How Much Spending Money to Take to Europe for 1, 2 or 4 Weeks (2024)

FAQs

How much money do I need for 4 weeks in Europe? ›

I usually allow between $1000 and $1500 per week to cover meals, groceries, fuel, road tolls/vignettes, sightseeing, souvenirs, etc. On my recent trip, the amount budgeted of $1250 per week was more than enough to cover all our daily expenses including a few fancy dinners.

How Much Spending Money for One Week in Europe? This is so entirely dependent on your own travel preferences that it's tough to estimate but we recommend putting aside roughly €350 to €1000 for spending money for one week in Europe.

So for 2 weeks in Europe, a budget traveler may spend around 1,120 Euros. This could be lower if you budget to the extreme. Keep in mind, a work exchange cuts your accommodation costs down to 0, and your food, transport, and activity costs may be lower as well depending on what your host offers.

As a rough estimation, budget $50-100 per person for each day that you will be away. This should cover your accommodation, food, drink and transportation costs. Of course, this number can vary according to the destination and your style of traveling.

Backpackers should expect to spend between $40 – $70 USD/day in Eastern Europe, $70 – $100/day in Western Europe, and $150 – $200/day in the Nordic countries.

A good budget would be between 40 – 70 Euros for food in a day if eating all your meals out (and how much you eat). You should also have some leftover for gelato. Drinking is a favourite past time for many of us, and for those coming from Australia, the good news is that alcohol is MUCH cheaper in Europe.

Key Takeaways. European travelers should always have some cash on hand; getting it from an ATM abroad is usually the easiest, most advantageous way. If you need cash from an ATM, it's usually better to use a debit card, because credit cards often charge a high interest rate for a cash advance.

Resist the urge to buy foreign currency before your trip.

Some tourists feel like they just have to have euros or British pounds in their pockets when they step off the airplane, but they pay the price in bad stateside exchange rates. Wait until you arrive to withdraw money.

The general consensus is that you should have $50 to $100 in cash per day for each traveler. However, this amount could vary considerably depending on where you are vacationing. Some destinations are more cash-friendly than others.

Debit cards from any major US bank will work in any standard European bank's ATM (ideally, use a debit card with a Visa or MasterCard logo). As for credit cards, Visa and MasterCard are universal, American Express is less common, and Discover is unknown in Europe. Check your cards' expiration dates.

Can I use a credit card in Europe? ›

Despite some differences between European and US cards, there's little to worry about: US credit cards (Visa and MasterCard) generally work fine in Europe.

Budget to spend around €450 for two for a week in Italy. This assumes you're cooking some of the time and drinking some alcohol. If you enjoy eating out, you can expect to pay around €65 for a nice dinner for two, including an alcoholic drink.

The short answer is: Always pay in the local currency (Euros), which allows your bank to set the exchange rate, and it will always be a better option. If you choose to pay in dollars, you get the worst exchange rate from the merchant.

The main advantage of using a debit or credit card overseas is that you won't pay foreign transaction fees every time you spend. While many also won't charge fees for cash withdrawals, you will still usually be charged interest from the date of the transaction if you use a credit card.

If you plan a more extended vacation and need to know how 3 weeks in Europe budget look like, we'd say you're looking at spending about 850 per week, making it 2,550 euros total. To quickly recap, if you are traveling to Europe, you are looking at spending around 120 euros per day on average.

A good rule of thumb, though, is that, on average, you should plan to carry between $50 and $100 per day in the currency of the country in which you're travelling. As with all things, research is your friend here. Understand where you're travelling and what the local customs regarding cash are.

Overall, you should spend $40 to $50 per day.

France, Germany, Austria, the Netherlands and Belgium are all similarly priced in terms of food and drink, whereas Switzerland gets a bit more expensive (thanks to the Swiss Franc).

With a valid U.S. passport, you can stay up to 90 days for tourism or business during any 180-day period. Do not overstay! You must wait an additional 90 days before applying to re-enter the Schengen area. To stay longer than 90 days, you must have a visa.

Just know that anytime you travel internationally with money, you're required to declare any cash over $10,000. You'll have to fill out declaration Form FinCEN 105 and provide the exact amount of money on you. Having to declare more than $10,000 in cash might seem a bit odd.

The general rule is that as long as you spend more time at home than abroad, or you use your mobile phone more at home than abroad, you can pay your standard domestic prices for your calls, texts and data services when you travel in the EU. This is considered a fair use of roaming services.

Is it better to exchange currency with cash or card? ›

Fees aside, using your credit or debit card is probably your safest bet for getting an exchange rate that's closest to the market rate. But be aware that while your card's issuer bases its exchange rate on market conditions, it does set its own exchange rate for transactions.

Is It Cheaper To Exchange Money at the Bank or Airport? It is cheaper to exchange money at the bank (or by using an ATM) than the airport. That's because currency exchange stores and kiosks at the airports mark up the exchange rate to make a profit.

'Now is a good time to buy foreign currency'

The euro — the official currency for 19 of the 27 European Union members — has been falling in value over the last year or so and hit parity with the U.S. dollar on July 13, for the first time since 2002. Parity means the two currencies had a 1:1 exchange rate.

Monday is therefore the best time to sell dollars and buy euros with a 2-3% lower total exchange rate. On the flip-side, Wednesday and Friday are the best days to sell euros and buy dollars.

You can fly with any amount of cash. No law prohibits you from bringing any amount of money on a flight. Likewise, TSA has no rules that limit how much money you can bring through security.

Here it should be mentioned that if you have any cash in foreign currency that is in excess of this $2000 limit, then you are required to surrender the amount within 90 days of your return to a bank.

The simple answer is yes, your debit and credit card will work in Europe. Using your credit card and debit card in Europe is very easy these days thanks to global financial networks.

Visa exchange rate

This might not be the same day when the transaction took place. A 2.99% fee charged by us for using your debit card abroad when making purchases, withdrawing cash or for refunds.

Are debit cards safe to use internationally? ›

Yes. However, it's a good idea to let your bank know first if you're traveling outside the country. If not, you risk the card being shut down due to the stringent security measures in place to keep your account safe. Be on alert for potential pickpockets while on a trip.

Visa and Mastercard are by far the most widely accepted cards, with Discover slightly behind those brands and American Express in a distant fourth place. Any retailer that accepts card payments likely takes Visa and Mastercard.

Foreign transaction fees can add up fast when using your debit card abroad. The fees are often 1% to 3% of the amount of a purchase, and many banks also apply the fee to ATM withdrawals.

Re: Are 500 Euros enough for food and fun? Yes. Although some can blow that much on one meal!! Others can somehow make the same amount last a week. As long as you don't get caught up in 'designer' shopping - you should be able to have quite a bit of fun on 500 euros.

First, understand that Italy is a very cash-oriented society, so make sure you never end up with zero cash in your wallet. To buy small things, like coffee, you'll need cash. You'll also need cash at all outdoor markets, for most taxis, and at many restaurants.

It is best to exchange your cash at a bank in your home country before arriving to avoid the fees at exchange offices. The fastest and easiest way to exchange your money is to take money directly out of an ATM (Bancomat in Italian).

The best place to exchange foreign currency in the U.S. is at your local bank or credit union before you leave for your trip.

Which debit card is free to use abroad? ›

This is so entirely dependent on your own travel preferences that it's tough to estimate but we recommend putting aside roughly €350 to €1000 for spending money for one week in Europe.

An average estimate is also about 20 Euros per meal. Lunch and breakfast are usually cheaper than dinner, especially if drinks are involved. In Western Europe, you'll easily spend 20 Euros on just breakfast or lunch with a coffee or drink. Dinner could be 30 or 40 Euros with wines and co*cktails.

If you plan a more extended vacation and need to know how 3 weeks in Europe budget look like, we'd say you're looking at spending about 850 per week, making it 2,550 euros total. To quickly recap, if you are traveling to Europe, you are looking at spending around 120 euros per day on average.

Considering average prices, $5,000 is more than enough to travel Europe comfortably for several weeks. With $5,000, you will be able to buy a return ticket, take flights between European countries, use public transport, eat multiple meals at restaurants per day, and visit paid attractions for more than three weeks.

Should You Use Cash or Credit When Traveling to Europe? Most international travelers will end up using a combination of cash and cards when visiting Europe. While credit cards are accepted in most situations, currency can be more convenient for public transportation and small vendors.

If you have 3 weeks in western Europe, you will get to see at least 3-4 different countries, visit historical spots, try out local dishes, and enjoy the scenic locations. All these countries are sought-after by international visitors for different reasons.

The late fall and winter months—from mid to late October through mid-to-late March—are often the cheapest time to fly to Europe (though fares can spike in December). It's often cheaper to fly to Europe mid-week, on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, in particular.

Overall, Europe has a lower cost of living due to lower healthcare expenses, a weakening euro currency, and low inflation. Europeans, however, tend to pay more of their income to taxes, and average wages tend to be lower than in America.

Which country can I live with $500 a month? ›

Zurich (Switzerland) is considered to be the most expensive city in Europe. According to the Expatistan survey, the city's price index is 244.