😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,090 in Santorini versus $1,580 in Volos.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,039 in Santorini versus $2,366 in Volos.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,988 in Santorini versus $3,151 in Volos.
😐Living in Santorini is roughly 32% more expensive than Volos, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Santorini56% above, Volos18% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Santorini
Volos
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.01€17.21
$23.57€20.27
-15.10%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$92.1€79.2
$46.55€40.04
97.81%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$16.37€14.08
$8.74€7.52
87.30%
Cappuccino
$4.68€4.02
$4.09€3.51
14.43%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.85€3.31
$2.42€2.08
59.09%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.38€1.19
$0.57€0.49
142.11%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.94€5.11
$5.64€4.86
5.32%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.39€6.35
$5.70€4.91
29.65%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Santorini
Volos
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.07€1.78
$1.68€1.44
23.21%
White Bread(500g)
$1.43€1.23
$1.57€1.35
-8.92%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.43€2.95
$2.89€2.48
18.69%
Eggs
$7.03€6.05
$4.33€3.72
62.36%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$15.16€13.04
$14.24€12.25
6.46%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.85€6.75
$10.97€9.43
-28.44%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.15€13.89
$15.58€13.40
3.66%
Apples(1kg)
$2.86€2.46
$2.43€2.09
17.70%
Banana(1kg)
$2.26€1.94
$2.09€1.80
8.13%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.73€1.49
$1.71€1.47
1.17%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.53€3.03
$2.17€1.87
62.67%
Potato(1kg)
$2.60€2.23
$0.96€0.83
170.83%
Onion(1kg)
$1.23€1.06
$1.06€0.91
16.04%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.96€0.83
$0.88€0.76
9.09%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.62€0.54
$0.97€0.84
-36.08%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.89€5.93
$5.55€4.78
24.14%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.92€5.09
$9.32€8.02
-36.48%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.03€1.75
$2.60€2.24
-21.92%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.83€2.44
$3.15€2.71
-10.16%
🚌 Getting Around
Santorini
Volos
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.73€2.35
$1.54€1.32
77.27%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.89€40.34
$60.3€51.9
-22.24%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.53€3.90
$4.10€3.53
10.49%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.59€11.69
$19.93€17.15
-31.81%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.26€1.94
$2.15€1.85
5.12%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.6K€27.2K
$30.9K€26.6K
2.17%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.3K€22.6K
$25.1K€21.6K
4.73%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Santorini
Volos
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$316€271
$235€202
34.19%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$46.74€40.21
$24.30€20.90
92.35%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$35.33€30.39
$35.60€30.63
-0.76%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Santorini
Volos
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$80.9€69.6
$60.9€52.4
32.78%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.93€22.31
$48.38€41.62
-46.40%
Cinema Ticket
$7.11€6.12
$9.45€8.13
-24.76%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Santorini
Volos
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$608€523
$277€238
119.59%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,892€5,068
$6,018€5,177
-2.10%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Santorini
Volos
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$69.1€59.4
$116€100
-40.69%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.8€44.54
$53.6€46.11
-3.40%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.2€67.2
$82.7€71.1
-5.49%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$117€101
$86.3€74.3
35.57%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Santorini
Volos
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$497€427
$454€391
9.27%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$800€688
$369€317
116.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,322€1,137
$654€563
102.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,078€927
$574€494
87.74%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,197€4,470
$2,596€2,233
100.17%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,457€2,973
$1,698€1,461
103.57%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Santorini
Volos
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,232€1,060
$1,048€902
17.56%
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: May 31, 2026
Last update for Volos: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $497 in Santorini and $454 in Volos. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Santorini pays 18% 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: $92.0 in Santorini vs $47.00 in Volos for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $312 vs $306 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 Volos?
Santorini and Volos differ by about 32% in total monthly costs ($2,090 vs $1,580 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?
Santorini pays 18% 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 Santorini and Volos?
Rent for a central apartment: $497 in Santorini versus $454 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 Volos?
A monthly transit pass in Volos runs roughly 29% 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 $608 in Santorini versus $277 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 $2,000 per month?
At $1,580 in Volos versus $2,090 in Santorini, a $2,000 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 32% less than in Santorini. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.