Revealed: Europe’s Cheapest and Most Expensive Countries for Holiday Rentals in 2026
Planning a European summer in 2026? Before you fall in love with a cliffside villa in Amalfi or a whitewashed house in Mykonos, look at the numbers.
Holiday rental prices across Europe have shifted again this year — thanks to new short-term rental laws, record summer demand, and a flood of digital nomads chasing the Mediterranean sun. I dug into June–August 2026 data from Airbnb, Booking.com, and Vrbo to compare average nightly prices for entire apartments in capital cities and top resort areas.
The gaps are dramatic.
Key Takeaways
- Cheapest country for summer rentals in 2026: Bulgaria, averaging $68 (€63) per night for a full apartment.
- Most expensive: Switzerland, averaging $248 (€230) per night — and $400+ in peak Alpine resorts.
- Portugal and Greece sit mid-range overall ($125–$165/night), but hotspot islands regularly exceed $300/night.
- Eastern Europe (Bulgaria, Romania, Poland) offers 40–70% savings vs Western Europe for similar space.
- Booking 60+ days in advance saves 15–25% in high-demand countries like Spain and Italy.
Here’s what you need to know — and where your summer budget stretches furthest.
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Cheapest Countries for Holiday Rentals in 2026
If your goal is space, balconies, and maybe even a pool without burning $250 a night, head east.
1. Bulgaria — Average $68 (€63) per night
Sofia city center one-bedroom in June 2026: **$62–$75 per night** on Airbnb.
Black Sea coast (Varna or Burgas): **$70–$90 per night** in July.
For comparison, a similar-sized apartment in Barcelona averages $210.
Bulgaria’s biggest advantage? Value for space. A 650 sq ft (60 m²) apartment near Sofia’s Vitosha Boulevard costs about the same as a tiny 250 sq ft studio in Paris.
Pro tip: Fly into Sofia Airport, then take the metro to downtown for $1.10 (30 minutes) instead of a $22 taxi (20 minutes).
Skip overpriced Sunny Beach mega-resorts. Stay in Nessebar Old Town instead — cobblestone streets, sea views, and quieter nights.
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2. Romania — Average $72 (€67) per night
Bucharest rentals hover around **$65–$85 per night** in summer.
Transylvania (Cluj-Napoca, Brasov): **$70–$95 per night**.
Romania delivers Western-Europe architecture at half the cost. A modern two-bedroom in Brasov with mountain views runs about $110 per night — that barely gets you a private room in Switzerland.
Train comparison:
- Bucharest → Brasov: $14, 2.5 hours
- Equivalent scenic train in Switzerland (Zurich → Lucerne): $35–$50, 50 minutes
Not identical landscapes — but the value gap is massive.
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3. Poland — Average $78 (€72) per night
Kraków Old Town apartments average **$80–$100 per night** in July.
Gdańsk near the Baltic coast: **$85–$110 per night**.
Poland has quietly become one of Europe’s best summer value picks. You get clean, modern rentals and excellent public transport.
Bonus: dining is still affordable. A full dinner in Kraków’s Kazimierz district at Restauracja Starka costs around $18–$22 per person. Try that in Paris for under $40 — good luck.
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Mid-Range but Tricky: Portugal, Greece & Spain
These countries look affordable on paper — until you choose the wrong city.
Portugal — Average $138 (€128) per night
Lisbon one-bedroom (central Alfama or Baixa): **$150–$190 per night**.
Porto: **$120–$160 per night**.
Algarve coast in July: **$180–$250 per night**.
Portugal isn’t cheap anymore — especially after years of digital nomad demand. Still, it’s cheaper than Italy or France for similar coastal vibes.
Want beach without Algarve prices? Look at Costa da Caparica — 20 minutes by bus from Lisbon ($3.50, 35 min) versus Uber at $18 (20 min).
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Greece — Average $165 (€153) per night
Athens city center: **$130–$170 per night**.
Santorini: **$300–$450 per night** in July.
Naxos or Paros: **$160–$220 per night**.
Greece is a tale of two markets. Mainland = reasonable. Instagram islands = eye-watering.
Skip Mykonos unless you truly want the party premium. Naxos offers better beaches and rentals 30–40% cheaper.
Ferry example:
- Athens (Piraeus) → Naxos: $45, 3.5–5 hours
- Athens → Santorini: $60–$85, 5–7 hours
You’ll save hundreds over a week by choosing the right island.
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Spain — Average $172 (€160) per night
Barcelona: **$190–$240 per night**.
Madrid: **$150–$190 per night**.
Mallorca: **$220–$350 per night** peak summer.
Spain tightened short-term rental regulations in 2025, shrinking supply in Barcelona and pushing prices up roughly 12% year-on-year.
If you want Mediterranean beaches without Mallorca prices, try Valencia. City-center rentals average $140–$170 per night, and the beaches are a 20-minute tram ride ($2.50).
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The Most Expensive Countries for Holiday Rentals in 2026
This is where your budget starts sweating.
Italy — Average $198 (€184) per night
Rome historic center: **$210–$260 per night**.
Florence: **$200–$240 per night**.
Amalfi Coast: **$350–$600 per night** in July.
Italy is magical — but summer pricing borders on aggressive.
Example: A 500 sq ft apartment in Positano can hit $520 per night. For that price in Bulgaria, you’d rent a luxury villa with a pool for three nights.
If you want Italy without the price shock, consider Puglia. Lecce rentals average $140–$180 per night, beaches within 25 minutes by car.
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France — Average $205 (€190) per night
Paris (central arrondissements): **$230–$300 per night**.
Nice: **$220–$280 per night**.
Provence countryside: **$250–$400 per night**.
France remains consistently expensive in summer, especially along the Côte d’Azur.
Train comparison:
- Nice → Monaco: $6 regional train, 25 minutes
- Uber same route: $45–$60, 35 minutes in traffic
If you’re already paying premium rental prices, at least save on transport.
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Switzerland — Average $248 (€230) per night
Zurich: **$260–$320 per night**.
Lucerne: **$240–$300 per night**.
Zermatt (peak hiking season): **$350–$500 per night**.
Switzerland is stunning in summer — alpine lakes, hiking trails open from June through September — but it’s Europe’s priciest rental market in 2026.
A modest 1-bedroom in Interlaken for mid-July: $310 per night. Add $30 burgers and $7 coffees, and your daily budget escalates fast.
If you want mountain scenery for less, compare with Romania’s Carpathians at one-third the rental cost.
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Side-by-Side: 2026 Average Summer Rental Costs
| Country | Avg. Nightly Price (USD) | Peak Resort Range | Value Rating (1–5) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bulgaria | $68 | $70–$110 | 5 |
| Romania | $72 | $90–$130 | 5 |
| Poland | $78 | $100–$140 | 4.5 |
| Portugal | $138 | $180–$250 | 3.5 |
| Greece | $165 | $300–$450 | 3 |
| Spain | $172 | $220–$350 | 3 |
| Italy | $198 | $350–$600 | 2.5 |
| France | $205 | $250–$400 | 2 |
| Switzerland | $248 | $350–$500 | 1.5 |
The pattern is clear: Eastern Europe delivers double the value per dollar compared to Western Europe’s big-name destinations.
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How to Cut Your Rental Costs in 2026
Prices are high, but you’re not powerless.
- Book 8–10 weeks ahead. In Spain and Italy, last-minute bookings cost 18–25% more on average.
- Compare Airbnb vs Booking.com. In Portugal, Booking.com apartments were 10–15% cheaper in my June 2026 search sample.
- Check cleaning fees. A $140/night Lisbon apartment often becomes $180/night after fees.
- Consider secondary cities. Valencia vs Barcelona can save $70 per night.
- Stay longer. Weekly discounts (5–20%) are common in Poland and Romania.
If you’re combining Europe with other summer travel, compare these numbers to Southeast Asia pricing in our guide to Bali beyond Ubud — where boutique hotels can cost less than a Bulgarian apartment.
Perspective helps.
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So… Where Should You Go?
If your priority is value: Bulgaria, Romania, and Poland are the clear winners for 2026.
If you want classic Mediterranean summer: choose Portugal over Italy, Naxos over Mykonos, Valencia over Barcelona.
If you’re set on Switzerland or the Amalfi Coast, budget realistically — and book early. The scenery is worth it, but sticker shock isn’t fun at checkout.
Europe isn’t “expensive” or “cheap.” It’s strategic. Pick the right country, the right city, and the right month — and you can cut your rental bill in half.
Now open your booking tabs — and compare before you click confirm.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cheapest country in Europe for holiday rentals in 2026?
Bulgaria is currently the cheapest, averaging $68 (€63) per night for a full apartment in summer 2026, with coastal properties around $70–$90.
Which European country has the most expensive holiday rentals?
Switzerland ranks highest, averaging $248 (€230) per night, with peak Alpine resorts like Zermatt reaching $500 per night in July.
Are Greece and Portugal still affordable in 2026?
They’re mid-range overall ($125–$165 per night), but hotspots like Santorini and the Algarve regularly exceed $300 per night in peak summer.
How far in advance should I book a European summer rental?
Book at least 60 days ahead for Spain, Italy, and France to avoid 15–25% price increases and limited availability.
About the Author: redactor
Travel writer and founder of Discover Travel (distratech.com) — a blog covering travel, food & drink, and technology. With 250+ articles spanning Europe, the Americas, Asia, and Africa, I help travelers discover alternative destinations, hidden gems, and budget-friendly tips backed by real experience and data. Whether it's the best street food in Bangkok, Easter celebrations across Europe, or scenic train routes — I write to inspire smarter, more authentic travel.
