Goa, the Dominican Republic, Bulgaria and Tunisia are the best bets this summer for people who like to watch their spending money . The 2004 Thomas Cook Cost of Living Index reveals that the cheapest places to stay this year are a broad mixture of long-haul and Eastern European destinations.

The euro has brought prices across Europe a little higher this year, but prices in all destinations are still significantly cheaper than in the UK. Thomas Cook has found that holidaymakers in euro destinations like Greece are increasingly opting for all-inclusive holidays, so that all drinks and meals are already paid for and won’t pile the pressure on their pockets.

The cheapest European countries to holiday in are Turkey, Bulgaria, Croatia and Spain. A bottle of beer in Bulgaria will set you back just 90p, or £1.15 in Croatia. The 2004 Thomas Cook Cost of Living report compares the cost of various everyday items in its most popular resorts.

Based on the cost of a three-course meal, the top ten cheapest destinations are as follows:

Rank destination price of 3-course meal (£)