Which place is cheaper, Athens or Zakynthos?
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 Zakynthos or Athens?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Zakynthos and Athens 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: Zakynthos or Athens?
Zakynthos
Zakynthos (also known as Zante) is a breathtaking island in the Ionian Sea, renowned for its stunning beaches, vibrant nightlife, and rich cultural heritage. Whether you're traveling on a budget, seeking scenic sights, engaging in activities, or savoring Greek cuisine, Zakynthos has it all. Exploring Zakynthos without breaking the bank is absolutely possible despite its generally high prices for hotels. Budget travelers can find affordable accommodations, dine at local tavernas, and enjoy many of the island's attractions for free or at a low cost, such as on the numerous hiking trails with epic views. Also, utilize public buses or rent a scooter for economical travel around the island.
Athens
Athens is the capital city of Greece and is home to a population of over 3.7 million people. It's most famous as the birthplace of Classical Greece and the history in the city is incomparable to that found anywhere. It became the national capital of the modern Greek State in the 1830s, before which it was just a small village with a very impressive history. The city was redesigned by architects and city planners and incorporated large public squares, lots of green space, and wide avenues. The city has had its ups and downs both economically and politically, but it remains a beautiful and impressive place to explore.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Honeymoon Tours in Greece, The Best Luxury Tours to Greece, The Best Budget Tours to Greece, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Greece.
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Zakynthos Prices
Greece PricesAthens Prices
Greece Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayZakynthos €521Athens €154
The average daily cost (per person) in Zakynthos is €521, while the average daily cost in Athens is €154. 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 Zakynthos and Athens in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personZakynthos €334Athens €63
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomZakynthos €668Athens €126
Compare Hotels in Zakynthos and Athens
Looking for a hotel in Zakynthos or Athens? 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: Zakynthos Hotel Prices and Athens Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Zakynthos €84Athens €27
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Zakynthos
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Zakynthos:
- Private Airport Transfer Alykes- Return Journey: $90
- Private Airport Transfer Alykanas- Return Journey: $90
- Private Airport Transfer - Argassi Return Journey: $56
- Private Airport Transfer Zakynthos Town - Return Journey: $53
- Private Airport Transfer Alykanas - One Way Journey: $48
- Private Airport Transfer - Kalamaki Return Transfer: $48
- Private Airport Transfer - Alykes One Way Journey: $48
- Zante Water Village Admission Ticket & Transfers Included: $41
- Private Airport Transfer - Laganas One Way Transfer: $37
- Private Airport Transfer - Argassi One Way : $28
- Private Airport Transfer - Kalamaki One Way Transfer: $24
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Athens
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Athens:
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Airport Bus for Two€6.40
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Metro€1.50
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Metro€2.00
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Metro from Airport to City Center€8.00
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Taxi from Airport€35
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Athens
Also for Athens, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Piraeus Port to and from Athens Airport Private Transfer: $18
- Mykonos Super Paradise Beach Transfers: $18
- Santorini Airport Private Transfer: $25
- Athens Airport (ATH) Private Transfer to Athens Hotels/Piraeus: $26
- Santorini: Private Airport and Port Transfer Service: $27
- Athens Airport Private Transfer to Piraeus Port with Meet & Greet: $28
- Private Transfer from Piraeus Port to Athens City: $28
- Private Transfer from Athens City Center to Piraeus Port: $29
- Athens Airport to and from Rafina or Lavrio Port Private Transfer: $30
- AIRPORT TRANSFER to/from hotel (up 14 in a luxurious Minibus ) : $33
- Athens International Airport (ATH) to Athens hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $35
- Arrival/Departure & Point to Point Transfer Services in Mykonos: $36
Is it cheaper to fly into Zakynthos or Athens?
Prices for flights to both Athens and Zakynthos 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 dayZakynthos €126Athens €64
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Zakynthos
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Zakynthos.
- Half-Day Greek Cooking Class of Zakynthian Culture with Lunch: $107
Typical Food Prices in Athens
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Athens:
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Ice cream€3.00
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Souvlaki€2.20
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Athens
For Athens, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Hard Rock Cafe Athens with Set Lunch or Dinner: $30
- Athens Greek Wedding Party Dinner Show with Acropolis Views: $42
- Foodies’ Favorite Food tour: $51
- Cooking Class at Diamond Roof Garden: $66
- The Bizarre Food Tour of Athens: $78
- Koukaki Food Tour with a Local Friend: $78
- Traditional Greek Cooking Class and Organic Lunch on Poros: $81
- Athens Walking Food Tour with Visit to Varvakios Central Market: $82
- Eat like an Athenian food tour of Athens: $82
- Traditional Cooking Classes incl. Drinks: $82
- Taste of Athens Small-Group Food Tour: $84
- Athens Evening Food Tour: $87
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Zakynthos €74Athens €36
Tours and Activities in Zakynthos
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Zakynthos are as follows:
- 3 Hours Marathonissi Island Tour, Keri Caves and Turtles Spotting: $30
- 7 Hour Shared 4x4 Off Road Experience in Zakynthos: $131
- Ceramic Making Experience in Zakynthos: $58
- Corelli's Kefalonia Island Tour from Zante: $69
- Discover the Zakynthos Past an Exclusive Tour: $54
- Exclusive Shipwreck & Blue caves Tour : Up to 10 guests: $60
- Go karting experience: $27
- Half Day Shipwreck Bay Guided Tour by Fast Boat: $115
- Mizithres Sunset Cruise and Turtle Spotting Boat Tour Zakynthos : $78
- Mizithres Sunset Cruise in Zakynthos: $45
- Shipwreck and Blue Caves Bus and Boat Tour: $94
- Small Group Turtle Tour Zakynthos: $84
Tours and Activities in Athens
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Athens.
- A Neoclassical Capital: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.50
- Self-Guided Greece Grand Tour with Audio Guide: $7.65
- The Best of Piraeus: A Self-Guided Walking Tour: $7.99
- Athens Interactive City Tour: $8.36
- Private Self-Guided Audio City-Tour in Athens: $9.56
- Traditional Greek Food: A Self-Guided Audio Tour of Athens: $9.99
- Secret A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $9.99
- Athens Olympic Museum ticket: $11
- Ancient Agora of Audio Tour on Your Phone (no ticket): $14
- Athens Museum of Cycladic Art | AdmissionTicket : $14
- Athens Museum of Illusions Ticket: $15
- Private Tour and Tasting at Zeginis Winery: $16
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayZakynthos €22Athens €23
Sample the Local Flavors in Athens
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Athens:
- Greek Honey Tasting Experience at our Old Distillery: $14
- Polykala Distillery: 128 years of history & liqueur tasting.: $17
- The NightCrawlers | Athens Bar Hopping | Pub Crawl: $19
- Liquer tasting in Polykala's Distillery Show Room in Athens: $19
- Saturday Night Pub Crawl for Professionals in Athens, Greece: $25
- Experience Ouzo Tasting at Athens Oldest Distillery: $26
- Athens Ultimate Bar Crawl: $48
- 2 Hours Wine Tasting Odyssey in Athens: $59
- Greek Wine Tasting with Acropolis view: $59
- Best rated Acropolis Wine Tasting : $59
- Acropolis Private Wine Tasting @ Finewine store : $67
- Greek food and wine tasting: $71
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Zakynthos and Athens, we can see that Zakynthos is more expensive. And not only is Athens much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Athens would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Athens 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 Zakynthos would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Zakynthos than you might in Athens.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Zakynthos Expensive? and Is Athens Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Zakynthos or Athens?
Athens has a larger population, and is about 60 times larger than the population of Zakynthos. When comparing the sizes of Zakynthos and Athens, 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.