Which place is cheaper, Thessaloniki or Naxos?
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 Naxos or Thessaloniki?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Naxos or Thessaloniki? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Naxos or Thessaloniki?
Naxos
Naxos, the largest island in the Cyclades, is a gem waiting to be discovered. Its blend of stunning landscapes, rich history, and vibrant culture make it a perfect destination for all types of travelers. Naxos offers long and flat beaches with clear, turquoise water along with inland mountains full of agriculture and ancient ruins. It has a reputation of being one of the more family-friendly islands for all of these qualities.
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 Sightseeing Tours in Greece, The Best Vineyard & Wine Tours in Greece, The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Greece, and The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Greece.
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Naxos Prices
Greece PricesThessaloniki Prices
Greece Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayNaxos €221Thessaloniki €165
The average daily cost (per person) in Naxos is €221, while the average daily cost in Thessaloniki 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 Naxos and Thessaloniki in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personNaxos €75Thessaloniki €79
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomNaxos €150Thessaloniki €158
Compare Hotels in Naxos and Thessaloniki
Looking for a hotel in Naxos 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.
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: Naxos Hotel Prices and Thessaloniki Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Naxos €52Thessaloniki €13
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Naxos
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Naxos:
- Private Transfer in Naxos: $67
- Naxos Private Transfer: $44
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Thessaloniki
Also for Thessaloniki, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Bus Transfer to/from Kavala: $25
- Thessaloniki Airport Private Transfer Service: $35
- From Private Day Trip to Meteora with Transfer: $493
- Athens to/from Thessaloniki : Private Transfer: $1,006
Is it cheaper to fly into Naxos or Thessaloniki?
Prices for flights to both Thessaloniki and Naxos 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 dayNaxos €107Thessaloniki €72
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Naxos
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Naxos.
- Naxos Old Town Private Food Tour with Dinner and Pickup: $167
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
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Naxos €40Thessaloniki €26
Tours and Activities in Naxos
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Naxos are as follows:
- Cruises to Delos-Mykonos, Santorini and Koufonisi by Alexander : $84
- Half-Day Tour of Naxos Island (up to 7 pax): $143
- Naxos Villages Private 4 Hour Tour: $164
- Private Full Island 5-Hour Tour: $206
- Private Wine Three and Half-Hour Experience: $164
- Riverbank Adventure in Naxos (Kinidaros - Eggares): $114
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
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayNaxos €30Thessaloniki €15
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 Naxos and Thessaloniki, we can see that Naxos is more expensive. And not only is Thessaloniki much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Thessaloniki would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Thessaloniki 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 Naxos would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Naxos than you might in Thessaloniki.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Naxos Expensive? and Is Thessaloniki Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Naxos or Thessaloniki?
Thessaloniki has a larger population, and is about 50 times larger than the population of Naxos. When comparing the sizes of Naxos 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.
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.