🙂A single person spends $1,501 per month in Orestiada vs $1,539 in Thessaloniki, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $2,310 per month in Orestiada vs $2,360 in Thessaloniki, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $3,119 per month in Orestiada vs $3,181 in Thessaloniki, rent included.
🙂Orestiada is about 2% cheaper than Thessaloniki, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Orestiada and Thessaloniki sit above the global median – Orestiada by 12%, Thessaloniki by 15%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Orestiada
Thessaloniki
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.99€12.30
$17.10€15.03
-18.19%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$60.4€53.1
$57.9€50.9
4.46%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.80€8.62
$10.57€9.29
-7.28%
Cappuccino
$3.03€2.67
$4.36€3.83
-30.50%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.64€1.44
$2.39€2.10
-31.38%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.75€0.66
$0.56€0.49
33.93%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.92€5.20
$5.69€5.00
4.04%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.80€5.10
$5.68€4.99
2.11%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Orestiada
Thessaloniki
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.88€1.66
$1.54€1.35
22.08%
White Bread(500g)
$1.24€1.09
$1.45€1.28
-14.48%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.52€1.34
$2.40€2.11
-36.67%
Eggs
$4.00€3.51
$4.21€3.70
-4.99%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.82€6.00
$13.50€11.87
-49.48%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.06€8.84
$11.28€9.91
-10.82%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.64€8.48
$14.76€12.97
-34.69%
Apples(1kg)
$1.72€1.51
$2.04€1.80
-15.69%
Banana(1kg)
$2.06€1.81
$1.89€1.66
8.99%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.13€0.99
$1.62€1.42
-30.25%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.91€2.55
$2.38€2.10
22.27%
Potato(1kg)
$1.67€1.47
$1.29€1.13
29.46%
Onion(1kg)
$0.92€0.81
$1.32€1.16
-30.30%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.04€0.91
$1.09€0.96
-4.59%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84€0.74
$0.82€0.72
2.44%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.73€4.16
$5.44€4.78
-13.05%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.70€5.89
$11.42€10.04
-41.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.03€1.78
$1.94€1.70
4.64%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.83€2.49
$2.77€2.44
2.17%
🚌 Getting Around
Orestiada
Thessaloniki
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.57€1.38
$1.03€0.90
52.43%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$47.15€41.45
$31.72€27.88
48.64%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.61€4.05
$4.53€3.99
1.77%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.89€12.21
$32.70€28.75
-57.52%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.19€1.92
$2.10€1.85
4.29%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.0K€27.3K
$30.6K€26.9K
1.27%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7K€23.4K
$31.7K€27.9K
-15.92%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Orestiada
Thessaloniki
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$412€363
$218€192
88.93%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.78€20.03
$26.19€23.03
-13.02%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.42€30.26
$30.79€27.07
11.79%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Orestiada
Thessaloniki
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.0€50.1
$45.42€39.93
25.45%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.31€23.13
$18.75€16.48
40.32%
Cinema Ticket
$8.32€7.32
$9.96€8.76
-16.47%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Orestiada
Thessaloniki
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$423€372
$427€375
-0.92%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,987€5,263
$8,280€7,279
-27.69%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Orestiada
Thessaloniki
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.02€38.70
$83.2€73.1
-47.07%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.11€34.38
$37.21€32.71
5.11%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$85.3€75.0
$90.5€79.6
-5.79%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$177€156
$114€100
55.56%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Orestiada
Thessaloniki
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$501€440
$545€479
-8.14%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$288€253
$460€404
-37.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$525€461
$937€823
-44.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$611€537
$731€643
-16.44%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,785€2,448
$3,690€3,244
-24.53%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,475€2,176
$2,846€2,502
-13.04%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Orestiada
Thessaloniki
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,309€1,151
$1,170€1,029
11.88%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.43
4.68
-5.34%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Orestiada: July 21, 2026
Last update for Thessaloniki: July 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $501 in Orestiada versus $545 in Thessaloniki. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 12% higher in Orestiada, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $60.0 in Orestiada versus $58.0 in Thessaloniki. Groceries tell a different story – $243 in Orestiada vs $296 in Thessaloniki – so Orestiada wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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
Orestiada vs Thessaloniki: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Orestiada and in Thessaloniki compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,501 in Orestiada, $1,539 in Thessaloniki – roughly 2% apart. Thessaloniki costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Orestiada compared to Thessaloniki?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,252 per month in Orestiada and $2,308 in Thessaloniki. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Orestiada and Thessaloniki?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Orestiada, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do commuting costs compare in Orestiada and in Thessaloniki?
Public transport costs about 49% less in Orestiada. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Orestiada and Thessaloniki?
Kindergarten costs $423 per month in Orestiada and $427 in Thessaloniki. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Orestiada, where all-in costs run around $1,501, than in Thessaloniki at $1,539. In Orestiada it covers expenses comfortably, while in Thessaloniki it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Orestiada and Thessaloniki?
It depends on your priorities. Thessaloniki has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,501 in Orestiada to $1,539 in Thessaloniki. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Orestiada or Thessaloniki safer for residents?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
How do I decide between Orestiada and Thessaloniki?
If budget matters most, go with Orestiada. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Thessaloniki makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.