Which place is cheaper, Chania or Lesbos?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Lesbos or Chania?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Lesbos and Chania. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Lesbos or Chania?
Lesbos
Lesbos, the third-largest Greek island, offers a captivating blend of natural beauty, rich history, and authentic Greek culture. Visiting Lesbos doesn't have to break the bank. Budget accommodations can be found for as low as €25-40 per night in the off-season and €40-60 during peak months. For affordable meals, seek out local tavernas away from tourist hotspots. The villages of Petra and Molyvos offer authentic dining experiences at reasonable prices, and many tavernas provide daily specials ("mezedes") that are both delicious and economical.
Chania
Chania is a city on the northwest coast of the Greek island of Crete. Chania is Crete's most evocative city, with its pretty Venetian quarter, crisscrossed by narrow lanes, culminating at a magnificent harbor. At the harbor entrance is a 16th-century lighthouse with Venetian, Egyptian, and Ottoman influences. On the other side, the Nautical Museum has model ships, naval objects and photographs. The former monastery of St. Francis houses the Archaeological Museum of Chania. Remnants of Venetian and Turkish architecture abound, with old townhouses now transformed into atmospheric restaurants and boutique hotels. Although all this beauty means the old town is packed with tourists in summer, it's still a great place to unwind. The Venetian Harbor is super for a stroll and a coffee or cocktail. Plus it’s got a university and a modern area to the city, which means that it retains its charm in winter. Indie boutiques and an entire lane dedicated to leather products provide good shopping and, with a multitude of creative restaurants, you’ll likely have some of your best meals on Crete here.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Greece, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Greece, The Best Historical Tours in Greece, and The Best 10-Day Tours in Greece.
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Lesbos Prices
Greece PricesChania Prices
Greece Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayLesbos €276Chania €116
The average daily cost (per person) in Lesbos is €276, while the average daily cost in Chania is €116. 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 Lesbos and Chania in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personLesbos €117Chania €46
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomLesbos €234Chania €92
Compare Hotels in Lesbos and Chania
Looking for a hotel in Lesbos or Chania? 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.
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: Lesbos Hotel Prices and Chania Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Lesbos €61Chania €15
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Chania
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Chania:
- Chania Airport Transfer to or from Platanias Agia Marina and more: $90
- Crete Private Taxi and Transfer from Chania to Sfakia: $144
- Crete Private Taxi and Transfer from Kalyves to Heraklion: $236
- Crete Private Transfer to or from Ports Airports Hotels Villas: $150
- Crete: Private Taxi & Transfer from Chania to Rethymno: $108
- Crete: Private Taxi & Transfer from Rethymno to Chania: $108
- Heraklion and Chania Transfer with Sightseeing in Rethymno: $228
- One-Way Shared Transfer From/To Chania Airport To Plakias: $96
- Private Roundtrip Transfer from Chania to Samaria Gorge Park: $86
- Private Transfer from Rethymno to Heraklion airport: $127
- Private Transfers from Chania Airport to Kissamos one way: $144
- Souda Port-Bay to Chania City Private Tour with Transfer: $120
Is it cheaper to fly into Lesbos or Chania?
Prices for flights to both Chania and Lesbos 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
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Food Meals for one dayLesbos €119Chania €56
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Chania
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Chania.
- The Delicious Chania Street Food Tour : $96
- Half Day Sunset Tour in Rethymno with Dinner and Wine: $101
- Chania Walking Food Tours Crete with a local!: $101
- Morning Bites and Market Delights Food Tour: $108
- Evening Feasts A Journey through Cretan Flavors Food Tour: $108
- Mountain Food Tour [out of the box]- Chania Villages: $198
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Lesbos €37Chania €21
Tours and Activities in Chania
Here are a few actual costs in Chania for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Chania Scavenger Hunt and Highlights Self-Guided Tour: $9.57
- Gramvousa Island & Balos Bay Full-Day Tour from Rethymno English & German guide: $20
- Day Tour To Chania City: $28
- Limnoupolis Water Admission Ticket: $33
- Chania City Evening Tour From Rethymno: $34
- Elafonissi Beach Tour from Chania with stop in Elos Village: $34
- Knossos & Heraklion City Day Tour from Rethimno: $34
- 6-Hours Safari Tour in Damnoni and Skinaria Beach, from Plakias: $34
- Imbros Gorge and Libyan Sea Day Tour From Chania: $35
- Full day Samaria Gorge Tour from Chania Through Easy Way: $36
- Chania City & Lake Kournas Tour: $36
- Elafonissi Beach and Chania City Tour From Rethymno: $40
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayLesbos €23Chania €18
Sample the Local Flavors in Chania
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Chania:
- Crete: Local Wine Tasting & Visit to the Ancient Olive Tree: $143
- Cave and Cretan Brewery tour with lunch: $186
- PRIVATE Walking Tour with Lunch and Wine Tasting by a Sommelier: $192
- Gastronomy tour and wine tasting in traditional villages : $216
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Lesbos and Chania, we can see that Lesbos is more expensive. And not only is Chania much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Chania would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Chania 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 Lesbos would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Lesbos than you might in Chania.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Lesbos Expensive? and Is Chania Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Lesbos or Chania?
Chania has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Lesbos. When comparing the sizes of Lesbos and Chania, 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.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.