Traveling Greece: How Much Does It Cost?
Home to beautiful islands, a history that stretches back thousands of years, a varied and rich culinary tradition, stunning hikes, ancient monasteries, and a rambunctious party scene, Greece is one of the most popular destinations in the world.
However, most people don’t think of it as a cheap one. Mention Greece and most picture the white and blue homes on the cliffs in Santorini, boutique hotels, fancy dinners, a go-go nightlife, and island-hopping cruises.
All things that scream, “This won’t be a cheap trip!”
However, Greece is actually quite affordable. I think it’s one of the cheapest Eurozone countries there is.
This was true when I first went ten years ago and it is still true today.
Of course, not everyone agreed with me back then. Here’s what one commenter said:
Greece is definitely not cheap, especially not Athens. Clubs charge around 20 EUR entrance fees. The Akropolis is like 25 EUR entrance to walk around. Sure, tavernas are pretty cheap, but once you go up from backpacker hostels and low-end tavernas, Greece is hella expensive. I’m waiting until they get kicked out of the euro and go back to drachmas. There is a reason people go to Turkey instead of Greece. Telling people that it’s on par with Thailand and Bali is just plain misinformation…
And he’s right.
Traveling that way would make Greece expensive.
But traveling that way could make any place expensive.
For example, Bali is a very cheap destination but, if you stayed in the $1,000 USD resorts, it would be, like he said, “hella expensive” too.
But there’s a middle ground here in Greece.
In this post, I am going to break down how much I spent on my recent trip and what I spent it on. I’ll also share some budget travel tips too to help you save money on your trip.
The view of the calm waters of Santorini from a charming balcony
Over the course of 35 days in Greece, I spent 4843.34 EUR, or 138 EUR per day. It breaks down like this (prices are in EUR; currently 1 EUR = $1.07 USD):
Accommodation: 1531.14, or 43.74 per day
Transportation: 894.68, or 25.56 per day
Activities: 447.50, or 12.78 per day
Food: 1339.89, or 38.28 per day
Drinks 13.85 per day
Miscellaneous (sunscreen, toiletries, etc): 145.33, or 4.15 per day
I was actually surprised I spent so much. I went a little over budget. But, to be fair, that is because I also spend like a travel writer. Since I work on the road, it’s very important to me to have a room with a desk and a workspace and those rooms tend to be more expensive.
Second, I tend to take way more tours than the average tourist, since I try everything to write about it. And I often hire private guides on my trips. I doubt many of you are going to drop hundreds of euros on multiple private tours.
Between private tours, some upscale accommodations, a lot of island-hopping, dropping a few hundred euros on drinks for a group of backpackers (I always pay it forward, since, when I began my travels, people did so for me), I probably spent about 600-700 EUR more than your average traveler. That would have dropped my daily expenses closer to 100 EUR which I think is more realistic for your average “budget traveler.”
So, with that said, let’s talk average prices, suggested budgets, and how much YOU really need!
Average Prices in Greece
A small village built into the rugged coast of Greece
Before I get into suggested budgets, I want to talk about average prices so you can get a sense of costs on your visit. This varies a lot by season depending as well on where you’re going.
Here’s what to expect, on average, when you get to Greece (prices are in EUR):
Hostel dorm: 15-25/night
Hostel private room: 30-60/night (though, on Santorini or Mykonos, expect as a high as 75)
Budget hotel: 40-60/night (though, you can sometimes find guesthouses for as low as 25)
Gyro (and other cheap to-go food): 2.50-3.50
Bottled water at the grocery store: 0.50
Bottled water (in a restaurant): 1
Greek salad: 5.50–8
Greek main dish: 8-12
Seafood dinner: 15-20
Lunch specials: 10-12
Land tours: 15-50
Boat tours: 10-35
Ferries: 25-70/ride
Public intracity buses/subways: 1-2/ride
Major museums/historic sites: 10-20
To help you with your budgeting, I’ve created a few different budgets below to give you an idea as to how much Greece costs, depending on your travel style.(Note: These are daily averages. Some days you’ll spend more, some days you’ll spend less. Prices are in EUR.)
Budget #1 – The Super Shoestring Traveler
Accommodation: 0-15
Food: 15-20
Transportation: 10
Activities: None
Total: 25-45
On this budget, you’re Couchsurfing or staying in a hostel dorm room. You’re cooking most meals, traveling slowly, avoiding expensive islands like Santorini, taking slower overnight ferries and buses, not paying for expensive tours and activities, and keeping your drinking to near zero or buying booze only in supermarkets. It’s totally possible to travel on this budget but it’s going to be tough for some.
Budget #2 – The Backpacker
Accommodation: 15-25
Food: 15-25
Drinks: 10-20
Transportation: 10-15
Activities: 10
Total: 60-95
On this budget, you’re staying in dorms, cooking some meals, eating some cheap fast food like gyros, using slower ferries and buses, paying for just a few activities, and limiting your nights out (because, let’s face it, as a backpacker, you’re going to want some nights out!). The big variable in this budget is, of course, how much you’re going to party and how many islands you’ll do (because the mainland is much cheaper).
Budget #3 – The Middle-of-the-Road Traveler
Hotel: 40-50
Food: 25-45
Drinks: 15-25
Transportation: 15-20
Activities: 20-25
Total: 115-165
For this mid-range budget, you’ll get a private hostel room/budget hotel; more tours/activities, the occasional taxi; a mix of cheap, casual, and nice meals and whatever ferries (and the occasional flight) you need. This will put you more in line with what I spent during my trip but, if you don’t drink as much wine or do as many activities as I do, you can easily do this closer to 100-115 EUR per day.
Budget #4 – The “I Only Have Two Weeks, So I Don’t Care” Traveler
Hotel: 100+
Food: 75+
Drinks: 30
Transportation: 15+
Activities: 50+
Total: 240+
On this budget, you can do anything. If you want to blow it out of the water, this is really the floor of what you’ll spend. As I said in the introduction, Greece can be as expensive as you want it to be! But I doubt you’re reading this blog for luxury travel tips!
Notes on the numbers:
- I’m not including souvenirs in these numbers. That’s highly discretionary and variable. Obviously, the more you buy, the higher your daily average will be.
- While alcohol is included, if you like to drink or go clubbing a lot, you’re going to spend a lot more. Summertime on the Greek islands are a bit hedonistic, so if that’s your thing, bring extra money.
- These are daily averages. Some days you’ll spend way more, most much less.
13 Budget Tips for Greece
One of the many ancient buildings in Greece
Greece is actually pretty cheap. Greek food, glasses of wine, hostel dorms, and public buses aren’t super expensive and you can find some really nice accommodation for between 30-50 EUR a night. There are a lot of ways to save money in Greece without sacrificing comfort. Here’s how:
Use the Greek Salad/Bread Rule – This is my number one rule! Is a restaurant cheap or expensive? Here’s a good rule of thumb: If the bread cover is .50 EUR or a Greek salad is less than 7 EUR, the restaurant is cheap. If the cover is around 1 EUR and a salad is 7-8.50 EUR, the prices are average. Anything more than that and the place is expensive.
Eat super cheap – Gyros (and other street snacks) usually only cost a few euros. They are quick and easy and can keep you full for less than 10 EUR per day!
Rent a moped – If you’re going to be somewhere (like on one of the islands) for a while, rent a moped. It’s cheaper than a car and more convenient than the bus. It’s a fun way to see the various towns and cities and the best way to get off the beaten path.
Get off the beaten path – Greece is the cheapest when you get out of the popular destinations. Head to less well-traveled areas and you’ll see prices drop by 30% or more!
Book overnight ferries – Greece’s ferries can get quite expensive if you are visiting a lot of islands. Taking the overnight ferries can save you up to half off the normal price (plus it will save you a night of accommodation).
Have an ISIC Card – To save on the cost of admission to museums and other tourist attractions, be sure to present a valid student card. The ISIC is typically accepted in places where a foreign student ID is not.
Couchsurf – Couchsurfing is an awesome way to meet locals while also getting a free place to stay.
Buy wine at the store – You can buy a great bottle of wine from the stores for as little as 4 EUR. It’s a lot cheaper than drinking at the bar, so drink before you go out to save money.
Get a ferry pass – Eurail/Interrail has a ferry pass that has 4- and 6-trip options. The only caveat is that you can only take Blue Star and Hellenic Seaways ferries. Those tend to be the larger, slower ferries and, depending on the islands, might require you to connect somewhere. You’ll need to research routes in advance to see if the pass is worth it. I would search routes on FerryHopper to see if it works for you.
Take public transportation – Buses, while sometimes running on inconvenient schedules, are the best way to get around Greece. Taxis are very expensive there, so minimize their use whenever you can.
Get combined tickets – Historical attractions in Greece, for the most part, are priced so that it’s always a better deal to get a combined ticket. If the sites you are going to offer that, buy it. It will save you money.
Use points if you can – If you collect points and miles that can be used for cash, using them to book accommodation will be better if you’re staying at cheaper properties (anything less than $100 USD). For only a few thousand points per night, you can save a ton of money. You can learn more about getting started here.
Rent a car – Car rentals can be incredibly cheap in Greece. Prices start at just 15 EUR per day when booked in advance. Drivers need to be at least 21 and have had their license for one year. An International Driving Permit is also required. For the best car rental prices, use Discover Cars.
Greece, like any country, has a wide range of budget options. Yes, you can spend a fortune there (many people go for a fancy, expensive getaway.) but it’s also possible to visit without breaking the bank. By using the tips above, you’ll be able to have an amazing trip while keeping your budget intact.
