Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Athens and Cesena

For one person, living is cheaper in Cesena: $1,646 a month against $1,775 in Athens, rent and utilities included – about $1,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Athens
🇬🇷 Greece
$1,775
/mo nomad
Cesena
🇮🇹 Italy
$1,646
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Athens and in Cesena

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,775 in Athens versus $1,646 in Cesena.

  • Athens $1,775
  • Cesena $1,646

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,721 in Athens versus $2,537 in Cesena.

  • Athens $2,721
  • Cesena $2,537

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,666 in Athens versus $3,428 in Cesena.

  • Athens $3,666
  • Cesena $3,428

Living in Athens is roughly 8% more expensive than in Cesena, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Athens 31% above, Cesena 22% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Athens
Cesena
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.69 €14.84
$16.83 €14.97
-0.83%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$67.8 €60.3
$89.5 €79.6
-24.26%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.14 €9.91
$12.22 €10.87
-8.84%
Cappuccino
$4.03 €3.58
$2.21 €1.96
82.35%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.77 €2.46
$2.72 €2.42
1.84%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.55 €0.49
$1.09 €0.97
-49.54%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.74 €5.10
$6.04 €5.37
-4.97%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.45 €4.85
$5.10 €4.53
6.86%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Athens
Cesena
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.82 €1.62
$1.35 €1.20
34.81%
White Bread (500g)
$1.38 €1.23
$1.36 €1.21
1.47%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.80 €2.49
$1.97 €1.75
42.13%
Eggs
$4.83 €4.30
$2.77 €2.47
74.37%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.05 €13.39
$17.63 €15.68
-14.63%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.63 €9.45
$11.91 €10.60
-10.75%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.43 €16.39
$17.03 €15.15
8.22%
Apples (1kg)
$2.20 €1.96
$1.93 €1.72
13.99%
Banana (1kg)
$1.90 €1.69
$2.47 €2.20
-23.08%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.37 €1.22
$2.39 €2.12
-42.68%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.10 €1.87
$3.99 €3.55
-47.37%
Potato (1kg)
$1.08 €0.96
$1.60 €1.43
-32.50%
Onion (1kg)
$1.12 €1.00
$1.65 €1.47
-32.12%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.12 €1.00
$1.87 €1.67
-40.11%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.88 €0.79
$0.34 €0.30
158.82%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.48 €4.88
$6.52 €5.80
-15.95%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.13 €9.01
$6.79 €6.04
49.19%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.13 €1.89
$1.22 €1.09
74.59%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25 €2.00
$1.72 €1.53
30.81%
🚌 Getting Around
Athens
Cesena
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.36 €1.21
$2.17 €1.93
-37.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$29.89 €26.59
$38.55 €34.29
-22.46%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.45 €3.96
$8.20 €7.30
-45.73%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.02 €0.90
$1.98 €1.76
-48.48%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$16.92 €15.05
$33.88 €30.13
-50.06%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.25 €2.00
$2.03 €1.81
10.84%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.0K €24.9K
$36.5K €32.5K
-23.18%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.2K €25.1K
$34.9K €31.0K
-19.08%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Athens
Cesena
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$205 €182
$189 €168
8.35%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.65 €23.71
$9.75 €8.67
173.33%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.38 €27.02
$30.74 €27.34
-1.17%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Athens
Cesena
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$54.5 €48.47
$50.8 €45.16
7.33%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.88 €23.02
$14.22 €12.65
82.00%
Cinema Ticket
$10.42 €9.27
$9.99 €8.89
4.30%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Athens
Cesena
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$569 €506
$537 €478
5.90%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.6K €11.2K
$9,900 €8,806
27.12%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Athens
Cesena
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.7 €78.9
$90.7 €80.7
-2.27%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.46 €35.99
$36.93 €32.85
9.56%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$105 €93.3
$82.4 €73.3
27.26%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$121 €108
$78.7 €70.0
54.22%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Athens
Cesena
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$741 €659
$660 €587
12.29%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$655 €582
$591 €525
10.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,300 €1,156
$1,174 €1,045
10.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,148 €1,021
$925 €823
24.03%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,014 €3,570
$2,953 €2,627
35.91%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,460 €3,078
$2,583 €2,298
33.95%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Athens
Cesena
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,242 €1,105
$1,750 €1,557
-29.03%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.48
3.3
35.76%

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

Last update for Athens: October 10, 2026

Last update for Cesena: October 10, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Athens
$655
Cesena
$591 9.8% $64
Groceries & Markets
Athens
$310
Cesena
$306 1.3% $4
Eating Out
Athens
$268
Cesena
$253 5.5% $15
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Athens
$262
Cesena
$229 12.3% $32
Clothing & Footwear
Athens
$160
Cesena
$130 18.7% $30
Sport & Entertainment
Athens
$75
Cesena
$71 6.1% $4.6
Getting Around
Athens
$45
Cesena
$65 45.6% $20

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $741 in Athens and $660 in Cesena. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Cesena pays 41% 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 $89.0 in Cesena. Groceries flip the comparison at $310 vs $306, with Cesena cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇬🇷 Athens
🇮🇹 Cesena
🕒 Local time
00:04 12:04 AM
23:04 11:04 PM
1 h behind Athens
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
3,090,508 Capital
96,758
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 0.889 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

On the map
Between locations
  • Athens Cesena 1,180 km ≈ 2 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Athens
  • Cesena

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 Cesena: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Athens or Cesena?
Cesena wins on cost – living expenses run 8% lower than in Athens. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Cesena the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Athens or in Cesena?
On paper, salaries run 41% lower in Cesena. 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 Cesena?
Rent for a central apartment: $741 in Athens versus $660 in Cesena. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Athens and in Cesena?
Dining out is cheaper in Cesena – a meal for two runs $89.0 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 Cesena?
All in, you'll spend $1,775 per month in Athens versus $1,646 in Cesena – a 8% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $3,000/month in Athens or in Cesena?
At $1,646 in Cesena versus $1,775 in Athens, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Cesena but tight or insufficient in Athens. The gap between the two cities makes Cesena the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Athens or Cesena?
Both work as nomad bases, but Cesena delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,646 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Cesena hard to pass up.
How safe is Athens compared to Cesena?
Safety-wise, Athens and Cesena 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 Cesena gentler on the wallet – expenses run 8% less than in Athens. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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