Cost of Living Comparison Between Volos and Heraklion Cost of Living Comparison Between Volos and Heraklion

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,593 in Volos versus $1,632 in Heraklion.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,422 in Volos versus $2,620 in Heraklion.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,251 in Volos versus $3,608 in Heraklion.

Living in Volos costs roughly 2% less than in Heraklion, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Volos 16% above, Heraklion 18% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Volos
Heraklion
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$21.03 €18.13
$15.12 €13.04
39.09%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$57.4 €49.46
$58.6 €50.6
-2.20%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.49 €9.05
$10.44 €9.00
0.48%
Cappuccino
$4.64 €4.01
$4.06 €3.50
14.29%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78 €2.40
$2.57 €2.21
8.17%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.62 €0.53
$0.81 €0.70
-23.46%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.87 €5.06
$5.66 €4.88
3.71%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.96 €5.14
$5.38 €4.64
10.78%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Volos
Heraklion
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.63 €1.40
$1.87 €1.61
-12.83%
White Bread (500g)
$1.58 €1.36
$1.50 €1.29
5.33%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.89 €2.49
$2.70 €2.33
7.04%
Eggs
$4.81 €4.15
$4.69 €4.05
2.56%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.85 €11.94
$16.43 €14.17
-15.70%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.78 €9.30
$10.95 €9.45
-1.55%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.41 €13.29
$15.53 €13.40
-0.77%
Apples (1kg)
$2.51 €2.16
$2.32 €2.00
8.19%
Banana (1kg)
$2.13 €1.84
$2.12 €1.83
0.47%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.69 €1.46
$1.46 €1.26
15.75%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.19 €1.89
$2.04 €1.76
7.35%
Potato (1kg)
$0.93 €0.80
$1.24 €1.07
-25.00%
Onion (1kg)
$1.06 €0.91
$1.29 €1.12
-17.83%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.93 €0.81
$0.97 €0.84
-4.12%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.12 €0.97
$0.73 €0.63
53.42%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.40 €4.66
$5.28 €4.56
2.27%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.46 €8.16
$7.72 €6.66
22.54%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.24 €1.93
$2.07 €1.79
8.21%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.45 €2.11
$3.01 €2.60
-18.60%
🚌 Getting Around
Volos
Heraklion
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.41 €1.22
$1.49 €1.28
-5.37%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$62.0 €53.5
$70.9 €61.2
-12.62%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.06 €3.50
$4.60 €3.97
-11.74%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.03 €0.89
$1.15 €0.99
-10.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$20.26 €17.47
$11.44 €9.87
77.10%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.19 €1.89
$2.28 €1.97
-3.95%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.4K €25.3K
$29.5K €25.5K
-0.60%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.7K €22.2K
$26.2K €22.6K
-1.98%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Volos
Heraklion
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$221 €191
$202 €174
9.44%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.87 €20.59
$31.14 €26.86
-23.35%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.65 €26.43
$40.42 €34.85
-24.17%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Volos
Heraklion
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$54.5 €46.95
$51.9 €44.75
4.91%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$48.59 €41.90
$40.48 €34.91
20.03%
Cinema Ticket
$9.45 €8.15
$9.27 €7.99
1.94%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Volos
Heraklion
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$279 €241
$423 €364
-33.96%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$4,250 €3,665
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Volos
Heraklion
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$101 €87.4
$84.3 €72.7
20.24%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$61.1 €52.7
$44.67 €38.52
36.69%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$91.0 €78.5
$85.5 €73.7
6.38%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$94.1 €81.1
$141 €122
-33.45%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Volos
Heraklion
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$528 €455
$648 €559
-18.62%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$394 €339
$507 €437
-22.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$767 €661
$1,182 €1,019
-35.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$627 €540
$1,009 €870
-37.93%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,582 €2,226
$4,003 €3,452
-35.50%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,664 €1,435
$2,928 €2,524
-43.16%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Volos
Heraklion
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,046 €902
$1,171 €1,010
-10.71%
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: September 6, 2026

Last update for Heraklion: September 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $528 in Volos and $648 in Heraklion. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Heraklion pays 12% 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 Volos vs $59.0 in Heraklion for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $305 vs $305 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
Is Heraklion cheaper than Volos?
Volos is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 2% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Volos or Heraklion?
On paper, salaries run 12% lower in Heraklion. 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: $528 in Volos versus $648 in Heraklion. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $279 in Volos versus $423 in Heraklion. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Volos and in Heraklion?
Supermarket bills run roughly 0% higher in Heraklion. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Volos or in Heraklion?
At $1,593 in Volos versus $1,632 in Heraklion, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Volos but tight or insufficient in Heraklion. The gap between the two cities makes Volos the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is it better to live in Volos or in 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Volos gentler on the wallet – expenses run 2% less than in Heraklion. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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