Greece is one of the best places that caters to many types of budgets, but still, it is worth knowing in advance how much you can expect to pay for a drink, dinner, transport, and accommodation, to avoid any nasty surprises. Price can vary around Greece, from the less touristy areas to the bustling seaside towns and party places, but we will break down the average costs of what is involved with traveling to Greece.
Greece is part of the European Union and is located beside some relatively inexpensive countries such as Bulgari, Turkey, and Albania but the costs within Greece are higher than its neighbors. Many factors play a crucial part in the cost to travel to Greece, especially the time of year you plan to travel, what kind of standards you expect from your hotel, and what range of activities you plan to do. To give you an overview of the general costs across Greece and what you can expect to pay for daily essentials, here is your guide for prices within the country.
Let us take a look at some major ways you may spend your money while in Greece and what costs you will come across. If you thought that planning a trip to the land of turquoise waters, tropical islands, and delectable food, would break the bank – you may be surprised by what we are about to unveil.
Here is a breakdown of the average cost for common items in Greece.
FOOD
Food will be an integral part of your trip to Greece, not only because you need it to survive, but because the food is a huge part of the culture in Greece, and let’s face it, you would not want to miss out on that. Prices will certainly vary depending on where you go for your meals, whether it is a street food vendor, a local restaurant, or a top-class restaurant. Many holiday goers also love to buy their groceries at the local markets and cook them at home, if they are staying in self-catering accommodation.
So, with that being said, here is what you can expect to pay for food in Greece.
Street Food – What if we told you, you can get the following items for under €5:
Souvlaki costs between €2- €3
Gyros costs between €2.50 – €3
Pizza costs on average €6
Restaurant:
Local dinner can cost €11 per person
A luxury dinner can cost €15- €20 per person
Supermarket – Typical supermarket items cost:
1kg bananas are around €1.83
1L milk can cost around €1.26
Fish is around €9 per kilo
Beer
The cost of beer will vary depending on where you get it, so let us show you the average prices.
Bar: €2.50 per 500ml
Restaurant: €2.30/€3 per 500 ml
Supermarket: € 0.90 per 330ml/€1.40 per 500ml
Transport
There are a variety of ways to get around Greece, with ferries, buses, car rentals, and trains to choose from, and here are the average prices of each.
Bus:
Just like the ferries, there are many bus routes, both short and long-distance, and here are some of the main routes with average prices, which can vary depending on the season.
- Thessaloniki – Kavala: 2.5 hours is €18
- Athens – Thessaloniki: 19.5 hours is €76
- A 90-minute Athens bus ticket is €1.40
- A 24-hour Athens ticket is €4.50
- A 3-Day Athens ticket is €22
Train:
Trains can generally be a little cheaper than buses and can cost between €20 – €40 for a five-hour trip from Athens to Thessaloniki compared to the bus.
Ferry:
There are many ferry routes in Greece, here are some options with average prices
- Ferry from Piraeus to Santorini: 8-9 hours with the slow ferry or 5 with the fast one. €40/90
- Ferry from Rafina to Mykonos: 4.30 hours with the slow ferry or 2.30 with the fast one. €35/70
- Ferry from Piraeus to Crete: 7 to 9 hours based on which port of Crete you’re going to. €40-70
- Ferry from Mykonos to Santorini: 2-3 hours with the fast ferry or 4-5 hours with the slow ferry. €45/100
- Ferry from Heraklion to Santorini: 2 hours with the fast ferry or 4 hours with the slow ferry. €45/100
- Ferry from Paros to Mykonos: 2 hours with the slow ferry or 1 hour with the fast ferry. €20/58
Car rental:
€43 per day including insurance
Accommodation
There are many accommodation options in Greece from budget hostels and B&Bs to mid-range hotels and luxury boutique resorts. One of the best things about Greece is that it caters to everyone, no matter what the standards of accommodation they prefer. Here are some options and prices when it comes to the cost to travel to Greece.
Budget hotel: €40 – €45 B&B or studio apartment
Budget hostel: €12 – €25
Mid-Range Hotel: €60 – €80
Luxury resort hotel: €100
It is also worth noting that the islands will vary in price and during the high season between June – August, you can expect low availability and higher prices, so always book well in advance.
Costs on the Greek Islands
A trip to Greece may well involve a visit to the Greek islands and if so, it is worth knowing which ones are more affordable and which ones are more expensive. When it comes to costs, you can expect higher prices on the islands of Santorini, Rhodes, Kefalonia, and Mykonos, while on the islands of Kos, Naxos, and Zakynthos, Evia, and Crete.
It is also worth noting that the ‘expensive’ islands, can be visited on a budget too especially during the shoulder season in May/June or September/October when the prices are lower.
The best time to travel
When it comes to the cost to travel to Greece, it is worth considering the time of year you plan to travel, which can save you a fortune. The peak season will guarantee the highest prices and very little availability for accommodation, and tours and prices in restaurants will be slightly higher than usual. The low season (December – March) will see the lowest prices, but if you want the best of both worlds such as good weather and lower prices, opt for the shoulder season as mentioned earlier.
Booing tours and booking in advance can save you a lot of money too, not to mention the hassle of organizing everything at the last minute, so it may be worth considering a tailor-made tour that can tick all your boxes, as well as your budget choices. Take a look at these great Greek tours on offer.
These are some of the best tours which give value for money, a well-rounded itinerary as well as a local Destination Expert who will help to tailor-make your trip.
So, there you have it, the cost to travel to Greece is unveiled – now you can get planning and look forward to the dream vacation that suits you.
