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Catania vs Thessaloniki cost of living 2026
Which is cheaper, what exactly is cheaper, and how it feels on your money ยท Updated October 2026
๐ฎ๐น Catania
๐ฌ๐ท Thessaloniki
At a glance
- Where Thessaloniki is clearly cheaper: SIM card (50%โ), Half-day tour (46%โ), Taxi (42%โ)
- Where Catania is clearly cheaper: Coffee (53%โ), Entry ticket (40%โ), Cocktail & wine (35%โ)
By category
Salary equivalence
Travel difficulty
Thessaloniki is easier to travel (2.0 vs 2.6). Biggest gap: language โ Catania 3 vs Thessaloniki 2. Closer to 1 is easier. Difficulty ranking โบ
Item by item
| Item | Catania | Thessaloniki | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local mealper person | โฌ 13$15.1 | โฌ 13$15.1 | similar |
| Street food1 item | โฌ 3$3.49 | โฌ 4.5$5.23 | Catania โ33% |
| Restaurant dinnerper person | โฌ 30$34.9 | โฌ 25$29.1 | Thessaloniki โ17% |
| Coffeeone cup | โฌ 1.8$2.09 | โฌ 3.8$4.42 | Catania โ53% |
| Beerone bottle | โฌ 4.5$5.23 | โฌ 4.7$5.47 | similar |
| Cocktail & wineone cup | โฌ 6.5$7.56 | โฌ 10$11.6 | Catania โ35% |
| Bottled water | โฌ 0.8$0.93 | โฌ 0.5$0.58 | Thessaloniki โ38% |
| Convenience store1 snack or drink | โฌ 1.5$1.74 | โฌ 1.5$1.74 | similar |
| Taxi5 km in town | โฌ 13$15.1 | โฌ 7.5$8.72 | Thessaloniki โ42% |
| Tuk-tuk / moto taxishort hop | โฌ 8$9.3 | โฌ 5$5.81 | Thessaloniki โ38% |
| Transitone ride | โฌ 1$1.16 | โฌ 0.6$0.7 | Thessaloniki โ40% |
| Scooter rentalper day | โฌ 40$46.5 | โฌ 25$29.1 | Thessaloniki โ37% |
| Hotel night3-star | โฌ 80$93 | โฌ 85$98.8 | Catania โ6% |
| Studio rent (month) | โฌ 550$640 | โฌ 500$581 | Thessaloniki โ9% |
| Laundry | โฌ 8$9.3 | โฌ 9$10.5 | Catania โ11% |
| SIM card1 week data | โฌ 20$23.3 | โฌ 10$11.6 | Thessaloniki โ50% |
| Haircutcut | โฌ 13$15.1 | โฌ 12$14 | Thessaloniki โ8% |
| Massage1 hour | โฌ 45$52.3 | โฌ 28$32.6 | Thessaloniki โ38% |
| Half-day tourper person | โฌ 65$75.6 | โฌ 35$40.7 | Thessaloniki โ46% |
| Entry ticketTourist town | โฌ 6$6.98 | โฌ 10$11.6 | Catania โ40% |
Reference prices start as estimates from published price levels; items with 3+ traveler reports use the median of real reports. Hostels and local eateries cut both by 30%+.
FAQ
Which is cheaper, Catania or Thessaloniki?
Thessaloniki is 12% cheaper than Catania. Daily budget $221 vs $206; a month $3,605 vs $3,018.
Which is easier to travel, Catania or Thessaloniki?
Thessaloniki is easier: Thessaloniki 2.0/5 vs Catania 2.6/5 (average of rip-offs, language, transport, payments and safety).
How do monthly costs compare between Catania and Thessaloniki?
With a short-term studio and living costs, Catania is about $3,605 and Thessaloniki about $3,018 per month.
Where do the numbers come from?
They start as estimates informed by published price levels; any item with 3+ traveler reports switches to the median of real reports. Live reports are in the app.