Cost of Living Comparison Between Thessaloniki and Porto Rafti Cost of Living Comparison Between Thessaloniki and Porto Rafti

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,554 in Thessaloniki versus $1,300 in Porto Rafti.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,354 in Thessaloniki versus $1,990 in Porto Rafti.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,155 in Thessaloniki versus $2,680 in Porto Rafti.

Living in Thessaloniki is roughly 20% more expensive than in Porto Rafti, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Thessaloniki is 16% above, Porto Rafti is 3% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Thessaloniki
Porto Rafti
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.08 €14.94
$11.47 €10.04
48.91%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$57.3 €50.1
$56.9 €49.81
0.56%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.55 €9.23
$8.79 €7.69
20.02%
Cappuccino
$4.45 €3.89
$3.89 €3.40
14.40%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38 €2.08
$1.61 €1.41
47.83%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.59 €0.52
$0.61 €0.53
-3.28%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.77 €5.05
$4.56 €3.99
26.54%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.87 €5.14
$4.62 €4.04
27.06%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Thessaloniki
Porto Rafti
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.46 €1.28
$1.74 €1.52
-16.09%
White Bread (500g)
$1.46 €1.28
$1.19 €1.04
22.69%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.42 €2.12
$2.26 €1.98
7.08%
Eggs
$4.20 €3.67
$4.16 €3.64
0.96%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.47 €11.78
$11.09 €9.71
21.46%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.06 €9.68
$8.70 €7.61
27.13%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.86 €13.00
$14.06 €12.30
5.69%
Apples (1kg)
$2.01 €1.76
$2.14 €1.88
-6.07%
Banana (1kg)
$1.86 €1.62
$2.35 €2.06
-20.85%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.68 €1.47
$1.66 €1.45
1.20%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.38 €2.08
$2.58 €2.26
-7.75%
Potato (1kg)
$1.26 €1.10
$1.27 €1.11
-0.79%
Onion (1kg)
$1.33 €1.16
$1.14 €1.00
16.67%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.04 €0.91
$0.91 €0.80
14.29%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.82 €0.72
$0.56 €0.49
46.43%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.26 €4.60
$5.29 €4.63
-0.57%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.93 €9.56
$6.38 €5.58
71.32%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.03 €1.78
$1.75 €1.53
16.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.82 €2.47
$2.38 €2.08
18.49%
🚌 Getting Around
Thessaloniki
Porto Rafti
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.05 €0.92
$1.53 €1.34
-31.37%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$31.21 €27.30
$46.21 €40.43
-32.46%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.70 €4.12
$3.93 €3.44
19.59%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$32.11 €28.09
$11.62 €10.16
176.33%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.13 €1.86
$2.10 €1.84
1.43%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.7K €27.7K
$31.7K €27.7K
-0.09%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.4K €27.5K
$25.5K €22.3K
23.22%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Thessaloniki
Porto Rafti
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$215 €188
$157 €137
36.75%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.87 €22.63
$22.32 €19.53
15.91%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.15 €27.26
$28.75 €25.15
8.35%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Thessaloniki
Porto Rafti
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.87 €38.38
$47.29 €41.38
-7.23%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.18 €15.91
$26.09 €22.83
-30.32%
Cinema Ticket
$9.99 €8.74
$9.27 €8.11
7.77%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Thessaloniki
Porto Rafti
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$423 €370
$514 €449
-17.61%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,336 €7,294
$6,404 €5,603
30.17%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Thessaloniki
Porto Rafti
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$83.0 €72.6
$65.3 €57.1
27.13%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.20 €32.54
$28.47 €24.91
30.66%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$91.0 €79.6
$67.8 €59.3
34.35%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$117 €102
$106 €92.7
10.03%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Thessaloniki
Porto Rafti
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$544 €476
$492 €431
10.46%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$457 €400
$397 €347
15.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$936 €819
$768 €672
21.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$740 €648
$608 €532
21.85%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,666 €3,207
$4,825 €4,222
-24.03%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,819 €2,467
$2,326 €2,035
21.20%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Thessaloniki
Porto Rafti
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,156 €1,011
$868 €760
33.07%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.68
4.42
5.88%

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

Last update for Thessaloniki: July 14, 2026

Last update for Porto Rafti: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $544 in Thessaloniki and $492 in Porto Rafti. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Thessaloniki pays 33% 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: $57.0 in Thessaloniki vs $57.0 in Porto Rafti. Groceries flip the comparison at $294 vs $261, with Porto Rafti 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 Porto Rafti: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Porto Rafti cheaper than Thessaloniki?
Porto Rafti is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 20% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Thessaloniki or Porto Rafti?
Average pay runs 33% higher in Thessaloniki, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Thessaloniki and Porto Rafti?
Rent for a central apartment: $544 in Thessaloniki versus $492 in Porto Rafti. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Thessaloniki and in Porto Rafti?
All in, you'll spend $1,554 per month in Thessaloniki versus $1,300 in Porto Rafti – a 20% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Porto Rafti runs roughly 48% less than in Thessaloniki. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Thessaloniki or in Porto Rafti?
At $1,300 in Porto Rafti versus $1,554 in Thessaloniki, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Porto Rafti but tight or insufficient in Thessaloniki. The gap between the two cities makes Porto Rafti the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Thessaloniki or Porto Rafti more family-friendly?
For families, Porto Rafti 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 Porto Rafti?
Safety-wise, Thessaloniki and Porto Rafti 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 Porto Rafti gentler on the wallet – expenses run 20% less than in Thessaloniki. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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