This is more of an opinion question than anything else. I know everyone travels in different styles with different demands and requirements for enjoyable travel. If your ticket to Europe is covered, and your transport while there is covered (rail pass) and you're going to be couch surfing for most of the time you're there how much cash do you think you would need for a month in Europe?

I'm wondering about meals, entrance fees to museums and such since I've mostly grown out of the necessity to buy stuff to bring back as long as my camera is working and I can take dozens of dozens of photos.

What do you think?

$CDN 50 a day at least... depends on how fancy you want to eat. Will you have access to a kitchen? I'm guessing yes since you are couchsurfing...

And on that note I am ready to roll. Thanks so much for the input.

I went through 500 Euro a week while in France this time last year, but I was in hostels, so maybe only 350-400. Was cooking most of my own food though and traveling in a similar fashion to how you describe elsewise. I found Italy was a little more expensive and I haven't spent enough time in other European countries yet to give you a good idea on those.

I'd say Switzerland was the most expensive mainland European country. The rest of the west is pretty similar... not cheap, but not massively overpriced. For food, depends how cheap you wanna go... 5 euros a meal is do-able. I think museums and things is quite variable, depending on how many/the standard of them. Visiting a few might end up being pretty expensive so might be better to a get a city pass type thing if available/appropriate.

We'll be hitting the local Loblaws/Safeway/Tescos(?) to save on spending as well. Our hostel memberships were purchased a couple of days ago so when we run out of unsuspecting friends and relatives to visit we'll have a few more options.

Woo! Have a great time and I'll subscribe to your blog to keep track of you!

There was a NY Times Budget Travel Blog which started last month where the guy was traveling for 100 Euro a day. I think you could probably do it on less if you have a student's stomach.

100 Euro a day? That's not budget, that's luxury! You can definitely do it on 50 euro a day - but not eating out much, and couchsurfing or hostelling of course.

Yeah seriously, sounds like luxury to me too haha. I'd like to see this article...

Is this it?

http://frugaltraveler.blogs.nytimes.com/

Yes, I believe that's the article. But remember, he is including his travel costs and hotels in there and doesn't have a spouse or travel companion to divide the hotel/lodging costs in half.

That's what me and Rachel are talking about...yeah, if you subtract the hotel/lodging/eating out costs, you can go around for way less than that.

That's EXTREME budgeting.

Yup - I'm talking about complete daily costs - lodging, food, transport, attractions and souviners. I've only ever traveled by myself in Europe so I know what it's like to not be able to split costs! 50 euro a day is do-able, but tight. 100 euro a day and you're cruising

Jeez...
I should have only 58-60€ per day... should I worry ? I've always been a nervous guy, though...

I plan to do 50% CouchSurfing, 30% hostels, 20% cheap hotels in France, Italy, Germany, and maybe Spain. Without a pre-purchased train pass.

I think you should be OK, Jon.

Yeah, I think you're right, supervaca. The more northerly countries are more expensive, but you could do it on $50, you just wouldn't be as comfortable as you would in the cheaper countries.

Thanks to you both ! I should be ok, I know that, but I guess I'm the worrying type and I can't help it until I'm on the field.

I'll just CouchSurf a bit (which is far from a bad thing), and the extra 20-30€ I'll save everyday will be useful at the end ! And my friend and me have a great opportunity in Paris, there's someone we know who sent us the key to his appartment this week that's just great !

When I'm back in late October, I'll let y'all know how much it cost me. In the meantime, thanks again for your tips !

A couchsurfer you don't know yet sent you keys? Or was it someone you already knew before?

Yup it's a friend of a friend (but I never met him), he sent us the key for 50€... damn he wanted us to have that key real bad, I tell you...

That's so nice of him, wow! That's like $100 isn't it? You should take him out for dinner or leave him some expensive wine for when he comes back home.

Yeah, we certainly will, it's like having your own little appartment in Paris for 4 days. It's quite something that's for sure... But we still don't know what to buy him. Since he's a Quebecer and he's in France for a while now, we thought of bringing him something from here

I think that's the best idea. It's even easier for you, since it's your first stop.

You know what I'm thinking you bring him? CARIBOU! Can you get it when it's not Carnavale time?

No, I don't think Caribou can be purchased other than while the Carnaval takes place in February. But then again, I never tasted it, and wouldn't know where to buy it... Anyway, we bought him something from Italy instead he asked for that.

Oh man, I want some now...Carnaval is just around the corner!

OK, got back from Europe, sorted it out.
Hope this can help a traveller on this Earth.

My 52 days long trip cost me 2975.81€ precisely. As of today's exchange rate (Nov. 5), it's 4491 $CAN, or 3869 $US.
This includes everything (hostels, meals, water, train tickets, beer, souvenirs, tram / metro / bus tickets in every town, bike location, etc.) except for the plane ticket and the insurance I took before leaving.

I spent 44 days in hostels, 8 days on CouchSurfing and such (includind the Paris apartment). I didn't go much to museums and such though (went to the Louvre on a free entrance Sunday), and rarely paid more than 15-20€ a day for meals, which I would frequently prepare myself, or buy on the run.

I didn't have any train pass of any kind before leaving ; as a way to preserve some improvisation, I bought everything on the spot, therefore I never benefitted from a reduction (such as early reservation tickets) for all the trip. And so I went through eight European countries (France, Belgium, Germany, Italy, Austria, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, Monaco), and even took a return flight Karlsruhe-Baden (Gmy) to Roma (It) on one occasion, for the sum of 852.50€. That's 18 train trips and one flight, full price (unfortunately, I'm older that 26).

So I spent an average of 57.23€ per day (86.38 $CAN). I never refrained my sometimes abundant alcohol consumption, went to all the places I wanted to go before leaving (and when I didn't, it's because I lacked time), ate and slept quite well, and had the time of my life.

Ladies and gentlemen, I rest my case...

That....is an incredible budget tour of Europe. Good show! I want to hear all about it next time I'm in Montreal...

Sure thing !
Moving there in a week.

Switzerland was the most expensive mainland European country. The rest of the west is pretty similar，not cheap, but not massively overpriced. For food, depends how cheap you wanna go... 5 euros a meal is do-able.

OK, Nov. 29, me you, skylab and his girlfriend, Dieu du Ciel, be there!

Yup ! I'll try to bring along that travel buddy Pierre-Luc, which you met last summer...

Oh cool, that will be quadruple the fun!

Yeah, like you said, 5 euros is do-able... except in Switzerland, Cost me 13.30 FS ($12.90 CAN) for a Big Mac trio in Buchs... That's way over 10 US dollars btw.