Cost of Living Comparison Between Athens and Markham Cost of Living Comparison Between Athens and Markham

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,705 in Athens versus $2,806 in Markham.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,630 in Athens versus $3,941 in Markham.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,556 in Athens versus $5,075 in Markham.

Living in Athens costs roughly 39% less than in Markham, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Athens 28% above, Markham 110% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Athens
Markham
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.05 €14.93
$14.80 CA$20.82
15.20%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.6 €55.7
$81.5 CA$115
-21.97%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.28 €9.00
$9.00 CA$12.66
14.22%
Cappuccino
$4.37 €3.82
$3.21 CA$4.52
36.14%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.39 €2.09
$2.02 CA$2.84
18.32%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.67 €0.59
$1.39 CA$1.96
-51.80%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.68 €4.97
$3.74 CA$5.26
51.87%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.65 €4.95
$6.43 CA$9.05
-12.13%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Athens
Markham
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.92 €1.69
$1.79 CA$2.52
7.26%
White Bread (500g)
$1.37 €1.20
$2.23 CA$3.13
-38.57%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.81 €2.46
$1.63 CA$2.29
72.39%
Eggs
$5.12 €4.49
$3.31 CA$4.66
54.68%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.81 €12.97
$15.39 CA$21.65
-3.77%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.29 €9.88
$9.85 CA$13.86
14.62%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.18 €13.30
$7.45 CA$10.49
103.76%
Apples (1kg)
$2.20 €1.93
$4.36 CA$6.13
-49.54%
Banana (1kg)
$2.07 €1.81
$1.41 CA$1.99
46.81%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.58 €1.38
$2.38 CA$3.35
-33.61%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.36 €2.07
$3.54 CA$4.98
-33.33%
Potato (1kg)
$1.41 €1.23
$2.39 CA$3.36
-41.00%
Onion (1kg)
$1.18 €1.03
$2.17 CA$3.05
-45.62%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.23 €1.08
$3.12 CA$4.39
-60.58%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.02 €0.89
$1.61 CA$2.27
-36.65%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.59 €4.89
$13.71 CA$19.29
-59.23%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.05 €8.80
$15.03 CA$21.15
-33.13%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.03 €1.78
$2.18 CA$3.06
-6.88%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.86 €2.50
$2.31 CA$3.24
23.81%
🚌 Getting Around
Athens
Markham
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.36 €1.19
$3.18 CA$4.48
-57.23%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$34.50 €30.21
$96.7 CA$136
-64.32%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.61 €4.03
$3.17 CA$4.47
45.43%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.11 €0.97
$2.85 CA$4.01
-61.05%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$17.13 €15.00
$22.08 CA$31.06
-22.42%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.04 €1.78
$1.09 CA$1.54
87.16%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.1K €25.5K
$25.5K CA$35.9K
14.16%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.6K €25.9K
$20.2K CA$28.4K
46.33%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Athens
Markham
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$217 €190
$202 CA$284
7.73%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.37 €23.97
$34.07 CA$47.94
-19.67%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.44 €30.16
$59.1 CA$83.1
-41.71%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Athens
Markham
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$56.6 €49.58
$45.55 CA$64.1
24.28%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.46 €23.17
$14.14 CA$19.89
87.13%
Cinema Ticket
$10.43 €9.14
$10.78 CA$15.17
-3.25%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Athens
Markham
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$561 €492
$919 CA$1,293
-38.91%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.1K €9,701
$28.7K CA$40.4K
-61.40%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Athens
Markham
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$92.1 €80.7
$44.69 CA$62.9
106.13%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.84 €41.02
$36.37 CA$51.2
28.79%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$100 €87.8
$60.8 CA$85.6
64.87%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120 €105
$81.5 CA$115
47.39%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Athens
Markham
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$650 €569
$1,699 CA$2,391
-61.74%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$572 €501
$1,630 CA$2,293
-64.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,188 €1,040
$3,005 CA$4,229
-60.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,014 €888
$2,548 CA$3,586
-60.22%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,057 €3,553
$5,972 CA$8,403
-32.06%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,221 €2,821
$5,410 CA$7,613
-40.47%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Athens
Markham
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,327 €1,162
$3,084 CA$4,340
-56.99%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.99
6.59
-24.28%

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

Last update for Athens: July 11, 2026

Last update for Markham: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $650 in Athens and $1,699 in Markham. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Markham pays 133% 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 $81.0 in Markham for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $312 vs $324 per month, with Athens 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 Markham: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Athens or Markham?
Athens wins on cost – living expenses run 65% lower than in Markham. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Athens the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Athens or in Markham?
On paper, salaries run 133% lower in Markham. 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 Markham?
Rent for a central apartment: $650 in Athens versus $1,699 in Markham. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Athens and in Markham?
Dining out is cheaper in Athens – a meal for two runs $64.0 versus $81.0 in Markham. 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 Markham?
All in, you'll spend $1,705 per month in Athens versus $2,806 in Markham – a 65% 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 Markham?
At $1,705 in Athens versus $2,806 in Markham, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Athens but tight or insufficient in Markham. 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 Markham?
Both work as nomad bases, but Athens delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,705 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 Markham?
Safety-wise, Athens and Markham 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 65% less than in Markham. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Athens vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities