🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,463 in Gela versus $1,546 in Thessaloniki.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,230 in Gela versus $2,354 in Thessaloniki.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,998 in Gela versus $3,162 in Thessaloniki.
🙂Living in Gela costs roughly 5% less than in Thessaloniki, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Gela9% above, Thessaloniki15% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Gela
Thessaloniki
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.39€9.80
$17.27€14.85
-34.05%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$59.0€50.7
$57.7€49.63
2.25%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.52€9.05
$10.30€8.86
2.14%
Cappuccino
$1.86€1.60
$4.27€3.67
-56.44%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29€1.97
$2.36€2.03
-2.97%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.21€1.04
$0.56€0.48
116.07%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.72€4.06
$5.88€5.06
-19.73%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.12€3.54
$5.74€4.94
-28.22%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Gela
Thessaloniki
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.47€1.26
$1.52€1.31
-3.29%
White Bread(500g)
$1.96€1.69
$1.46€1.25
34.25%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.50€2.15
$2.45€2.11
2.04%
Eggs
$3.44€2.96
$4.41€3.79
-22.00%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.52€12.49
$13.67€11.76
6.22%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.62€10.85
$11.10€9.55
13.69%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$17.82€15.33
$14.79€12.72
20.49%
Apples(1kg)
$2.86€2.46
$2.04€1.75
40.20%
Banana(1kg)
$2.34€2.01
$1.87€1.61
25.13%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.15€1.85
$1.68€1.45
27.98%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.36€2.03
$2.38€2.04
-0.84%
Potato(1kg)
$1.77€1.53
$1.26€1.08
40.48%
Onion(1kg)
$1.24€1.06
$1.33€1.15
-6.77%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.27€1.09
$1.09€0.94
16.51%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.44€0.38
$0.88€0.75
-50.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.63€5.70
$5.36€4.61
23.69%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.81€6.72
$11.70€10.06
-33.25%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.17€1.87
$2.00€1.72
8.50%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18€2.74
$2.80€2.41
13.57%
🚌 Getting Around
Gela
Thessaloniki
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.72€1.48
$1.05€0.91
63.81%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$57.3€49.26
$30.99€26.66
84.77%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$11.76€10.12
$4.62€3.97
154.55%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.14€1.84
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$34.62€29.78
$31.91€27.45
8.49%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.10€1.81
$2.07€1.78
1.45%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.1K€21.6K
$31.3K€26.9K
-19.91%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.0K€25.8K
$31.7K€27.2K
-5.23%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Gela
Thessaloniki
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$210€181
$213€183
-1.21%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.68€12.63
$26.13€22.48
-43.82%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.22€24.28
$30.44€26.18
-7.29%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Gela
Thessaloniki
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$58.5€50.4
$44.22€38.03
32.38%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.21€12.23
$18.69€16.08
-23.97%
Cinema Ticket
$9.79€8.42
$9.98€8.59
-1.90%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Gela
Thessaloniki
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$394€339
$421€363
-6.50%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.8K€9,272
$8,408€7,233
28.19%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Gela
Thessaloniki
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.8€75.5
$82.5€71.0
6.39%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.50€27.10
$36.95€31.78
-14.75%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$91.8€79.0
$90.9€78.2
1.07%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$132€113
$115€98.9
14.42%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Gela
Thessaloniki
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$370€318
$542€466
-31.81%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$351€302
$452€389
-22.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$562€483
$940€808
-40.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$614€528
$742€638
-17.28%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,222€1,911
$3,833€3,297
-42.03%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,035€890
$2,909€2,502
-64.42%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Gela
Thessaloniki
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$1,193€1,026
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.72
4.68
0.85%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Gela: June 2, 2026
Last update for Thessaloniki: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $370 in Gela and $542 in Thessaloniki. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $59.0 in Gela vs $58.0 in Thessaloniki for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $318 vs $298 per month, with Thessaloniki 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
Gela vs Thessaloniki: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Thessaloniki cheaper than Gela?
Gela is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 6% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $2,194 in Gela and $2,319 in Thessaloniki to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Gela and Thessaloniki?
Rent for a central apartment: $370 in Gela versus $542 in Thessaloniki. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $394 in Gela versus $421 in Thessaloniki. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Gela and Thessaloniki?
Shoppers in Thessaloniki pay roughly 7% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Gela or Thessaloniki?
At $1,463 in Gela versus $1,546 in Thessaloniki, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Gela but tight or insufficient in Thessaloniki. The gap between the two cities makes Gela the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Gela or Thessaloniki more family-friendly?
For families, Gela is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Thessaloniki, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Gela or Thessaloniki?
Safety-wise, Gela and Thessaloniki 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Gela gentler on the wallet – expenses run 6% less than in Thessaloniki. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.