😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,580 in Volos versus $1,575 in Heraklion.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,366 in Volos versus $2,474 in Heraklion.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,151 in Volos versus $3,374 in Heraklion.
😐Monthly costs are close between Volos and Heraklion; which city is cheaper depends on the spending category.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Volos18% above, Heraklion18% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Volos
Heraklion
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$23.57€20.29
$14.13€12.17
66.81%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.55€40.09
$58.4€50.3
-20.29%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.74€7.52
$11.56€9.95
-24.39%
Cappuccino
$4.09€3.52
$3.89€3.35
5.14%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42€2.08
$2.18€1.87
11.01%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.57€0.49
$0.60€0.52
-5.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.64€4.86
$5.96€5.13
-5.37%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.70€4.91
$5.76€4.96
-1.04%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Volos
Heraklion
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.68€1.44
$1.84€1.58
-8.70%
White Bread(500g)
$1.57€1.36
$1.49€1.28
5.37%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.89€2.48
$2.70€2.33
7.04%
Eggs
$4.33€3.73
$5.56€4.79
-22.12%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.24€12.26
$16.98€14.62
-16.14%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.97€9.44
$11.37€9.79
-3.52%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.58€13.41
$14.65€12.61
6.35%
Apples(1kg)
$2.43€2.09
$2.25€1.94
8.00%
Banana(1kg)
$2.09€1.80
$2.13€1.83
-1.88%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.71€1.47
$1.45€1.25
17.93%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.17€1.87
$1.84€1.59
17.93%
Potato(1kg)
$0.96€0.83
$1.30€1.12
-26.15%
Onion(1kg)
$1.06€0.91
$1.53€1.32
-30.72%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.88€0.76
$0.87€0.75
1.15%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.97€0.84
$0.66€0.57
46.97%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.55€4.78
$5.29€4.55
4.91%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.32€8.03
$8.05€6.93
15.78%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.60€2.24
$2.09€1.80
24.40%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.15€2.71
$3.39€2.92
-7.08%
🚌 Getting Around
Volos
Heraklion
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.54€1.33
$1.59€1.37
-3.14%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$60.3€51.9
$46.27€39.84
30.32%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.10€3.53
$4.53€3.90
-9.49%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$19.93€17.16
$11.60€9.99
71.81%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.15€1.85
$2.16€1.86
-0.46%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.9K€26.6K
$35.0K€30.2K
-11.76%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.1K€21.6K
$25.8K€22.2K
-2.59%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Volos
Heraklion
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$235€202
$216€186
8.91%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$24.30€20.92
$22.89€19.71
6.16%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$35.60€30.66
$37.02€31.88
-3.84%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Volos
Heraklion
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.9€52.4
$52.7€45.37
15.58%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$48.38€41.66
$39.87€34.34
21.34%
Cinema Ticket
$9.45€8.14
$9.36€8.06
0.96%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Volos
Heraklion
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$277€238
$431€371
-35.79%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,018€5,182
$4,159€3,581
44.70%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Volos
Heraklion
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$116€100
$100€86.4
16.08%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$53.6€46.16
$46.48€40.03
15.32%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$82.7€71.2
$89.6€77.2
-7.69%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.3€74.3
$133€114
-35.03%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Volos
Heraklion
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$454€391
$555€478
-18.10%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$369€318
$424€365
-12.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$654€563
$1,044€899
-37.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$574€494
$875€753
-34.35%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,596€2,235
$4,014€3,456
-35.32%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,698€1,462
$2,848€2,453
-40.39%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Volos
Heraklion
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,048€903
$1,156€995
-9.32%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.47
4.44
0.68%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Volos: May 31, 2026
Last update for Heraklion: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $454 in Volos and $555 in Heraklion. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Heraklion pays 10% more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.
🛒Dining out: $47.00 in Volos vs $58.0 in Heraklion for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $306 vs $309 per month, with Volos 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
Volos vs Heraklion: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Where can you earn more: Volos or Heraklion?
On paper, Heraklion earns 10% 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 Volos and Heraklion?
Rent for a central apartment: $454 in Volos versus $555 in Heraklion. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $277 in Volos versus $431 in Heraklion. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Volos or Heraklion?
Dining out is cheaper in Heraklion – a meal for two runs $58.0 versus $47.00 in Volos. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Volos or Heraklion?
At $1,575 in Heraklion versus $1,580 in Volos, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Heraklion but tight or insufficient in Volos. The gap between the two cities makes Heraklion the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is it better to live in Volos or Heraklion?
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.
Which city is safer, Volos or Heraklion?
Safety-wise, Volos and Heraklion 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 the better choice to relocate to?
It comes down to priorities – Heraklion wins on affordability, Volos on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.