Europe vs Florida: which week costs less?
From Los Angeles, a week in Miami for 2 adults costs about $4,550 with flights. 3 of the 5 European cities we price come in cheaper, led by Poland (Kraków) at about $3,280. Europe's airfare is higher; its hotels are mostly cheaper.
. Flight fares and all totals are estimates, not live pricing.
Miami vs Europe: a week for two, ranked (from Los Angeles)
| Trip | All-in for 2 | vs Miami | Round-trip fare | Flight time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Florida (Miami), benchmark | ≈ $4,550$3,286–$5,804 | – | $278–$417 ppAviasales cached, Oct 17, 2026 | About 5 hr nonstop |
| Poland (Kraków) | ≈ $3,280$2,404–$4,165 | −$1,250 | $565–$875 ppKAYAK typical, October 2026 | About 14–16 hr with 1 stop |
| Portugal (Lisbon) | ≈ $4,090$2,929–$5,246 | −$450 | $677–$1,188 ppKAYAK typical, October 2026 | About 11 hr nonstop (seasonal), or 13+ hr with a stop |
| Hungary (Budapest) | ≈ $4,270$3,246–$5,289 | −$300 | $748–$1,122 ppAviasales cached, Oct 17, 2026 | About 13–16 hr with 1 stop |
| Barcelona | ≈ $4,870$3,595–$6,140 | +$300 | $730–$1,145 ppKAYAK typical, October 2026 | About 11.5 hr nonstop (seasonal), or 13+ hr with a stop |
| London | ≈ $5,970$4,313–$7,617 | +$1,400 | $774–$1,306 ppKAYAK typical, October 2026 | About 10.5 hr nonstop |
Where the money goes
| Cost | Miami | Kraków | Lisbon | London |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Round-trip flights for 2 from LAX | $556–$834 | $1,130–$1,750 | $1,354–$2,376 | $1,548–$2,612 |
| Lodging, 7 nights | $1,400–$2,450 | $595–$1,050 | $770–$1,330 | $1,400–$2,450 |
| Food & drink | $840–$1,400 | $350–$700 | $490–$840 | $840–$1,400 |
| Local transport | $210–$420 | $84–$175 | $105–$210 | $175–$315 |
| Activities | $280–$700 | $245–$490 | $210–$490 | $350–$840 |
| All-in total | ≈ $4,550$3,286–$5,804 | ≈ $3,280$2,404–$4,165 | ≈ $4,090$2,929–$5,246 | ≈ $5,970$4,313–$7,617 |
Miami's flight is the cheapest line in this comparison, but its lodging estimate ($200–$350 a night) is higher than every European city here except London. Central Europe is cheapest on the ground: Kraków's lodging estimate is $85–$150 a night and Budapest's $110–$180.
Photos: Miami: chensiyuan, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Barcelona: M McBey, CC BY 2.0 · via Wikimedia Commons · Photo credits
Miami vs the cheapest European city, from every departure city
| Flying from | Miami | Cheapest Europe pick | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles (LAX) | ≈ $4,550$3,286–$5,804 | Poland (Kraków)≈ $3,280 | Europe ~$1,250 cheaper |
| Las Vegas (LAS) | ≈ $4,490$3,190–$5,790 | Poland (Kraków)≈ $3,720 | Europe ~$750 cheaper |
| Phoenix (PHX) | ≈ $4,730$3,408–$6,054 | Poland (Kraków)≈ $3,730 | Europe ~$1,000 cheaper |
| Denver (DEN) | ≈ $4,420$3,028–$5,818 | Poland (Kraków)≈ $3,720 | Europe ~$700 cheaper |
| Dallas (DFW) | ≈ $4,220$2,936–$5,508 | Portugal (Lisbon)≈ $3,910 | Europe ~$300 cheaper |
| Seattle (SEA) | ≈ $4,770$3,416–$6,114 | Poland (Kraków)≈ $3,640 | Europe ~$1,150 cheaper |
| Chicago (CHI) | ≈ $4,310$3,094–$5,534 | Poland (Kraków)≈ $3,550 | Europe ~$750 cheaper |
| New York (NYC) | ≈ $4,450$3,122–$5,778 | Poland (Kraków)≈ $3,340 | Europe ~$1,100 cheaper |
Planning a winter trip?
Our numbers aren't priced for one specific week, so treat them as a baseline. The seasonal notes in our data for Miami: "March–May: after the winter peak, before hurricane season (June–November)." For Barcelona: "May–June and September–October. February often has the cheapest fares; June–July the priciest." For London: "May–September for weather; February usually has the cheapest fares, June the priciest." Where a fare above is marked "Aviasales cached", it was found for departures between Nov 22, 2026 and Feb 4, 2027. Expect short days and cold weather in Central Europe in winter, and check live prices before booking.
For the full head-to-heads, see Miami vs. Cancún and Miami vs. Phuket for Miami, and San Francisco vs. Lisbon, Boston vs. Budapest and Washington, D.C. vs. Kraków for the European cities.
Book this trip: Miami or Kraków (from Los Angeles)
Flight searches start in Los Angeles (LAX) for a 7-night trip for 2 adults. Partner prices are live and may differ from our estimates.
Florida (Miami)
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Frequently asked questions
Is Europe cheaper than Florida for a vacation?
Often, in our data. From Los Angeles, 3 of the 5 European cities we price come in under a week in Miami (≈ $4,550 for 2 adults with flights). The cheapest is Poland (Kraków) at about $3,280. Sample estimates, not live prices.
Is Lisbon cheaper than Miami?
From Los Angeles, Lisbon comes to about $4,090 versus about $4,550 for Miami (2 adults, 7 nights, flights included). Lisbon is cheaper from all 8 cities we cover. Flights to Lisbon cost more ($677–$1,188 pp vs $278–$417 pp), but lodging is $770–$1,330 against $1,400–$2,450 for the week.
Is London more expensive than Miami?
From Los Angeles, London comes to about $5,970 and Miami about $4,550 for the week. Miami is cheaper than London from all 8 departure cities in our data.
When is the best time to visit Miami or Europe?
Miami: March–May: after the winter peak, before hurricane season (June–November). Lisbon: March–May and September–October. April and January tend to have the lowest fares; June–August the highest. Barcelona: May–June and September–October. February often has the cheapest fares; June–July the priciest.
Do I need a passport for Europe?
Yes. Passport required (Schengen). Check whether the EU's ETIAS travel authorization is in effect before you go. The UK has its own rule: Passport required, plus a UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) for US visitors. Miami needs no passport for US citizens.
How we priced this
Every total is 7 nights for 2 adults: round-trip economy flights for both travelers, one mid-range room, and daily food, local transport and activities for two (plus lift tickets and rentals on ski trips). Flight ranges per route come from published typical fares or, where marked "Aviasales cached", from cached fare data refreshed automatically; lodging and daily costs are the same figures used on each comparison page, where every source is listed. These are sample estimates, not live prices. Read the full methodology.