😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,728 in Athens versus $1,320 in Saguenay.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,680 in Athens versus $2,369 in Saguenay.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,632 in Athens versus $3,418 in Saguenay.
😐Living in Athens is roughly 31% more expensive than Saguenay, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Athens is 28% above, Saguenay is 2% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Athens
Saguenay
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.57€14.95
$13.38CA$18.34
31.32%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.6€55.0
$44.87CA$61.5
43.97%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.36€8.82
$11.13CA$15.25
-6.92%
Cappuccino
$4.34€3.69
$3.78CA$5.18
14.81%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.46€2.09
$1.52CA$2.08
61.84%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.63€0.54
$1.30CA$1.78
-51.54%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.85€4.98
$5.39CA$7.39
8.53%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.73€4.88
$5.29CA$7.25
8.32%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Athens
Saguenay
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.91€1.63
$2.17CA$2.97
-11.98%
White Bread(500g)
$1.41€1.20
$2.98CA$4.08
-52.68%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.87€2.45
$4.45CA$6.09
-35.51%
Eggs
$4.97€4.23
$2.53CA$3.47
96.44%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.95€12.72
$12.77CA$17.50
17.07%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.01€9.37
$8.89CA$12.19
23.85%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.09€12.84
$13.86CA$18.99
8.87%
Apples(1kg)
$2.23€1.90
$4.15CA$5.68
-46.27%
Banana(1kg)
$2.17€1.85
$1.32CA$1.81
64.39%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.58€1.35
$4.13CA$5.66
-61.74%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.28€1.94
$4.10CA$5.61
-44.39%
Potato(1kg)
$1.36€1.16
$1.84CA$2.53
-26.09%
Onion(1kg)
$1.17€1.00
$1.65CA$2.26
-29.09%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.23€1.05
$2.61CA$3.58
-52.87%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.04€0.89
$0.84CA$1.15
23.81%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.54€4.72
$12.16CA$16.66
-54.44%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.99€10.20
$11.04CA$15.13
8.61%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.03€1.72
$3.09CA$4.23
-34.30%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00€2.55
$1.97CA$2.71
52.28%
🚌 Getting Around
Athens
Saguenay
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.37€1.16
$2.71CA$3.72
-49.45%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$35.00€29.79
$56.1CA$76.8
-37.59%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.67€3.97
$3.64CA$4.99
28.30%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.07€0.91
$2.03CA$2.78
-47.29%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$17.08€14.54
$30.86CA$42.28
-44.65%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.07€1.76
$1.16CA$1.59
78.45%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.0K€24.7K
$25.2KCA$34.5K
15.16%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.2K€25.7K
$20.5KCA$28.1K
47.27%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Athens
Saguenay
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$217€185
$86.1CA$118
152.57%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.75€23.61
$38.78CA$53.1
-28.44%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$35.02€29.80
$43.45CA$59.5
-19.40%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Athens
Saguenay
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$56.7€48.26
$32.59CA$44.65
74.01%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.04€22.16
$14.01CA$19.20
85.87%
Cinema Ticket
$10.39€8.84
$9.55CA$13.09
8.80%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Athens
Saguenay
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$564€480
$600CA$822
-5.94%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.1K€9,469
$6,285CA$8,611
77.03%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Athens
Saguenay
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$92.5€78.7
$60.5CA$82.9
52.84%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.26€40.22
$52.7CA$72.2
-10.32%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$98.8€84.1
$97.1CA$133
1.69%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120€102
$129CA$177
-7.42%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Athens
Saguenay
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$645€548
$614CA$841
5.01%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$561€477
$295CA$404
89.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,195€1,017
$1,308CA$1,792
-8.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,037€883
$1,089CA$1,492
-4.77%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,220€3,591
$5,853CA$8,019
-27.91%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,598€3,062
$3,609CA$4,944
-0.29%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Athens
Saguenay
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,333€1,135
$2,650CA$3,630
-49.68%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.99
6.87
-27.37%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Athens: April 13, 2026
Last update for Saguenay: April 11, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $645 in Athens and $614 in Saguenay. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Saguenay pays 99% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $65 in Athens vs $45 in Saguenay. Groceries flip the comparison at $316 vs $340, with Athens cheaper for home cooking.
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 Saguenay: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Athens or Saguenay?
Saguenay wins on cost – living expenses run 31% lower than in Athens. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Saguenay the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Athens or Saguenay?
On paper, Saguenay earns 99% less. 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 vs Saguenay?
Rent for a central apartment: $645 in Athens versus $614 in Saguenay. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Athens vs Saguenay?
Dining out is cheaper in Saguenay – a meal for two runs $45.00 versus $65.0 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 Saguenay?
All in, you'll spend $1,728 per month in Athens versus $1,320 in Saguenay – a 31% 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 Saguenay?
At $1,320 in Saguenay versus $1,728 in Athens, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Saguenay but tight or insufficient in Athens. The gap between the two cities makes Saguenay the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Athens or Saguenay?
Both work as nomad bases, but Saguenay delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,320 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Saguenay hard to pass up.
How safe is Athens compared to Saguenay?
Safety-wise, Athens and Saguenay 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 Saguenay gentler on the wallet – expenses run 31% less than in Athens. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.