😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,718 in Thessaloniki versus $1,273 in Gela.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,592 in Thessaloniki versus $2,063 in Gela.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,467 in Thessaloniki versus $2,854 in Gela.
🌍Living in Thessaloniki is roughly 35% more expensive than in Gela, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Thessaloniki is 25% above, Gela is 7% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Thessaloniki
Gela
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.59€15.14
$11.55€9.94
52.29%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$67.5€58.1
$57.9€49.85
16.53%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.73€10.09
$9.61€8.27
22.06%
Cappuccino
$4.20€3.61
$1.76€1.52
138.64%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.81€2.42
$2.37€2.04
18.57%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73€0.63
$1.30€1.11
-43.85%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.85€5.04
$4.10€3.53
42.68%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.37€5.48
$3.97€3.42
60.45%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Thessaloniki
Gela
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.71€1.48
$1.29€1.11
32.56%
White Bread(500g)
$1.66€1.43
$1.84€1.58
-9.78%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.74€3.22
$2.36€2.03
58.47%
Eggs
$5.62€4.84
$3.11€2.68
80.71%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.63€12.59
$15.24€13.11
-4.00%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.32€9.74
$12.48€10.74
-9.29%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.93€16.29
$17.99€15.48
5.23%
Apples(1kg)
$2.61€2.25
$3.11€2.67
-16.08%
Banana(1kg)
$2.32€2.00
$2.19€1.88
5.94%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.17€1.87
$2.23€1.92
-2.69%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.78€2.40
$2.39€2.05
16.32%
Potato(1kg)
$1.23€1.06
$1.69€1.45
-27.22%
Onion(1kg)
$1.23€1.06
$2.92€2.51
-57.88%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.54€1.33
$1.39€1.20
10.79%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.92€0.79
$0.41€0.35
124.39%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.95€5.12
$6.94€5.97
-14.27%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.38€8.93
$7.91€6.81
31.23%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.16€1.86
$2.11€1.81
2.37%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.31€2.85
$2.21€1.90
49.77%
🚌 Getting Around
Thessaloniki
Gela
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.67€0.58
$1.55€1.33
-56.77%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$20.71€17.82
$42.81€36.83
-51.62%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.99€3.44
$11.83€10.18
-66.27%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.08€0.93
$2.25€1.94
-52.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$17.50€15.06
$34.68€29.84
-49.54%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.32€2.00
$2.00€1.72
16.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.9K€24.9K
$36.9K€31.8K
-21.75%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.9K€26.6K
$36.2K€31.2K
-14.64%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Thessaloniki
Gela
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$225€193
$175€151
28.34%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$24.71€21.26
$10.34€8.90
138.97%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.47€26.22
$27.57€23.72
10.52%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Thessaloniki
Gela
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$50.3€43.30
$51.9€44.66
-3.06%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.62€14.30
$25.86€22.26
-35.73%
Cinema Ticket
$10.37€8.92
$9.47€8.15
9.50%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Thessaloniki
Gela
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$490€422
$441€380
11.12%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,208€7,924
$10.5K€9,021
-12.16%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Thessaloniki
Gela
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$103€88.4
$73.1€62.9
40.53%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.80€39.41
$32.09€27.62
42.72%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$118€102
$88.2€75.9
33.87%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$136€117
$131€113
4.00%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Thessaloniki
Gela
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$643€553
$315€271
103.95%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$501€431
$280€241
78.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,095€942
$514€442
113.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$859€739
$568€489
51.05%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,886€3,344
$2,229€1,918
74.34%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,849€2,452
$1,062€914
168.37%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Thessaloniki
Gela
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,201€1,034
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.65
3.8
48.68%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Thessaloniki: August 29, 2026
Last update for Gela: August 29, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $643 in Thessaloniki and $315 in Gela. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $68.0 in Thessaloniki vs $58.0 in Gela for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $340 vs $317 per month, with Gela 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
Thessaloniki vs Gela: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Gela cheaper than Thessaloniki?
Gela is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 35% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $2,577 in Thessaloniki and $1,909 in Gela to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Thessaloniki and Gela?
Rent for a central apartment: $643 in Thessaloniki versus $315 in Gela. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $490 in Thessaloniki versus $441 in Gela. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Thessaloniki and in Gela?
Supermarket bills run roughly 7% higher in Thessaloniki. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Thessaloniki or in Gela?
At $1,273 in Gela versus $1,718 in Thessaloniki, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Gela but tight or insufficient in Thessaloniki. The gap between the two cities makes Gela the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Thessaloniki or Gela more family-friendly?
For families, Gela is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Thessaloniki, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Thessaloniki or Gela?
Safety-wise, Thessaloniki and Gela 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 Gela gentler on the wallet – expenses run 35% less than in Thessaloniki. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Thessaloniki vs other spots: cost of living compared