If there’s one thing I’ve learnt from our travels around Europe, it’s this: eating well doesn’t have to mean spending big. Some of our best food experiences have come in cities where a few euros go surprisingly far — whether you’re tucking into a plate of grilled meats, a perfect slice of pizza, or the freshest street food.
Over the past few years we’ve explored all of these ten cities ourselves, either for Folkestone Foodies or on personal trips. Each one stands out not just for the food quality but for how far your money stretches — something that matters more than ever when planning trips these days.
This is a list for anyone who loves discovering new dishes, eating where the locals eat, and coming home with memories that cost a lot less than you’d expect.
1. Belgrade, Serbia
Belgrade might just be the best value food city in Europe right now. I was blown away by how much we could eat (and drink) for so little here — and the food was genuinely excellent.
Ćevapi — those addictive grilled sausages served with flatbread, onions, and kajmak — cost us about €6–€7 for a generous portion.
We spent a great evening in a traditional kafana, where a full meal for two — mixed grill, salads, drinks, and dessert — came in at around €30–€35.
And for a quick snack, you can’t beat burek — flaky pastries stuffed with cheese or meat — for €1.50–€2.50 from local bakeries.
What to budget:
- Ćevapi with bread & kajmak: ~€6–€7
- Dinner for two in a kafana: ~€30–€35
- Burek pastry: ~€1.50–€2.50
2. Sarajevo, Bosnia & Herzegovina
Sarajevo has long been one of my favourite food cities — not least because you can eat so well for so little.
We loved wandering Baščaršija market, grabbing ćevapi in local grill houses — €4–€6 for a filling plate with fluffy somun bread and onions.
Burek with yoghurt made for another perfect cheap lunch — €2.50–€3.50 for a large portion.
And the ritual of Bosnian coffee, served in its traditional copper pot with a cube of sugar, is a must — about €1.50 in most cafés.
What to budget:
- Ćevapi: ~€4–€6
- Burek with yoghurt: ~€2.50–€3.50
- Bosnian coffee: ~€1.50
3. Sofia, Bulgaria
Sofia flies under the radar, but if you’re after properly affordable, satisfying food, it’s hard to beat.
We’d often start meals with a shopska salad — tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, and white cheese — for about €2.50–€3.
Main courses — grilled meats, bean stews, stuffed peppers — typically came in at €5–€9, even in central restaurants.
Breakfast usually meant a hot, flaky banitsa pastry from a bakery, still warm from the oven, for around €1.50.
What to budget:
- Shopska salad: ~€2.50–€3
- Main course in a local restaurant: ~€5–€9
- Banitsa: ~€1.50
4. Istanbul, Turkey
Istanbul is one of those cities where you can happily graze your way through the day — and barely notice the impact on your wallet.
We’d often start with a simit (sesame bread ring) and tea for about €1.50, then snack our way through balık ekmek (grilled fish sandwiches by the Bosphorus, around €2–€2.50), stuffed mussels, and grilled meats.
One of my favourite cheap eats was sitting in a bustling lokanta, where for €7–€9 you’d get a big plate of stewed aubergines, lentil soup, and rice — honest, homely food that really sticks with you.
What to budget:
- Balık ekmek: ~€2–€2.50
- Simit & tea: ~€1.50
- Dinner in a lokanta: ~€7–€9
5. Athens, Greece
Athens is one of my favourite food cities — not just for flavour, but for how much you can enjoy on a small budget.
I’ve lost count of how many souvlaki wraps we grabbed from street stalls and hole-in-the-wall spots here — always hot, juicy, and packed with tzatziki and chips, for around €2.50–€4.
For sit-down meals, local tavernas are unbeatable. We’d regularly order moussaka, Greek salad, and a half-litre carafe of wine for around €15 per person — all with that relaxed, no-fuss Greek charm.
And mornings usually started with koulouri (sesame bread rings) from a street vendor and a strong coffee — the perfect €2–€3 start to the day.
What to budget:
- Souvlaki wrap: ~€3–€4
- Taverna meal with wine: ~€12–€15
- Koulouri + coffee breakfast: ~€2–€3
6. Budapest, Hungary
Budapest is another city where it’s easy to eat well without spending much — and the food here is properly comforting and generous.
Lángos (fried flatbread topped with garlic, sour cream, and cheese) made for a perfect €3–€4 snack as we wandered the markets.
For proper meals, we loved the two-course lunch menus at local bistros — often €7–€9 for hearty dishes like goulash, chicken paprikash, or cabbage rolls.
And the wine and beer scene is very budget-friendly too — it wasn’t uncommon to pay €2–€2.50 for a glass of decent Hungarian red.
What to budget:
- Lángos: ~€3–€4
- Two-course lunch menu: ~€7–€9
- Glass of wine or beer: ~€2–€2.50
7. Prague, Czechia
Prague surprised me on our last visit — it’s one of the few cities where the food remains excellent value even in the city centre, as long as you know where to look.
We made a habit of ordering the daily lunch specials — denní menu — where €8–€10 would get you soup, a main dish, and a beer. It’s a brilliant way to try hearty Czech dishes like goulash with dumplings, roast pork, and schnitzel.
Beer, of course, is still wonderfully cheap — often €2–€2.50 for a half-litre of crisp lager.
What to budget:
- Daily lunch menu with beer: ~€8–€10
- Beef goulash main: ~€9–€11
- Pint of beer: ~€2–€2.50
8. Granada, Spain
Granada is the dream city for anyone who loves a good bargain with their food. The free tapa with every drink tradition is very much alive — and genuinely worth travelling for.
On our visit, we’d start with a small beer or glass of wine, and each round brought a new dish: anything from pork stew to seafood rice to jamón-topped bread. After three drinks (and three tapas) we were essentially full — and had spent about €10–15 each for the evening.
The Moorish influence also adds a lovely twist to Granada’s sweet offerings. We made a habit of stopping for churros con chocolate — generous portions of deep-fried dough with thick, rich chocolate — for about €5–6.
What to budget:
- Glass of wine or beer + tapa: ~€3–4
- Full meal of drinks & tapas: ~€10–€15
- Churros & chocolate: ~€5–€6
9. Naples, Italy
Naples is one of those cities where eating on a budget actually feels like an indulgence — because the food is so good.
On our last trip, we found pizza margherita for €5–€7 in old-school pizzerias, with wood-fired flavour that easily rivals any expensive alternative.
Breakfast was typically a sfogliatella pastry and a short, strong espresso — about €2.50–€3 altogether.
Even sit-down pasta dishes in traditional trattorias were very affordable — €9–€12 for a generous plate of seafood linguine or rich ragu.
What to budget:
- Pizza margherita: ~€5–€7
- Sfogliatella & espresso: ~€2.50–€3
- Pasta main in a trattoria: ~€9–€12
10. Lisbon, Portugal
Lisbon is one of those cities where you feel like you’re getting away with something. The sun’s shining, the food’s superb — and somehow it’s all so affordable.
On our last visit, we ended up in tiny family-run tascas most lunchtimes, where €10–12 bought us soup, a main (often grilled fish or pork), a drink and coffee — all served with the warmth you only get in places that cook from the heart.
Of course, no trip to Lisbon is complete without a pastel de nata. We often picked them up for €1 or less, usually washed down with a bica (espresso) for about the same price.
What to budget:
- Coffee & pastel de nata: ~€2
- Lunch with drink & coffee: ~€10–€12
- Dinner for two with wine: ~€35–€45
Final thoughts
Whether you’re sipping coffee in Sarajevo, tucking into tapas in Granada, or devouring pizza in Naples, these cities prove that Europe still has plenty of places where you can eat incredibly well on a budget. Belgrade, Sarajevo and Sofia lead the way for all-round value, but every destination on this list offers something special — from the warmth of local hospitality to the unforgettable flavours of street food and home-style cooking.
So if you’re hungry for adventure but watching your budget, plan your next trip around one of these cities. You’ll come back with stories, new favourite dishes, and — if you’re lucky — a few spare euros for dessert.
