Greece is one of those rare destinations that genuinely works for every budget! A souvlaki costs 3€ and is genuinely one of the most satisfying cheap meals I know anywhere in the world. A bottle of water from a kiosk is 50 cents. And yet, that same country has some of the most expensive hotels and beach clubs in the world. So, how much does a trip to Greece cost? The answer depends almost entirely on where you go and how you travel, and the gap between the two extremes is unlike anywhere else in Europe!
I lived in Greece for several years and still go back every single year, so here is my very local guide to how much does a trip to Greece cost in 2026!
This article contains affiliate links. If you book through my links, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting The Beach Muse!
How much does a trip to Greece cost per day?
The cost of a vacation in Greece ranges from about 50€ to 300€+ per person per day, depending on your travel style, the islands you visit, and the time of year (exlcuding flights/means of transportation to Greece). Here is a realistic breakdown of your Greece travel budget per day.
Budget traveller — 50 to 80€/day
Entirely doable, and Greece is genuinely one of the best destinations in Europe at this price point. A dorm bed in a hostel or a basic studio costs 20 to 40€/night. Food is where Greece really shines on a budget: a souvlaki or gyros costs around 3€ and is one of the most satisfying cheap meals I know anywhere in the world.
A sit-down lunch at a local taverna can easily come in under 12 to 15€ per person with a drink. Getting around by local bus, cooking the occasional meal with fresh market produce, and sticking to free beaches and archaeological sites keeps daily costs very manageable.
Best destinations at this budget: mainland Greece (Peloponnese), Athens (away from tourist restaurants), Crete away from the resorts, Corfu, Lefkada, Ikaria, Samos.
Mid-range traveller — 80 to 150€/day
A comfortable private room or boutique guesthouse, eating out for most meals at proper tavernas, renting a scooter or splitting a car rental. This is the sweet spot for most travellers. At this budget, you can enjoy your time in Greece very well! Good food, a lovely place to stay, spontaneous boat trips.
Just factor in that ferry tickets between islands add up quickly (30 to 80€ per crossing, but more on that later and a special deal for European travelers) and entrance fees to major archaeological sites have increased significantly in recent years (12 to 30€ each).
Best destinations at this budget: Corfu, Naxos, Paros, Milos, Crete, Kefalonia, lesser known Cyclades.
Premium traveller — 150€+/day
Boutique hotels, beach clubs, nicer restaurants, private boat trips. Greece has some of the most beautiful luxury accommodation and dining in the Mediterranean if that is what you are looking for. At this level, the sky is genuinely the limit, but note that 150€/day per person still gets you relatively little on Mykonos or Santorini in peak season.
Mykonos and Santorini: a different category entirely
These two islands operate on a completely different price scale and deserve their own section. A decent hotel on Mykonos in July easily costs 300 to 500€/night for two. Beach clubs charge 50€+ (in the low range) just for a sunbed. A cocktail is 20€. Dinner at a nice restaurant, 80 to 120€ per person. So if you want to actually enjoy yourself (decent hotel, meals out, a beach club afternoon, a few drinks out at night) budget at least 250 to 300€/day per person.
The same applies broadly to Santorini, particularly for caldera-view accommodation. In a way, Mykonos and Santorini have more in common pricewise with other luxury destinations around the world than with the rest of Greece!
Day trips & more in Greece
How much is a trip to Greece for 2?
For a couple travelling together (or travelling with friends), Greece becomes even better value since accommodation costs are shared. Here is a realistic estimate for a 10-day trip for two, flights excluded:
Budget trip for 2 — 10 days: 1,000 to 1,600€ total Hostels or basic studios, local tavernas/gyros or souvlaki/cooking at your hostel, public transport, a couple of ferry crossings.
Mid-range trip for 2 — 10 days: 2,000 to 3,000€ total Comfortable guesthouses or boutique hotels, eating out daily, car or scooter rental, a few ferry crossings, entrance fees.
Last September, we went for a 9 nights trip to Paros (6 nights) and Naxos (3 nights), staying in beautiful boutique hotels and eating out every day (lunch + diner) in pretty nice places. We spent around 4,000€ in total (1,600€ for accommodation, the rest was for flights, restaurants, beach clubs, activities, souvenirs…).
How much spending money for 10 days in Greece?
If your accommodation is pre-booked, budget roughly 80 to 100€/day per person for food, transport, activities and entry fees on a mid-range trip. On a tighter budget, 30 to 70€/day per person is achievable if you choose the right islands and eat like a local.
Greece island comparison: which islands suit which budget?
| Islands | Budget | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Peloponnese, Ikaria, Tilos, Kastellorizo, Samos, Kefalonia | Budget | Off the beaten path, very local, minimal tourism infrastructure |
| Naxos, Paros, Lefkada, Crete, Corfu, Milos, Rhodes | Budget to mid-range | Large enough to have local infrastructure and affordable options. Beautiful, well-served, good value. |
| Hydra, Spetses | Mid to premium | Close to Athens, increasingly fashionable |
| Santorini, Mykonos | Premium+ | Trendy, luxury-driven, prices multiplied by 5 to 10 (possible to go there as a budget traveller off the beaten path) |
Budget breakdown: where does the money actually go for a trip in Greece?
Flights
Return flights from most European cities range from 50 to 300€ depending on the season and how far in advance you book. Flying into Athens is almost always cheaper than flying directly into an island. From there, domestic flights (Aegean Airlines, Sky Express) connect Athens to most islands for 30 to 80€ each way.
Accommodation (per room per night)
- Hostel dorm: 20 to 40€ per bed
- Basic private studio or guesthouse: 40 to 80€
- Comfortable boutique hotel: 100 to 200€ (even on “affordable” islands like Naxos or Paros in late September, expect 150 to 200€ for a nice place)
- Mykonos / Santorini: 300€+ for anything decent in peak season
Food
This is where Greece is genuinely unbeatable. A souvlaki or gyros costs around 3€, one of the cheapest proper meals in Europe! A bottle of water from a kiosk or supermarket is 50 cents. A full sit-down meal with wine at a local taverna, 15 to 25€ per person. Even in Athens, you can eat extremely well for very little if you go where locals go (check my Google Map with all best local addresses here!). The price gap widens enormously at trendy waterfront restaurants.
A tip for cheaper meals on the islands: in Corfu, for example, a meal in the old town tourist area costs three times more than the same meal in a village ten minutes away. Greece is full of these contrasts, the key is knowing where to look! Don’t hesitate to ask the locals for tips, they will often lead you to the most authentic places around 😊
My article about Greece’s best traditional dishes →
My article about the difference between gyros, souvlaki and kebab →
Ferries
Budget 30 to 80€ per crossing on average, though short routes can be as little as 8 to 15€. Book in advance in summer, popular routes fill up fast.
Car and scooter rental
A small car costs 30 to 60€/day depending on the island and season, scooters from 15 to 25€/day. Essential for getting around most islands properly.
Archaeological sites
Budget 12 to 30€ per site for the big ones. The Acropolis combined ticket covering multiple sites is worth it if you are spending a few days in Athens.
The Greek Islands ferry pass: worth it for island hoppers
If you are planning to visit several islands by ferry, the Greek Islands Pass by Interrail (for European residents) or Eurail (for non-Europeans) is genuinely worth considering. It comes in two versions:
4 days within 1 month — from 82€/$97: covers domestic ferry routes only (Blue Star Ferries, Hellenic Seaways). Each travel day is valid from midnight to 23:59, during which you can board as many ferries as you want. For example you could do Piraeus → Santorini → Naxos → Rhodes → Piraeus with this ticket.
6 days within 1 month — from 176€/$208: includes 2 international travel days (Italy → Greece ferry) plus 4 domestic days, and a free bus/train transfer between the port of Patras and Piraeus.
Islands covered include the Cyclades (Naxos, Paros, Mykonos, Santorini, Milos…), the Dodecanese (Rhodes, Kos, Patmos…), the Saronic Islands, Crete and more. Seat reservations are mandatory but free of charge, book them as early as possible since ferries fill up fast in summer!
Is it worth it?
Yes, if you are doing at least 3 to 4 medium or long crossings. A single Athens to Santorini crossing can cost 40 to 80€, so on a multi-island itinerary, the pass pays for itself very quickly. That said, for shorter trips/simple round trips, booking individual tickets through Ferryhopper (my favourite ferry platform) may still be better value.
My money-saving tips for Greece
Book everything as early as possible
Honestly, this one thing will save you more money than anything else! Hotels, ferries and flights all get significantly more expensive as you approach the date, especially in July and August. Book accommodation at least 3 to 4 months in advance for peak season. I actually book them 6 to 8 months before to get the best value for money but that’s just me haha.
Use Booking.com Genius
The Genius loyalty programme gives you genuine discounts (10 to 20%) and occasional free breakfast at participating hotels. Worth using even for a single trip.
Pay cash where possible
Cash is still very much king in Greece! In family-run hotels and guesthouses, calling ahead and mentioning you plan to pay in cash can sometimes get you a small discount (an alternative to Booking.com, call the hotel directly). The same applies in local shops. A few words of Greek can also go a long way in bonding with locals.
Travel in shoulder season
Late April to June and September to October offer warm weather, swimmable sea, and prices 30 to 40% lower than peak summer. Late September is my personal favourite: the sea is at its warmest, the crowds have thinned, and the light is extraordinary.
Eat like a local
Avoid any restaurant with photos on the menu or a tout at the door. Walk one street back from the waterfront. Look for where locals are actually eating. A souvlaki from a street stand is not just cheap, it is actually often better than a restaurant version at five times the price.
Rent a car or scooter
It might sound counterintuitive but renting wheels often saves money by letting you reach secluded beaches and local villages where everything is cheaper.
A little FAQ
How expensive is Greece compared to other European destinations?
Greece is one of the most affordable Mediterranean destinations for budget and mid-range travellers: cheaper than France, Italy or Spain in most categories, with the notable exception of Mykonos and Santorini, which rank among the most expensive island destinations in Europe.
How expensive is a trip to Greece in peak season?
July and August are significantly more expensive than the rest of the year. Expect accommodation prices to be 30 to 50% higher than in May or September, ferries to fill up weeks in advance, and popular beaches to be packed by 10am. If you have flexibility, avoid peak season.
How much spending money for 10 days in Greece?
If accommodation is pre-booked, budget 80 to 120€/day per person for food, transport, activities and entry fees on a mid-range trip, so roughly 800 to 1,200€ spending money per person for 10 days. That’s if you like to sit at beach clubs and restaurants almost everyday, but you can actually spend much less.
Is Greece cheaper than Italy or Spain?
Generally yes, especially for food and accommodation outside of the premium islands. A sit-down meal in Greece costs noticeably less than the equivalent in Italy or Spain.
When is the cheapest time to visit Greece?
November to April is the cheapest, but many islands close down entirely. The best value window is May to early June and late September to October, with great weather, open businesses, and prices significantly lower than peak season.
Day trips & more in Greece
How much does a trip to Greece cost? My final words
Greece is one of the few destinations where a 50€/day backpacker and a 500€/day luxury traveller can visit the same island on the same week and both have the trip of their lives. The souvlaki costs the same for everyone. The sunsets are free. And the sea is open to all.
The secret is pretty simple: plan ahead, pick your islands carefully, and go where locals actually eat and drink. Avoid the tourist traps on the waterfront, pay in cash when you can, and don’t let anyone convince you that you Mykonos and Santorini are the only places to have an unforgettable Greek holiday! There is much more about Greece than these two islands.
Ready to start planning your trip to Greece? Check out my complete Greece Travel Guide for everything else you need to know, best islands, transport, accommodation and when to go, or drop me a message @thebeachmuse or at hello@thebeachmuse.com if you need custom help planning your trip!
Did you like this post? Save it on Pinterest!
Hi, I’m Sophie! I come from Paris but I’ve been in love with the Mediterranean for as long as I can remember. The hidden coves, the ancient villages, the flavors, the light… The Beach Muse is my way of sharing the places and people that make this corner of the world so special to me and so hard to leave.
