Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Athens and Bethune

For one person, living costs are similar in Athens and in Bethune: $1,775 and $1,725 a month, rent and utilities included.

Athens
🇬🇷 Greece
$1,775
/mo nomad
Bethune
🇫🇷 France
$1,725
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Athens and in Bethune

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 Bethune actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,775 in Athens versus $1,725 in Bethune.

  • Athens $1,775
  • Bethune $1,725

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,721 in Athens versus $2,711 in Bethune.

  • Athens $2,721
  • Bethune $2,711

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,666 in Athens versus $3,698 in Bethune.

  • Athens $3,666
  • Bethune $3,698

Living in Athens is roughly 3% more expensive than in Bethune, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Athens 31% above, Bethune 28% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Athens
Bethune
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.69 €14.84
$17.77 €15.81
-6.08%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$67.8 €60.3
$73.5 €65.3
-7.72%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.14 €9.91
$13.27 €11.80
-16.05%
Cappuccino
$4.03 €3.58
$3.16 €2.81
27.53%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.77 €2.46
$2.73 €2.43
1.47%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.55 €0.49
$1.67 €1.49
-67.07%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.74 €5.10
$6.72 €5.98
-14.58%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.45 €4.85
$5.70 €5.07
-4.39%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Athens
Bethune
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.82 €1.62
$1.30 €1.15
40.00%
White Bread (500g)
$1.38 €1.23
$1.86 €1.66
-25.81%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.80 €2.49
$2.95 €2.62
-5.08%
Eggs
$4.83 €4.30
$4.03 €3.59
19.85%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.05 €13.39
$21.13 €18.79
-28.77%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.63 €9.45
$12.74 €11.33
-16.56%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.43 €16.39
$23.00 €20.46
-19.87%
Apples (1kg)
$2.20 €1.96
$3.05 €2.71
-27.87%
Banana (1kg)
$1.90 €1.69
$2.13 €1.90
-10.80%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.37 €1.22
$2.39 €2.13
-42.68%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.10 €1.87
$3.12 €2.78
-32.69%
Potato (1kg)
$1.08 €0.96
$1.82 €1.62
-40.66%
Onion (1kg)
$1.12 €1.00
$1.96 €1.74
-42.86%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.12 €1.00
$1.42 €1.26
-21.13%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.88 €0.79
$0.53 €0.47
66.04%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.48 €4.88
$14.20 €12.63
-61.41%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.13 €9.01
$7.85 €6.98
29.04%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.13 €1.89
$1.84 €1.63
15.76%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25 €2.00
$2.54 €2.26
-11.42%
🚌 Getting Around
Athens
Bethune
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.36 €1.21
$1.77 €1.57
-23.16%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$29.89 €26.59
$50.6 €44.98
-40.89%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.45 €3.96
$2.24 €1.99
98.66%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.02 €0.90
$2.16 €1.92
-52.78%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$16.92 €15.05
$23.70 €21.08
-28.61%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.25 €2.00
$2.04 €1.82
10.29%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.0K €24.9K
$33.8K €30.1K
-17.16%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.2K €25.1K
$35.1K €31.3K
-19.66%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Athens
Bethune
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$205 €182
$176 €156
16.49%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.65 €23.71
$15.09 €13.42
76.61%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.38 €27.02
$30.91 €27.49
-1.71%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Athens
Bethune
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$54.5 €48.47
$34.87 €31.01
56.27%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.88 €23.02
$16.76 €14.90
54.42%
Cinema Ticket
$10.42 €9.27
$10.15 €9.03
2.66%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Athens
Bethune
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$569 €506
$619 €550
-8.02%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.6K €11.2K
$8,158 €7,256
54.27%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Athens
Bethune
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.7 €78.9
$87.3 €77.7
1.53%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.46 €35.99
$38.69 €34.41
4.57%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$105 €93.3
$77.7 €69.1
35.11%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$121 €108
$97.4 €86.7
24.51%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Athens
Bethune
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$741 €659
$740 €658
0.08%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$655 €582
$599 €533
9.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,300 €1,156
$1,354 €1,204
-3.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,148 €1,021
$1,101 €979
4.30%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,014 €3,570
$3,857 €3,431
4.05%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,460 €3,078
$3,266 €2,905
5.95%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Athens
Bethune
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,242 €1,105
$3,663 €3,258
-66.08%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.48
3.92
14.29%

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

Last update for Athens: October 10, 2026

Last update for Bethune: October 10, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Athens
$655
Bethune
$599 8.4% $55
Groceries & Markets
Athens
$310
Bethune
$360 16% $50
Eating Out
Athens
$268
Bethune
$282 5.4% $14
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Athens
$262
Bethune
$222 15.3% $40
Clothing & Footwear
Athens
$160
Bethune
$135 15.3% $24
Sport & Entertainment
Athens
$75
Bethune
$55 26.8% $20
Getting Around
Athens
$45
Bethune
$71 57.5% $26

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $741 in Athens and $740 in Bethune. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bethune pays 195% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $68.0 in Athens vs $73.0 in Bethune for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $310 vs $360 per month, with Athens cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇬🇷 Athens
🇫🇷 Bethune
🕒 Local time
16:33 4:33 PM
15:33 3:33 PM
1 h behind Athens
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
3,090,508 Capital
24,992
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 0.889 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

On the map
Between locations
  • Athens Bethune 2,170 km ≈ 3 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Athens
  • Bethune

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 Bethune: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Athens or Bethune?
Bethune wins on cost – living expenses run 3% lower than in Athens. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Bethune the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Athens or in Bethune?
On paper, salaries run 195% lower in Bethune. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Athens compared to Bethune?
Rent for a central apartment: $741 in Athens versus $740 in Bethune. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Athens and in Bethune?
Dining out is cheaper in Bethune – a meal for two runs $73.0 versus $68.0 in Athens. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How much does it cost to live in Athens compared to Bethune?
All in, you'll spend $1,775 per month in Athens versus $1,725 in Bethune – a 3% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Athens or in Bethune?
At $1,725 in Bethune versus $1,775 in Athens, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Bethune but tight or insufficient in Athens. The gap between the two cities makes Bethune the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Athens or Bethune?
Both work as nomad bases, but Bethune delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,725 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Bethune hard to pass up.
How safe is Athens compared to Bethune?
Safety-wise, Athens and Bethune 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 Bethune gentler on the wallet – expenses run 3% less than in Athens. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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