🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,546 in Thessaloniki versus $1,688 in Rhodes.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,354 in Thessaloniki versus $2,653 in Rhodes.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,162 in Thessaloniki versus $3,618 in Rhodes.
🙂Living in Thessaloniki costs roughly 8% less than in Rhodes, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Thessaloniki15% above, Rhodes26% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Thessaloniki
Rhodes
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.27€14.85
$17.15€14.76
0.70%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$57.7€49.63
$65.7€56.5
-12.15%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.30€8.86
$9.36€8.05
10.04%
Cappuccino
$4.27€3.67
$4.35€3.74
-1.84%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.36€2.03
$2.42€2.08
-2.48%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.56€0.48
$0.68€0.58
-17.65%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.88€5.06
$5.75€4.95
2.26%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.74€4.94
$4.59€3.95
25.05%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Thessaloniki
Rhodes
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.52€1.31
$2.17€1.87
-29.95%
White Bread(500g)
$1.46€1.25
$2.06€1.77
-29.13%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.45€2.11
$4.92€4.23
-50.20%
Eggs
$4.41€3.79
$5.97€5.14
-26.13%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.67€11.76
$17.51€15.06
-21.93%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.10€9.55
$16.67€14.34
-33.41%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.79€12.72
$16.48€14.18
-10.25%
Apples(1kg)
$2.04€1.75
$2.27€1.95
-10.13%
Banana(1kg)
$1.87€1.61
$1.98€1.71
-5.56%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.68€1.45
$1.50€1.29
12.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.38€2.04
$2.51€2.16
-5.18%
Potato(1kg)
$1.26€1.08
$1.91€1.64
-34.03%
Onion(1kg)
$1.33€1.15
$2.11€1.81
-36.97%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.09€0.94
$1.34€1.16
-18.66%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.88€0.75
$0.78€0.67
12.82%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.36€4.61
$5.26€4.53
1.90%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.70€10.06
$8.15€7.01
43.56%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.00€1.72
$2.63€2.26
-23.95%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.80€2.41
$2.67€2.30
4.87%
🚌 Getting Around
Thessaloniki
Rhodes
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.05€0.91
$2.29€1.97
-54.15%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$30.99€26.66
$92.2€79.3
-66.38%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.62€3.97
$4.56€3.92
1.32%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$31.91€27.45
$11.40€9.81
179.91%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.07€1.78
$2.16€1.85
-4.17%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.3K€26.9K
$34.6K€29.8K
-9.65%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.7K€27.2K
$26.4K€22.7K
19.75%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Thessaloniki
Rhodes
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$213€183
$173€149
23.36%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.13€22.48
$21.16€18.20
23.49%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.44€26.18
$28.66€24.65
6.21%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Thessaloniki
Rhodes
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$44.22€38.03
$60.7€52.3
-27.20%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.69€16.08
$11.53€9.92
62.10%
Cinema Ticket
$9.98€8.59
$9.29€7.99
7.43%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Thessaloniki
Rhodes
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$421€363
$403€347
4.57%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,408€7,233
$5,972€5,137
40.79%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Thessaloniki
Rhodes
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$82.5€71.0
$177€152
-53.30%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.95€31.78
$43.84€37.71
-15.72%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$90.9€78.2
$108€92.8
-15.73%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$115€98.9
$174€150
-34.06%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Thessaloniki
Rhodes
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$542€466
$576€495
-5.86%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$452€389
$422€363
7.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$940€808
$968€833
-2.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$742€638
$688€591
7.95%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,833€3,297
$3,912€3,365
-2.04%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,909€2,502
$1,794€1,543
62.14%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Thessaloniki
Rhodes
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,193€1,026
$1,387€1,193
-13.97%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.68
4.7
-0.43%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Thessaloniki: June 2, 2026
Last update for Rhodes: May 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $542 in Thessaloniki and $576 in Rhodes. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Rhodes pays 16% 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: $58.0 in Thessaloniki vs $66.0 in Rhodes for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $298 vs $372 per month, with Thessaloniki 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 Rhodes: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Rhodes cheaper than Thessaloniki?
Thessaloniki is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 9% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Thessaloniki or Rhodes?
On paper, Rhodes earns 16% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Thessaloniki and Rhodes?
Rent for a central apartment: $542 in Thessaloniki versus $576 in Rhodes. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Thessaloniki and Rhodes?
Supermarket bills run roughly 25% higher in Rhodes. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is eating out cheaper in Thessaloniki or Rhodes?
Dining out is cheaper in Thessaloniki – a meal for two runs $58.0 versus $66.0 in Rhodes. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for Thessaloniki or Rhodes?
At $1,546 in Thessaloniki versus $1,688 in Rhodes, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Thessaloniki but tight or insufficient in Rhodes. The gap between the two cities makes Thessaloniki the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Thessaloniki or Rhodes more family-friendly?
For families, Thessaloniki is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Rhodes, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Thessaloniki or Rhodes?
Safety-wise, Thessaloniki and Rhodes 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 Thessaloniki gentler on the wallet – expenses run 9% less than in Rhodes. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Thessaloniki vs other spots: cost of living compared