🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,342 in Mytilene versus $1,546 in Thessaloniki.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,992 in Mytilene versus $2,354 in Thessaloniki.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,642 in Mytilene versus $3,162 in Thessaloniki.
🙂Living in Mytilene costs roughly 13% less than in Thessaloniki, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Mytilene0% above, Thessaloniki15% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mytilene
Thessaloniki
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.58€10.83
$17.27€14.87
-27.16%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.56€40.10
$57.7€49.68
-19.29%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.58€3.94
$10.30€8.87
-55.53%
Cappuccino
$3.95€3.40
$4.27€3.68
-7.49%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.74€2.36
$2.36€2.03
16.10%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.60€0.52
$0.56€0.49
7.14%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.54€3.05
$5.88€5.07
-39.80%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.73€4.94
$5.74€4.94
-0.17%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mytilene
Thessaloniki
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.60€1.38
$1.52€1.31
5.26%
White Bread(500g)
$1.63€1.41
$1.46€1.25
11.64%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.98€2.57
$2.45€2.11
21.63%
Eggs
$2.99€2.57
$4.41€3.79
-32.20%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.70€11.80
$13.67€11.77
0.22%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.62€8.28
$11.10€9.56
-13.33%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.83€11.91
$14.79€12.73
-6.49%
Apples(1kg)
$1.60€1.37
$2.04€1.76
-21.57%
Banana(1kg)
$2.08€1.79
$1.87€1.61
11.23%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.99€1.71
$1.68€1.45
18.45%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03€1.75
$2.38€2.05
-14.71%
Potato(1kg)
$1.42€1.22
$1.26€1.08
12.70%
Onion(1kg)
$1.53€1.31
$1.33€1.15
15.04%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.02€0.88
$1.09€0.94
-6.42%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.67€0.58
$0.88€0.76
-23.86%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.20€4.48
$5.36€4.61
-2.99%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.61€10.86
$11.70€10.07
7.78%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.14€0.98
$2.00€1.73
-43.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.54€3.04
$2.80€2.41
26.43%
🚌 Getting Around
Mytilene
Thessaloniki
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.90€1.63
$1.05€0.91
80.95%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.77€24.78
$30.99€26.69
-7.16%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.61€2.24
$4.62€3.97
-43.51%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.50€11.63
$31.91€27.48
-57.69%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.26€1.94
$2.07€1.78
9.18%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.2K€26.9K
$31.3K€27.0K
-0.23%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.9K€23.2K
$31.7K€27.3K
-14.87%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mytilene
Thessaloniki
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$253€218
$213€183
18.96%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$24.96€21.49
$26.13€22.50
-4.48%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$58.0€49.91
$30.44€26.21
90.41%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mytilene
Thessaloniki
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$18.04€15.53
$44.22€38.07
-59.20%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.33€22.67
$18.69€16.09
40.88%
Cinema Ticket
$9.41€8.10
$9.98€8.60
-5.71%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mytilene
Thessaloniki
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$321€276
$421€363
-23.90%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,892€5,074
$8,408€7,240
-29.93%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mytilene
Thessaloniki
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$82.0€70.6
$82.5€71.0
-0.53%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.05€32.76
$36.95€31.81
2.98%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$88.6€76.3
$90.9€78.2
-2.53%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108€92.8
$115€99.0
-6.30%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mytilene
Thessaloniki
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$348€299
$542€467
-35.89%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$334€288
$452€389
-26.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$661€569
$940€809
-29.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$498€428
$742€639
-32.97%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,371€2,903
$3,833€3,300
-12.03%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,301€1,981
$2,909€2,505
-20.90%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mytilene
Thessaloniki
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,115€960
$1,193€1,027
-6.57%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.15
4.68
10.04%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mytilene: May 31, 2026
Last update for Thessaloniki: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $348 in Mytilene and $542 in Thessaloniki. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Thessaloniki pays 7% 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: $47.00 in Mytilene vs $58.0 in Thessaloniki for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $283 vs $298 per month, with Mytilene 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
Mytilene vs Thessaloniki: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Mytilene or Thessaloniki?
Mytilene wins on cost – living expenses run 15% lower than in Thessaloniki. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Mytilene the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Mytilene or Thessaloniki?
On paper, Thessaloniki earns 7% less. 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 Mytilene vs Thessaloniki?
Rent for a central apartment: $348 in Mytilene versus $542 in Thessaloniki. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Mytilene vs Thessaloniki?
A monthly transit pass in Mytilene runs roughly 8% less than in Thessaloniki. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
How do childcare costs compare in Mytilene and Thessaloniki?
Childcare runs $321 in Mytilene versus $421 in Thessaloniki. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Mytilene or Thessaloniki?
At $1,342 in Mytilene versus $1,546 in Thessaloniki, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Mytilene but tight or insufficient in Thessaloniki. The gap between the two cities makes Mytilene the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Mytilene or Thessaloniki?
Both work as nomad bases, but Mytilene delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,342 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Mytilene hard to pass up.
How safe is Mytilene compared to Thessaloniki?
Safety-wise, Mytilene 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 Mytilene gentler on the wallet – expenses run 15% less than in Thessaloniki. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.