Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Athens and Bialystok

For one person, living is cheaper in Bialystok: $1,450 a month against $1,775 in Athens, rent and utilities included – about $3,900 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Athens
🇬🇷 Greece
$1,775
/mo nomad
Bialystok
🇵🇱 Poland
$1,450
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Athens and in Bialystok

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,775 in Athens versus $1,450 in Bialystok.

  • Athens $1,775
  • Bialystok $1,450

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,721 in Athens versus $2,061 in Bialystok.

  • Athens $2,721
  • Bialystok $2,061

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,666 in Athens versus $2,672 in Bialystok.

  • Athens $3,666
  • Bialystok $2,672

Living in Athens is roughly 22% more expensive than in Bialystok, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Athens 31% above, Bialystok 7% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Athens
Bialystok
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.69 €14.84
$9.82 zł 38.15
69.96%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$67.8 €60.3
$45.59 zł 177
48.69%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.14 €9.91
$9.01 zł 35.02
23.64%
Cappuccino
$4.03 €3.58
$3.60 zł 13.99
11.94%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.77 €2.46
$1.80 zł 6.99
53.89%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.55 €0.49
$1.57 zł 6.11
-64.97%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.74 €5.10
$3.47 zł 13.48
65.42%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.45 €4.85
$3.03 zł 11.77
79.87%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Athens
Bialystok
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.82 €1.62
$1.06 zł 4.11
71.70%
White Bread (500g)
$1.38 €1.23
$1.01 zł 3.93
36.63%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.80 €2.49
$2.22 zł 8.63
26.13%
Eggs
$4.83 €4.30
$3.82 zł 14.84
26.44%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.05 €13.39
$9.25 zł 35.94
62.70%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.63 €9.45
$5.78 zł 22.47
83.91%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.43 €16.39
$11.23 zł 43.63
64.11%
Apples (1kg)
$2.20 €1.96
$1.20 zł 4.68
83.33%
Banana (1kg)
$1.90 €1.69
$1.83 zł 7.09
3.83%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.37 €1.22
$1.57 zł 6.08
-12.74%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.10 €1.87
$2.00 zł 7.78
5.00%
Potato (1kg)
$1.08 €0.96
$1.04 zł 4.05
3.85%
Onion (1kg)
$1.12 €1.00
$1.17 zł 4.54
-4.27%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.12 €1.00
$1.12 zł 4.35
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.88 €0.79
$0.62 zł 2.40
41.94%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.48 €4.88
$5.07 zł 19.70
8.09%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.13 €9.01
$6.29 zł 24.45
61.05%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.13 €1.89
$1.15 zł 4.47
85.22%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25 €2.00
$1.46 zł 5.66
54.11%
🚌 Getting Around
Athens
Bialystok
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.36 €1.21
$1.10 zł 4.26
23.64%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$29.89 €26.59
$32.94 zł 128
-9.26%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.45 €3.96
$2.01 zł 7.81
121.39%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.02 €0.90
$0.65 zł 2.52
56.92%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$16.92 €15.05
$12.95 zł 50.3
30.66%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.25 €2.00
$1.55 zł 6.01
45.16%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.0K €24.9K
$30.2K zł 117.4K
-7.23%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.2K €25.1K
$27.0K zł 105.0K
4.44%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Athens
Bialystok
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$205 €182
$298 zł 1,157
-31.31%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.65 €23.71
$8.38 zł 32.54
218.02%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.38 €27.02
$17.99 zł 69.9
68.87%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Athens
Bialystok
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$54.5 €48.47
$41.37 zł 161
31.71%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.88 €23.02
$27.66 zł 107
-6.44%
Cinema Ticket
$10.42 €9.27
$6.71 zł 26.08
55.29%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Athens
Bialystok
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$569 €506
$359 zł 1,394
58.59%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.6K €11.2K
$4,280 zł 16.6K
194.07%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Athens
Bialystok
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.7 €78.9
$98.7 zł 383
-10.15%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.46 €35.99
$36.27 zł 141
11.55%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$105 €93.3
$86.0 zł 334
22.03%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$121 €108
$89.9 zł 349
35.00%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Athens
Bialystok
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$741 €659
$541 zł 2,101
37.00%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$655 €582
$496 zł 1,925
32.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,300 €1,156
$820 zł 3,187
58.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,148 €1,021
$720 zł 2,799
59.35%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,014 €3,570
$2,620 zł 10.2K
53.22%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,460 €3,078
$2,272 zł 8,826
52.32%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Athens
Bialystok
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,242 €1,105
$1,462 zł 5,680
-15.02%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.48
7.07
-36.63%

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

Last update for Athens: October 10, 2026

Last update for Bialystok: October 10, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Athens
$655
Bialystok
$496 24.3% $159
Groceries & Markets
Athens
$310
Bialystok
$207 33.3% $103
Eating Out
Athens
$268
Bialystok
$186 30.7% $82
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Athens
$262
Bialystok
$324 23.9% $63
Clothing & Footwear
Athens
$160
Bialystok
$140 12.5% $20
Sport & Entertainment
Athens
$75
Bialystok
$55 27.3% $21
Getting Around
Athens
$45
Bialystok
$43 5.1% $2.3

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $741 in Athens and $541 in Bialystok. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bialystok pays 18% 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 $46.00 in Bialystok for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $310 vs $207 per month, with Bialystok cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇬🇷 Athens
🇵🇱 Bialystok
🕒 Local time
03:02 3:02 AM
02:02 2:02 AM
1 h behind Athens
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
3,090,508 Capital
297,554
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

PLN, USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 0.889 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

Polish Złoty exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 3.89 PLN (1 PLN = 0.257 USD). 1 EUR = 4.37 PLN (1 PLN = 0.229 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Athens Bialystok 1,690 km ≈ 2 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Athens
  • Bialystok

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 Bialystok: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Athens or Bialystok?
Bialystok wins on cost – living expenses run 22% lower than in Athens. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Bialystok the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Athens or in Bialystok?
On paper, salaries run 18% lower in Bialystok. 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 Bialystok?
Rent for a central apartment: $741 in Athens versus $541 in Bialystok. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Athens and in Bialystok?
Dining out is cheaper in Bialystok – a meal for two runs $46.00 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 Bialystok?
All in, you'll spend $1,775 per month in Athens versus $1,450 in Bialystok – a 22% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Athens or in Bialystok?
At $1,450 in Bialystok versus $1,775 in Athens, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Bialystok but tight or insufficient in Athens. The gap between the two cities makes Bialystok the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Athens or Bialystok?
Both work as nomad bases, but Bialystok delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,450 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Bialystok hard to pass up.
How safe is Athens compared to Bialystok?
Safety-wise, Athens and Bialystok 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 Bialystok gentler on the wallet – expenses run 22% less than in Athens. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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