How high are the work and travel costs for Europe?If you ask yourself exactly this question – perhaps right after graduation, with the desire for freedom, adventure and a break from school stress – then you are right here.
In this article I will explain to you how you Costs for Work and Travel in Europe realistically estimates what expenses you will have and how you can save cleverly – without having to sacrifice great experiences. You get concrete example calculations, savings tips and a practical Checklist for download.
Table of contents
Why You Should Keep an Eye on Your Budget
Work and Travel sounds like "traveling a bit and working on the way". But for your adventure to work, you need a start-up capital to bridge the first few weeks – these are the most important Costs for Work and Travel in EuropeWhich you should plan.
Realistic: 1,000 to 2,000 euros start-up capital. Depending on how long you are traveling, where you want to go and how frugal you live. Others even recommend something more to play it safe, like here For example, it was described or this Article.
Example calculations for costs for Work & Travel in Europe
It all depends on how you travel. But to get a sense of the numbers, here are three typical scenarios:
| Country | Duration | Accommodation | Food/day | Transport/day | Flight + Insurance | Total budget |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spain | 1 month | Hostel (25) €/night) | 15 € | 12 € | 300 € | About 2.050 € |
| Ireland | 2 months | WG room (20) €/night) | 20 € | 15 € | 400 € | About 3,600 € |
| Norway | 2 weeks | Couchsurfing (free) | 25 € | 20 € | 400 € | About 1,300 € |
Important: In many jobs, for example in hotels, hostels or on farms, accommodation and food are often free or very cheap. Of course, this reduces your costs enormously.
You want to know which countries are particularly worthwhile, how you prepare and what there is in principle to consider at Work and Travel in Europe? Then check out our comprehensive article: Work and Travel: experiencing Europe with your backpack an.
Work and Travel Europe: Savings Tips
Here are a few tried-and-tested tricks to save money on the go:
- Use night trains & sleeper trains: Arrival & accommodation in one: Many night trains (e.g. ÖBB Nightjet) are cheaper than hostel + day trip. A commuter sleep saves you accommodation costs and sometimes even a whole day.
- Use carpooling or hitchhikingBlaBlaCar is super popular in many countries.
- Self-Cooking in HostelsIf there are kitchens, save easily 10–20 € per day.
- Public transport Your feet are the cheapest means of transport.
- Booking accommodation early.
- City Passes or visit free attractions on site.
Step-by-step planning: How to prepare your work and travel adventure in Europe
In order for your work and travel to succeed, you should plan systematically. Here is an overview:
1. Setting goal and period
- Do you want to go south (Spain, Portugal), north (Scandinavia), the Alpine region or a city?
- How long do you want to travel? A few weeks, months, whole season?
2. Research job opportunities
- What jobs are there in your desired country?
- Seasonal work varies widely in Europe: in the south, in summer, in the Alps in winter, in cities all year round.
- Important: Many employers offer Accommodation and food free of charge or cheap to – especially hotels, hostels and farms. This will save you a lot of money.
3. Planning budget and financing
- Create your starting budget (e.g. 1,500) €)
- Plan monthly costs realistically: accommodation, food, transport, leisure time.
- Put an emergency buffer (10-20%) on top of it.
4. Complete insurance
- Medical insurance abroad is mandatory (about 1–1.50) €/day.
- Liability insurance makes sense, costs little.
5. Clarify arrival and accommodation
- Book a flight, plan train journeys or use night trains (save money & time).
- If possible, clarify accommodation about job (employer provides apartment or sleeping place).
6. Packing list and preparing important documents
- Passport/ID card
- Insurance cards
- Financial plan/emergency numbers
What it really means to combine work and desire to travel, I explain in detail in this article: Work and Travel | Make the world your home.
Checklist for your Work and Travel Planning (download)
So that you do not forget anything, I have given you a Checklist with the most important points to prepare created. You can download them here, print them and tick them off step by step:
[Download Checklist Work and Travel Europe (PDF)]
Work and Travel in Europe vs. Australia: What is different?
- No visa required: For EU citizens*Inside, the complicated visa is eliminated – you can travel easily and at short notice.
- Seasonal work varies widely: In Australia, work and travel is very organized, here in Europe seasonal work (e.g. harvest, ski resorts) is seasonally limited and regionally different.
- Jobs with accommodation & food: In Europe, it is rather common that you can get accommodation at hotel or hostel jobs and eat there. This saves a lot of money!
- Labour Law & Wages: Europe is different – wages and working conditions vary greatly depending on the country. Inform yourself well.
If you want to stay nearby: Work and Travel in Germany is also a real option. For this I have written a detailed article here: Work and Travel: Germany offers more than you think!
Frequently asked questions about the cost of work and travel in Europe
How Much Start-up Capital Should I Plan?
Between 1,000 and 2,000 € are a good start – depending on how frugal you travel and whether you find a job quickly.
What does a month of work & travel cost on average?
Expect about 1,000–1,200 € per month – depending on the country, lifestyle and type of accommodation.
What are the biggest cost traps?
Spontaneous flights, tourist traps, too much food, lack of insurance in case of emergencies.
Where can I find cheap accommodation?
Hostelworld, couchsurfing, local Facebook groups or workaway projects – all good places to go.
Checklist for your Work and Travel Planning (download)
Here you can find the Checklist with the most important points to prepare Download, print and tick off step by step:
[Download Checklist Work and Travel Europe (PDF)]
Are you ready for your work and travel adventure? Then I have the perfect packing list for you – for every climate zone and every adventure! Article Work and Travel Packing List | For every climate & adventure.
