😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,699 in Rhodes versus $1,554 in Thessaloniki.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,652 in Rhodes versus $2,354 in Thessaloniki.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,605 in Rhodes versus $3,155 in Thessaloniki.
🌍Living in Rhodes is roughly 9% more expensive than in Thessaloniki, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Rhodes27% above, Thessaloniki16% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Rhodes
Thessaloniki
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.65€15.44
$17.08€14.94
3.34%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$67.1€58.7
$57.3€50.1
17.22%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.54€8.35
$10.55€9.23
-9.57%
Cappuccino
$4.27€3.74
$4.45€3.89
-4.04%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.55€2.23
$2.38€2.08
7.14%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.68€0.59
$0.59€0.52
15.25%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.95€5.20
$5.77€5.05
3.12%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.52€3.95
$5.87€5.14
-23.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Rhodes
Thessaloniki
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.18€1.90
$1.46€1.28
49.32%
White Bread(500g)
$2.09€1.83
$1.46€1.28
43.15%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$5.07€4.44
$2.42€2.12
109.50%
Eggs
$5.90€5.16
$4.20€3.67
40.48%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.43€15.25
$13.47€11.78
29.40%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$16.45€14.39
$11.06€9.68
48.73%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.64€14.56
$14.86€13.00
11.98%
Apples(1kg)
$2.28€1.99
$2.01€1.76
13.43%
Banana(1kg)
$2.06€1.80
$1.86€1.62
10.75%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.50€1.31
$1.68€1.47
-10.71%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.40€2.10
$2.38€2.08
0.84%
Potato(1kg)
$1.84€1.61
$1.26€1.10
46.03%
Onion(1kg)
$2.05€1.80
$1.33€1.16
54.14%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.38€1.21
$1.04€0.91
32.69%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.73€0.64
$0.82€0.72
-10.98%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.30€4.63
$5.26€4.60
0.76%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.02€7.01
$10.93€9.56
-26.62%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.62€2.29
$2.03€1.78
29.06%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.80€2.45
$2.82€2.47
-0.71%
🚌 Getting Around
Rhodes
Thessaloniki
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.30€2.01
$1.05€0.92
119.05%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$93.9€82.1
$31.21€27.30
200.74%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.73€4.14
$4.70€4.12
0.64%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$11.79€10.31
$32.11€28.09
-63.28%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.19€1.92
$2.13€1.86
2.82%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.9K€30.5K
$31.7K€27.7K
10.05%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.4K€23.1K
$31.4K€27.5K
-15.99%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rhodes
Thessaloniki
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$177€155
$215€188
-17.56%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.02€18.39
$25.87€22.63
-18.75%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.24€25.58
$31.15€27.26
-6.13%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Rhodes
Thessaloniki
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$59.9€52.4
$43.87€38.38
36.54%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.44€10.01
$18.18€15.91
-37.07%
Cinema Ticket
$9.01€7.88
$9.99€8.74
-9.81%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Rhodes
Thessaloniki
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$411€359
$423€370
-2.95%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,872€5,137
$8,336€7,294
-29.56%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Rhodes
Thessaloniki
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$176€154
$83.0€72.6
112.56%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.84€37.48
$37.20€32.54
15.16%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$111€97.0
$91.0€79.6
21.80%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$170€149
$117€102
46.18%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Rhodes
Thessaloniki
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$575€503
$544€476
5.73%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$413€361
$457€400
-9.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$990€866
$936€819
5.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$685€600
$740€648
-7.44%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,753€3,284
$3,666€3,207
2.38%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,774€1,552
$2,819€2,467
-37.06%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Rhodes
Thessaloniki
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,356€1,187
$1,156€1,011
17.36%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.7
4.68
0.43%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Rhodes: July 12, 2026
Last update for Thessaloniki: July 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $575 in Rhodes and $544 in Thessaloniki. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Rhodes pays 17% 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: $67.0 in Rhodes vs $57.0 in Thessaloniki for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $371 vs $294 per month, with Thessaloniki 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
Rhodes vs Thessaloniki: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Thessaloniki cheaper than Rhodes?
Thessaloniki is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 9% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Rhodes or Thessaloniki?
Average pay runs 17% higher in Rhodes, 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 Rhodes and Thessaloniki?
Rent for a central apartment: $575 in Rhodes versus $544 in Thessaloniki. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Rhodes and in Thessaloniki?
Supermarket bills run roughly 26% higher in Rhodes. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is eating out cheaper in Rhodes or in Thessaloniki?
Dining out is cheaper in Thessaloniki – a meal for two runs $57.0 versus $67.0 in Rhodes. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Rhodes or in Thessaloniki?
At $1,554 in Thessaloniki versus $1,699 in Rhodes, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Thessaloniki but tight or insufficient in Rhodes. The gap between the two cities makes Thessaloniki the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Rhodes or Thessaloniki more family-friendly?
For families, Thessaloniki is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Rhodes, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Rhodes or Thessaloniki?
Safety-wise, Rhodes 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 9% less than in Rhodes. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.