Europe's top holiday destinations compared: Where are food, drinks and hotels cheapest?

A meal by the sea, a hotel room or a glass of wine can cost dramatically different amounts depending on where you spend your summer holiday.

To compare prices across seven of Europe's most popular holiday destinations, Euronews Business analysed Eurostat data on price levels for a range of goods and services.

The figures do not show the cost of a holiday but reflect national averages. Prices in popular tourist hotspots can be considerably higher. A hotel room in Athens and one on Kos, for example, would be priced differently, but both contribute to Greece's national average.

The comparison covers seven countries.

Overall price levels: Turkey is the cheapest

Several price level indices compare the cost of different goods and services, such as food, drink, clothing and hotels. The household final consumption expenditure (HFCE) price level index reflects the overall price level of consumer goods and services.

In simple terms, if the same basket of goods and services costs €100 on average across the EU, how much would it cost in each country?

Turkey is the cheapest country overall, based on more than 2,000 goods and services. A basket costing €100 in the EU costs just €59.6 in Turkey, meaning it is 40.4% cheaper than the EU average.

France is the most expensive among the seven countries at €100.3, just above the EU average. All five other countries are below it: Italy (€97.1), Spain (€91.6), Greece (€87.4), Portugal (€86.6) and Croatia (€78.4).

Where are hotels and restaurants cheapest?

Eurostat's "restaurants and hotels" price category compares the cost of eating out and staying in paid accommodation. It is one of the most relevant measures for travellers.

France is the most expensive among the seven countries, with a price level index of 116, followed by Italy at 110.8. In other words, if the EU average for this category is set at €100, the equivalent basket of restaurant and accommodation services would cost €116 in France and €110.8 in Italy.

Portugal is the cheapest, with the basket costing €73.6. This means that prices are 26.4% below the EU average. Turkey also scores below 80, with a price level index of 78.3.

Croatia (89.6) is slightly more expensive than Greece (86.1) and Spain (85.4).

Turkey and Spain below the EU average for food prices

Food prices are fairly similar across the seven countries, with one clear exception: Turkey.

France is the most expensive, although prices are only 7.9% above the EU average. A food basket costing €100 across the EU would cost €107.9 in France.

In Turkey, the same basket would cost just €75.6. Spain is the only other country below the EU average, at €94.6, while prices in the remaining countries are slightly higher.

Alcohol costs more than twice the EU average in Turkey

Alcohol produces one of the sharpest price divides in the comparison.

Turkey stands out as by far the most expensive destination: alcoholic drinks cost more than twice the EU average, with a price level index of 210.2. Greece is a distant second at 154, followed by Croatia at 133.9.

At the other end of the scale, Italy is the cheapest at 81.9, while Spain also remains below the EU average at 90.1. Prices in France and Portugal are much closer to the European benchmark, at 100.9 and 107.1 respectively.

The picture is less extreme for non-alcoholic drinks, although differences remain. Prices range from 81.8 in Italy to 133.5 in Croatia.

Turkey has the lowest tobacco prices by far

Tobacco price levels differ hugely, ranging from €25.4 in Turkey to €191.1 in France. All the other countries are also below the EU average, but none comes close to Turkey. The second lowest is Croatia at €64.6, still far more expensive than Turkey.

For those travelling by public transport, Turkey is the cheapest at €68.3, compared with the EU average of €100. Only France exceeds the EU average at €112.8.

Portugal, Spain and Croatia are around €80, while Greece is just below the EU average.

Seafood prices do not differ much

For seafood lovers heading to southern Europe, price differences are relatively small, ranging from €95.4 in Portugal to €112.7 in Greece.

Individual or household incomes are not included in these comparisons. As a result, for people from higher-income countries, the price differences may not feel as significant as they do for travellers from lower-income countries.