Is Greece expensive? Prices by destination: Athens, the islands and Mykonos (2026)
Greece is no longer cheap, but the differences between destinations are huge. A price table for food, hotels and sunbeds, weekly budgets and how to save.
- Average tourist spend in Greece: about €168 a day excluding flights (2025), driven mainly by Mykonos and Santorini.
- Souvlaki €2.50–4, freddo €2.50–4.50, taverna meal €17.50–30 per person. On Mykonos a beer is about €8.
- A mid-range week: about €1,085 per person excluding flights. Cheapest: Halkidiki, Thassos and Kavala.
If budget matters, choose Athens, Crete, Rhodes or northern Greece, and travel in May or September. Mykonos and Santorini suit a big budget, or just a few days.
Is Greece expensive?
It depends where. Greece is no longer the bargain it once was: according to a 2025 HelloSafe study, it is Europe's fifth most expensive destination for tourists, at about €168 a day on average (excluding flights). But that average is pushed up by Mykonos and Santorini. In Athens, northern Greece and most of the large islands, prices are reasonable.
Exchange rate used: about 3.5 ₪ per euro (late October 2026). Prices come from 2025–2026 sources and are ranges, not a price list. Check before you travel.
How much do food and drink cost in Greece?
| Item | Greece (most places) | Approx. in shekels |
|---|---|---|
| Souvlaki / gyros pita | €2.50–4 | 9–14 ₪ |
| Espresso / Greek coffee | €2–3.50 | 7–12 ₪ |
| Freddo espresso | €2.50–4.50 (beach €5–6) | 9–16 ₪ |
| Local beer 0.5 l | €3–5 | 11–18 ₪ |
| Glass of local wine | €4–8 | 14–28 ₪ |
| Greek salad at a taverna | €7–13 | 25–46 ₪ |
| Moussaka | €10–16 | 35–56 ₪ |
| Taverna meal per person (main, salad, drink) | €17.50–30 | 60–105 ₪ |
| 1.5 l water at the supermarket | €0.50–0.90 | 2–3 ₪ |
Daily food budget per person: about €20–30 on a budget, €35–55 on average, €60–100 for comfort.
How much is a hotel in Greece?
- Greece average: according to Greek Trip Planner, a 3-star hotel works out at about €70 per person per night in a double room, and a 4-star about €100 per person.
- Santorini and Mykonos: accommodation is 50–100% more than on "regular" islands such as Crete, Corfu, Kefalonia or Naxos.
- May, early June and September are 20–40% cheaper than midsummer on most islands.
- Climate resilience fee: from April to October hotels charge €2–15 per room per night (€10 for a 4-star), and €0.50–4 in winter, paid at the property.
Is Mykonos expensive?
Yes, Mykonos is the most expensive destination in Greece. 2026 examples:
- Freddo in town: about €4.50. In Little Venice: €7–9.
- Beer at a town taverna: about €8. At a beach club: €12–15.
- Gyros pita: about €7.
- Sunbed set (2 loungers and an umbrella): €40–60 in shoulder season, about €80 in the front row at Super Paradise, and €200–300 at the top beach clubs.
- Accommodation: from about €23 for a guesthouse room in low season to about €120 at peak. A mid-range hotel averages about €150 a night.
- Taxi from the airport to town: about €25.
Is Santorini expensive?
Yes, but it depends where you stay:
- Beach villages (Kamari, Perissa, Karterados): hotels at €60–120 a night.
- Caldera villages (Oia, Imerovigli, Fira): much more, and prices vary widely.
- Taverna dinner with wine: €20–35 per person. Caldera-view dinner: €50–100 per person.
- Souvlaki: €4–5. Freddo: €3–5.
- Sunbed at Perissa or Kamari: €10–15. The beaches themselves are free.
- Bus: €2.20–2.80 per ride, cash. Taxi from the airport to Fira: €25–35.
Are Crete, Rhodes and Corfu expensive?
Crete, Rhodes, Corfu and Zakynthos are mid-range. According to Greek Trip Planner, on islands such as Crete, Corfu, Kefalonia and Naxos you spend about €60–80 per person a day excluding accommodation. Local tavernas are cheaper than the tourist hotspots.
Crete even got cheaper: according to the UK Post Office's 2025 holiday report, a basket of holiday items on Crete fell by 7.8%.
Is Athens expensive?
Not especially. Athens is cheap compared with other European capitals, and its prices are close to the table above. Street food, public transport and museums are reasonably priced. What pushes costs up is a central hotel in high season. See also Athens airport to the city centre.
Where is cheapest in Greece?
Halkidiki, Thassos and the Kavala area in northern Greece are among the cheapest: souvlaki at about €2.50, seaside fish from €15 and beer at €3–4.
How much does a holiday in Greece cost? (weekly budget)
According to Greek Trip Planner (2026), per person, excluding flights:
| Style | Week | Approx. in shekels |
|---|---|---|
| Budget | about €655 | about 2,300 ₪ |
| Mid-range (3-star) | about €1,085 | about 3,800 ₪ |
| Comfortable (4-star) | about €1,505 | about 5,300 ₪ |
| Santorini / Mykonos at peak | €2,200+ | 7,700 ₪+ |
These include accommodation, food, transport (including two ferry trips) and activities. Ferries: a ticket from Piraeus to Santorini or Rhodes starts at about €45.50, and from Rafina to Mykonos at about €35.50. See our guide to ferries in Greece.
How to save money in Greece
- Travel in shoulder season: May, early June and September.
- Eat at local tavernas, away from the promenade and the views. A daily lunch special costs €10–15.
- Stay in the beach villages, not on the caldera, in Santorini.
- Drink at a bar, not a beach club, on Mykonos.
- Rent an apartment with a kitchen and shop at the supermarket.
- Take the overnight ferry from Piraeus to Heraklion: a cabin costs €25–40, instead of a hotel night.
- Check cheap flights to Greece and how much to tip.
Thinking of living in Greece? See the cost of living in Greece.
FAQ
Is Greece expensive? Greece is no longer cheap: about €168 per tourist per day on average (2025). But in Athens, northern Greece and most large islands prices are reasonable. Mykonos and Santorini push the average up.
Is Mykonos expensive? Yes, it is the most expensive destination in Greece: beer in town about €8, freddo about €4.50, and a sunbed set €40–80 or more.
Is Santorini expensive? Yes, especially on the caldera. In the beach villages hotels cost €60–120 a night, and a taverna meal €20–35 per person.
Is Crete expensive? Not especially. About €60–80 per person a day excluding accommodation, and in summer 2025 prices on Crete even fell.
Is Rhodes expensive? Rhodes is mid-range, like Crete and Corfu. The Old Town and tourist areas cost more than the villages.
How much does a week in Greece cost? About €1,085 per person on average for a mid-range trip, excluding flights. On Santorini or Mykonos at peak, €2,200 or more.
