😐A single person spends $1,553 per month in Kastoria vs $1,544 in Thessaloniki, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $2,304 per month in Kastoria vs $2,338 in Thessaloniki, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $3,055 per month in Kastoria vs $3,132 in Thessaloniki, rent included.
😐Kastoria costs about 1% more than Thessaloniki, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Kastoria and Thessaloniki sit above the global median – Kastoria by 16%, Thessaloniki by 15%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kastoria
Thessaloniki
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.05€11.15
$17.51€14.95
-25.47%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$57.2€48.83
$56.7€48.44
0.78%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.43€8.05
$10.55€9.01
-10.62%
Cappuccino
$4.09€3.49
$4.24€3.62
-3.54%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.67€1.43
$2.43€2.07
-31.28%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.57€0.49
$0.56€0.48
1.79%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.97€3.39
$5.67€4.84
-29.98%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.57€3.05
$5.96€5.09
-40.10%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kastoria
Thessaloniki
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.54€1.32
$1.53€1.31
0.65%
White Bread(500g)
$1.61€1.38
$1.46€1.24
10.27%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.20€1.88
$2.48€2.12
-11.29%
Eggs
$4.24€3.62
$4.32€3.69
-1.85%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.58€11.60
$13.48€11.51
0.74%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.94€8.49
$11.36€9.70
-12.50%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.23€11.30
$14.98€12.79
-11.68%
Apples(1kg)
$2.33€1.99
$2.06€1.76
13.11%
Banana(1kg)
$1.95€1.67
$1.87€1.60
4.28%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.12€0.95
$1.63€1.39
-31.29%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.92€1.64
$2.35€2.00
-18.30%
Potato(1kg)
$1.08€0.92
$1.28€1.09
-15.62%
Onion(1kg)
$1.27€1.09
$1.33€1.13
-4.51%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.00€0.86
$1.09€0.93
-8.26%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49€0.42
$0.87€0.75
-43.68%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.28€4.51
$5.23€4.47
0.96%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.15€7.82
$9.29€7.93
-1.51%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.60€1.37
$2.00€1.71
-20.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.45€2.09
$2.69€2.30
-8.92%
🚌 Getting Around
Kastoria
Thessaloniki
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.58€1.35
$1.02€0.87
54.90%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.02€39.30
$30.99€26.46
48.50%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$7.16€6.11
$4.62€3.94
54.98%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.91€11.88
$32.74€27.96
-57.51%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.17€1.86
$2.12€1.81
2.36%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.2K€29.2K
$31.3K€26.7K
9.57%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.0K€24.8K
$31.7K€27.1K
-8.42%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kastoria
Thessaloniki
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$340€290
$218€186
55.54%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$24.16€20.63
$25.70€21.95
-5.99%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.86€26.35
$30.50€26.05
1.18%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kastoria
Thessaloniki
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$49.06€41.90
$44.50€38.00
10.25%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.33€22.49
$18.35€15.67
43.49%
Cinema Ticket
$10.06€8.59
$10.22€8.73
-1.57%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kastoria
Thessaloniki
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$510€436
$422€360
20.99%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,637€4,814
$8,462€7,226
-33.38%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kastoria
Thessaloniki
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$113€96.1
$83.6€71.4
34.65%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.53€32.90
$37.16€31.74
3.69%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$101€86.6
$92.0€78.6
10.17%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$95.0€81.2
$116€99.0
-18.00%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kastoria
Thessaloniki
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$496€423
$547€467
-9.35%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$390€333
$454€388
-13.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$786€671
$930€794
-15.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$605€517
$738€630
-17.96%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,355€2,865
$3,856€3,293
-13.00%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,289€1,955
$2,795€2,387
-18.10%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kastoria
Thessaloniki
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$647€552
$1,183€1,010
-45.30%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.34
4.68
-7.26%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Kastoria: April 26, 2026
Last update for Thessaloniki: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $496 in Kastoria versus $547 in Thessaloniki. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 83% higher in Thessaloniki, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $57.0 in Kastoria versus $57.0 in Thessaloniki. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $272 vs $294 – making Kastoria the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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
Kastoria vs Thessaloniki: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Kastoria or Thessaloniki?
Kastoria costs about 1% more than Thessaloniki, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Kastoria vs Thessaloniki?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,329 per month in Kastoria and $2,316 in Thessaloniki. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Kastoria or Thessaloniki?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Thessaloniki, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Kastoria or Thessaloniki?
Interestingly, groceries are about 8% cheaper in Kastoria – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
How do dining costs compare in Kastoria vs Thessaloniki?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $57.0 in Kastoria and $57.0 in Thessaloniki. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Kastoria or Thessaloniki?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Thessaloniki, where all-in costs run around $1,544, than in Kastoria at $1,553. In Thessaloniki it covers expenses comfortably, while in Kastoria it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Kastoria or Thessaloniki?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Thessaloniki costs $1,544 versus $1,553 in Kastoria. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Kastoria compared to Thessaloniki?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Kastoria or Thessaloniki?
If budget matters most, go with Thessaloniki. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Kastoria makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.