😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,718 in Thessaloniki versus $1,345 in Maldonado.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,592 in Thessaloniki versus $2,179 in Maldonado.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,467 in Thessaloniki versus $3,014 in Maldonado.
🌍Living in Thessaloniki is roughly 28% more expensive than in Maldonado, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Thessaloniki is 25% above, Maldonado is 2% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Thessaloniki
Maldonado
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.59€15.14
$14.69UYU 591
19.74%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$67.5€58.1
$55.1UYU 2,218
22.45%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.73€10.09
$10.99UYU 442
6.73%
Cappuccino
$4.20€3.61
$4.53UYU 182
-7.28%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.81€2.42
$2.60UYU 104
8.08%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73€0.63
$2.00UYU 80.4
-63.50%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.85€5.04
$3.62UYU 146
61.60%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.37€5.48
$3.71UYU 149
71.70%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Thessaloniki
Maldonado
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.71€1.48
$1.18UYU 47.46
44.92%
White Bread(500g)
$1.66€1.43
$2.79UYU 112
-40.50%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.74€3.22
$1.79UYU 71.9
108.94%
Eggs
$5.62€4.84
$4.03UYU 162
39.45%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.63€12.59
$14.37UYU 578
1.81%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.32€9.74
$11.63UYU 468
-2.67%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.93€16.29
$11.63UYU 468
62.77%
Apples(1kg)
$2.61€2.25
$2.90UYU 116
-10.00%
Banana(1kg)
$2.32€2.00
$2.18UYU 87.6
6.42%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.17€1.87
$1.83UYU 73.5
18.58%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.78€2.40
$3.15UYU 127
-11.75%
Potato(1kg)
$1.23€1.06
$2.04UYU 82.2
-39.71%
Onion(1kg)
$1.23€1.06
$1.99UYU 80.1
-38.19%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.54€1.33
$1.40UYU 56.4
10.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.92€0.79
$1.89UYU 76.1
-51.32%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.95€5.12
$5.45UYU 219
9.17%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.38€8.93
$8.01UYU 322
29.59%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.16€1.86
$2.26UYU 90.9
-4.42%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.31€2.85
$2.74UYU 110
20.80%
🚌 Getting Around
Thessaloniki
Maldonado
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.67€0.58
$1.36UYU 54.9
-50.74%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$20.71€17.82
$49.26UYU 1,982
-57.96%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.99€3.44
$3.42UYU 138
16.67%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.08€0.93
$0.43UYU 17.41
151.16%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$17.50€15.06
$9.98UYU 402
75.35%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.32€2.00
$1.94UYU 78.2
19.59%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.9K€24.9K
$27.5KUYU 1.1M
5.26%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.9K€26.6K
$37.0KUYU 1.5M
-16.48%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Thessaloniki
Maldonado
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$225€193
$113UYU 4,552
98.62%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$24.71€21.26
$16.99UYU 684
45.44%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.47€26.22
$45.82UYU 1,844
-33.50%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Thessaloniki
Maldonado
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$50.3€43.30
$48.71UYU 1,960
3.28%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.62€14.30
$30.07UYU 1,210
-44.73%
Cinema Ticket
$10.37€8.92
$12.35UYU 497
-16.03%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Thessaloniki
Maldonado
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$490€422
$492UYU 19.8K
-0.34%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,208€7,924
$6,713UYU 270.1K
37.17%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Thessaloniki
Maldonado
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$103€88.4
$90.6UYU 3,647
13.31%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.80€39.41
$37.96UYU 1,527
20.65%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$118€102
$122UYU 4,900
-3.05%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$136€117
$117UYU 4,693
16.83%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Thessaloniki
Maldonado
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$643€553
$427UYU 17.2K
50.54%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$501€431
$317UYU 12.8K
57.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,095€942
$910UYU 36.6K
20.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$859€739
$587UYU 23.6K
46.21%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,886€3,344
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,849€2,452
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Thessaloniki
Maldonado
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,201€1,034
$1,008UYU 40.6K
19.18%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.65
5
13.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Thessaloniki: August 29, 2026
Last update for Maldonado: August 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $643 in Thessaloniki and $427 in Maldonado. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Thessaloniki pays 19% 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: $68.0 in Thessaloniki vs $55.0 in Maldonado for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $340 vs $321 per month, with Maldonado 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 Maldonado: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Thessaloniki and in Maldonado?
Thessaloniki and Maldonado differ by about 28% in total monthly costs ($1,718 vs $1,345 including rent). Maldonado is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Thessaloniki or Maldonado?
Average pay runs 19% 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 do apartment prices compare in Thessaloniki and in Maldonado?
Rent for a central apartment: $643 in Thessaloniki versus $427 in Maldonado. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Thessaloniki and Maldonado?
Childcare runs $490 in Thessaloniki versus $492 in Maldonado. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 6% higher in Thessaloniki. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,345 in Maldonado versus $1,718 in Thessaloniki, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Maldonado but tight or insufficient in Thessaloniki. The gap between the two cities makes Maldonado the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Thessaloniki and Maldonado?
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 Thessaloniki or Maldonado safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Thessaloniki and Maldonado 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: Thessaloniki or Maldonado?
Expats usually find Maldonado gentler on the wallet – expenses run 28% 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