For one euro, you can buy more in some holiday countries than in Austria. This is especially true this year for Hungary, Portugal, and Spain, according to Bank Austria’s annual “holiday euro” comparison. But in popular destinations such as Greece, Slovenia, Croatia, and Italy, Austrians can also afford more with the same money. It is more expensive than at home in the UK, the USA, and especially Switzerland.

“Among the most popular holiday countries, you get the most for your euro this summer in Hungary—about 50 percent more than in Austria,” writes Stefan Bruckbauer, chief economist at UniCredit Bank Austria. In Portugal and Spain, the holiday euro is worth around 30 percent more; in Greece and Slovenia about 20 percent more. In Turkey, high inflation has devalued the euro by around 20 percent this year, making it roughly equal in value to Austria. No purchasing-power gain is expected in Germany or France, while in Italy and Croatia the euro buys about 10 percent more.

Despite a strong euro, you get significantly less buying power in the USA (20 percent less) and especially in Switzerland (one-third less).

If you want even more value, consider less-visited countries: the euro is worth 75 percent more in Bulgaria, 50 percent more in Romania, and still 30 percent more in the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

Bank Austria reminds readers that these are average figures and travelers should still watch individual prices. “Compared to summer 2024, the relative value of the holiday euro has fallen by about one percent, since price increases in some countries outpaced Austria’s, only partly offset by exchange-rate shifts,” notes Bruckbauer. However, Germany, France, Italy, Greece, and Spain have become “marginally cheaper.”