Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Athens and Sion

For one person, living is cheaper in Athens: $1,775 a month against $3,235 in Sion, rent and utilities included – about $17,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Athens
🇬🇷 Greece
$1,775
/mo nomad
Sion
🇨🇭 Switzerland
$3,235
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Athens and in Sion

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,775 in Athens versus $3,235 in Sion.

  • Athens $1,775
  • Sion $3,235

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,721 in Athens versus $4,857 in Sion.

  • Athens $2,721
  • Sion $4,857

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,666 in Athens versus $6,479 in Sion.

  • Athens $3,666
  • Sion $6,479

Living in Athens costs roughly 45% less than in Sion, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Athens 31% above, Sion 140% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Athens
Sion
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.69 €14.84
$28.97 CHF 23.86
-42.39%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$67.8 €60.3
$89.6 CHF 73.8
-24.32%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.14 €9.91
$19.15 CHF 15.77
-41.83%
Cappuccino
$4.03 €3.58
$4.60 CHF 3.79
-12.39%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.77 €2.46
$5.09 CHF 4.19
-45.58%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.55 €0.49
$4.28 CHF 3.52
-87.15%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.74 €5.10
$7.36 CHF 6.06
-22.01%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.45 €4.85
$7.29 CHF 6.00
-25.24%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Athens
Sion
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.82 €1.62
$1.94 CHF 1.60
-6.19%
White Bread (500g)
$1.38 €1.23
$3.54 CHF 2.92
-61.02%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.80 €2.49
$4.19 CHF 3.45
-33.17%
Eggs
$4.83 €4.30
$7.13 CHF 5.87
-32.26%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.05 €13.39
$26.01 CHF 21.42
-42.14%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.63 €9.45
$22.69 CHF 18.69
-53.15%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.43 €16.39
$40.09 CHF 33.02
-54.03%
Apples (1kg)
$2.20 €1.96
$3.15 CHF 2.59
-30.16%
Banana (1kg)
$1.90 €1.69
$1.70 CHF 1.40
11.76%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.37 €1.22
$2.53 CHF 2.09
-45.85%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.10 €1.87
$6.20 CHF 5.11
-66.13%
Potato (1kg)
$1.08 €0.96
$1.85 CHF 1.53
-41.62%
Onion (1kg)
$1.12 €1.00
$2.16 CHF 1.78
-48.15%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.12 €1.00
$2.43 CHF 2.00
-53.91%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.88 €0.79
$1.17 CHF 0.97
-24.79%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.48 €4.88
$10.85 CHF 8.94
-49.49%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.13 €9.01
$14.25 CHF 11.74
-28.91%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.13 €1.89
$1.76 CHF 1.45
21.02%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25 €2.00
$1.91 CHF 1.57
17.80%
🚌 Getting Around
Athens
Sion
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.36 €1.21
$5.24 CHF 4.32
-74.05%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$29.89 €26.59
$179 CHF 148
-83.34%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.45 €3.96
$5.94 CHF 4.89
-25.08%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.02 €0.90
$5.29 CHF 4.36
-80.72%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$16.92 €15.05
$48.12 CHF 39.63
-64.84%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.25 €2.00
$2.21 CHF 1.82
1.81%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.0K €24.9K
$34.2K CHF 28.2K
-18.14%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.2K €25.1K
$37.6K CHF 31.0K
-24.97%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Athens
Sion
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$205 €182
$308 CHF 254
-33.61%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.65 €23.71
$24.86 CHF 20.48
7.20%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.38 €27.02
$49.64 CHF 40.89
-38.80%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Athens
Sion
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$54.5 €48.47
$135 CHF 111
-59.58%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.88 €23.02
$54.5 CHF 44.88
-52.51%
Cinema Ticket
$10.42 €9.27
$20.28 CHF 16.70
-48.62%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Athens
Sion
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$569 €506
$953 CHF 785
-40.27%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.6K €11.2K
$37.7K CHF 31.1K
-66.62%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Athens
Sion
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.7 €78.9
$109 CHF 89.7
-18.57%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.46 €35.99
$48.21 CHF 39.71
-16.08%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$105 €93.3
$161 CHF 133
-34.87%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$121 €108
$165 CHF 136
-26.37%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Athens
Sion
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$741 €659
$1,221 CHF 1,005
-39.31%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$655 €582
$1,240 CHF 1,021
-47.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,300 €1,156
$2,323 CHF 1,913
-44.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,148 €1,021
$2,072 CHF 1,707
-44.60%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,014 €3,570
$7,339 CHF 6,045
-45.31%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,460 €3,078
$5,532 CHF 4,556
-37.45%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Athens
Sion
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,242 €1,105
$5,826 CHF 4,798
-78.68%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.48
2.15
108.37%

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

Last update for Athens: October 10, 2026

Last update for Sion: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Athens
$655
Sion
$1.2K 89.4% $585
Groceries & Markets
Athens
$310
Sion
$554 78.4% $243
Eating Out
Athens
$268
Sion
$433 61.6% $165
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Athens
$262
Sion
$383 46.3% $121
Clothing & Footwear
Athens
$160
Sion
$217 35.9% $57
Sport & Entertainment
Athens
$75
Sion
$175 133% $100
Getting Around
Athens
$45
Sion
$233 419% $188

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $741 in Athens and $1,221 in Sion. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Sion pays 369% 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 $90.0 in Sion for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $310 vs $554 per month, with Athens cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇬🇷 Athens
🇨🇭 Sion
🕒 Local time
10:02 10:02 AM
09:02 9:02 AM
1 h behind Athens
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
3,090,508 Capital
34,599
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

CHF, USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 0.889 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

Swiss Franc exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 0.824 CHF (1 CHF = 1.21 USD). 1 EUR = 0.926 CHF (1 CHF = 1.08 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Athens Sion 1,630 km ≈ 2 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Athens
  • Sion

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 Sion: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Athens or Sion?
Athens wins on cost – living expenses run 82% lower than in Sion. 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 Sion?
On paper, salaries run 369% lower in Sion. 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 Sion?
Rent for a central apartment: $741 in Athens versus $1,221 in Sion. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Athens and in Sion?
Dining out is cheaper in Athens – a meal for two runs $68.0 versus $90.0 in Sion. 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 Sion?
All in, you'll spend $1,775 per month in Athens versus $3,235 in Sion – a 82% 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 Sion?
At $1,775 in Athens versus $3,235 in Sion, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Athens but tight or insufficient in Sion. 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 Sion?
Both work as nomad bases, but Athens delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,775 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 Sion?
Safety-wise, Athens and Sion 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 82% less than in Sion. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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