With low-cost flights and increasingly popular trains, overnight stays also play a decisive role in travellers’ budgets, especially with the arrival of summer, a period in which prices tend to rise. Short-term rentals are conquering more and more travelers compared to traditional hotel solutions, thanks to often lower costs, greater freedom of movement and an experience closer to local life.
To understand how much it really costs to sleep in Europe this year, the AirDNA platform analyzed average daily rates, occupancy rates and booking habits over the last twelve months, identifying the five cheapest and five most expensive destinations on the continent for tourist rentals.
Where you spend the least: Eastern Europe remains the most convenient choice
The Balkans and Eastern Europe confirm themselves as the most advantageous area for those looking for an economical stay without giving up landscapes, history and culture.
At the top of the ranking is North Macedonia, where a night costs on average less than 40 euros (39.81 euros). Here travelers often organize their trip at the last moment, booking on average just 13 days before departure, for stays of around 4-5 nights. The most popular destinations are Skopje and Lake Ohrid, often described as a cheap alternative to the great lakes of Western Europe.
In second place is Kosovo, still little known by mass tourism but increasingly appreciated by those seeking authenticity at affordable prices: the average rate stops at 41.63 euros per night. It is the country with the shortest booking notice in Europe (just a week), a sign of often last minute tourism, frequently included in larger itineraries in the Balkans.
Third position for Moldova, which combines hills, historic monasteries and a solid wine tradition at an average cost of 45.49 euros per night. The country also records among the highest employment rates of economic destinations, with average stays longer than the continental average, concentrated above all in the capital Chișinău.
In fourth place is Serbia, with 51.17 euros per night: Belgrade remains the preferred base for visitors, but presences in Novi Sad, in the wine-growing areas of Šumadija and along the natural areas of the Drina river are growing.
Bosnia and Herzegovina closes the top 5, with an average rate of 56.33 euros per night. Sarajevo continues to be the most visited destination, but many tourists take the opportunity to go as far as Mostar and the Herzegovina countryside.
In summary, the five cheapest countries for tourist rentals in 2026 are: North Macedonia, Kosovo, Moldova, Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Where people spend the most: the most exclusive destinations on the continent
©carmensieta/123rf
At the other end of the list we find countries where accommodation can significantly weigh on the overall travel budget.
The record for the most expensive country goes to Monaco, where the demand for accommodation largely exceeds the supply, especially in conjunction with events such as the Formula 1 Grand Prix: here the average daily rate reaches around 417 euros, with bookings made well in advance (about two months in advance) for short stays, of around four nights.
Iceland follows, chosen above all for its natural landscapes and the Northern Lights: in Reykjavík the average cost rises to 209.90 euros per night. It is also the country with the longest booking notice in Europe, over two months on average.
In third place is Andorra, a favorite destination for those who love skiing and trekking, with an average rate of 188.57 euros per night for stays of around four nights.
Fourth position for Switzerland, with 184.26 euros per night: among the most popular (and most expensive) locations are Interlaken and Zurich, where visitors stay on average for around five nights.
The United Kingdom closes the ranking, with an average rate of 175.79 euros per night. Among the most expensive areas of the country stand out London, Suffolk, the Gloucester and Cheltenham areas, and Edinburgh, the latter especially during festival periods, when prices rise further.
