating out remains affordable, with an inexpensive dinner costing just over €12 on average, while a daily public transport pass is around €1.50.

Visitors can explore grand boulevards, historic neighbourhoods and a growing café scene while keeping everyday expenses relatively low.

Antalya And Warsaw: €78

Antalya and Warsaw share third place, with both estimated at €78 per person each day.

Antalya offers a combination of beaches, historic streets and Mediterranean scenery, while Warsaw appeals to travellers interested in museums, modern architecture and Poland’s rapidly changing capital. Their equal daily budgets show that both coastal and city-focused trips can remain affordable.

Istanbul: €82 A Day

Istanbul comes in at around €82 per person per day. Three-star accommodation averages approximately €28 per person, while an inexpensive meal generally costs between €8 and €9.

With major landmarks, markets, neighbourhood cafés and ferry journeys across the Bosphorus, Istanbul offers plenty to fill several days without requiring a luxury budget.

More Cities Under €90

Muğla in Türkiye and Krakow in Poland are both estimated at €87 per day. Muğla can work well for travellers interested in southwestern Türkiye and nearby coastal destinations, while Krakow combines a compact historic centre with museums, cafés and an easy-to-navigate city layout.

Vilnius and Frankfurt follow at €90 per person. Lithuania’s capital is known for its walkable old town and creative districts, while Frankfurt provides a more surprising budget option among major western European business centres.

Lyon, Tallinn And Heraklion

Lyon costs around €91 per person per day, making it one of the more affordable options in France on this list. Its riverside neighbourhoods, traditional food culture and historic centre make it particularly suited to a short city break.

Tallinn follows at €93, offering a compact medieval centre that can largely be explored on foot. Heraklion in Crete comes in just below the €100 threshold at €99 per day, combining an urban stay with easy access to archaeological sites and the island’s coastline.

Porto Reaches The €100 Mark

Porto completes the list at exactly €100 per person per day. The Portuguese city remains attractive for its riverfront scenery, tiled architecture and walkable historic streets, although it sits at the upper end of this particular budget ranking.

The figures show that affordable European travel is still possible across a surprisingly varied range of destinations. From Balkan capitals to Mediterranean cities and major cultural centres, choosing the right destination can make a substantial difference to the cost of a short European holiday.