😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,831 in Mahe versus $1,554 in Thessaloniki.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,484 in Mahe versus $2,354 in Thessaloniki.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,138 in Mahe versus $3,155 in Thessaloniki.
🌍Living in Mahe is roughly 18% more expensive than in Thessaloniki, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Mahe37% above, Thessaloniki16% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mahe
Thessaloniki
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.62SCR 224
$17.08€14.96
-8.55%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$70.1SCR 1,004
$57.3€50.1
22.39%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.82SCR 112
$10.55€9.24
-25.88%
Cappuccino
$4.34SCR 62.3
$4.45€3.90
-2.47%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29SCR 32.85
$2.38€2.09
-3.78%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75SCR 25.10
$0.59€0.52
196.61%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$8.43SCR 121
$5.77€5.06
46.10%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.26SCR 75.3
$5.87€5.14
-10.39%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mahe
Thessaloniki
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.53SCR 21.95
$1.46€1.28
4.79%
White Bread(500g)
$1.04SCR 14.87
$1.46€1.28
-28.77%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.77SCR 25.31
$2.42€2.12
-26.86%
Eggs
$4.09SCR 58.6
$4.20€3.67
-2.62%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$15.62SCR 224
$13.47€11.79
15.96%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.82SCR 112
$11.06€9.69
-29.29%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.50SCR 179
$14.86€13.01
-15.88%
Apples(1kg)
$2.02SCR 28.94
$2.01€1.76
0.50%
Banana(1kg)
-
$1.86€1.62
-
Oranges(1kg)
$2.24SCR 32.15
$1.68€1.47
33.33%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.08SCR 72.8
$2.38€2.09
113.45%
Potato(1kg)
$0.99SCR 14.24
$1.26€1.10
-21.43%
Onion(1kg)
$0.94SCR 13.44
$1.33€1.16
-29.32%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.03SCR 14.71
$1.04€0.91
-0.96%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
-
$0.82€0.72
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$11.97SCR 172
$5.26€4.60
127.57%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$10.93€9.57
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.02SCR 29.01
$2.03€1.78
-0.49%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05SCR 29.36
$2.82€2.47
-27.30%
🚌 Getting Around
Mahe
Thessaloniki
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.85SCR 12.18
$1.05€0.92
-19.05%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$24.36SCR 349
$31.21€27.33
-21.95%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$10.51SCR 151
$4.70€4.12
123.62%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.17SCR 45.40
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$10.43SCR 149
$32.11€28.12
-67.52%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.57SCR 22.42
$2.13€1.86
-26.29%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$31.7K€27.7K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$31.4K€27.5K
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mahe
Thessaloniki
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.0SCR 1,189
$215€188
-61.33%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.78SCR 298
$25.87€22.66
-19.68%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$159SCR 2,276
$31.15€27.28
409.95%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mahe
Thessaloniki
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.9SCR 744
$43.87€38.42
18.30%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.18€15.93
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.28SCR 90.0
$9.99€8.75
-37.14%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mahe
Thessaloniki
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
-
$423€371
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$8,336€7,301
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mahe
Thessaloniki
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$27.08SCR 388
$83.0€72.6
-67.35%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$10.80SCR 155
$37.20€32.58
-70.97%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$43.76SCR 627
$91.0€79.7
-51.92%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$55.5SCR 794
$117€102
-52.46%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mahe
Thessaloniki
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$844SCR 12.1K
$544€476
55.08%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$862SCR 12.3K
$457€400
88.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,717SCR 24.6K
$936€820
83.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,038SCR 14.9K
$740€648
40.21%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,666€3,211
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$2,819€2,469
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mahe
Thessaloniki
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$886SCR 12.7K
$1,156€1,012
-23.36%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
0
4.68
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mahe: July 14, 2026
Last update for Thessaloniki: July 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $844 in Mahe and $544 in Thessaloniki. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Thessaloniki pays 30% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $70.0 in Mahe vs $57.0 in Thessaloniki. Groceries flip the comparison at $240 vs $294, with Mahe cheaper for home cooking.
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
Mahe vs Thessaloniki: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Mahe or Thessaloniki?
Thessaloniki wins on cost – living expenses run 18% lower than in Mahe. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Thessaloniki the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Mahe or in Thessaloniki?
On paper, salaries run 30% lower in Thessaloniki. 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 Mahe compared to Thessaloniki?
Rent for a central apartment: $844 in Mahe versus $544 in Thessaloniki. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Mahe or in Thessaloniki?
Shoppers in Mahe pay roughly 22% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
How much does it cost to live in Mahe compared to Thessaloniki?
All in, you'll spend $1,831 per month in Mahe versus $1,554 in Thessaloniki – a 18% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Mahe or in Thessaloniki?
At $1,554 in Thessaloniki versus $1,831 in Mahe, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Thessaloniki but tight or insufficient in Mahe. The gap between the two cities makes Thessaloniki the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Mahe or Thessaloniki?
Both work as nomad bases, but Thessaloniki delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,554 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Thessaloniki hard to pass up.
How safe is Mahe compared to Thessaloniki?
Safety-wise, Mahe 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 more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Thessaloniki gentler on the wallet – expenses run 18% less than in Mahe. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.