😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,705 in Athens versus $1,592 in Kastoria.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,630 in Athens versus $2,326 in Kastoria.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,556 in Athens versus $3,060 in Kastoria.
🌍Living in Athens is roughly 7% more expensive than in Kastoria, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Athens28% above, Kastoria19% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Athens
Kastoria
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.05€14.92
$13.05€11.41
30.65%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.6€55.6
$58.4€51.1
8.89%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.28€8.99
$9.37€8.19
9.71%
Cappuccino
$4.37€3.82
$4.13€3.61
5.81%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.39€2.09
$1.62€1.42
47.53%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.67€0.59
$0.57€0.50
17.54%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.68€4.97
$3.96€3.47
43.43%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.65€4.95
$3.57€3.12
58.26%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Athens
Kastoria
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.92€1.68
$1.48€1.29
29.73%
White Bread(500g)
$1.37€1.20
$1.63€1.42
-15.95%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.81€2.46
$2.18€1.91
28.90%
Eggs
$5.12€4.48
$4.06€3.55
26.11%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.81€12.96
$13.85€12.11
6.93%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.29€9.87
$9.73€8.51
16.03%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.18€13.28
$13.14€11.50
15.53%
Apples(1kg)
$2.20€1.93
$2.30€2.01
-4.35%
Banana(1kg)
$2.07€1.81
$1.88€1.64
10.11%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.58€1.38
$1.08€0.94
46.30%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.36€2.07
$2.00€1.75
18.00%
Potato(1kg)
$1.41€1.23
$1.13€0.99
24.78%
Onion(1kg)
$1.18€1.03
$1.28€1.12
-7.81%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.23€1.08
$1.03€0.90
19.42%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.02€0.89
$0.48€0.42
112.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.59€4.89
$5.22€4.57
7.09%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.05€8.79
$10.76€9.42
-6.60%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.03€1.78
$1.67€1.46
21.56%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.86€2.50
$2.37€2.08
20.68%
🚌 Getting Around
Athens
Kastoria
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.36€1.19
$1.57€1.38
-13.38%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$34.50€30.18
$46.95€41.08
-26.52%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.61€4.03
$7.29€6.38
-36.76%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.11€0.97
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$17.13€14.98
$13.84€12.11
23.77%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.04€1.78
$2.14€1.87
-4.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.1K€25.5K
$33.9K€29.7K
-14.16%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.6K€25.9K
$29.9K€26.2K
-1.20%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Athens
Kastoria
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$217€190
$349€305
-37.80%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.37€23.94
$24.06€21.05
13.76%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.44€30.13
$31.30€27.39
10.03%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Athens
Kastoria
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$56.6€49.53
$47.79€41.81
18.46%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.46€23.15
$25.82€22.59
2.48%
Cinema Ticket
$10.43€9.13
$9.77€8.55
6.76%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Athens
Kastoria
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$561€491
$508€445
10.42%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.1K€9,691
$5,497€4,809
101.51%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Athens
Kastoria
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$92.1€80.6
$114€99.3
-18.84%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.84€40.98
$38.93€34.06
20.32%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$100€87.7
$99.5€87.0
0.80%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120€105
$97.1€84.9
23.72%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Athens
Kastoria
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$650€569
$506€442
28.57%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$572€500
$395€346
44.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,188€1,039
$786€688
51.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,014€887
$625€547
62.26%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,057€3,549
$966€846
319.77%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,221€2,818
$744€651
332.62%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Athens
Kastoria
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,327€1,161
$641€561
106.97%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.99
4.34
14.98%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Athens: July 11, 2026
Last update for Kastoria: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $650 in Athens and $506 in Kastoria. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Athens pays 107% 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 $58.0 in Kastoria for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $312 vs $273 per month, with Kastoria 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 Kastoria: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Athens or Kastoria?
Kastoria wins on cost – living expenses run 7% lower than in Athens. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Kastoria the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Athens or in Kastoria?
Average pay runs 107% higher in Athens, 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 compared to Kastoria?
Rent for a central apartment: $650 in Athens versus $506 in Kastoria. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Athens and in Kastoria?
Dining out is cheaper in Kastoria – a meal for two runs $58.0 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 Kastoria?
All in, you'll spend $1,705 per month in Athens versus $1,592 in Kastoria – a 7% 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 Kastoria?
At $1,592 in Kastoria versus $1,705 in Athens, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Kastoria but tight or insufficient in Athens. The gap between the two cities makes Kastoria the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Athens or Kastoria?
Both work as nomad bases, but Kastoria delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,592 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Kastoria hard to pass up.
How safe is Athens compared to Kastoria?
Safety-wise, Athens and Kastoria 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 Kastoria gentler on the wallet – expenses run 7% less than in Athens. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.