Cost of Living Comparison Between Thessaloniki and Mahe Cost of Living Comparison Between Thessaloniki and Mahe

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,554 in Thessaloniki versus $1,831 in Mahe.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,354 in Thessaloniki versus $2,484 in Mahe.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,155 in Thessaloniki versus $3,138 in Mahe.

Living in Thessaloniki costs roughly 15% less than in Mahe, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Thessaloniki 16% above, Mahe 37% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Thessaloniki
Mahe
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.08 €14.96
$15.62 SCR 224
9.35%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$57.3 €50.1
$70.1 SCR 1,004
-18.30%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.55 €9.24
$7.82 SCR 112
34.91%
Cappuccino
$4.45 €3.90
$4.34 SCR 62.3
2.53%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38 €2.09
$2.29 SCR 32.85
3.93%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.59 €0.52
$1.75 SCR 25.10
-66.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.77 €5.06
$8.43 SCR 121
-31.55%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.87 €5.14
$5.26 SCR 75.3
11.60%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Thessaloniki
Mahe
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.46 €1.28
$1.53 SCR 21.95
-4.58%
White Bread (500g)
$1.46 €1.28
$1.04 SCR 14.87
40.38%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.42 €2.12
$1.77 SCR 25.31
36.72%
Eggs
$4.20 €3.67
$4.09 SCR 58.6
2.69%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.47 €11.79
$15.62 SCR 224
-13.76%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.06 €9.69
$7.82 SCR 112
41.43%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.86 €13.01
$12.50 SCR 179
18.88%
Apples (1kg)
$2.01 €1.76
$2.02 SCR 28.94
-0.50%
Banana (1kg)
$1.86 €1.62
-
-
Oranges (1kg)
$1.68 €1.47
$2.24 SCR 32.15
-25.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.38 €2.09
$5.08 SCR 72.8
-53.15%
Potato (1kg)
$1.26 €1.10
$0.99 SCR 14.24
27.27%
Onion (1kg)
$1.33 €1.16
$0.94 SCR 13.44
41.49%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.04 €0.91
$1.03 SCR 14.71
0.97%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.82 €0.72
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.26 €4.60
$11.97 SCR 172
-56.06%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.93 €9.57
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.03 €1.78
$2.02 SCR 29.01
0.50%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.82 €2.47
$2.05 SCR 29.36
37.56%
🚌 Getting Around
Thessaloniki
Mahe
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.05 €0.92
$0.85 SCR 12.18
23.53%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$31.21 €27.33
$24.36 SCR 349
28.12%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.70 €4.12
$10.51 SCR 151
-55.28%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$3.17 SCR 45.40
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$32.11 €28.12
$10.43 SCR 149
207.86%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.13 €1.86
$1.57 SCR 22.42
35.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.7K €27.7K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.4K €27.5K
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Thessaloniki
Mahe
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$215 €188
$83.0 SCR 1,189
158.59%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.87 €22.66
$20.78 SCR 298
24.49%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.15 €27.28
$159 SCR 2,276
-80.39%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Thessaloniki
Mahe
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.87 €38.42
$51.9 SCR 744
-15.47%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.18 €15.93
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.99 €8.75
$6.28 SCR 90.0
59.08%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Thessaloniki
Mahe
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$423 €371
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,336 €7,301
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Thessaloniki
Mahe
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$83.0 €72.6
$27.08 SCR 388
206.31%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.20 €32.58
$10.80 SCR 155
244.44%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$91.0 €79.7
$43.76 SCR 627
108.00%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$117 €102
$55.5 SCR 794
110.33%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Thessaloniki
Mahe
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$544 €476
$844 SCR 12.1K
-35.52%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$457 €400
$862 SCR 12.3K
-46.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$936 €820
$1,717 SCR 24.6K
-45.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$740 €648
$1,038 SCR 14.9K
-28.68%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,666 €3,211
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,819 €2,469
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Thessaloniki
Mahe
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,156 €1,012
$886 SCR 12.7K
30.49%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.68
0
-

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

Last update for Thessaloniki: July 14, 2026

Last update for Mahe: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $544 in Thessaloniki and $844 in Mahe. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Thessaloniki pays 30% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $57.0 in Thessaloniki vs $70.0 in Mahe. Groceries flip the comparison at $294 vs $240, with Mahe 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 Mahe: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Thessaloniki or Mahe?
Thessaloniki wins on cost – living expenses run 18% lower than in Mahe. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Thessaloniki the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Thessaloniki or in Mahe?
Average pay runs 30% higher in Thessaloniki, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Thessaloniki compared to Mahe?
Rent for a central apartment: $544 in Thessaloniki versus $844 in Mahe. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Thessaloniki or in Mahe?
Shoppers in Mahe pay roughly 22% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
How much does it cost to live in Thessaloniki compared to Mahe?
All in, you'll spend $1,554 per month in Thessaloniki versus $1,831 in Mahe – a 18% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Thessaloniki or in Mahe?
At $1,554 in Thessaloniki versus $1,831 in Mahe, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Thessaloniki but tight or insufficient in Mahe. The gap between the two cities makes Thessaloniki the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Thessaloniki or Mahe?
Both work as nomad bases, but Thessaloniki delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,554 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Thessaloniki hard to pass up.
How safe is Thessaloniki compared to Mahe?
Safety-wise, Thessaloniki and Mahe 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 Thessaloniki gentler on the wallet – expenses run 18% less than in Mahe. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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