The glorious Algarve coastline in Portugal came in as the second cheapest European beach destination, although tourist essentials there are twice as expensive as Bulgaria, with a typical holiday basket coming in at £58.

Some sun-soaked countries, for example Greece, really vary when it comes to value for money, depending on whereabouts you head to. Visitors to Corfu can expect to pay around £90 for everyday bits and bobs, 10% more than in Crete, the cheapest Greek resort.

A similar situation applies to Croatia, where prices in the Istria peninsula are 27% cheaper than in Zadar further south.

Overall the likes of Bulgaria and the Algarve are less than half the price of popular beach hubs in the South of France, Southern Italy and Ibiza. Take a look at the full range of destinations, below, and have your sunhat poised for a low-budget escape...

Graphs: The Post Office

Have your sunhat handy: this is Europe's cheapest destination for a summer beach break