It’s really going to depend where you’re going and how many places you are visiting. Both factors make a huge difference.

People usually keep their transport costs seperate from their budget because air tickets and rail passes are really expensive and don’t add in accordingly.  It easiest to account your costs per day.  Take into account Great Britan and Switzerland are much more expensive, as well as some of the larger, more touristed cities like Paris, Rome, and Amsterdam.
 
western europe might cost 40-60 euro per day. 
Hostels usually run 18-25 per night
food and water will maybe cost 10-25 per day
then count in your admission fees to tourist sights, souviner money, and just extra spending money
 
In eastern europe you can get away with under 40 euro, maybe under 30. 
 
 

I agree; gotta keep your train pass and flight seperate or it throws the whole thing outta wack. That said, if you can get the pass you need + round trip plane ticket for around $1000 you’re doing pretty good
 
Per-day expenses vary, but on my last trip, I counted on approx $25/night in hostels and around 10 for food. Mind you, I ate at ONE restaraunt in 21 days, so alot of peoples’ numbers will be higher in that area. Other than that, it’s really up to you for the rest: the sights you wanna see, the crap you wanna blow your $$ on… But that’s a start. Aside from flight, I think I spent about $1500 last trip (about 3 weeks), and that is with train tickets thrown in here and there too.  

Here’s an example of how it can make a difference where you stay and how long. This is an example of an excellent deal you can get in Berlin – a hostel bed, breakfast, and dinner all for 14 Euros per day, if you stay a week.
http://www.st-christ…

If you then spent another 20 Euros per day while you were there, you’d be doing very well. This sort of deal would be totally unavailable in London, for example.

DAMN! That’s pretty darned good! Weird though, cuz usually hostels want you OUT within a couple days..

Wow, that a great deal, i wish they had it for munich becuase im going to be there and there is alot of day trips from there.  Not sure if i would want to spend 7 days in Berlin

Yeah same thing here. I definitely want to go to Berlin, but I feel like even 2 nights would be pushing it.

There’s a lot to see in Berlin and lots of possible daytrips too. I’ve had two five-night stays and I’m going to have another four-night stay, and I feel like I’ve only gotten through a small portion of what Berlin has to offer. But obviously it’s a personal thing.

I totally regret staying only 3 nights in Berlin. Anyway I paid $360 for ticket to Frankfurt, $220 for train pass, about $20 per night for hostel, eating bread crappy food everyday, did minimal of souvenir shopping, and spent a total of $1500 for 2 weeks. (incl. airfair and train) so thats about 50 euros a day!

Damn, 360 to Frankfurt? Wintertime? If not, tell me where you got your tickets, haha

Is it too cheap or overpaid? $360 was actually the standard price. I don’t think it was a deal at all. It was after xmas, 12/30 departure anyway. After I bought my ticket, I found $270 to Colonge around the same period. I wanted to bang my head to the wall.

how was germany in winter? Sounds much cheaper to go during winter.  Were things closed down alot?

It wasn’t that cold actually. But well you know weather pattern this year was awkward. It was lucky that the windstorm hit europe few days after I left. I would not go in winter next time, unless I’m going for some winter sports or special events. Most major things are open as usually with shorter hours. Of course it gets dark pretty much around 16.30, so you have to use your time wisely. Out of all these problems, not being able to meet people at hostel is the biggest problem, since I went by myself. 80% of the rooms in Luxembourg were empty, sharing a 6 bed room w/ only a old dude. Koblenz was worse. Out of 50 rooms or so, I was the only guess!! So overall my trip was pertty boring and dry.

I love winter/off season travel.  If I were free during the summer, I don’t think there are many places I would want to travel to, Russia and nordic countries maybe, but not much else.  Its nice to have a flexible itinerary, no need to book anything, go where ever I want, etc.  Most things are a little cheaper, except for airfare, its WAAAY cheaper. 
 
I would say the main disadvantage is the weight of your backpack, you need much heavier clothes. 

It might kill you pricewise, but Scotland is a really excellent place to visit in summer.

Ah, okay…. for a winter fare 360 is kinda average… for summer it’d be amazing

I used to pay only $360 R/T. <sigh>  Then I moved to Texas.  I’m lucky to find anything under $500 now!  I paid the most I’ve ever paid last year during the WORLD CUP (Best time of my LIFE  []) about $1049. Germany in Winter is great.  If you go over Christmas the markets are worth the trip themselves!!!!