Should you visit Aegina or Thessaloniki?
Should I visit Aegina or Thessaloniki? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Aegina
The island of Aegina is one of the Saronic Islands of Greece located in the Saronic Gulf. It is named for the mother of the hero Aeacus, who was born on the island and eventually became its king. The legend goes that the god Zeus swept Aegina away from her husband to the island where her son was born—hence the island's name became Aegina.
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.
Which city is cheaper, Thessaloniki or Aegina?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Aegina is €74, while the average daily cost in Thessaloniki is €107. 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 city. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Aegina and Thessaloniki in more detail.
Accommodation
If you're traveling alone, you may be able to find a budget hotel or hostel for around €34. But for two people in a standard two-person hotel room in Aegina the cost is €68 on average.
An average hotel room with basic furnishings costs about €126 in Thessaloniki For the most convenient locations and nicer amenities you can expect to pay a bit more.
Food
On average, meal and food prices in Aegina cost around €27 per person, per day. While this price can vary widely by location, the type of restaurant, and the amount of food ordered, a typical meal often costs around €11.
The average traveler spends about €33 per day in Thessaloniki for food, but obviously this is dependent on the type of restaurant and the amount of food ordered. To save money you can grab a lighter lunch or dinner, or you can try fast food or street food.
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Food
Meals for one day
Aegina €27
Thessaloniki €33
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Thessaloniki
For Thessaloniki, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
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Thessaloniki City Morning Walking Food Tour:
$58
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Dinner with a view in the historic center of Thessaloniki:
$79
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Thessaloniki Food Tour - Gastronomy Experience - 4 hrs:
$137
Local Transportation
While taxis and private drivers typically cost much more than public transportation, people usually spend around €19 per day to get around in Aegina.
Public transportation tends to be much less expensive in Thessaloniki than paying for a taxi or private car service, as is expected. Typically, people spend €11 on transportation in Thessaloniki on average per day.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Thessaloniki
Also for Thessaloniki, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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One Way Private Transfer from SKG Apt to or from Thessaloniki City Center:
$40
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Private Airport Round-trip Transfer: Thessaloniki Airport - Thessaloniki City:
$44
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Private Airport Transfer: Thessaloniki Int. Airport (SKG) to Thessaloniki:
$18
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Private Airport Transfer: from Thessaloniki to Thessaloniki Int. Airport (SKG):
$18
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Private Arrival Airport Transfer from Thessaloniki Airport to Thessaloniki City:
$22
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Private Arrival Transfer from Thessaloniki Airport to Halkidiki Area:
$87
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Private Departure Transfer from Thessaloniki City Center To Thessaloniki Airport:
$22
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Private Departure Transfer: Thessaloniki City to Thessaloniki Airport:
$22
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Private Minivan Transfer to Meteora and back from Thessaloniki:
$467
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Private Transfer From Thessaloniki Airport (SKG) to Katerini - Litochoro:
$174
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Private Transfer From Thessaloniki To Athens:
$373
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Private Transfer From Thessaloniki/SKG Airport to Athens-ATH Airport-Pireaus:
$627
Entertainment
Activities, things to do, and other forms of entertainment usually cost around €10 per person, per day in Aegina. This cost includes the price of admission tickets to attractions and museums as well as daily tours.
Sightseeing expenses in Thessaloniki, including the cost of admission tickets for day tours, museums, and attractions, usually cost an average of €21 per day, per person.
Tours and Activities in Thessaloniki
For Thessaloniki, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
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City Sightseeing Thessaloniki Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour:
$16
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City Sightseeing Thessaloniki Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour:
$24
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Open Markets Food Tasting Tour:
$38
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Customized Private Walking Tour with a Local:
$38
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Thessaloniki Half-Day Tour and Archaeological Museum Visit:
$45
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Half-Day Private Tour in Olympus Mountain:
$50
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Day Trip to Ouranoupoli with Mt. Athos Cruise:
$50
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Historic Walking Tour:
$58
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Pella and Vergina Full-Day Tour from Thessaloniki:
$70
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Athos Peninsula Day Cruise from Thessaloniki:
$73
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Jewish Sights – Thessaloniki Private City Tour:
$75
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Private hiking tour to Olympus mountain:
$81
Alcohol
While the amount that someone spends on alcohol while visiting Aegina may vary from person to person, on average a person spends €6.86 per day on alcoholic beverages.
Typically, people visiting Thessaloniki spend on average €12 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
Sample the Local Flavors in Thessaloniki
Also in Thessaloniki, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
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From Full-Day Private Group Wine Tour:
$478
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Private tour: Full day Wine tasting Naousa & Ag. Nikolaos:
$535
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Aegina and Thessaloniki, we can see that Thessaloniki is more expensive. And not only is Aegina much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Aegina would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Aegina 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 Aegina.
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