😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,792 in Mahe versus $1,718 in Thessaloniki.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,638 in Mahe versus $2,592 in Thessaloniki.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,484 in Mahe versus $3,467 in Thessaloniki.
🌍Living in Mahe is roughly 4% more expensive than in Thessaloniki, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Mahe30% above, Thessaloniki25% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mahe
Thessaloniki
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.05SCR 259
$17.59€15.14
2.62%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$109SCR 1,567
$67.5€58.1
62.07%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.86SCR 83.9
$11.73€10.09
-50.04%
Cappuccino
$6.64SCR 95.1
$4.20€3.61
58.10%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.63SCR 23.38
$2.81€2.42
-41.99%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$0.73€0.63
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$13.03SCR 187
$5.85€5.04
122.74%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$9.26SCR 133
$6.37€5.48
45.37%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mahe
Thessaloniki
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.65SCR 23.66
$1.71€1.48
-3.51%
White Bread(500g)
$1.10SCR 15.72
$1.66€1.43
-33.73%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.82SCR 26.07
$3.74€3.22
-51.34%
Eggs
$4.20SCR 60.2
$5.62€4.84
-25.27%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.27SCR 233
$14.63€12.59
11.21%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.26SCR 118
$11.32€9.74
-27.03%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.94SCR 185
$18.93€16.29
-31.64%
Apples(1kg)
$2.16SCR 30.94
$2.61€2.25
-17.24%
Banana(1kg)
-
$2.32€2.00
-
Oranges(1kg)
$2.35SCR 33.69
$2.17€1.87
8.29%
Tomato(1kg)
$6.37SCR 91.2
$2.78€2.40
129.14%
Potato(1kg)
$1.11SCR 15.84
$1.23€1.06
-9.76%
Onion(1kg)
$1.08SCR 15.41
$1.23€1.06
-12.20%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.12SCR 16.05
$1.54€1.33
-27.27%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
-
$0.92€0.79
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$14.51SCR 208
$5.95€5.12
143.87%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$10.38€8.93
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$2.16€1.86
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.20SCR 31.47
$3.31€2.85
-33.53%
🚌 Getting Around
Mahe
Thessaloniki
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.81SCR 11.66
$0.67€0.58
20.90%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$36.92SCR 529
$20.71€17.82
78.27%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
-
$3.99€3.44
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$1.08€0.93
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.57SCR 209
$17.50€15.06
-16.74%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.55SCR 22.18
$2.32€2.00
-33.19%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$28.9K€24.9K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$30.9K€26.6K
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mahe
Thessaloniki
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$50.3SCR 720
$225€193
-77.63%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.91SCR 314
$24.71€21.26
-11.33%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$108SCR 1,541
$30.47€26.22
253.20%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mahe
Thessaloniki
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$55.2SCR 790
$50.3€43.30
9.72%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$16.62€14.30
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.62SCR 94.8
$10.37€8.92
-36.16%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mahe
Thessaloniki
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
-
$490€422
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$9,208€7,924
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mahe
Thessaloniki
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$31.48SCR 451
$103€88.4
-69.35%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$12.53SCR 180
$45.80€39.41
-72.64%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$50.6SCR 724
$118€102
-57.18%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$62.7SCR 898
$136€117
-53.98%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mahe
Thessaloniki
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$864SCR 12.4K
$643€553
34.40%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$883SCR 12.6K
$501€431
76.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,792SCR 25.7K
$1,095€942
63.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,073SCR 15.4K
$859€739
25.03%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,886€3,344
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$2,849€2,452
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mahe
Thessaloniki
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$885SCR 12.7K
$1,201€1,034
-26.30%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
0
5.65
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mahe: August 30, 2026
Last update for Thessaloniki: August 29, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $864 in Mahe and $643 in Thessaloniki. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Thessaloniki pays 36% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $109 in Mahe vs $68.0 in Thessaloniki. Groceries flip the comparison at $247 vs $340, 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 4% 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 36% 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: $864 in Mahe versus $643 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 38% 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 $1,792 per month in Mahe versus $1,718 in Thessaloniki – a 4% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $3,000/month in Mahe or in Thessaloniki?
At $1,718 in Thessaloniki versus $1,792 in Mahe, a $3,000 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 $1,718 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 4% less than in Mahe. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.