🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,467 in Novara versus $1,546 in Thessaloniki.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,312 in Novara versus $2,354 in Thessaloniki.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,156 in Novara versus $3,162 in Thessaloniki.
🙂Living in Novara costs roughly 5% less than in Thessaloniki, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Novara9% above, Thessaloniki15% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Novara
Thessaloniki
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.51€15.06
$17.27€14.85
1.39%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$58.0€49.87
$57.7€49.63
0.49%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.35€8.04
$10.30€8.86
-9.22%
Cappuccino
$1.83€1.57
$4.27€3.67
-57.14%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.40€2.92
$2.36€2.03
44.07%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.42€1.22
$0.56€0.48
153.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.88€5.06
$5.88€5.06
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.17€4.45
$5.74€4.94
-9.93%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Novara
Thessaloniki
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.49€1.28
$1.52€1.31
-1.97%
White Bread(500g)
$1.91€1.65
$1.46€1.25
30.82%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.81€2.42
$2.45€2.11
14.69%
Eggs
$3.38€2.91
$4.41€3.79
-23.36%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.77€10.99
$13.67€11.76
-6.58%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.12€7.84
$11.10€9.55
-17.84%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.03€12.07
$14.79€12.72
-5.14%
Apples(1kg)
$2.68€2.31
$2.04€1.75
31.37%
Banana(1kg)
$1.70€1.46
$1.87€1.61
-9.09%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.25€2.79
$1.68€1.45
93.45%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.31€1.99
$2.38€2.04
-2.94%
Potato(1kg)
$2.02€1.73
$1.26€1.08
60.32%
Onion(1kg)
$1.12€0.97
$1.33€1.15
-15.79%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.06€0.91
$1.09€0.94
-2.75%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.54€0.47
$0.88€0.75
-38.64%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.08€6.09
$5.36€4.61
32.09%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.78€5.83
$11.70€10.06
-42.05%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.65€1.42
$2.00€1.72
-17.50%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.89€1.63
$2.80€2.41
-32.50%
🚌 Getting Around
Novara
Thessaloniki
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.77€1.52
$1.05€0.91
68.57%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$39.01€33.56
$30.99€26.66
25.88%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.67€4.02
$4.62€3.97
1.08%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.09€1.79
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$35.43€30.48
$31.91€27.45
11.03%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.02€1.74
$2.07€1.78
-2.42%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.4K€24.4K
$31.3K€26.9K
-9.37%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.5K€27.1K
$31.7K€27.2K
-0.61%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Novara
Thessaloniki
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$168€145
$213€183
-20.92%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.53€11.64
$26.13€22.48
-48.22%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.43€27.90
$30.44€26.18
6.54%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Novara
Thessaloniki
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$66.4€57.1
$44.22€38.03
50.05%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.77€17.00
$18.69€16.08
5.78%
Cinema Ticket
$12.76€10.98
$9.98€8.59
27.86%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Novara
Thessaloniki
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$536€461
$421€363
27.11%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.6K€9,132
$8,408€7,233
26.26%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Novara
Thessaloniki
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$85.8€73.8
$82.5€71.0
4.03%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.04€30.14
$36.95€31.78
-5.17%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$85.3€73.4
$90.9€78.2
-6.12%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$129€111
$115€98.9
12.34%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Novara
Thessaloniki
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$655€563
$542€466
20.78%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$449€386
$452€389
-0.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,119€963
$940€808
19.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$815€701
$742€638
9.83%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,948€2,536
$3,833€3,297
-23.08%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,945€1,673
$2,909€2,502
-33.14%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Novara
Thessaloniki
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,133€1,835
$1,193€1,026
78.74%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.21
4.68
-10.04%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Novara: May 31, 2026
Last update for Thessaloniki: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $655 in Novara and $542 in Thessaloniki. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Novara pays 79% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $58.0 in Novara vs $58.0 in Thessaloniki for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $278 vs $298 per month, with Novara 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
Novara vs Thessaloniki: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Novara and Thessaloniki?
Novara and Thessaloniki differ by about 5% in total monthly costs ($1,467 vs $1,546 including rent). Novara is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Novara or Thessaloniki?
Novara pays 79% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Novara and Thessaloniki?
Rent for a central apartment: $655 in Novara versus $542 in Thessaloniki. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Novara and Thessaloniki?
Childcare runs $536 in Novara versus $421 in Thessaloniki. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 8% higher in Thessaloniki. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,467 in Novara versus $1,546 in Thessaloniki, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Novara but tight or insufficient in Thessaloniki. The gap between the two cities makes Novara the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Novara and Thessaloniki?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Novara or Thessaloniki safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Novara 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.
Where should expats move: Novara or Thessaloniki?
Expats usually find Novara gentler on the wallet – expenses run 5% less than in Thessaloniki. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.