Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Athens and Bakau

For one person, living is cheaper in Bakau: $322 a month against $1,806 in Athens, rent and utilities included – about $17,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Athens
🇬🇷 Greece
$1,806
/mo nomad
Bakau
🇬🇲 Gambia
$322
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Athens and in Bakau

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Athens and in Bakau actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,806 in Athens versus $322 in Bakau.

  • Athens $1,806
  • Bakau $322

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,731 in Athens versus $724 in Bakau.

  • Athens $2,731
  • Bakau $724

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,656 in Athens versus $1,125 in Bakau.

  • Athens $3,656
  • Bakau $1,125

Living in Athens is roughly 461% more expensive than in Bakau, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

The two cities straddle the global median: Athens is 35% above, Bakau is 76% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Athens
Bakau
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.66 €14.87
$5.42 GMD 390
207.38%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$66.2 €59.1
$75.9 GMD 5,461
-12.72%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.06 €9.87
$7.99 GMD 575
38.42%
Cappuccino
$4.14 €3.69
$3.87 GMD 278
6.98%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.80 €2.50
$2.26 GMD 163
23.89%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.57 €0.51
$1.14 GMD 82.3
-50.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.64 €5.03
$3.60 GMD 260
56.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.46 €4.87
$3.53 GMD 254
54.67%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Athens
Bakau
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.96 €1.75
$2.50 GMD 180
-21.60%
White Bread (500g)
$1.41 €1.26
-
-
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.83 €2.53
-
-
Eggs
$5.04 €4.50
$5.36 GMD 386
-5.97%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.35 €13.70
-
-
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.34 €9.23
$16.13 GMD 1,161
-35.90%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.97 €16.93
-
-
Apples (1kg)
$2.17 €1.93
-
-
Banana (1kg)
$1.91 €1.70
-
-
Oranges (1kg)
$1.38 €1.23
-
-
Tomato (1kg)
$2.20 €1.96
-
-
Potato (1kg)
$1.10 €0.98
-
-
Onion (1kg)
$1.13 €1.00
-
-
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.10 €0.99
-
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.83 €0.74
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.60 €4.99
-
-
Wine (Bottle)
$10.19 €9.09
$13.41 GMD 966
-24.01%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.18 €1.95
$2.01 GMD 144
8.46%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.45 €2.19
$2.74 GMD 197
-10.58%
🚌 Getting Around
Athens
Bakau
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.38 €1.23
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$30.87 €27.55
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.37 €3.90
-
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.04 €0.93
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$17.11 €15.27
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.31 €2.07
-
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.0K €25.0K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.0K €25.0K
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Athens
Bakau
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$210 €187
-
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.70 €23.83
-
-
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.13 €26.89
-
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Athens
Bakau
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$54.6 €48.72
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.03 €23.23
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.78 €9.62
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Athens
Bakau
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$575 €513
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$13.1K €11.7K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Athens
Bakau
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$93.2 €83.1
-
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.68 €36.30
-
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$104 €92.9
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$128 €115
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Athens
Bakau
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$756 €674
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$652 €582
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,294 €1,154
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,163 €1,038
$67.8 GMD 4,880
1615.40%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,008 €3,577
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,452 €3,081
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Athens
Bakau
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,243 €1,110
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.48
0
-

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Athens: October 5, 2026

Last update for Bakau: October 4, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Athens
$652
Bakau
–
Groceries & Markets
Athens
$315
Bakau
–
Eating Out
Athens
$269
Bakau
–
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Athens
$267
Bakau
–
Clothing & Footwear
Athens
$165
Bakau
–
Sport & Entertainment
Athens
$76
Bakau
–
Getting Around
Athens
$46
Bakau
–

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $66.0 in Athens vs $76.0 in Bakau. Groceries flip the comparison at $315 vs $169, with Bakau cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇬🇷 Athens
🇬🇲 Bakau
🕒 Local time
06:41 6:41 AM
03:41 3:41 AM
3 h behind Athens
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
3,090,508 Capital
43,098
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

GMD, USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 0.892 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

Gambian Dalasi exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 72 GMD (100 GMD = 1.39 USD). 1 EUR = 80.75 GMD (100 GMD = 1.24 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Athens Bakau 4,820 km ≈ 7 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Athens
  • Bakau

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Bakau: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Athens or Bakau?
Bakau wins on cost – living expenses run 461% lower than in Athens. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Bakau the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Athens and in Bakau?
You'd need roughly $2,709 in Athens and $483 in Bakau to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How much does it cost to live in Athens compared to Bakau?
All in, you'll spend $1,806 per month in Athens versus $322 in Bakau – a 461% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Are groceries more expensive in Athens or in Bakau?
Supermarket bills run roughly 86% higher in Athens. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Athens or in Bakau?
At $322 in Bakau versus $1,806 in Athens, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Bakau but tight or insufficient in Athens. The gap between the two cities makes Bakau the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Athens or Bakau?
Both work as nomad bases, but Bakau delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $322 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Bakau hard to pass up.
How safe is Athens compared to Bakau?
Safety-wise, Athens and Bakau are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Bakau gentler on the wallet – expenses run 461% less than in Athens. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Athens vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?