😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,146 in Santorini versus $1,613 in Volos.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,116 in Santorini versus $2,377 in Volos.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,086 in Santorini versus $3,142 in Volos.
🌍Living in Santorini is roughly 33% more expensive than in Volos, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Santorini61% above, Volos21% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Santorini
Volos
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.77€17.29
$23.28€20.37
-15.08%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$90.4€79.1
$45.49€39.80
98.79%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$16.07€14.06
$8.90€7.79
80.56%
Cappuccino
$4.71€4.12
$4.12€3.60
14.32%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.81€3.33
$2.51€2.19
51.79%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.40€1.22
$0.57€0.50
145.61%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.78€5.06
$5.62€4.92
2.85%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.47€6.53
$5.65€4.94
32.21%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Santorini
Volos
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.09€1.83
$1.69€1.48
23.67%
White Bread(500g)
$1.42€1.24
$1.51€1.32
-5.96%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.39€2.96
$2.78€2.43
21.94%
Eggs
$6.82€5.97
$4.30€3.76
58.60%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.85€12.99
$14.71€12.87
0.95%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.73€6.76
$11.23€9.82
-31.17%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.32€14.28
$15.77€13.80
3.49%
Apples(1kg)
$2.83€2.47
$2.42€2.12
16.94%
Banana(1kg)
$2.26€1.98
$2.02€1.76
11.88%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.71€1.50
$1.67€1.46
2.40%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.40€2.98
$2.20€1.93
54.55%
Potato(1kg)
$2.56€2.24
$1.00€0.88
156.00%
Onion(1kg)
$1.20€1.05
$1.10€0.96
9.09%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.94€0.82
$0.91€0.79
3.30%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.67€0.58
$1.00€0.87
-33.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.84€5.98
$5.57€4.88
22.80%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.83€5.10
$8.99€7.86
-35.15%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.06€1.80
$2.60€2.27
-20.77%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.96€2.59
$3.21€2.80
-7.79%
🚌 Getting Around
Santorini
Volos
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.73€2.39
$1.52€1.33
79.61%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.79€40.06
$62.4€54.6
-26.60%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.50€3.93
$4.13€3.61
8.96%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.94€12.19
$19.89€17.40
-29.91%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.18€1.91
$2.15€1.88
1.40%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.7K€27.8K
$30.9K€27.1K
2.65%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.3K€23.0K
$26.0K€22.8K
0.99%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Santorini
Volos
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$324€284
$237€207
36.82%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$45.62€39.92
$24.23€21.20
88.28%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.07€29.80
$35.19€30.78
-3.18%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Santorini
Volos
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$82.0€71.8
$61.3€53.6
33.76%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.84€22.61
$47.60€41.65
-45.71%
Cinema Ticket
$7.02€6.14
$9.46€8.27
-25.79%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Santorini
Volos
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$627€549
$274€240
128.57%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,010€5,258
$6,024€5,270
-0.22%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Santorini
Volos
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$69.7€61.0
$115€100
-39.23%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.7€45.21
$54.2€47.40
-4.63%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.5€68.7
$81.3€71.2
-3.42%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$115€101
$84.3€73.8
36.26%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Santorini
Volos
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$499€437
$446€390
11.89%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$787€688
$369€322
113.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,340€1,172
$642€562
108.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,057€925
$572€501
84.73%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,168€4,521
$2,519€2,204
105.14%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,425€2,996
$1,671€1,462
105.00%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Santorini
Volos
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,232€1,078
$1,016€889
21.32%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.15
4.47
-7.16%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Santorini: July 12, 2026
Last update for Volos: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $499 in Santorini and $446 in Volos. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Santorini pays 21% 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: $90.0 in Santorini vs $45.00 in Volos for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $309 vs $308 per month, with Volos 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
Santorini vs Volos: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Santorini and in Volos?
Santorini and Volos differ by about 33% in total monthly costs ($2,146 vs $1,613 including rent). Volos is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Santorini or Volos?
Average pay runs 21% higher in Santorini, 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 Santorini and in Volos?
Rent for a central apartment: $499 in Santorini versus $446 in Volos. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Santorini and in Volos?
A monthly transit pass in Volos runs roughly 36% less than in Santorini. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Santorini and Volos?
Childcare runs $627 in Santorini versus $274 in Volos. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
At $1,613 in Volos versus $2,146 in Santorini, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Volos but tight or insufficient in Santorini. The gap between the two cities makes Volos the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Santorini and Volos?
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 Santorini or Volos safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Santorini and Volos 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: Santorini or Volos?
Expats usually find Volos gentler on the wallet – expenses run 33% less than in Santorini. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.