Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Athens and Glarus

For one person, living is cheaper in Athens: $1,775 a month against $3,297 in Glarus, rent and utilities included – about $18,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Athens
🇬🇷 Greece
$1,775
/mo nomad
Glarus
🇨🇭 Switzerland
$3,297
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Athens and in Glarus

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,775 in Athens versus $3,297 in Glarus.

  • Athens $1,775
  • Glarus $3,297

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,721 in Athens versus $4,996 in Glarus.

  • Athens $2,721
  • Glarus $4,996

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,666 in Athens versus $6,696 in Glarus.

  • Athens $3,666
  • Glarus $6,696

Living in Athens costs roughly 46% less than in Glarus, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Athens 31% above, Glarus 144% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Athens
Glarus
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.69 €14.84
$29.24 CHF 24.08
-42.92%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$67.8 €60.3
$122 CHF 100
-44.29%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.14 €9.91
$17.09 CHF 14.07
-34.82%
Cappuccino
$4.03 €3.58
$5.88 CHF 4.84
-31.46%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.77 €2.46
$3.76 CHF 3.10
-26.33%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.55 €0.49
$3.82 CHF 3.15
-85.60%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.74 €5.10
$9.11 CHF 7.50
-36.99%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.45 €4.85
$6.26 CHF 5.15
-12.94%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Athens
Glarus
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.82 €1.62
$2.20 CHF 1.81
-17.27%
White Bread (500g)
$1.38 €1.23
$3.14 CHF 2.58
-56.05%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.80 €2.49
$2.82 CHF 2.32
-0.71%
Eggs
$4.83 €4.30
$7.70 CHF 6.34
-37.27%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.05 €13.39
$8.58 CHF 7.06
75.41%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.63 €9.45
$14.56 CHF 11.99
-26.99%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.43 €16.39
$37.65 CHF 31.01
-51.05%
Apples (1kg)
$2.20 €1.96
$3.04 CHF 2.51
-27.63%
Banana (1kg)
$1.90 €1.69
$1.55 CHF 1.27
22.58%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.37 €1.22
$2.40 CHF 1.98
-42.92%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.10 €1.87
$5.41 CHF 4.46
-61.18%
Potato (1kg)
$1.08 €0.96
$1.64 CHF 1.35
-34.15%
Onion (1kg)
$1.12 €1.00
$2.09 CHF 1.72
-46.41%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.12 €1.00
$2.19 CHF 1.80
-48.86%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.88 €0.79
$1.18 CHF 0.97
-25.42%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.48 €4.88
$11.00 CHF 9.06
-50.18%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.13 €9.01
$11.23 CHF 9.25
-9.80%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.13 €1.89
$2.15 CHF 1.77
-0.93%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25 €2.00
$2.32 CHF 1.91
-3.02%
🚌 Getting Around
Athens
Glarus
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.36 €1.21
$5.89 CHF 4.85
-76.91%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$29.89 €26.59
$221 CHF 182
-86.46%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.45 €3.96
$6.50 CHF 5.36
-31.54%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.02 €0.90
$4.71 CHF 3.88
-78.34%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$16.92 €15.05
$77.2 CHF 63.6
-78.08%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.25 €2.00
$2.18 CHF 1.79
3.21%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.0K €24.9K
$34.3K CHF 28.3K
-18.33%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.2K €25.1K
$39.6K CHF 32.6K
-28.67%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Athens
Glarus
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$205 €182
$311 CHF 256
-34.17%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.65 €23.71
$38.06 CHF 31.35
-29.98%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.38 €27.02
$53.5 CHF 44.03
-43.17%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Athens
Glarus
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$54.5 €48.47
$160 CHF 132
-65.89%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.88 €23.02
$41.77 CHF 34.40
-38.04%
Cinema Ticket
$10.42 €9.27
$25.57 CHF 21.06
-59.25%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Athens
Glarus
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$569 €506
$2,254 CHF 1,857
-74.75%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.6K €11.2K
$31.7K CHF 26.1K
-60.28%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Athens
Glarus
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.7 €78.9
$103 CHF 84.5
-13.58%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.46 €35.99
$41.84 CHF 34.46
-3.30%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$105 €93.3
$131 CHF 108
-20.18%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$121 €108
$96.4 CHF 79.4
25.91%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Athens
Glarus
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$741 €659
$1,676 CHF 1,380
-55.79%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$655 €582
$1,359 CHF 1,120
-51.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,300 €1,156
$2,950 CHF 2,430
-55.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,148 €1,021
$2,306 CHF 1,899
-50.21%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,014 €3,570
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,460 €3,078
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Athens
Glarus
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,242 €1,105
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.48
2.1
113.33%

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

Last update for Athens: October 10, 2026

Last update for Glarus: October 13, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Athens
$655
Glarus
$1.4K 108% $705
Groceries & Markets
Athens
$310
Glarus
$438 41.1% $128
Eating Out
Athens
$268
Glarus
$444 65.6% $176
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Athens
$262
Glarus
$402 53.8% $141
Clothing & Footwear
Athens
$160
Glarus
$167 4.7% $7.6
Sport & Entertainment
Athens
$75
Glarus
$211 180% $136
Getting Around
Athens
$45
Glarus
$274 512% $230

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $741 in Athens and $1,676 in Glarus. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $68.0 in Athens vs $122 in Glarus for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $310 vs $438 per month, with Athens cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇬🇷 Athens
🇨🇭 Glarus
🕒 Local time
04:38 4:38 AM
03:38 3:38 AM
1 h behind Athens
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
3,090,508 Capital
12,500
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

CHF, USD to EUR – Euro Converter

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

Swiss Franc exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 0.824 CHF (1 CHF = 1.21 USD). 1 EUR = 0.926 CHF (1 CHF = 1.08 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Athens Glarus 1,560 km ≈ 2 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Athens
  • Glarus

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 Glarus: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Athens or Glarus?
Athens wins on cost – living expenses run 86% lower than in Glarus. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Athens the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Athens and in Glarus?
You'd need roughly $2,662 in Athens and $4,945 in Glarus 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 a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Athens compared to Glarus?
Rent for a central apartment: $741 in Athens versus $1,676 in Glarus. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Athens and in Glarus?
Dining out is cheaper in Athens – a meal for two runs $68.0 versus $122 in Glarus. 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 Glarus?
All in, you'll spend $1,775 per month in Athens versus $3,297 in Glarus – a 86% 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 Glarus?
At $1,775 in Athens versus $3,297 in Glarus, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Athens but tight or insufficient in Glarus. The gap between the two cities makes Athens the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Athens or Glarus?
Both work as nomad bases, but Athens delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,775 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Athens hard to pass up.
How safe is Athens compared to Glarus?
Safety-wise, Athens and Glarus 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 Athens gentler on the wallet – expenses run 86% less than in Glarus. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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