Which place is cheaper, Belgrade or Thessaloniki?
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 Thessaloniki or Belgrade?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Thessaloniki or Belgrade? 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: Thessaloniki or Belgrade?
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.
Belgrade
Belgrade is the capital city of the Republic of Serbia. Dating back to the 4th Century BC, is has seen many changes from Celtic tribes at its earliest beginnings to Roman rule, the Ottoman Empire, and Serbian independence. Relics of its past can be seen today in Belgrade's architecture and museums, while there are also a host of contemporary activities like nightlife, clubs, cafes, and concerts.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Tours for Seniors to Greece, The Best Contiki Tours to Greece, The Best Budget Tours to Serbia, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Belgrade.
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Thessaloniki Prices
Greece PricesBelgrade Prices
Serbia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayThessaloniki €165Belgrade €48
The average daily cost (per person) in Thessaloniki is €165, while the average daily cost in Belgrade is €48. 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 Thessaloniki and Belgrade in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personThessaloniki €79Belgrade €28
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomThessaloniki €158Belgrade €56
Compare Hotels in Thessaloniki and Belgrade
Looking for a hotel in Thessaloniki or Belgrade? 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: Thessaloniki Hotel Prices and Belgrade Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Thessaloniki €13Belgrade €5.20
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
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Belgrade
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Belgrade:
- Serbia：Private Transfer from Belgrade to Kopaonik: $303
- Serbia: Shared Transfer from Belgrade to Kopaonik（Chinese）: $232
- Serbia: From Belgrade Airport to Belgrade One-way Transfer: $54
- Private transfer from Belgrade or Belgrade Airport to Novi Sad: $184
- Private transfer from Belgrade Airport: $60
- Private Transfer: Belgrade to Novi Sad and back: $167
- Private Transfer from Belgrade Airport (BEG) to Vršac: $257
- Private Transfer from Belgrade Airport (BEG) to Sremski Karlovci: $171
- Private Transfer from Belgrade Airport (BEG) to Šabac: $194
- Private Transfer : $107
- Private Day Trip/Transfer Tour from Belgrade to Timisoara: $212
- Private Airport Transfer from Belgrade to Novi Sad: $149
Is it cheaper to fly into Thessaloniki or Belgrade?
Prices for flights to both Belgrade and Thessaloniki 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 dayThessaloniki €72Belgrade €15
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
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Belgrade
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Belgrade.
- E-Scooter Serbian Food Tour: $82
- E-Scooter Serbian Food Tour: $83
- Private Serbian Food Cooking Experience in Belgrade with Meal: $83
- Private Walking and Food Tour in Belgrade: $113
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Thessaloniki €26Belgrade €4.19
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
Tours and Activities in Belgrade
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Belgrade are as follows:
- Magic Christmas tour in Novi Sad: $218
- 1h Private photo sessions tour in Belgrade: $176
- 2000 years of walking tour across the Old City: $34
- 3 Hour Private Walking Tour in Novi Sad City: $60
- 4h Private photo sessions tour in Belgrade: $211
- Ada Lake Tour: $48
- Avala Mountain Private Tour: $79
- Avala Mountain Tour: $99
- Belgrade : Must-See Attractions Private Walking Tour: $34
- Belgrade : Old Town Walking Tour With A Guide: $32
- Belgrade Above the Waters: History Walking Tour of the City: $76
- Belgrade Big Tour: Top Attractions and Belgrade Neighborhoods: $71
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayThessaloniki €15Belgrade €19
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
Sample the Local Flavors in Belgrade
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Belgrade:
- Guided Nightlife Pub Crawl: $26
- Columbo Pub Crawl Belgrade: $48
- RePlay Pub Crawl in Belgrade: $57
- Natural wine tasting with great views: $71
- Private Wine Tasting by Party in Belgrade: $77
- Belgrade Buzzin Pub Crawl: $83
- Novisad Nightlife Pub Crawl Tour: $83
- Golubac Fortress w/Iron Gate Speed Boat & Rakija Distillery tour: $89
- Belgrade Local Serbian Wine Tasting Tour: $94
- Novi Sad and Sremski Karlovci Wine Tour From Belgrade: $101
- Pearl of North Serbia, trip to Novi Sad and Sremski Karlovci with wine tasting: $106
- Novi Sad and Fruska Gora with Wine Tasting in Sremski Karlovci: $113
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Thessaloniki and Belgrade, we can see that Thessaloniki is more expensive. And not only is Belgrade much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Belgrade would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Belgrade 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 Belgrade.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Thessaloniki Expensive? and Is Belgrade Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Thessaloniki or Belgrade?
Belgrade has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Thessaloniki. When comparing the sizes of Thessaloniki and Belgrade, 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.
When is the best time to visit Thessaloniki or Belgrade?
Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.
Should I visit Thessaloniki or Belgrade in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Thessaloniki as well as Belgrade. Many visitors come to Thessaloniki in the summer for the beaches, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences.
In the summer, Thessaloniki is around the same temperature as Belgrade. Typically, the summer temperatures in Thessaloniki in July average around 25°C (77°F), and Belgrade averages at about 23°C (73°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Belgrade. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Thessaloniki this time of the year. In the summer, Thessaloniki often gets more sunshine than Belgrade. Thessaloniki gets 327 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Belgrade receives 285 hours of full sun.
Thessaloniki usually gets less rain in July than Belgrade. Thessaloniki gets 26 mm (1 in) of rain, while Belgrade receives 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyThessaloniki 25°C (77°F)Belgrade 23°C (73°F)
Should I visit Thessaloniki or Belgrade in the Autumn?
Both Belgrade and Thessaloniki are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Thessaloniki for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene during these months.
In October, Thessaloniki is generally a little warmer than Belgrade. Daily temperatures in Thessaloniki average around 16°C (61°F), and Belgrade fluctuates around 14°C (57°F).
Thessaloniki usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Belgrade during autumn. Thessaloniki gets 159 hours of sunny skies, while Belgrade receives 168 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Thessaloniki usually receives around the same amount of rain as Belgrade. Thessaloniki gets 41 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Belgrade receives 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberThessaloniki 16°C (61°F)Belgrade 14°C (57°F)
Should I visit Thessaloniki or Belgrade in the Winter?
Both Belgrade and Thessaloniki during the winter are popular places to visit. The winter months attract visitors to Thessaloniki because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
It's quite cold in Belgrade in the winter. Thessaloniki is much warmer than Belgrade in the winter. The daily temperature in Thessaloniki averages around 5°C (41°F) in January, and Belgrade fluctuates around 2°C (35°F).
In the winter, Thessaloniki often gets more sunshine than Belgrade. Thessaloniki gets 101 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Belgrade receives 71 hours of full sun.
Thessaloniki usually gets less rain in January than Belgrade. Thessaloniki gets 37 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Belgrade receives 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryThessaloniki 5°C (41°F)Belgrade 2°C (35°F)
Should I visit Thessaloniki or Belgrade in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Thessaloniki and Belgrade. The beaches and the activities around the city are the main draw to Thessaloniki this time of year.
In the spring, Thessaloniki is around the same temperature as Belgrade. Typically, the spring temperatures in Thessaloniki in April average around 13°C (56°F), and Belgrade averages at about 14°C (56°F).
Thessaloniki usually receives more sunshine than Belgrade during spring. Thessaloniki gets 196 hours of sunny skies, while Belgrade receives 178 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Thessaloniki usually receives less rain than Belgrade. Thessaloniki gets 36 mm (1.4 in) of rain, while Belgrade receives 59 mm (2.3 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilThessaloniki 13°C (56°F)Belgrade 14°C (56°F)
Typical Weather for Belgrade and Thessaloniki
| Thessaloniki | Belgrade | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 5°C (41°F) | 37 mm (1.5 in) | 2°C (35°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) |
| Feb | 7°C (44°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 4°C (39°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) |
| Mar | 9°C (49°F) | 46 mm (1.8 in) | 9°C (47°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| Apr | 13°C (56°F) | 36 mm (1.4 in) | 14°C (56°F) | 59 mm (2.3 in) |
| May | 18°C (65°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) | 18°C (65°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) |
| Jun | 23°C (73°F) | 32 mm (1.3 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) |
| Jul | 25°C (77°F) | 26 mm (1 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) |
| Aug | 25°C (76°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 52 mm (2 in) |
| Sep | 21°C (70°F) | 26 mm (1 in) | 19°C (67°F) | 51 mm (2 in) |
| Oct | 16°C (61°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Nov | 11°C (52°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) | 8°C (47°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) |
| Dec | 7°C (44°F) | 53 mm (2.1 in) | 3°C (38°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) |
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.