Is cash still necessary in Eastern Europe?

Yes. While major cities use cards, you will need cash for market stalls, rural transport, small cafes, and public restrooms.

Does my budget need to include train travel between cities?

No. The $60-90 estimate is for daily on-the-ground costs. Treat inter-city trains or buses as a separate 'transportation' line item in your planning.

Estimating Your Daily Budget for Eastern Europe

Expect to spend between $60 and $90 per day for a comfortable mid-range trip. This budget covers a private room, three restaurant meals, local transport, and one major attraction per day.

Check the local currency volatility. Don't just use current exchange rates. Check a 6-month historical chart for the local currency (e.g., Polish Zloty, Romanian Leu, Hungarian Forint) against your home currency to see if it’s currently inflated.
Use Numbeo for base costs. Go to Numbeo and compare your home city with your target destination. Look specifically at 'Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant' and 'Domestic Beer' prices; these are the most reliable indicators of local inflation.
Add a 20% 'unforeseen cost' buffer. In Eastern Europe, cash is still king in many smaller towns. Always budget an extra 20% to cover ATM fees and transaction costs, which can be surprisingly high depending on your bank.
Verify regional pricing tiers. Group your trip into 'Capital Cities' (Prague, Warsaw, Budapest) which cost 20-30% more, and 'Secondary Cities/Rural areas' (Plovdiv, Brasov, Krakow) which are significantly cheaper.

Is cash still necessary in Eastern Europe?: Yes. While major cities use cards, you will need cash for market stalls, rural transport, small cafes, and public restrooms.
Does my budget need to include train travel between cities?: No. The $60-90 estimate is for daily on-the-ground costs. Treat inter-city trains or buses as a separate 'transportation' line item in your planning.