Cost of Living Comparison Between Thessaloniki and Budva Cost of Living Comparison Between Thessaloniki and Budva

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,554 per month in Thessaloniki vs $1,710 in Budva, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,354 per month in Thessaloniki vs $2,776 in Budva, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,155 per month in Thessaloniki vs $3,842 in Budva, rent included.

Thessaloniki is about 9% cheaper than Budva, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Thessaloniki and Budva sit above the global median – Thessaloniki by 16%, Budva by 28%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.08 €14.92

$16.23 €14.18

5.24%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$57.3 €50.0

$67.1 €58.6

-14.62%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.55 €9.22

$11.70 €10.22

-9.83%

Cappuccino

$4.45 €3.89

$2.97 €2.60

49.83%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 €2.08

$2.18 €1.90

9.17%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.59 €0.52

$1.43 €1.25

-58.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.77 €5.04

$3.57 €3.12

61.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.87 €5.13

$3.83 €3.35

53.26%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.46 €1.28

$1.43 €1.25

2.10%

White Bread (500g)

$1.46 €1.28

$1.10 €0.96

32.73%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.42 €2.11

$2.46 €2.15

-1.63%

Eggs

$4.20 €3.67

$3.16 €2.76

32.91%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.47 €11.76

$8.84 €7.72

52.38%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.06 €9.66

$8.39 €7.33

31.82%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.86 €12.98

$11.81 €10.32

25.83%

Apples (1kg)

$2.01 €1.75

$1.28 €1.12

57.03%

Banana (1kg)

$1.86 €1.62

$1.71 €1.50

8.77%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.68 €1.46

$1.69 €1.47

-0.59%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.38 €2.08

$2.85 €2.49

-16.49%

Potato (1kg)

$1.26 €1.10

$1.03 €0.90

22.33%

Onion (1kg)

$1.33 €1.16

$1.25 €1.09

6.40%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.04 €0.91

$1.72 €1.50

-39.53%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.82 €0.72

$1.20 €1.05

-31.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.26 €4.59

$4.52 €3.95

16.37%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.93 €9.55

$6.66 €5.82

64.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.03 €1.77

$1.23 €1.08

65.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.82 €2.47

$1.73 €1.51

63.01%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.05 €0.92

$2.26 €1.97

-53.54%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.21 €27.27

$40.95 €35.78

-23.79%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.70 €4.11

$1.19 €1.04

294.96%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.06 €0.92

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$32.11 €28.06

$17.09 €14.93

87.89%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.13 €1.86

$1.70 €1.48

25.29%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$31.7K €27.7K

$30.3K €26.5K

4.38%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$31.4K €27.5K

$26.7K €23.3K

17.88%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$215 €187

$157 €137

36.86%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$25.87 €22.60

$18.18 €15.88

42.30%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.15 €27.22

$32.60 €28.48

-4.45%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.87 €38.33

$62.0 €54.2

-29.26%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.18 €15.89

$24.38 €21.30

-25.43%

Cinema Ticket

$9.99 €8.73

$5.73 €5.01

74.35%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$423 €370

$416 €363

1.82%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,336 €7,284

$10.3K €8,965

-18.75%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$83.0 €72.5

$115 €100

-27.58%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.20 €32.50

$48.45 €42.33

-23.22%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.0 €79.5

$110 €96.1

-17.23%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$117 €102

$204 €178

-42.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$544 €475

$965 €843

-43.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$457 €399

$694 €607

-34.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$936 €818

$1,773 €1,549

-47.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$740 €647

$1,396 €1,220

-46.97%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,666 €3,203

$4,264 €3,726

-14.04%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,819 €2,463

$3,079 €2,690

-8.42%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,156 €1,010

$1,021 €892

13.14%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.68

5.93

-21.08%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Thessaloniki: July 14, 2026

Last update for Budva: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $544 in Thessaloniki versus $965 in Budva. 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 13% higher in Thessaloniki, 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 $57.0 in Thessaloniki versus $67.0 in Budva. Groceries tell a different story – $294 in Thessaloniki vs $239 in Budva – so Budva 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

Thessaloniki vs Budva: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,554 in Thessaloniki, $1,710 in Budva – roughly 10% apart. Budva costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,330 per month in Thessaloniki and $2,565 in Budva. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Thessaloniki, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,554 in Thessaloniki and $1,710 in Budva. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 31% less in Thessaloniki. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Thessaloniki, where all-in costs run around $1,554, than in Budva at $1,710. In Thessaloniki it covers expenses comfortably, while in Budva it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Thessaloniki has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,554 in Thessaloniki to $1,710 in Budva. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Thessaloniki. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Budva makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.