😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,932 in Mellieha versus $1,546 in Thessaloniki.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,808 in Mellieha versus $2,354 in Thessaloniki.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,685 in Mellieha versus $3,162 in Thessaloniki.
😐Living in Mellieha is roughly 25% more expensive than Thessaloniki, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Mellieha44% above, Thessaloniki15% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mellieha
Thessaloniki
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.33€17.51
$17.27€14.87
17.72%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.7€60.0
$57.7€49.68
20.77%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.59€9.98
$10.30€8.87
12.52%
Cappuccino
$2.64€2.28
$4.27€3.68
-38.17%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.67€2.30
$2.36€2.03
13.14%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06€1.78
$0.56€0.49
267.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.27€3.67
$5.88€5.07
-27.38%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.50€3.02
$5.74€4.94
-39.02%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mellieha
Thessaloniki
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.33€1.14
$1.52€1.31
-12.50%
White Bread(500g)
$1.36€1.17
$1.46€1.25
-6.85%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.54€3.05
$2.45€2.11
44.49%
Eggs
$3.80€3.27
$4.41€3.79
-13.83%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.02€8.63
$13.67€11.77
-26.70%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.27€8.85
$11.10€9.56
-7.48%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.71€11.81
$14.79€12.73
-7.30%
Apples(1kg)
$3.46€2.98
$2.04€1.76
69.61%
Banana(1kg)
$2.06€1.77
$1.87€1.61
10.16%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.89€2.49
$1.68€1.45
72.02%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.18€2.74
$2.38€2.05
33.61%
Potato(1kg)
$1.81€1.56
$1.26€1.08
43.65%
Onion(1kg)
$2.93€2.52
$1.33€1.15
120.30%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.70€1.46
$1.09€0.94
55.96%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.14€0.98
$0.88€0.76
29.55%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.34€5.46
$5.36€4.61
18.28%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.18€5.32
$11.70€10.07
-47.18%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.34€2.02
$2.00€1.73
17.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.76€1.51
$2.80€2.41
-37.14%
🚌 Getting Around
Mellieha
Thessaloniki
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.94€2.53
$1.05€0.91
180.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$30.99€26.69
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$7.96€6.86
$4.62€3.97
72.29%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.90€1.64
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$34.17€29.42
$31.91€27.48
7.08%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.52€1.30
$2.07€1.78
-26.57%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.4K€22.7K
$31.3K€27.0K
-15.71%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.1K€35.4K
$31.7K€27.3K
29.70%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mellieha
Thessaloniki
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$110€94.8
$213€183
-48.34%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$30.27€26.07
$26.13€22.50
15.84%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.80€28.25
$30.44€26.21
7.75%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mellieha
Thessaloniki
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$63.1€54.3
$44.22€38.07
42.67%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.95€19.76
$18.69€16.09
22.79%
Cinema Ticket
$8.70€7.49
$9.98€8.60
-12.83%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mellieha
Thessaloniki
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$260€224
$421€363
-38.40%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,117€7,851
$8,408€7,240
8.43%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mellieha
Thessaloniki
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$75.3€64.8
$82.5€71.0
-8.77%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.60€33.24
$36.95€31.81
4.47%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$95.2€82.0
$90.9€78.2
4.82%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102€88.2
$115€99.0
-10.92%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mellieha
Thessaloniki
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,038€894
$542€467
91.41%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$940€809
$452€389
107.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,749€1,506
$940€809
86.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,408€1,213
$742€639
89.71%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,070€3,504
$3,833€3,300
6.18%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,935€2,527
$2,909€2,505
0.90%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mellieha
Thessaloniki
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,407€1,211
$1,193€1,027
17.91%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.43
4.68
16.03%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mellieha: May 31, 2026
Last update for Thessaloniki: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,038 in Mellieha and $542 in Thessaloniki. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mellieha pays 18% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $70.0 in Mellieha vs $58.0 in Thessaloniki. Groceries flip the comparison at $295 vs $298, with Mellieha 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
Mellieha vs Thessaloniki: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Thessaloniki cheaper than Mellieha?
Thessaloniki is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 25% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Mellieha or Thessaloniki?
Mellieha pays 18% more on average, 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 Mellieha and Thessaloniki?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,038 in Mellieha 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 $260 in Mellieha versus $421 in Thessaloniki. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Mellieha or Thessaloniki?
Dining out is cheaper in Thessaloniki – a meal for two runs $58.0 versus $70.0 in Mellieha. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for Mellieha or Thessaloniki?
At $1,546 in Thessaloniki versus $1,932 in Mellieha, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Thessaloniki but tight or insufficient in Mellieha. The gap between the two cities makes Thessaloniki the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Mellieha or Thessaloniki more family-friendly?
For families, Thessaloniki is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Mellieha, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Mellieha or Thessaloniki?
Safety-wise, Mellieha 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 Thessaloniki gentler on the wallet – expenses run 25% less than in Mellieha. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.