Cost of Living Comparison Between Athens and Orestiada Cost of Living Comparison Between Athens and Orestiada

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,733 in Athens versus $1,501 in Orestiada.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,632 in Athens versus $2,310 in Orestiada.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,532 in Athens versus $3,119 in Orestiada.

Living in Athens is roughly 15% more expensive than in Orestiada, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Athens 30% above, Orestiada 12% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Athens
Orestiada
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.31 €15.22
$13.99 €12.30
23.73%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.0 €56.2
$60.4 €53.1
5.84%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.54 €9.26
$9.80 €8.62
7.55%
Cappuccino
$4.35 €3.82
$3.03 €2.67
43.56%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.39 €2.10
$1.64 €1.44
45.73%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.63 €0.56
$0.75 €0.66
-16.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.74 €5.05
$5.92 €5.20
-3.04%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.77 €5.08
$5.80 €5.10
-0.52%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Athens
Orestiada
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.92 €1.69
$1.88 €1.66
2.13%
White Bread (500g)
$1.40 €1.23
$1.24 €1.09
12.90%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.79 €2.46
$1.52 €1.34
83.55%
Eggs
$5.11 €4.49
$4.00 €3.51
27.75%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.68 €12.90
$6.82 €6.00
115.25%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.18 €9.83
$10.06 €8.84
11.13%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.98 €13.17
$9.64 €8.48
55.39%
Apples (1kg)
$2.23 €1.96
$1.72 €1.51
29.65%
Banana (1kg)
$2.12 €1.87
$2.06 €1.81
2.91%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.50 €1.32
$1.13 €0.99
32.74%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.30 €2.02
$2.91 €2.55
-20.96%
Potato (1kg)
$1.36 €1.19
$1.67 €1.47
-18.56%
Onion (1kg)
$1.23 €1.08
$0.92 €0.81
33.70%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.26 €1.11
$1.04 €0.91
21.15%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.01 €0.88
$0.84 €0.74
20.24%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.74 €5.05
$4.73 €4.16
21.35%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.44 €9.18
$6.70 €5.89
55.82%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.00 €1.76
$2.03 €1.78
-1.48%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 €2.61
$2.83 €2.49
4.95%
🚌 Getting Around
Athens
Orestiada
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.35 €1.19
$1.57 €1.38
-14.01%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$34.07 €29.95
$47.15 €41.45
-27.74%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.72 €4.15
$4.61 €4.05
2.39%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.07 €0.94
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$17.66 €15.53
$13.89 €12.21
27.14%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.03 €1.78
$2.19 €1.92
-7.31%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.0K €25.5K
$31.0K €27.3K
-6.42%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.4K €25.9K
$26.7K €23.4K
10.33%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Athens
Orestiada
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$217 €191
$412 €363
-47.44%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.99 €23.73
$22.78 €20.03
18.48%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.93 €30.71
$34.42 €30.26
1.48%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Athens
Orestiada
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$55.2 €48.54
$57.0 €50.1
-3.09%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.52 €23.31
$26.31 €23.13
0.80%
Cinema Ticket
$10.50 €9.23
$8.32 €7.32
26.20%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Athens
Orestiada
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$551 €485
$423 €372
30.29%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.0K €9,713
$5,987 €5,263
84.53%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Athens
Orestiada
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$92.8 €81.6
$44.02 €38.70
110.75%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.71 €41.94
$39.11 €34.38
21.99%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$101 €88.5
$85.3 €75.0
18.09%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119 €105
$177 €156
-32.49%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Athens
Orestiada
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$648 €570
$501 €440
29.47%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$566 €497
$288 €253
96.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,192 €1,048
$525 €461
127.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,029 €904
$611 €537
68.29%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,920 €3,446
$2,785 €2,448
40.76%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,291 €2,893
$2,475 €2,176
32.96%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Athens
Orestiada
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,320 €1,160
$1,309 €1,151
0.80%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.99
4.43
12.64%

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

Last update for Athens: July 20, 2026

Last update for Orestiada: July 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $648 in Athens and $501 in Orestiada. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Athens pays 1% 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 $60.0 in Orestiada for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $312 vs $243 per month, with Orestiada 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 Orestiada: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Athens or Orestiada?
Orestiada wins on cost – living expenses run 15% lower than in Athens. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Orestiada the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Athens or in Orestiada?
Average pay runs 1% 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 Orestiada?
Rent for a central apartment: $648 in Athens versus $501 in Orestiada. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Athens and in Orestiada?
Dining out is cheaper in Orestiada – a meal for two runs $60.0 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 Orestiada?
All in, you'll spend $1,733 per month in Athens versus $1,501 in Orestiada – a 15% 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 Orestiada?
At $1,501 in Orestiada versus $1,733 in Athens, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Orestiada but tight or insufficient in Athens. The gap between the two cities makes Orestiada the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Athens or Orestiada?
Both work as nomad bases, but Orestiada delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,501 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Orestiada hard to pass up.
How safe is Athens compared to Orestiada?
Safety-wise, Athens and Orestiada 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 Orestiada gentler on the wallet – expenses run 15% less than in Athens. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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