Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Athens and Kimberley

For one person, living is cheaper in Kimberley: $1,128 a month against $1,775 in Athens, rent and utilities included – about $7,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Athens
🇬🇷 Greece
$1,775
/mo nomad
Kimberley
🇿🇦 South Africa
$1,128
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Athens and in Kimberley

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,775 in Athens versus $1,128 in Kimberley.

  • Athens $1,775
  • Kimberley $1,128

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,721 in Athens versus $1,905 in Kimberley.

  • Athens $2,721
  • Kimberley $1,905

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,666 in Athens versus $2,683 in Kimberley.

  • Athens $3,666
  • Kimberley $2,683

Living in Athens is roughly 57% more expensive than in Kimberley, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Athens is 31% above, Kimberley is 16% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Athens
Kimberley
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.69 €14.84
$12.22 R 201
36.58%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$67.8 €60.3
$36.40 R 600
86.24%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.14 €9.91
$5.91 R 97.3
88.49%
Cappuccino
$4.03 €3.58
$3.02 R 49.76
33.44%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.77 €2.46
$1.32 R 21.67
109.85%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.55 €0.49
$1.27 R 20.96
-56.69%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.74 €5.10
$2.78 R 45.76
106.47%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.45 €4.85
$2.76 R 45.40
97.46%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Athens
Kimberley
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.82 €1.62
$1.52 R 25.08
19.74%
White Bread (500g)
$1.38 €1.23
$1.16 R 19.09
18.97%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.80 €2.49
$3.01 R 49.58
-6.98%
Eggs
$4.83 €4.30
$2.88 R 47.44
67.71%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.05 €13.39
$6.60 R 109
128.03%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.63 €9.45
$5.84 R 96.2
82.02%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.43 €16.39
$8.62 R 142
113.81%
Apples (1kg)
$2.20 €1.96
$2.24 R 36.86
-1.79%
Banana (1kg)
$1.90 €1.69
$2.46 R 40.59
-22.76%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.37 €1.22
$1.76 R 29.02
-22.16%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.10 €1.87
$3.33 R 54.9
-36.94%
Potato (1kg)
$1.08 €0.96
$1.47 R 24.20
-26.53%
Onion (1kg)
$1.12 €1.00
$1.42 R 23.42
-21.13%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.12 €1.00
$1.34 R 22.03
-16.42%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.88 €0.79
$0.86 R 14.25
2.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.48 €4.88
$3.09 R 50.9
77.35%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.13 €9.01
$6.51 R 107
55.61%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.13 €1.89
$2.21 R 36.48
-3.62%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25 €2.00
$2.79 R 45.98
-19.35%
🚌 Getting Around
Athens
Kimberley
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.36 €1.21
$1.52 R 24.97
-10.53%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$29.89 €26.59
$33.35 R 549
-10.37%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.45 €3.96
$0.58 R 9.57
667.24%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.02 €0.90
$0.88 R 14.57
15.91%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$16.92 €15.05
$11.59 R 191
45.99%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.25 €2.00
$1.39 R 22.88
61.87%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.0K €24.9K
$35.2K R 579.7K
-20.33%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.2K €25.1K
$31.7K R 522.0K
-10.89%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Athens
Kimberley
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$205 €182
$105 R 1,734
94.41%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.65 €23.71
$34.81 R 573
-23.44%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.38 €27.02
$42.50 R 700
-28.52%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Athens
Kimberley
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$54.5 €48.47
$22.96 R 378
137.33%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.88 €23.02
$10.87 R 179
138.09%
Cinema Ticket
$10.42 €9.27
$7.27 R 120
43.33%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Athens
Kimberley
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$569 €506
$242 R 3,985
135.33%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.6K €11.2K
$5,516 R 90.9K
128.15%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Athens
Kimberley
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.7 €78.9
$52.9 R 871
67.63%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.46 €35.99
$33.01 R 544
22.57%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$105 €93.3
$98.7 R 1,626
6.28%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$121 €108
$87.3 R 1,438
39.02%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Athens
Kimberley
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$741 €659
$266 R 4,378
178.76%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$655 €582
$332 R 5,472
97.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,300 €1,156
$640 R 10.5K
103.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,148 €1,021
$940 R 15.5K
22.09%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,014 €3,570
$888 R 14.6K
352.23%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,460 €3,078
$649 R 10.7K
433.11%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Athens
Kimberley
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,242 €1,105
$935 R 15.4K
32.93%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.48
10.94
-59.05%

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

Last update for Athens: October 10, 2026

Last update for Kimberley: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Athens
$655
Kimberley
$332 49.3% $322
Groceries & Markets
Athens
$310
Kimberley
$228 26.7% $83
Eating Out
Athens
$268
Kimberley
$181 32.3% $87
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Athens
$262
Kimberley
$183 30.2% $79
Clothing & Footwear
Athens
$160
Kimberley
$122 23.5% $38
Sport & Entertainment
Athens
$75
Kimberley
$38 50.2% $38
Getting Around
Athens
$45
Kimberley
$44 1% $0.5

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $741 in Athens and $266 in Kimberley. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Athens pays 33% 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: $68.0 in Athens vs $36.00 in Kimberley for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $310 vs $228 per month, with Kimberley cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇬🇷 Athens
🇿🇦 Kimberley
🕒 Local time
12:33 12:33 PM
11:33 11:33 AM
1 h behind Athens
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
3,090,508 Capital
225,160
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

ZAR, USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 0.889 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

South African Rand exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 16.48 ZAR (100 ZAR = 6.07 USD). 1 EUR = 18.52 ZAR (100 ZAR = 5.4 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Athens Kimberley 7,420 km ≈ 10 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Athens
  • Kimberley

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 Kimberley: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Athens or Kimberley?
Kimberley wins on cost – living expenses run 57% lower than in Athens. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Kimberley the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Athens or in Kimberley?
Average pay runs 33% 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 Kimberley?
Rent for a central apartment: $741 in Athens versus $266 in Kimberley. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Athens and in Kimberley?
Dining out is cheaper in Kimberley – a meal for two runs $36.00 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 Kimberley?
All in, you'll spend $1,775 per month in Athens versus $1,128 in Kimberley – a 57% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Athens or in Kimberley?
At $1,128 in Kimberley versus $1,775 in Athens, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Kimberley but tight or insufficient in Athens. The gap between the two cities makes Kimberley the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Athens or Kimberley?
Both work as nomad bases, but Kimberley delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,128 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Kimberley hard to pass up.
How safe is Athens compared to Kimberley?
Safety-wise, Athens and Kimberley 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 Kimberley gentler on the wallet – expenses run 57% less than in Athens. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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