😐A single person spends $1,696 per month in Athens vs $1,410 in Argostoli, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,642 per month in Athens vs $2,106 in Argostoli, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,588 per month in Athens vs $2,803 in Argostoli, rent included.
😐Athens costs about 20% more than Argostoli, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Athens and Argostoli sit above the global median – Athens by 27%, Argostoli by 5%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Athens
Argostoli
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.49€15.05
$11.66€10.03
50.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.5€54.7
$56.1€48.22
13.33%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.62€9.14
$8.91€7.67
19.19%
Cappuccino
$4.34€3.73
$3.78€3.25
14.81%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49€2.14
$1.66€1.43
50.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.67€0.58
$0.55€0.48
21.82%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.90€5.07
$4.75€4.08
24.21%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.83€5.01
$4.62€3.97
26.19%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Athens
Argostoli
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.91€1.65
$1.69€1.45
13.02%
White Bread(500g)
$1.41€1.21
$1.33€1.14
6.02%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.90€2.49
$2.26€1.94
28.32%
Eggs
$5.08€4.37
$4.05€3.48
25.43%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.66€12.61
$11.24€9.67
30.43%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.32€9.73
$8.81€7.57
28.49%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.08€12.97
$13.82€11.89
9.12%
Apples(1kg)
$2.31€1.99
$2.24€1.92
3.12%
Banana(1kg)
$2.17€1.87
$2.52€2.17
-13.89%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.51€1.30
$1.71€1.47
-11.70%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.30€1.97
$2.57€2.21
-10.51%
Potato(1kg)
$1.35€1.16
$1.26€1.08
7.14%
Onion(1kg)
$1.18€1.01
$1.28€1.10
-7.81%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.26€1.09
$0.95€0.82
32.63%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.04€0.90
$1.21€1.04
-14.05%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.59€4.81
$6.23€5.36
-10.27%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.76€10.11
$6.50€5.59
80.92%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.04€1.76
$2.38€2.04
-14.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90€2.49
$3.79€3.26
-23.48%
🚌 Getting Around
Athens
Argostoli
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.41€1.21
$1.58€1.35
-10.76%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$34.49€29.67
$45.87€39.46
-24.81%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.62€3.97
$4.02€3.45
14.93%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.10€0.95
$1.06€0.91
3.77%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$17.33€14.91
$11.42€9.82
51.75%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.14€1.84
$2.07€1.78
3.38%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.4K€24.5K
$31.6K€27.2K
-10.02%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.4K€26.1K
$25.5K€21.9K
19.06%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Athens
Argostoli
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$219€188
$220€189
-0.56%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.82€23.07
$22.32€19.20
20.16%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.71€29.86
$32.44€27.91
7.00%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Athens
Argostoli
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.1€49.09
$47.54€40.90
20.05%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.57€22.85
$25.72€22.12
3.30%
Cinema Ticket
$10.33€8.89
$9.03€7.77
14.40%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Athens
Argostoli
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$552€475
$524€451
5.41%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.3K€9,686
$6,523€5,611
72.60%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Athens
Argostoli
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$92.7€79.7
$66.1€56.8
40.23%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.61€40.95
$32.76€28.18
45.33%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$100€86.1
$69.0€59.3
45.13%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$121€104
$106€90.8
14.69%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Athens
Argostoli
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$660€568
$506€436
30.38%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$582€501
$396€340
47.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,182€1,016
$773€665
52.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,029€885
$615€529
67.37%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,114€3,539
$3,088€2,656
33.22%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,388€2,914
$2,543€2,187
33.25%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Athens
Argostoli
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,342€1,154
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.99
4.42
12.90%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Athens: June 2, 2026
Last update for Argostoli: May 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $660 in Athens versus $506 in Argostoli. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $64.0 in Athens versus $56.0 in Argostoli. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $317 vs $278 – making Argostoli the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Athens vs Argostoli: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Argostoli cheaper than Athens?
Yes – Athens is pricier by about 20%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,544 per month in Athens and $2,115 in Argostoli. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Argostoli, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do food prices compare in Athens and Argostoli?
Groceries cost about 14% more in Athens, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is eating out cheaper in Athens or Argostoli?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $64.0 in Athens and $56.0 in Argostoli. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Athens or Argostoli?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Argostoli, where all-in costs run around $1,410, than in Athens at $1,696. In Argostoli it covers expenses comfortably, while in Athens it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Athens or Argostoli more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Argostoli – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Athens or Argostoli?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Argostoli. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Athens makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.