A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Cluj-Napoca / Kolozsvar vs. Thessaloniki for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Cluj-Napoca / Kolozsvar or Thessaloniki?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Cluj-Napoca / Kolozsvar and Thessaloniki can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Where Should I go: Cluj-Napoca / Kolozsvar or Thessaloniki?

Cluj-Napoca / Kolozsvar

Located in northeast Romania, Cluj-Napoca is the capital of the Transylvania region and one of the nation's most-visited cities. Many visitors come to experience the modern Transylvanian university culture, admire historic churches and other landmarks, see fortress ruins, and visit museums.

Thessaloniki

Thessaloniki is the second largest city in Greece and serves as the capital city of the Central Macedonia region. It also has a rich history dating back more than 3,000 years. As a visitor, you'll find that the city has been touched by the Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman empires, all of which left their mark. In particular, the many Byzantine churches are quite impressive, with some of them listed on the UNESCO World Heritage list.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Romania, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Romania, The Best Tours for Seniors to Greece, and The Best Contiki Tours to Greece.


Which place is cheaper, Thessaloniki or Cluj-Napoca / Kolozsvar?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

  • Cluj-Napoca / Kolozsvar Prices
    Romania Prices
    Thessaloniki Prices
    Greece Prices
  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    Cluj-Napoca / Kolozsvar $110
    Thessaloniki $193

The average daily cost (per person) in Cluj-Napoca / Kolozsvar is $110, while the average daily cost in Thessaloniki is $193. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Cluj-Napoca / Kolozsvar and Thessaloniki in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Cluj-Napoca / Kolozsvar $54
    Thessaloniki $93
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Cluj-Napoca / Kolozsvar $108
    Thessaloniki $186
Compare Hotels in Cluj-Napoca / Kolozsvar and Thessaloniki

Looking for a hotel in Cluj-Napoca / Kolozsvar or Thessaloniki? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.

Hotels in Cluj-Napoca / Kolozsvar


Hotels in Thessaloniki


Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.


Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Cluj-Napoca / Kolozsvar Hotel Prices and Thessaloniki Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Cluj-Napoca / Kolozsvar $15
    Thessaloniki $16

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cluj-Napoca / Kolozsvar

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cluj-Napoca / Kolozsvar:

  • Private Transfer Cluj Napoca Airport: $30

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Thessaloniki

Also for Thessaloniki, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Athens to/from Thessaloniki : Private Transfer: $1,006
  • From Private Day Trip to Meteora with Transfer: $493
  • Thessaloniki Airport Private Transfer Service: $35
  • Bus Transfer to/from Kavala: $25

Is it cheaper to fly into Cluj-Napoca / Kolozsvar or Thessaloniki?

Prices for flights to both Thessaloniki and Cluj-Napoca / Kolozsvar change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.





Food
  • Food Meals for one day
    Cluj-Napoca / Kolozsvar $47
    Thessaloniki $85

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Thessaloniki

For Thessaloniki, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Open Market Food Tour with Tasting: $53
  • Cooking & Dining Experience with Greek Family: $69
  • Guided Food Tour: $76
  • Greek Ouzo and Meze Food Tour With A Local: $93
  • Traditional Greek Food Tour With A Local: $94
  • Kavala Food Tour and Cooking Workshop: $95
  • Get a Taste of Thessaloniki - Food Tour & Lunch: $103
  • Greek Cooking Class, Market Visit and Lunch: $104
  • Guided Walking and Food Tour with Drinks: $117
  • Thessaloniki Food Tour with a Local Chef: $129
  • Cooking & Wine Tasting with Dockside Views: $141
  • Cooking classes for Foodies, Discover Greek cuisine.: $158

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Cluj-Napoca / Kolozsvar $8.51
    Thessaloniki $31

Tours and Activities in Cluj-Napoca / Kolozsvar

Here are a few actual costs in Cluj-Napoca / Kolozsvar for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • CJ04 -MaramureČ™ Adventure: Tradition, Folk Art, and Scenic Beauty: $161
  • CLUJ ADVENTURE TOUR ! ZIP LINE and HIKE: $107
  • Cluj Comunism Walking Tour : $60
  • Cluj Must-See Attractions Walking Tour With A Guide: $54
  • Cluj-Napoca Walking City Tour: $63
  • Cluj-Napoca: 2.5-Hour Guided Walking Tour: $35
  • Curly Tour - Day trip from Cluj :): $119
  • Evening Culinary Experience in Rimetea (5h, from Cluj): $113
  • Jewish Heritage Tour in Cluj: $60
  • Local Tour of Cluj by Electric Bike: $54
  • Night Tour in Hoia Baciu Forest: $129
  • Private Hiking OR Climbing Experience in beaufitul gorges: $107

Tours and Activities in Thessaloniki

For Thessaloniki, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • White Tower Self-Guided Audio Tour: $9.37
  • Self-Guided Audio Walking Tour & Narrative: $9.37
  • Thessaloniki:Selfie Museum, a 60-minute immersive experience: $13
  • Museum of Illusions Admission Ticket: $13
  • Ticket for Frida Kahlo Beyond the Icon Immersive Experience: $18
  • Cretan Olive Oil Tasting Experience: $18
  • Thessaloniki Hop-on Hop-off Sightseeing Bus Tour: $19
  • City Sightseeing Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour: $19
  • OTE Tower Rotating Experience with Light Meal: $21
  • Byzantine Museum E-Ticket with Audio Tour: $21
  • Byzantine Museum E-Ticket & Audio City Tour: $25
  • Polycentric Museum & Aigai Royal Graves E-ticket with Audio Guide: $36

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Cluj-Napoca / Kolozsvar $7.27
    Thessaloniki $17

Sample the Local Flavors in Cluj-Napoca / Kolozsvar

Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Cluj-Napoca / Kolozsvar:

  • Pub Crawl in Cluj: $29
  • Sibiu & wine tasting (1 day, from Cluj): $137
  • Sighisoara & wine tasting (1 day, from Cluj): $161

Sample the Local Flavors in Thessaloniki

Also in Thessaloniki, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:

  • From Pella-Edessa-Naousa wine tasting: $76
  • Small-Group Wine Tasting Tour with Appetizers: $89
  • Wine Tasting & Farm tour in Thessaloniki: $95
  • Winery Visit with Wine Tasting Experience: $111
  • Northern Greece Wine Tasting Tour in Kavala: $155
  • Small Group Kavala Tour: Pangaion Mountain & Wine Tasting: $274


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Cluj-Napoca / Kolozsvar and Thessaloniki, we can see that Thessaloniki is more expensive. And not only is Cluj-Napoca / Kolozsvar much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Cluj-Napoca / Kolozsvar would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Cluj-Napoca / Kolozsvar and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Thessaloniki would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Thessaloniki than you might in Cluj-Napoca / Kolozsvar.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Cluj-Napoca / Kolozsvar Expensive? and Is Thessaloniki Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Cluj-Napoca / Kolozsvar or Thessaloniki?

Thessaloniki has a larger population, and is about 12% larger than the population of Cluj-Napoca / Kolozsvar. When comparing the sizes of Cluj-Napoca / Kolozsvar and Thessaloniki, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.