🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,385 in Rethymno versus $1,433 in Patras.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,096 in Rethymno versus $2,246 in Patras.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,807 in Rethymno versus $3,059 in Patras.
🌍Living in Rethymno costs roughly 3% less than in Patras, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Rethymno0% above, Patras4% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Rethymno
Patras
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.03€12.96
$11.59€9.99
29.68%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$58.2€50.2
$64.6€55.6
-9.78%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.63€9.16
$9.35€8.06
13.69%
Cappuccino
$3.69€3.18
$4.22€3.63
-12.56%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.71€1.47
$2.34€2.02
-26.92%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.55€0.48
$0.61€0.53
-9.84%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.78€4.12
$4.73€4.08
1.06%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.36€4.62
$5.31€4.58
0.94%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Rethymno
Patras
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.86€1.61
$1.62€1.39
14.81%
White Bread(500g)
$1.49€1.28
$1.51€1.30
-1.32%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.25€1.94
$2.40€2.07
-6.25%
Eggs
$4.59€3.96
$5.08€4.37
-9.65%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$15.24€13.14
$11.70€10.09
30.26%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.12€8.73
$9.99€8.61
1.30%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.55€13.41
$14.95€12.89
4.01%
Apples(1kg)
$2.08€1.80
$2.34€2.02
-11.11%
Banana(1kg)
$2.18€1.88
$2.33€2.01
-6.44%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.26€1.09
$1.82€1.57
-30.77%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.83€1.58
$2.00€1.73
-8.50%
Potato(1kg)
$1.03€0.89
$1.15€0.99
-10.43%
Onion(1kg)
$0.98€0.84
$1.29€1.11
-24.03%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.68€0.58
$0.96€0.83
-29.17%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.73€0.63
$1.23€1.06
-40.65%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.54€3.91
$5.33€4.59
-14.82%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.28€5.41
$7.00€6.04
-10.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.84€1.59
$1.80€1.55
2.22%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.90€1.64
$3.49€3.00
-45.56%
🚌 Getting Around
Rethymno
Patras
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.81€1.56
$1.42€1.23
27.46%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$62.7€54.0
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.62€3.98
$4.56€3.93
1.32%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.17€1.01
$1.15€0.99
1.74%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$11.55€9.96
$14.43€12.44
-19.96%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.27€1.96
$2.26€1.95
0.44%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.0K€19.8K
$28.7K€24.8K
-19.86%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.7K€22.1K
$24.8K€21.4K
3.65%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rethymno
Patras
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$163€141
$169€146
-3.56%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.81€16.21
$24.89€21.45
-24.43%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.18€27.74
$29.97€25.83
7.37%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Rethymno
Patras
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$64.9€56.0
$41.14€35.46
57.78%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$24.32€20.97
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.46€7.29
$9.50€8.19
-10.95%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Rethymno
Patras
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$382€329
$491€423
-22.25%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,244€3,658
$4,670€4,026
-9.12%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Rethymno
Patras
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$86.9€74.9
$72.6€62.6
19.68%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$11.58€9.98
$37.52€32.34
-69.14%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$45.86€39.53
$79.9€68.8
-42.57%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$46.41€40.00
$111€95.4
-58.08%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Rethymno
Patras
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$575€496
$502€433
14.41%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$454€392
$431€372
5.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$916€789
$814€702
12.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$725€625
$727€627
-0.21%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,304€3,710
$2,131€1,837
102.02%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,106€2,678
$1,820€1,569
70.65%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Rethymno
Patras
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,245€1,073
$1,207€1,040
3.14%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.3
4.36
-1.38%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Rethymno: September 5, 2026
Last update for Patras: September 5, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $575 in Rethymno and $502 in Patras. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Rethymno pays 3% 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 Rethymno vs $65.0 in Patras for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $284 vs $289 per month, with Rethymno 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
Rethymno vs Patras: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Patras cheaper than Rethymno?
Rethymno is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 3% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Rethymno or Patras?
Average pay runs 3% higher in Rethymno, 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 Rethymno and Patras?
Rent for a central apartment: $575 in Rethymno versus $502 in Patras. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $382 in Rethymno versus $491 in Patras. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Rethymno or in Patras?
Dining out is cheaper in Rethymno – a meal for two runs $58.0 versus $65.0 in Patras. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Rethymno or in Patras?
At $1,385 in Rethymno versus $1,433 in Patras, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Rethymno but tight or insufficient in Patras. The gap between the two cities makes Rethymno the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is it better to live in Rethymno or in Patras?
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.
Which city is safer, Rethymno or Patras?
Safety-wise, Rethymno and Patras 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 Rethymno gentler on the wallet – expenses run 3% less than in Patras. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.