If you want the Best Food and Restaurants in Europe Budget : for Saving Money, focus on value-focused cities, local-style eateries, and simple strategies like set lunches, street food, and supermarket picnics. With smart planning, Singapore travellers can eat very well across Europe on S$25–S$50 per day in many destinations while keeping more cash for experiences or future investments back home in Singapore.
This guide is part of Homejourney’s broader Europe budget content cluster and complements Homejourney's Europe Budget Travel Guide: Save Money Tips 2025 . Here, we zoom in specifically on food, restaurants, and money-saving tactics for budget Europe, cheap Europe travel, and backpacker Europe travellers who still care about safety and quality.
Why Budget Food in Europe Matters for Singapore Travellers
For Singaporeans, food is a huge part of any trip. When you’re used to hawker centres, eating out affordably in Europe can feel intimidating. Yet many European cities still offer excellent meals at very reasonable prices if you know where and when to eat.
From a cost-of-living perspective, budget Europe destinations can feel comparable to, or even cheaper than, eating in Singapore’s heartland food centres and casual restaurants. That makes them popular with Singaporeans who are also watching SGD–EUR or SGD–local currency rates while planning for larger goals like a future home purchase on Homejourney or overseas investments.
Best Budget Food Cities in Europe (2025)
Prices are indicative and can vary by season and neighbourhood, but they give Singapore travellers a realistic benchmark for cheap Europe travel and backpacker Europe planning.
Belgrade, Serbia – Huge Portions, Tiny Bills
Belgrade is frequently highlighted as one of the best-value food cities in Europe, with generous grilled meats, stews and pastries for a fraction of Western European prices.[2]
- Ćevapi platters or grilled meats: about €6–€9 per person[2]
- Full kafana (traditional tavern) meal for two with drinks and dessert: roughly €30–€35[2]
- Street snacks like burek pastries: around €1.50–€2.50[2]
For a Singapore comparison: a S$6–S$8 hawker meal vs a €6–€9 sit-down plate shows how far your money stretches here, especially when the EUR–SGD rate is favourable.
Sarajevo, Bosnia & Herzegovina – Hearty Comfort Food
Sarajevo’s food scene is built on grilled meats, stews and baked dishes. You can often get:
- Ćevapi sets with bread and onions for under €6–€8
- Café meals with coffee and dessert for a few euros
It feels similar to a mid-priced coffee shop in Singapore, but you’re getting full meals with table service.
Sofia, Bulgaria – Everyday Eating on a Tight Budget
Sofia is known for cheap, filling food with many local bakeries and casual restaurants.[2]
- Banitsa (cheese pastry) breakfast: about €1.50[2]
- Main course in a local restaurant: around €5–€9[2]
- Salads like Shopska salad: roughly €2.50–€3[2]
For budget-conscious Singapore families, this is similar to, or cheaper than, mall food court pricing.
Athens, Greece – Cheap Souvlaki & Tavernas
Even in a popular city like Athens, you can still eat cheaply if you stick to local spots and takeaway souvlaki.[2]
- Souvlaki wrap: about €3–€4[2]
- Taverna dinner with wine: around €12–€15 per person[2]
- Breakfast of koulouri and coffee: roughly €2–€3[2]
That’s roughly equivalent to a simple hawker breakfast and a casual bistro dinner in Singapore, but with table service and generous portions.
Budapest, Hungary – Set Lunches & Comfort Dishes
Budapest is a classic budget Europe favourite. Many local bistros offer daily lunch menus with soup and a main course.[2]
- Two-course lunch menus: around €7–€9[2]
- Lángos (fried dough street snack): about €3–€4[2]
- Glass of wine or beer: roughly €2–€2.50[2]
For Singapore travellers used to S$12–S$15 CBD lunch sets, Budapest can feel very affordable.
Prague, Czechia – Value Even in the Centre
Prague still offers good value if you know about the denní menu (daily lunch sets).[2]
- Lunch specials including soup, main and beer: roughly €8–€10[2]
- Hearty mains like goulash or schnitzel: typically under €12 in local spots[2]
For many Singaporeans, this is similar to or below what you’d pay at a mid-range mall restaurant.
Naples, Italy – Pizza on a Real Budget
Even though Italy has seen price increases, Naples remains a great value city for food. Classic Margherita pizzas at old-school pizzerias can still cost around €5.50.[1]
This is a standout example of how Best Food and Restaurants in Europe Budget : for Saving Money does not always mean sacrificing quality; you’re often eating at the birthplace of iconic dishes instead of tourist traps.
Types of Budget-Friendly Food Places in Europe
If you’re used to Singapore’s hawkers and kopitiams, these are the closest European equivalents that work well for cheap Europe travel and backpacker Europe itineraries.
1. Bakeries & Pastry Shops
Across Europe, bakeries are your best friend for breakfast and light lunches.
- Bulgaria: banitsa for ~€1.50[2]
- Italy: sfogliatella and espresso for around €2.50–€3[2]
- Balkans: burek pastries for €1.50–€2.50[2]
Think of these like grabbing kaya toast or curry puffs in Singapore — fast, cheap, and filling.
2. Set Lunch Menus
Many European cities have strong lunch culture. Restaurants offer cheaper weekday set menus, similar to CBD lunch sets in Singapore.
Insider tip: ask for the menu del día (Spain), menú (Portugal), denní menu (Czechia), or look for chalkboard signs locals are reading.
3. Supermarkets & Picnic Meals
In cities where restaurant dinners are expensive, supermarket deli counters can save you a lot. This works especially well in Western Europe (e.g. Paris, Zurich, Copenhagen) where sit-down dinners can easily exceed €25–€40 per person.[1]
As a Singapore traveller, think of this like buying ready-to-eat bentos, sushi, and salads from a local NTUC FairPrice or Don Don Donki instead of always dining in.
4. Street Food & Markets
Street food and covered markets give you variety with lower prices. Examples include food markets in Berlin, Balkan grill stalls, and Greek souvlaki stands.[2][4]
Insider tip: just like in Singapore, follow locals and families, avoid empty stalls, and be cautious of tourist-only lanes near major attractions.
Practical Money-Saving Food Tips for Singapore Travellers
These tactics help you enjoy Best Food and Restaurants in Europe Budget : for Saving Money while still keeping an eye on bigger financial goals like home ownership or investments via Homejourney.
1. Target Lunch as Your Main Meal
In many European cities, lunch sets are 20–40% cheaper than dinner for similar food. Plan your sightseeing so your biggest sit-down meal falls between 12pm and 3pm, then do a lighter supermarket or snack-style dinner.
