Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Athens and Sale

For one person, living is cheaper in Sale: $635 a month against $1,775 in Athens, rent and utilities included – about $13,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Athens
🇬🇷 Greece
$1,775
/mo nomad
Sale
🇲🇦 Morocco
$635
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Athens and in Sale

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,775 in Athens versus $635 in Sale.

  • Athens $1,775
  • Sale $635

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,721 in Athens versus $1,044 in Sale.

  • Athens $2,721
  • Sale $1,044

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,666 in Athens versus $1,453 in Sale.

  • Athens $3,666
  • Sale $1,453

Living in Athens is roughly 180% more expensive than in Sale, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Athens is 31% above, Sale is 53% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Athens
Sale
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.69 €14.84
$3.63 MAD 35.42
359.78%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$67.8 €60.3
$17.82 MAD 174
280.42%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.14 €9.91
$7.19 MAD 70.1
54.94%
Cappuccino
$4.03 €3.58
$1.76 MAD 17.20
128.98%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.77 €2.46
$0.60 MAD 5.81
361.67%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.55 €0.49
$0.32 MAD 3.16
71.88%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.74 €5.10
$2.63 MAD 25.63
118.25%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.45 €4.85
$3.05 MAD 29.76
78.69%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Athens
Sale
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.82 €1.62
$0.90 MAD 8.77
102.22%
White Bread (500g)
$1.38 €1.23
$0.65 MAD 6.36
112.31%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.80 €2.49
$1.90 MAD 18.57
47.37%
Eggs
$4.83 €4.30
$1.86 MAD 18.10
159.68%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.05 €13.39
$11.31 MAD 110
33.07%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.63 €9.45
$6.89 MAD 67.2
54.28%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.43 €16.39
$12.38 MAD 121
48.87%
Apples (1kg)
$2.20 €1.96
$1.34 MAD 13.05
64.18%
Banana (1kg)
$1.90 €1.69
$1.18 MAD 11.48
61.02%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.37 €1.22
$0.84 MAD 8.23
63.10%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.10 €1.87
$0.90 MAD 8.76
133.33%
Potato (1kg)
$1.08 €0.96
$0.68 MAD 6.62
58.82%
Onion (1kg)
$1.12 €1.00
$0.73 MAD 7.15
53.42%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.12 €1.00
$0.47 MAD 4.58
138.30%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.88 €0.79
$0.62 MAD 6.03
41.94%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.48 €4.88
$3.75 MAD 36.51
46.13%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.13 €9.01
$4.74 MAD 46.23
113.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.13 €1.89
$2.23 MAD 21.75
-4.48%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25 €2.00
$2.13 MAD 20.81
5.63%
🚌 Getting Around
Athens
Sale
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.36 €1.21
$0.55 MAD 5.32
147.27%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$29.89 €26.59
$23.03 MAD 225
29.79%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.45 €3.96
$0.69 MAD 6.78
544.93%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.02 €0.90
$0.50 MAD 4.85
104.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$16.92 €15.05
$4.03 MAD 39.30
319.85%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.25 €2.00
$1.48 MAD 14.46
52.03%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.0K €24.9K
$31.0K MAD 301.9K
-9.49%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.2K €25.1K
$30.8K MAD 300.4K
-8.38%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Athens
Sale
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$205 €182
$37.71 MAD 368
442.56%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.65 €23.71
$10.53 MAD 103
153.09%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.38 €27.02
$40.93 MAD 399
-25.78%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Athens
Sale
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$54.5 €48.47
$16.62 MAD 162
227.86%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.88 €23.02
$40.69 MAD 397
-36.40%
Cinema Ticket
$10.42 €9.27
$5.29 MAD 51.6
96.98%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Athens
Sale
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$569 €506
$104 MAD 1,010
449.72%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.6K €11.2K
$5,903 MAD 57.6K
113.19%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Athens
Sale
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.7 €78.9
$32.27 MAD 315
174.74%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.46 €35.99
$46.59 MAD 454
-13.16%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$105 €93.3
$71.9 MAD 701
45.87%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$121 €108
$66.4 MAD 648
82.61%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Athens
Sale
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$741 €659
$208 MAD 2,025
256.72%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$655 €582
$102 MAD 994
541.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,300 €1,156
$356 MAD 3,473
264.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,148 €1,021
$260 MAD 2,532
342.02%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,014 €3,570
$1,126 MAD 11.0K
256.42%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,460 €3,078
$838 MAD 8,167
313.10%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Athens
Sale
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,242 €1,105
$516 MAD 5,033
140.68%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.48
5
-10.40%

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

Last update for Athens: October 10, 2026

Last update for Sale: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Athens
$655
Sale
$102 84.4% $553
Groceries & Markets
Athens
$310
Sale
$195 37% $115
Eating Out
Athens
$268
Sale
$95 64.7% $173
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Athens
$262
Sale
$89 65.9% $172
Clothing & Footwear
Athens
$160
Sale
$98 38.9% $62
Sport & Entertainment
Athens
$75
Sale
$27 63.9% $48
Getting Around
Athens
$45
Sale
$28 36.7% $16

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $741 in Athens and $208 in Sale. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Athens pays 141% 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 $18.00 in Sale for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $310 vs $195 per month, with Sale cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇬🇷 Athens
🇲🇦 Sale
🕒 Local time
21:39 9:39 PM
19:39 7:39 PM
2 h behind Athens
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
3,090,508 Capital
890,403
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

MAD, USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 0.889 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

Moroccan Dirham exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 9.75 MAD (1 MAD = 0.103 USD). 1 EUR = 10.96 MAD (100 MAD = 9.12 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Athens Sale 2,770 km ≈ 4 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Athens
  • Sale

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 Sale: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Athens or Sale?
Sale wins on cost – living expenses run 180% lower than in Athens. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Sale the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Athens or in Sale?
Average pay runs 141% 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 Sale?
Rent for a central apartment: $741 in Athens versus $208 in Sale. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Athens and in Sale?
Dining out is cheaper in Sale – a meal for two runs $18.00 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 Sale?
All in, you'll spend $1,775 per month in Athens versus $635 in Sale – a 180% 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 Sale?
At $635 in Sale versus $1,775 in Athens, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Sale but tight or insufficient in Athens. The gap between the two cities makes Sale the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Athens or Sale?
Both work as nomad bases, but Sale delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $635 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Sale hard to pass up.
How safe is Athens compared to Sale?
Safety-wise, Athens and Sale 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 Sale gentler on the wallet – expenses run 180% less than in Athens. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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