🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,550 in Heraklion versus $1,613 in Volos.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,446 in Heraklion versus $2,377 in Volos.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,343 in Heraklion versus $3,142 in Volos.
🌍Living in Heraklion costs roughly 4% less than in Volos, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Heraklion16% above, Volos21% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Heraklion
Volos
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.63€11.92
$23.28€20.37
-41.45%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$58.1€50.8
$45.49€39.80
27.63%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.74€10.27
$8.90€7.79
31.91%
Cappuccino
$3.85€3.37
$4.12€3.60
-6.55%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.22€1.94
$2.51€2.19
-11.55%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.57€0.50
$0.57€0.50
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.83€5.10
$5.62€4.92
3.74%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.94€5.20
$5.65€4.94
5.13%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Heraklion
Volos
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.91€1.67
$1.69€1.48
13.02%
White Bread(500g)
$1.46€1.28
$1.51€1.32
-3.31%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.76€2.41
$2.78€2.43
-0.72%
Eggs
$5.57€4.87
$4.30€3.76
29.53%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.85€14.74
$14.71€12.87
14.55%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.32€9.90
$11.23€9.82
0.80%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.85€12.99
$15.77€13.80
-5.83%
Apples(1kg)
$2.28€2.00
$2.42€2.12
-5.79%
Banana(1kg)
$2.09€1.83
$2.02€1.76
3.47%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.49€1.30
$1.67€1.46
-10.78%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.81€1.58
$2.20€1.93
-17.73%
Potato(1kg)
$1.28€1.12
$1.00€0.88
28.00%
Onion(1kg)
$1.58€1.38
$1.10€0.96
43.64%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.88€0.77
$0.91€0.79
-3.30%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.71€0.62
$1.00€0.87
-29.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.41€4.73
$5.57€4.88
-2.87%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.36€6.44
$8.99€7.86
-18.13%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.13€1.86
$2.60€2.27
-18.08%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.40€2.97
$3.21€2.80
5.92%
🚌 Getting Around
Heraklion
Volos
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.64€1.44
$1.52€1.33
7.89%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.23€40.45
$62.4€54.6
-25.89%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.69€4.10
$4.13€3.61
13.56%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$11.74€10.27
$19.89€17.40
-40.98%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.08€1.82
$2.15€1.88
-3.26%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.3K€30.0K
$30.9K€27.1K
11.01%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5K€23.2K
$26.0K€22.8K
1.92%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Heraklion
Volos
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$218€191
$237€207
-7.99%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.34€20.42
$24.23€21.20
-3.67%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.62€32.03
$35.19€30.78
4.06%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Heraklion
Volos
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.2€44.79
$61.3€53.6
-16.51%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$40.52€35.45
$47.60€41.65
-14.87%
Cinema Ticket
$9.28€8.12
$9.46€8.27
-1.90%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Heraklion
Volos
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$423€370
$274€240
54.12%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,108€3,594
$6,024€5,270
-31.81%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Heraklion
Volos
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$98.6€86.3
$115€100
-14.01%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.06€40.29
$54.2€47.40
-14.99%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$88.1€77.1
$81.3€71.2
8.36%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$135€118
$84.3€73.8
60.56%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Heraklion
Volos
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$551€482
$446€390
23.43%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$420€367
$369€322
13.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,051€919
$642€562
63.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$886€775
$572€501
54.82%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,913€3,424
$2,519€2,204
55.35%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,793€2,444
$1,671€1,462
67.17%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Heraklion
Volos
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,123€983
$1,016€889
10.56%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.44
4.47
-0.67%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Heraklion: July 14, 2026
Last update for Volos: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $551 in Heraklion and $446 in Volos. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Heraklion pays 11% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $58.0 in Heraklion vs $45.00 in Volos for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $309 vs $308 per month, with Volos 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
Heraklion vs Volos: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Volos cheaper than Heraklion?
Heraklion is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 4% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Heraklion or Volos?
Average pay runs 11% higher in Heraklion, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Heraklion and Volos?
Rent for a central apartment: $551 in Heraklion versus $446 in Volos. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $423 in Heraklion versus $274 in Volos. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Heraklion and in Volos?
Shoppers in Volos pay roughly 0% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Heraklion or in Volos?
At $1,550 in Heraklion versus $1,613 in Volos, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Heraklion but tight or insufficient in Volos. The gap between the two cities makes Heraklion the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is it better to live in Heraklion or in Volos?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Which city is safer, Heraklion or Volos?
Safety-wise, Heraklion and Volos 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 Heraklion gentler on the wallet – expenses run 4% less than in Volos. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.