How Much Does It Cost to Live In Thessaloniki?
As far as 520 km away from the capital city of Athens you will reach Thessaloniki, the 2nd largest city in Greece.
This is a unique place with modern architecture and lots of historical monuments related to Byzantium.
There are several museums, concert halls, monasteries, theatres, and mosques.
The economics of Thessaloniki grows thanks to trading, shipping, and manufacturing.
Both locals and expats love spending time outside because this city is too good for outdoor activities.
The weather also contributes to this as the winters are usually dry and frosty, and the summers are hot and humid.
Greece : Cost of Living by City
RESTAURANTS
One of the restaurants in Thessaloniki serves strawberry and sausage risotto, can you imagine?
There are lots of extravagant places in this city which will definitely offer you salads, steaks, and shrimps.
Expensive restaurants offer very delicious foods but in small portions.
MARKETS
There are a few food markets in the city.
The oldest one is located in the city center, where the shoppers offer you the best foods they have, like local cheeses, spices, coffee, fresh meat, and fish.
One of the largest and greatest food markets is Martiou, where you will meet many locals and get the best prices for fish, octopuses, and mussels, especially if you come late.
TRANSPORTATION
All the necessary destinations in Thessaloniki are connected with the bus routes which are the most often used means of public transport.
The prices for the bus are lower than in most EU countries.
The bus is the only mean of transportation because the subway is still under construction.
UTILITIES (MONTHLY)
Average price for utilities in Thessaloniki is $174.20 per month.
This sum was calculated for an 85 sqm apartment in the city.
Using the mobile phone is more expensive than in Athens, namely, one minute costs $0.42.
Due to the recent crisis, the government cannot increase prices for utilities.
SPORTS & LEISURE
Among plenty of opportunities that the city offers for locals and tourists, there are walking around the shopping streets, visiting open markets, going to one of the two cinemas, or running.
You can also play basketball, football, swim, and exercise in one of the gyms, or go cycling around the city.
CLOTHING & SHOES
To replenish your wardrobe, you can go to one of the numerous clothing and shoe shops in the marketplace of the city.
Thessaloniki offer you numerous brands, local designer’s clothes, chain stores, and low-cost offers.
The prices for jeans, summer dresses or running shoes in the chain stores are lower than in any EU city.
RENT PER MONTH
Apartments in Thessaloniki are mostly rented out being fully furnished and ready for living in.
Still, much accommodation has only been initially repaired.
The price depends on the location of the apartment.
As a usual, a one bedroom apartment in the city center is cheaper than that in the heart of Thessaloniki, but three-bedroom flats are just a little bit more expensive.
Cost of Living Averages Table for Thessaloniki
*Note: All prices are indicated in USD.| Average Restaurant Prices | |
|---|---|
| Meal (Inexpensive Restaurant) | $11.20 |
| Domestic Beer (0.5 Liter) | $3.92 |
| Water (0.33 Liter) | $0.55 | Average Market Prices |
| Milk (1 Liter) | $1.20 |
| Loaf Bread (500g) | $0.95 |
| Eggs (12) | $3.31 | Average Transport Prices |
| One Way Ticket | $1.12 |
| Monthly Pass | $33.60 |
| Gasoline | $1.75 | Average Utilities Prices |
| Basic (Water, Electricity, Garbage, Heating, Cooling) | $174.20 |
| 1 min. of Prepaid Mobile Tariff Local | $0.42 |
| Internet (Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) | $34.19 | Average Leisure Prices |
| Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult | $34.90 |
| Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour) | $11.13 |
| Cinema, 1 Seat, International Release | $8.40 | Average Clothing Prices |
| 1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Comparable) | $80.14 |
| 1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, etc...) | $29.54 |
| 1 Pair of Adidas Walking Shoes (Mid-Range) | $78.75 | Average Rent Prices |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Center | $347.83 |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Center | $277.55 |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Center | $581.40 |
How Does the Average Person Spend Their Money in Thessaloniki?
To sum up the cost of living in Thessaloniki, an average person’s monthly expenses are $682.71 without rent.
If you are in a family of four, you will spend as much as $2,338.78 per month living in your private apartment.
Most of the money is spent on the markets, where people find the best prices for high-quality products and things.
The second place in the charts of average expenditures is taken by restaurants.
Thessaloniki is a very atmospheric city which breathes history and beautiful nature, that is why all the tourists, students, and native citizens love walking and eating out.
Most of the people either use buses or drive private cars, and many just get around on foot, so the transportation expenses are only 13.3%.
Average Costs Breakdown
Thessaloniki: Average Salary, Minimum Wage & Mortgages
The average monthly salary is lower than the minimum wage set in the rest of the country.
This is caused by the recent financial crisis all over Greece.
The country had to decrease the national minimum wage from more than $900 to $782.9 due to the impossibility to cover loans and debts.
Thus an average salary in Thessaloniki is $734.28 per month.
Mortgage payments are not so high compared to the rest of the EU countries.
Despite the interest rate is much higher than in France or Germany, for instance, it is still possible to pay it out annually for 20 years.
The rate is 4.80% per annum.
Thessaloniki Safety Overview
READ THE FULL REPORT: Thessaloniki Safety Review
Safety Index:
- OVERALL RISK: LOW
- TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: LOW
- PICKPOCKETS RISK: MEDIUM
- NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: LOW
- MUGGING RISK: LOW
- TERRORISM RISK: LOW
- SCAMS RISK: LOW
- WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW
Cost of Living by City in Thessaloniki
| City | Cost of Living Index |
|---|---|
| Athens | 60.44 |
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