🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,580 in Volos versus $2,090 in Santorini.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,366 in Volos versus $3,039 in Santorini.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,151 in Volos versus $3,988 in Santorini.
🙂Living in Volos costs roughly 24% less than in Santorini, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Volos18% above, Santorini56% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Volos
Santorini
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$23.57€20.29
$20.01€17.23
17.79%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.55€40.09
$92.1€79.3
-49.45%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.74€7.52
$16.37€14.09
-46.61%
Cappuccino
$4.09€3.52
$4.68€4.03
-12.61%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42€2.08
$3.85€3.32
-37.14%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.57€0.49
$1.38€1.19
-58.70%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.64€4.86
$5.94€5.11
-5.05%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.70€4.91
$7.39€6.36
-22.87%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Volos
Santorini
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.68€1.44
$2.07€1.78
-18.84%
White Bread(500g)
$1.57€1.36
$1.43€1.23
9.79%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.89€2.48
$3.43€2.95
-15.74%
Eggs
$4.33€3.73
$7.03€6.06
-38.41%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.24€12.26
$15.16€13.05
-6.07%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.97€9.44
$7.85€6.76
39.75%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.58€13.41
$16.15€13.91
-3.53%
Apples(1kg)
$2.43€2.09
$2.86€2.47
-15.03%
Banana(1kg)
$2.09€1.80
$2.26€1.94
-7.52%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.71€1.47
$1.73€1.49
-1.16%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.17€1.87
$3.53€3.04
-38.53%
Potato(1kg)
$0.96€0.83
$2.60€2.24
-63.08%
Onion(1kg)
$1.06€0.91
$1.23€1.06
-13.82%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.88€0.76
$0.96€0.83
-8.33%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.97€0.84
$0.62€0.54
56.45%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.55€4.78
$6.89€5.94
-19.45%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.32€8.03
$5.92€5.10
57.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.60€2.24
$2.03€1.75
28.08%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.15€2.71
$2.83€2.44
11.31%
🚌 Getting Around
Volos
Santorini
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.54€1.33
$2.73€2.36
-43.59%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$60.3€51.9
$46.89€40.38
28.60%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.10€3.53
$4.53€3.90
-9.49%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$19.93€17.16
$13.59€11.70
46.65%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.15€1.85
$2.26€1.95
-4.87%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.9K€26.6K
$31.6K€27.2K
-2.12%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.1K€21.6K
$26.3K€22.6K
-4.52%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Volos
Santorini
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$235€202
$316€272
-25.48%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$24.30€20.92
$46.74€40.25
-48.01%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$35.60€30.66
$35.33€30.43
0.76%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Volos
Santorini
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.9€52.4
$80.9€69.6
-24.69%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$48.38€41.66
$25.93€22.33
86.58%
Cinema Ticket
$9.45€8.14
$7.11€6.12
32.91%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Volos
Santorini
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$277€238
$608€523
-54.46%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,018€5,182
$5,892€5,073
2.15%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Volos
Santorini
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$116€100
$69.1€59.5
68.61%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$53.6€46.16
$51.8€44.59
3.51%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$82.7€71.2
$78.2€67.3
5.81%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.3€74.3
$117€101
-26.23%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Volos
Santorini
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$454€391
$497€428
-8.49%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$369€318
$800€689
-53.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$654€563
$1,322€1,138
-50.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$574€494
$1,078€928
-46.73%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,596€2,235
$5,197€4,475
-50.04%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,698€1,462
$3,457€2,976
-50.88%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Volos
Santorini
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,048€903
$1,232€1,061
-14.94%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.47
4.15
7.71%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Volos: May 31, 2026
Last update for Santorini: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $454 in Volos and $497 in Santorini. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Santorini pays 18% 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: $47.00 in Volos vs $92.0 in Santorini for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $306 vs $312 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 Santorini: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Volos and Santorini?
Volos and Santorini differ by about 32% in total monthly costs ($1,580 vs $2,090 including rent). Volos is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Santorini earns 18% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Volos and Santorini?
Rent for a central apartment: $454 in Volos versus $497 in Santorini. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Volos and Santorini?
A monthly transit pass in Volos runs roughly 29% less than in Santorini. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Volos and Santorini?
Childcare runs $277 in Volos versus $608 in Santorini. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,580 in Volos versus $2,090 in Santorini, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Volos but tight or insufficient in Santorini. The gap between the two cities makes Volos the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Volos and Santorini?
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 Volos or Santorini safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Volos and Santorini 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: Volos or Santorini?
Expats usually find Volos gentler on the wallet – expenses run 32% less than in Santorini. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.