Which place is cheaper, Kos 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 Kos?
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 Kos. 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 Kos?
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.
Kos
Kos is a Greek island and third largest island of the Dodecanese group, located near the Turkish coast in the southeast Aegean Sea. It is best known for its beautiful sandy beaches, which make it a popular tourist destination, as well as its ancient Greek and Roman landmarks.
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 PricesKos Prices
Greece Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayLesbos €276Kos €165
The average daily cost (per person) in Lesbos is €276, while the average daily cost in Kos is €165. 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 Kos in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personLesbos €117Kos €62
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomLesbos €234Kos €124
Compare Hotels in Lesbos and Kos
Looking for a hotel in Lesbos or Kos? 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 Kos Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Lesbos €61Kos €37
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kos
Also for Kos, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- A Day's 3-Island Cruise Tour with Transfer: $54
- Arrival transfer from Kos Airport : $74
- Artemis Hamam and Spa with Hotel Transfers Kos Island: $60
- From Kalymnos Self-Guided Day Trip with Hotel Transfer: $68
- Kos - Airport Private Transfer: $66
- Kos Hotels to Kos Airport Private One–Way Transfer: $65
- Kos Private Airport and Hotel Transfer : $78
- Kos Town: Kalymnos & Pserimos Day Cruise & Optional Transfer: $33
- Kos transfer services, Kos - Airport - Kos: $118
- Paradise Beach Return Transfer: $27
- Roundtrip Bus Transfer to Mount Zia for Sunset Viewing: $29
- Lido Water Park Admission Ticket with Transfers: $26
Is it cheaper to fly into Lesbos or Kos?
Prices for flights to both Kos 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 €119Kos €75
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Kos
For Kos, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Sunset Cruise with Swimming and BBQ Dinner: $65
- Kos Greek Night with Transfer Dinner and Unlimited Wine: $66
- Kefalos Sunset Cruise from Kos with Dinner: $67
- Greek Dinner with Music, Dancing, and Unlimited Wine: $88
- Sunset Safari Tour with Dinner: $111
- Kos 4x4 Sunset Adventure with dinner: $113
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Lesbos €37Kos €33
Tours and Activities in Kos
For Kos, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Kos Scavenger Hunt and Highlights Self-Guided Tour: $11
- Kos Town: Glass-Bottom Boat Cruise with Swimming Stops: $23
- Dory's Glass Bottom Boat Adventure in Pserimos and Pserimos Beach: $24
- From Zia Sunset Tour: $29
- 3-Island Cruise with Lunch, Swimming and Audio Guide: $29
- Kos : 3-Island Wooden Ship Cruise w/ Lunch on Captain Hook: $29
- Zia Village Sunset Tour with Hotel Pickup: $29
- From 3-Island Pirate Cruise with Lunch and Waterslide: $29
- The Santa Maria 3 Island Cruise in the Aegean w/ Free Audio Guide: $30
- Barco De Pirata Cruise at 3 Islands in Greece : $30
- 3 Island Cruise Tour in Kos Island with Personalized Audio Guide: $31
- From Kos:A full day cruise in the newest luxury vessel!: $35
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayLesbos €23Kos €19
Sample the Local Flavors in Kos
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Kos:
- Sip and Savor Boutique Wine Tasting Experience: $66
- Guided Tour of Kos Town Asclepeion and Zia with Wine Tasting: $99
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Lesbos and Kos, we can see that Lesbos is more expensive. And not only is Kos much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Kos would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Kos 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 Kos.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Lesbos Expensive? and Is Kos Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Lesbos or Kos?
Kos has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Lesbos. When comparing the sizes of Lesbos and Kos, 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.