Estonia operates on the euro. The currency switch occurred on January 1, 2011, when Estonia became the seventeenth member of the eurozone. Before that date, the kroon circulated at a fixed rate of 15.6466 to one euro. ATMs dispense euros in denominations of 10, 20, and 50 throughout Tallinn, Tartu, Pärnu, and other cities. Credit cards process through standard European networks. Bank branches cluster in city centers with English-language service at major institutions including Swedbank, SEB, and LHV.
Tallinn Old Town operates on a two-tier pricing structure. Restaurants along Viru Street and near Raekoja plats charge 18 to 28 euros for a main course with beer. Three blocks away in Kalamaja or Telliskivi, the same meal costs 10 to 14 euros. A benchmark: Rataskaevu 16 on Rataskaevu Street serves Estonian dishes at 14 to 22 euros per main course. Beer at a tourist-facing pub costs 6 to 8 euros for half a liter. At a neighborhood bar in Kopli or Pelgulinn, that drops to 3.50 to 5 euros. Coffee runs 3 to 4 euros in the Old Town, 2 to 2.50 euros elsewhere.
Supermarkets follow a clear hierarchy. Rimi and Prisma anchor the budget tier. A week of groceries for one person cooking most meals costs 35 to 50 euros at these chains. Selver occupies the middle range at 45 to 65 euros for the same basket. Stockmann food hall in Tallinn prices 30 to 40 percent above Rimi on equivalent items. Black bread costs 0.90 to 1.50 euros per loaf. Kohuke curd snacks sell for 0.40 to 0.70 euros each. Baltic herring runs 4 to 6 euros per kilogram fresh. Local cheese from Saaremaa or Muhu costs 12 to 18 euros per kilogram.
Accommodation in Tallinn separates by district and season. June through August prices peak. A bed in a hostel dormitory in the Old Town costs 18 to 28 euros per night in summer, 12 to 18 euros in November through March. Private rooms in guesthouses in Kalamaja or Kadriorg run 45 to 70 euros in summer, 30 to 50 euros in winter. Mid-range hotels near Viru väljak charge 80 to 140 euros in peak season, 50 to 80 euros off-peak. The Radisson Blu and Swissôtel in the city center price at 140 to 220 euros in summer. Airbnb listings in residential towers in Mustamäe or Lasnamäe start at 35 to 55 euros for entire apartments.
Tartu prices roughly 20 percent below Tallinn across categories. A main course at a restaurant on Rüütli Street costs 9 to 16 euros. Hostel beds run 12 to 20 euros. Hotels near Tartu University price at 60 to 110 euros in summer. Pärnu beach resort areas charge premium rates from June through August—hotels reach 100 to 180 euros per night—but drop 40 to 50 percent from September through May. Narva and Kohtla-Järve in the northeast offer the country's lowest accommodation costs, with guesthouses at 25 to 45 euros and hotels at 40 to 70 euros year-round.
Public transport in Tallinn has been free for registered residents since January 1, 2013. Visitors pay 2 euros for a single tram, bus, or trolleybus ride, valid for one hour with unlimited transfers. A 24-hour card costs 5 euros, a 72-hour card 10 euros. The green card system available at R-Kiosks allows loading money at slightly lower per-ride rates. Trams run on four lines covering Old Town, Kadriorg, and the port. Buses reach Pirita, the airport, and suburban districts. The airport bus number 2 costs the standard 2 euro single fare and runs every 20 to 30 minutes. Taxis charge a base fare of 4 to 5 euros plus 0.80 to 1.20 euros per kilometer through companies like Bolt and Uber. A ride from the airport to Old Town runs 12 to 18 euros.
Inter-city buses through Lux Express and Simple Express connect Tallinn to Tartu in 2.5 hours for 8 to 15 euros depending on booking time. Tallinn to Pärnu takes 2 hours at 7 to 13 euros. Tallinn to Narva runs 3.5 hours at 10 to 18 euros. Elron operates trains from Tallinn to Tartu for 9 to 12 euros in 2 hours. The coastal route to Pärnu by train costs 8 to 11 euros. Trains to Narva via Rakvere cost 8 to 10 euros. Advance online booking through the Elron website or Lux Express site yields the lowest fares. Same-day purchases at the station add 2 to 4 euros.
Car rental starts at 25 to 40 euros per day for economy vehicles through Europcar, Sixt, and local companies. Insurance and taxes add 8 to 15 euros daily. Fuel costs 1.50 to 1.70 euros per liter for 95-octane petrol as of 2024 pricing. Diesel runs 1.45 to 1.60 euros per liter. Parking in Tallinn Old Town costs 4 to 6 euros per hour in metered zones, capped at 30 euros for 24 hours. Park-and-ride lots on the city edge charge 1 to 2 euros daily. Highway tolls do not exist in Estonia. The 180-kilometer drive from Tallinn to Tartu consumes 15 to 20 euros in fuel.
Ferry service to Finland runs from Tallinn across the Gulf of Finland. Tallink and Viking Line operate to Helsinki with foot passenger fares from 20 to 45 euros one-way for the 2-hour crossing. Vehicle transport adds 30 to 60 euros. Booking 7 to 14 days ahead reduces fares by 30 to 40 percent versus walk-up rates. Ecker Line runs to Helsinki via a slower 3.5-hour route at 15 to 30 euros. Summer weekend fares peak 50 to 100 percent above Tuesday and Wednesday rates. Cabin upgrades cost 15 to 40 euros additional. The route serves both tourism and shopping runs, with Finns buying alcohol at Estonian prices and Estonians accessing broader retail selection.
Island access requires ferry or small aircraft. Saaremaa connects via the Virtsu-Kuivastu ferry operated by TS Laevad. The crossing takes 30 minutes and costs approximately 12 euros for a car under 6 meters plus 2 euros per passenger. Pedestrians pay 2 euros. Ferries run every 30 to 60 minutes in summer, less frequently in winter. Hiiumaa requires two ferry segments or the direct Rohuküla-Heltermaa route at similar per-vehicle pricing. Kihnu ferry from Munalaid costs 5 euros per person, 18 euros for a car. Ruhnu has limited sea service plus flights from Pärnu at 60 to 90 euros one-way through Diamond Sky. Vormsi connects via Rohuküla at 2 euros per person, 12 euros per vehicle.