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.
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
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Athens
Sale
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.69€14.84
$3.63MAD 35.42
359.78%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$67.8€60.3
$17.82MAD 174
280.42%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.14€9.91
$7.19MAD 70.1
54.94%
Cappuccino
$4.03€3.58
$1.76MAD 17.20
128.98%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.77€2.46
$0.60MAD 5.81
361.67%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.55€0.49
$0.32MAD 3.16
71.88%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.74€5.10
$2.63MAD 25.63
118.25%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.45€4.85
$3.05MAD 29.76
78.69%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Athens
Sale
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.82€1.62
$0.90MAD 8.77
102.22%
White Bread(500g)
$1.38€1.23
$0.65MAD 6.36
112.31%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.80€2.49
$1.90MAD 18.57
47.37%
Eggs
$4.83€4.30
$1.86MAD 18.10
159.68%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$15.05€13.39
$11.31MAD 110
33.07%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.63€9.45
$6.89MAD 67.2
54.28%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.43€16.39
$12.38MAD 121
48.87%
Apples(1kg)
$2.20€1.96
$1.34MAD 13.05
64.18%
Banana(1kg)
$1.90€1.69
$1.18MAD 11.48
61.02%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.37€1.22
$0.84MAD 8.23
63.10%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.10€1.87
$0.90MAD 8.76
133.33%
Potato(1kg)
$1.08€0.96
$0.68MAD 6.62
58.82%
Onion(1kg)
$1.12€1.00
$0.73MAD 7.15
53.42%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.12€1.00
$0.47MAD 4.58
138.30%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.88€0.79
$0.62MAD 6.03
41.94%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.48€4.88
$3.75MAD 36.51
46.13%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.13€9.01
$4.74MAD 46.23
113.71%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.13€1.89
$2.23MAD 21.75
-4.48%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25€2.00
$2.13MAD 20.81
5.63%
🚌 Getting Around
Athens
Sale
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.36€1.21
$0.55MAD 5.32
147.27%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$29.89€26.59
$23.03MAD 225
29.79%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.45€3.96
$0.69MAD 6.78
544.93%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.02€0.90
$0.50MAD 4.85
104.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$16.92€15.05
$4.03MAD 39.30
319.85%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.25€2.00
$1.48MAD 14.46
52.03%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.0K€24.9K
$31.0KMAD 301.9K
-9.49%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.2K€25.1K
$30.8KMAD 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
$37.71MAD 368
442.56%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.65€23.71
$10.53MAD 103
153.09%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.38€27.02
$40.93MAD 399
-25.78%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Athens
Sale
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$54.5€48.47
$16.62MAD 162
227.86%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.88€23.02
$40.69MAD 397
-36.40%
Cinema Ticket
$10.42€9.27
$5.29MAD 51.6
96.98%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Athens
Sale
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$569€506
$104MAD 1,010
449.72%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$12.6K€11.2K
$5,903MAD 57.6K
113.19%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Athens
Sale
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.7€78.9
$32.27MAD 315
174.74%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.46€35.99
$46.59MAD 454
-13.16%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$105€93.3
$71.9MAD 701
45.87%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$121€108
$66.4MAD 648
82.61%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Athens
Sale
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$741€659
$208MAD 2,025
256.72%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$655€582
$102MAD 994
541.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,300€1,156
$356MAD 3,473
264.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,148€1,021
$260MAD 2,532
342.02%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,014€3,570
$1,126MAD 11.0K
256.42%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,460€3,078
$838MAD 8,167
313.10%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Athens
Sale
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,242€1,105
$516MAD 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.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
🏠Accommodation & Living
Athens
$655 36.9%
Sale
$102 16.1% ↓ 84.4%$553
🛒Groceries & Markets
Athens
$310 17.5%
Sale
$195 30.8% ↓ 37%$115
🍽Eating Out
Athens
$268 15.1%
Sale
$95 14.9% ↓ 64.7%$173
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Athens
$262 14.7%
Sale
$89 14.1% ↓ 65.9%$172
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Athens
$160 9%
Sale
$98 15.4% ↓ 38.9%$62
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Athens
$75 4.2%
Sale
$27 4.3% ↓ 63.9%$48
🚌Getting Around
Athens
$45 2.5%
Sale
$28 4.5% ↓ 36.7%$16
🏠Accommodation & Living
Athens
$1.1K 31.3%
Sale
$260 17.9% ↓ 77.4%$888
🛒Groceries & Markets
Athens
$726 19.8%
Sale
$452 31.1% ↓ 37.8%$275
🍽Eating Out
Athens
$879 24%
Sale
$272 18.7% ↓ 69.1%$608
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Athens
$288 7.9%
Sale
$100 6.9% ↓ 65.4%$189
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Athens
$355 9.7%
Sale
$217 15% ↓ 38.9%$138
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Athens
$177 4.8%
Sale
$95 6.6% ↓ 46.1%$81
🚌Getting Around
Athens
$92 2.5%
Sale
$58 4% ↓ 37.4%$35
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.
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.