Which is cheaper, what exactly is cheaper, and how it feels on your money ยท Updated October 2026
Meteora is easier to travel (1.8 vs 2.2). Biggest gap: rip-offs & haggling โ Heraklion 2 vs Meteora 1. Closer to 1 is easier. Difficulty ranking โบ
| Item | Heraklion | Meteora | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local mealper person | โฌ 12$14 | โฌ 13$15.1 | Heraklion โ8% |
| Street food1 item | โฌ 3.5$4.07 | โฌ 4.5$5.23 | Heraklion โ22% |
| Restaurant dinnerper person | โฌ 25$29.1 | โฌ 20$23.3 | Meteora โ20% |
| Coffeeone cup | โฌ 3.5$4.07 | โฌ 3.5$4.07 | similar |
| Beerone bottle | โฌ 4$4.65 | โฌ 4.5$5.23 | Heraklion โ11% |
| Cocktail & wineone cup | โฌ 9$10.5 | โฌ 8$9.3 | Meteora โ11% |
| Bottled water | โฌ 0.5$0.58 | โฌ 0.5$0.58 | similar |
| Convenience store1 snack or drink | โฌ 1.5$1.74 | โฌ 1.5$1.74 | similar |
| Taxi5 km in town | โฌ 7.5$8.72 | โฌ 8$9.3 | Heraklion โ6% |
| Tuk-tuk / moto taxishort hop | โฌ 5$5.81 | โฌ 5$5.81 | similar |
| Transitone ride | โฌ 1.3$1.51 | โฌ 2$2.33 | Heraklion โ35% |
| Scooter rentalper day | โฌ 25$29.1 | โฌ 20$23.3 | Meteora โ20% |
| Hotel night3-star | โฌ 90$105 | โฌ 75$87.2 | Meteora โ17% |
| Studio rent (month) | โฌ 450$523 | โฌ 350$407 | Meteora โ22% |
| Laundry | โฌ 9$10.5 | โฌ 8$9.3 | Meteora โ11% |
| SIM card1 week data | โฌ 10$11.6 | โฌ 15$17.4 | Heraklion โ33% |
| Haircutcut | โฌ 12$14 | โฌ 12$14 | similar |
| Massage1 hour | โฌ 50$58.1 | โฌ 40$46.5 | Meteora โ20% |
| Half-day tourper person | โฌ 40$46.5 | โฌ 35$40.7 | Meteora โ12% |
| Entry ticketTourist town | โฌ 20$23.3 | โฌ 5$5.81 | Meteora โ75% |
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%+.
Meteora is 9% cheaper than Heraklion. Daily budget $209 vs $188; a month $3,011 vs $2,759.
Meteora is easier: Meteora 1.8/5 vs Heraklion 2.2/5 (average of rip-offs, language, transport, payments and safety).
With a short-term studio and living costs, Heraklion is about $3,011 and Meteora about $2,759 per month.
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.