Should you visit Athens or Helsinki?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the prices of travel for Athens and Helsinki. We’ll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget. So, let's dig into it.
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.
Helsinki
Helsinki is the capital of Finland and dates back to 1550. Helsinki is an international metropolis with a diverse population, but also a small town vibe. The city itself has a population of just over 600,000 but the metropolitan area, including Espoo and Vantaa, has a population of more than 1.3 million. There are many outdoor bars and cafes that take advantage of the warmer summer months. During this time there are long days, and the population floods into the street after a long and cold winter, so visiting during the summer is a fun and lively experience.
Which city is cheaper, Helsinki or Athens?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Athens is €103, while the average daily cost in Helsinki is €112. 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 Athens and Helsinki in more detail.
Accommodation
For a normal double-occupancy room in Athens, €102 is the average cost for a hotel room. Also in Athens, the typical price for a place to stay for one person is €51, such as in a hostel.
Travelers usually pay around €118 for a double occupancy room in Helsinki If you want to be in a premiere location or have high end amenities, you can expect to pay a bit more.
Food
In Athens travelers spend around €30 a day on food. You can save money by choosing casual restaurants or food stalls, or you can spend plenty more by dining in nicer restaurants at every meal.
The average traveler spends about €27 per day in Helsinki 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
Athens €30
Helsinki €27
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:
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Online 1hr Cooking Class: Santorini Tomato Fritters:
$6.22
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Greek Meatballs Private Online Cooking Class:
$27
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Withlocals the 10 Tastings: Athens Private Food Tour with a Local:
$42
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Online Cooking Class: Greek mini cheese pies:
$45
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Street Culture & Food Tour:
$56
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Afternoon Food Tour:
$56
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Athens walking and tasting food tour.:
$60
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4-Hour Cooking Class with Market Visit:
$69
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Homemade Gyros cooking class and dinner in Athens for private groups:
$75
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The Classic Food Tour:
$76
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Taste of Half-Day Small Group Food Tour:
$77
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Greek Phyllo and Pie Cooking Class in Athens:
$77
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Helsinki
For Helsinki, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
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Helsinki Food Tour Including Tastings:
$137
Local Transportation
Athens's transportation costs can vary by the type of transport chosen by visitors. Naturally, taxis and private drivers cost much more than public transportation options. On average, visitors spend €22 per person, per day on transportation in Athens.
Public transportation tends to be much less expensive in Helsinki than paying for a taxi or private car service, as is expected. Typically, people spend €18 on transportation in Helsinki on average per day.
Typical Local Transportation prices in Athens
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Athens:
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Athens
Also for Athens, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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iMove Transfers Services Athens:
$75
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VIP VAN Piraeus Port Transfer 1 - 8 persons or Alimos Kalamaki Marina to Athens:
$61
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VIP VAN Athens Airport Transfer 1 - 4 persons:
$101
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VIP VAN Airport Transfer 5 - 8 persons:
$105
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VIP Ferry Ticket from Piraeus Port To Mykonos & Private Transfer included:
$167
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VIP Ferry Ticket From Piraeus Port To Santorini & Private Transfer Included:
$174
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VAN Piraeus Port Transfer 1 - 8 persons or Alimos Kalamaki Marina to Athens:
$39
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Ultra - Private Transfer from Athens City Centre to Piraeus Cruise Port:
$9.41
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Ultra - Athens Private Airport Transfer from City Centre to Athens Airport ATH:
$9.41
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Transfers around Athens and city tours:
$373
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Transfers and Guided Tours in all over Greece, sightseeing and Private hire!!:
$106
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Transfer to Loutraki/Corinth from Athens:
$166
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Helsinki
Also for Helsinki, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Private Transfer: Helsinki to Helsinki-Vantaa International Airport (HEL):
$622
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Private Transfer: Helsinki-Malmi Airpor (HEM) to Helsinki:
$622
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Private Transfer: Helsinki to Helsinki-Malmi Airpor (HEM):
$622
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Helsinki Private Panoramic Tour with Airport Transfer:
$375
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Helsinki Private Departure Airport Transfer:
$203
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Airport Private transfer via Marimekko & Iittala with Japanese Speaking Driver:
$195
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Private arrival OR departure transfer in Helsinki (airport or hotel pick up):
$185
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Helsinki Stopover Tour with Round-Trip Airport Transfers:
$170
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Helsinki airport transfer to all Helsinki area hotels:
$166
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Helsinki Airport Transfers: Helsinki City to Helsinki Airport HEL in Luxury Van:
$113
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Helsinki Departure Private Transfer from Helsinki City to Helsinki Airport HEL:
$110
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Helsinki Private Transfer : Port of Helsinki to Helsinki City in Luxury Van:
$104
Is it cheaper to fly into Athens or Helsinki?
Prices for flights to both Helsinki and Athens 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.
Entertainment
Sightseeing, admission tickets, things to do, and other entertainment expenses in Athens can vary widely by price. On average, visitors spend around €28 per person, per day on entertainment and sightseeing here.
Sightseeing expenses in Helsinki, including the cost of admission tickets for day tours, museums, and attractions, usually cost an average of €22 per day, per person.
Tours and Activities in Athens
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Athens.
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"A Must-See" Anc. Epidaurus, Mycenae & Nafplion Premium Full Day Tour By Locals:
$411
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"Athens city tour":
$270
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"Private tour in Athens":
$243
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''Tour in Athens'':
$118
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1 Day Private Tour Corinth, Cave of Lakes at Kalavrita & Journey by Cog Railway:
$264
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1 Day Private tour to Meteora, visit the Monasteries are lying on the cliffs.:
$317
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1 Day Saronic Islands Cruise:
$168
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10 Day Greek Island Tour: Mykonos, Santorini-Volcano, Crete, Delos, Knossos,:
$2,457
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10 Day Ultimate Ancient Greece Tours Experience:
$2,411
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10 Day to Explore the Best Historical Gems in Greece and tour in Santorini:
$1,798
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10 Days Private Tour: North Greece:
$2,706
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10 Days Private Tour: Peloponnese:
$2,706
Tours and Activities in Helsinki
For Helsinki, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
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2 Days tour to Moominworld and Turku Castle from Helsinki:
$955
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2-Hour Guided Tuk Tuk Tour in Helsinki:
$274
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2-Hours Helsinki Professional Photography Walking Tour:
$70
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2-Hours Photogenic Helsinki Walking Tour with a Local:
$67
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3.5 Hour Helsinki Highlights Private Tour:
$350
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5-hour sightseeing in Helsinki and Winterworld:
$199
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90-minute Helsinki Boat Sightseeing on Beautiful Canal Route:
$28
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Architecture Tour of Helsinki with a city planner:
$68
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Artificial Intelligence City Tour of Helsinki:
$37
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Central Helsinki Tour:
$84
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City Sightseeing Helsinki Hop On Hop Off Tour:
$37
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City Sightseeing Helsinki Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour:
$37
Alcohol
Alcoholic beverages can often be a significant portion of a traveler's budget, and the costs can vary greatly from person to person. In Athens, the average amount that a visitor spends on alcoholic beverages per day is €18.
Typically, people visiting Helsinki spend on average €13 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
Sample the Local Flavors in Athens
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Athens:
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Athens Walking Tour with Food and Wine Tasting:
$37
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Virtual Greek Wine Tasting:
$87
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Athens Food and Wine Tasting Tour:
$96
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Wine tasting tour:
$131
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Wine Tasting and Athens Trikke Combo Tour:
$133
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The Best Winery & Tasting Tour in Nemea.Enjoy a unique all day wine tasting tour:
$140
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Private Wine Tasting Experience of Greek Awarded Wines in Athens:
$148
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Premium Wine Tour in Peloponnese -Ancient Corinthos, Nemea - the Land of Myth:
$148
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Athens Private Wine Tasting Tour - Dionysian Grapes:
$149
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Ancient Corinth & Nemea Wine Tasting (up to 15 in a Luxurious Mercedes Minibus):
$151
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Greek Private Wine Tasting:
$166
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Mercedes Private Full-Day Tour, Nafplio, Corinth Canal and Wine Tasting:
$168
When comparing the travel costs between Athens and Helsinki, we can see that Helsinki is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Europe, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
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