😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,734 in Athens versus $1,205 in Igoumenitsa.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,653 in Athens versus $1,855 in Igoumenitsa.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,572 in Athens versus $2,506 in Igoumenitsa.
😐Living in Athens is roughly 44% more expensive than Igoumenitsa, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Athens is 30% above, Igoumenitsa is 10% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Athens
Igoumenitsa
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.16€14.69
$11.60€9.93
47.93%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.1€54.9
$36.87€31.56
73.83%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.25€8.77
$6.00€5.13
70.83%
Cappuccino
$4.36€3.73
$3.41€2.92
27.86%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.46€2.11
$2.43€2.08
1.23%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.66€0.57
$0.57€0.48
15.79%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.68€4.86
$5.92€5.06
-4.05%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.92€5.07
$4.99€4.27
18.64%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Athens
Igoumenitsa
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.93€1.65
$1.53€1.31
26.14%
White Bread(500g)
$1.36€1.16
$1.41€1.20
-3.55%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.88€2.47
$2.46€2.11
17.07%
Eggs
$4.98€4.26
$4.26€3.64
16.90%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.82€12.68
$13.64€11.68
8.65%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.27€9.65
$11.22€9.60
0.45%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.90€12.75
$14.93€12.78
-0.20%
Apples(1kg)
$2.22€1.90
$2.00€1.71
11.00%
Banana(1kg)
$2.09€1.79
$1.89€1.62
10.58%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.58€1.35
$1.61€1.38
-1.86%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.40€2.05
$2.40€2.06
-
Potato(1kg)
$1.38€1.18
$1.26€1.08
9.52%
Onion(1kg)
$1.17€1.00
$1.38€1.18
-15.22%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.24€1.06
$1.04€0.89
19.23%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.01€0.87
$0.86€0.73
17.44%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.68€4.86
$5.35€4.58
6.17%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.12€9.52
$9.15€7.83
21.53%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.01€1.72
$1.93€1.65
4.15%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97€2.54
$2.72€2.33
9.19%
🚌 Getting Around
Athens
Igoumenitsa
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.38€1.18
$1.58€1.35
-12.66%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$35.05€30.00
$46.89€40.14
-25.25%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.70€4.02
$4.58€3.92
2.62%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.12€0.96
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$17.34€14.84
$13.55€11.60
27.97%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.03€1.74
$2.07€1.77
-1.93%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.6K€24.5K
$30.9K€26.4K
-7.32%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.9K€25.6K
$31.0K€26.5K
-3.67%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Athens
Igoumenitsa
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$219€187
$114€97.9
91.28%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.33€23.40
$23.20€19.86
17.80%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.85€29.84
$28.80€24.65
21.01%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Athens
Igoumenitsa
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$56.1€48.02
$47.86€40.97
17.22%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.08€22.32
$26.17€22.40
-0.34%
Cinema Ticket
$10.40€8.91
$10.06€8.61
3.38%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Athens
Igoumenitsa
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$559€478
$420€359
33.13%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.3K€9,681
$8,169€6,993
38.44%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Athens
Igoumenitsa
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$92.4€79.1
$85.4€73.1
8.15%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.70€39.98
$37.17€31.81
25.64%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102€87.4
$90.2€77.2
13.14%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$123€105
$118€101
4.16%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Athens
Igoumenitsa
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$650€557
$317€271
105.21%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$567€485
$249€213
127.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,169€1,001
$534€457
119.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,025€878
$400€342
156.33%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,135€3,539
$3,057€2,616
35.27%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,458€2,960
$2,571€2,201
34.49%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Athens
Igoumenitsa
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,330€1,139
$1,177€1,008
13.01%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.99
3.5
42.57%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Athens: April 26, 2026
Last update for Igoumenitsa: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $650 in Athens and $317 in Igoumenitsa. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Athens pays 13% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $64.0 in Athens vs $37.00 in Igoumenitsa for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $314 vs $292 per month, with Igoumenitsa cheaper across the board.
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 Igoumenitsa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Athens or Igoumenitsa?
Igoumenitsa wins on cost – living expenses run 44% lower than in Athens. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Igoumenitsa the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Athens or Igoumenitsa?
Athens pays 13% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Athens vs Igoumenitsa?
Rent for a central apartment: $650 in Athens versus $317 in Igoumenitsa. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Athens vs Igoumenitsa?
Dining out is cheaper in Igoumenitsa – a meal for two runs $37.00 versus $64.0 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 Igoumenitsa?
All in, you'll spend $1,734 per month in Athens versus $1,205 in Igoumenitsa – a 44% 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 Igoumenitsa?
At $1,205 in Igoumenitsa versus $1,734 in Athens, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Igoumenitsa but tight or insufficient in Athens. The gap between the two cities makes Igoumenitsa the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Athens or Igoumenitsa?
Both work as nomad bases, but Igoumenitsa delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,205 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Igoumenitsa hard to pass up.
How safe is Athens compared to Igoumenitsa?
Safety-wise, Athens and Igoumenitsa 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 Igoumenitsa gentler on the wallet – expenses run 44% less than in Athens. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.