😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,544 in Thessaloniki versus $1,410 in Ierapetra.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,338 in Thessaloniki versus $2,127 in Ierapetra.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,132 in Thessaloniki versus $2,844 in Ierapetra.
😐Living in Thessaloniki is roughly 10% more expensive than Ierapetra, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Thessaloniki15% above, Ierapetra5% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Thessaloniki
Ierapetra
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.51€14.99
$6.83€5.85
156.37%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$56.7€48.56
$45.65€39.08
24.27%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.55€9.03
$11.67€9.99
-9.60%
Cappuccino
$4.24€3.63
$4.17€3.57
1.68%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.43€2.08
$1.43€1.22
69.93%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.56€0.48
$0.59€0.51
-5.08%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.67€4.85
$4.75€4.07
19.37%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.96€5.10
$5.34€4.57
11.61%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Thessaloniki
Ierapetra
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.53€1.31
$1.89€1.62
-19.05%
White Bread(500g)
$1.46€1.25
$1.41€1.21
3.55%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.48€2.13
$3.50€3.00
-29.14%
Eggs
$4.32€3.70
$4.92€4.21
-12.20%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.48€11.54
$17.65€15.11
-23.63%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.36€9.73
$9.67€8.28
17.48%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.98€12.82
$15.26€13.06
-1.83%
Apples(1kg)
$2.06€1.77
$2.16€1.85
-4.63%
Banana(1kg)
$1.87€1.60
$2.16€1.85
-13.43%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.63€1.39
$1.46€1.25
11.64%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.35€2.01
$1.97€1.69
19.29%
Potato(1kg)
$1.28€1.10
$1.37€1.17
-6.57%
Onion(1kg)
$1.33€1.14
$1.09€0.94
22.02%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.09€0.93
$1.19€1.02
-8.40%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.87€0.75
$1.17€1.00
-25.64%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.23€4.48
$5.82€4.98
-10.14%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.29€7.95
$9.19€7.87
1.09%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.00€1.71
$1.70€1.46
17.65%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.69€2.30
$2.61€2.23
3.07%
🚌 Getting Around
Thessaloniki
Ierapetra
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.02€0.87
$1.58€1.35
-35.44%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$30.99€26.53
$46.22€39.57
-32.95%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.62€3.95
$3.95€3.38
16.96%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$32.74€28.02
$13.92€11.91
135.20%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.12€1.82
$2.13€1.82
-0.47%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.3K€26.8K
$35.0K€30.0K
-10.76%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.7K€27.1K
$24.2K€20.7K
31.02%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Thessaloniki
Ierapetra
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$218€187
$172€147
27.05%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.70€22.00
$13.82€11.83
85.96%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.50€26.11
$35.13€30.07
-13.18%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Thessaloniki
Ierapetra
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$44.50€38.09
$48.91€41.87
-9.02%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.35€15.71
$26.62€22.79
-31.07%
Cinema Ticket
$10.22€8.75
$9.43€8.07
8.38%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Thessaloniki
Ierapetra
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$422€361
$457€391
-7.84%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,462€7,243
$6,974€5,970
21.33%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Thessaloniki
Ierapetra
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$83.6€71.6
$80.4€68.8
3.98%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.16€31.81
$32.54€27.85
14.20%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$92.0€78.8
$105€89.5
-11.97%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116€99.2
$140€120
-17.48%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Thessaloniki
Ierapetra
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$547€468
$490€419
11.59%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$454€389
$391€335
15.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$930€796
$767€657
21.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$738€631
$610€522
20.85%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,856€3,301
$3,096€2,650
24.55%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,795€2,393
$2,545€2,179
9.80%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Thessaloniki
Ierapetra
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,183€1,012
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.68
4.53
3.31%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Thessaloniki: April 27, 2026
Last update for Ierapetra: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $547 in Thessaloniki and $490 in Ierapetra. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $57.0 in Thessaloniki vs $46.00 in Ierapetra. Groceries flip the comparison at $294 vs $310, with Thessaloniki cheaper for home cooking.
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 Ierapetra: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Thessaloniki or Ierapetra?
Ierapetra wins on cost – living expenses run 10% lower than in Thessaloniki. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Ierapetra the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Thessaloniki vs Ierapetra?
You'd need roughly $2,316 in Thessaloniki and $2,115 in Ierapetra 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.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Thessaloniki vs Ierapetra?
Rent for a central apartment: $547 in Thessaloniki versus $490 in Ierapetra. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Thessaloniki compared to Ierapetra?
All in, you'll spend $1,544 per month in Thessaloniki versus $1,410 in Ierapetra – a 10% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Thessaloniki vs Ierapetra?
A monthly transit pass in Ierapetra runs roughly 49% less than in Thessaloniki. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Thessaloniki or Ierapetra?
At $1,410 in Ierapetra versus $1,544 in Thessaloniki, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ierapetra but tight or insufficient in Thessaloniki. The gap between the two cities makes Ierapetra the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Thessaloniki or Ierapetra?
Both work as nomad bases, but Ierapetra delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,410 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Ierapetra hard to pass up.
How safe is Thessaloniki compared to Ierapetra?
Safety-wise, Thessaloniki and Ierapetra 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 more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Ierapetra gentler on the wallet – expenses run 10% 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