Budget for traveling in Eastern Europe?

Question

We are planning to backpack through Eastern Europe for a month on an interrail pass, and I am trying to put together an estimate budget. And I would love to hear some experiences from other travelers on the following items:

1. What is the average price for staying in a hostel mixed dorm (5-10 persons)?
2. How widespread is couchsurfing, can we expect to be hosted for most of the trip? (We have previous couchsurfing experiences.)
3. What budget should I estimate for food daily when cooking ourselves and buying at super markets?
4. In most of Western Europe seat reservation on fast trains is compulsory, and can become quite expensive when interrailing. Is this also so in Eastern Europe, and if so what is the price generally for reservations? Is there some trains that we should prefer to avoid compulsory seat reservations?
5. What is the average price of a double bed in a private room (at a hostel)?
6. Are there anything else budget wise I should take into account?
7. In your experience what total budget should be set aside for such a trip, when backpacking and travelling cheaply?

Our travel path is not planned yet, but will be something like Greece->Marcedonia->Serbia->Hungary->Slovakia->Czech Republic->Poland. I understand that prices will probably vary between these countries, so if you can only answer for some of them, that is perfectly fine. :)

Hoping to hear from fellow travelers, thanks a lot in advance! :)

Answer 1

I'm form Croatia and know a bit about this region so here goes (you didn't mention Croatia for your itinerary but I would suggest you visit our coast; I'm presuming you are traveling in the summer time):

1. You will need from 13 to 20 euros a night for a bed in a dorm in a hostel.

2. It is widespread in larger cities but it depends on what season it is. A lot of people go to the seaside and are not available for CS then.

3. Depending on how many of you are in a travel group, you would need about 20-40 euros a day for two self-prepared meals (pasta with some sauces or something) for 4-5 people.

4. For traveling locally, you almost never need a reservation but if you are traveling internationally, you will always need to book a seat or berth in a train.

5. 25 euros and up...

6. Perhaps budget for visiting museums, monuments, drinking, partying. Everything is more expensive in summer time and drinks are from 1.5 to 3 euros for half a liter of beer in a bar and from 3 to 5 euros for a 0.25 L bottle of beer in clubs...

7. I would suggest taking 1200 to 1500 euros per person for a months travel, including sleeping, eating, monuments and late night drinking every couple of days...

Answer 2

Poland:

1. Between 8-20 euros for a night for a bed in a dorm in a hostel. Depends on the town and if it is high season or not.
2. Not really widespread
3. 10-15 euros per day if you'll buy in supermarkets.
4. National railway operator is called PKP. You do not need a reservation of Regio/InterRegio/TLK trains (the cheaper ones). Crossing the border in a train is quite expensive. It's better to get to the border, cross it yourself and continue with another train.
5. 20-40 euro
6. Entrance to Museums and national parks can be paid, but it's not expensive.
7. I think about 700 euro for a month should be enough.

Answer 3

Subquestion 4. - Train reservations:

I took several trains in Eastern Europe last year including some international ones. I never made any reservations for day time seats. I took a few night trains in the Ukraine and from Bulgaria to Turkey. For these I bought the tickets for the berth the day before.

I did not have an interrail pass, and I think you have to pay extra for a berth on a night train with your pass.

In general I think there are not as many 'super fast trains' in Eastern Europe as in the west.

Here's a good list of international trains that require a reservation.