Which place is cheaper, Jerusalem or Athens?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Athens or Jerusalem?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Athens and Jerusalem. 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, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Athens or Jerusalem?
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.
Jerusalem
Jerusalem is the capital city of Israel, as well as one of the most historically rich cities in the world. It is also the largest city in the country. While Tel Aviv holds many of the responsibilities of a capital city, officially, Jerusalem is still considered the capital. It is important to note that most countries have their embassies in Tel Aviv, not in Jerusalem.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours in Greece, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Greece, The Best Luxury Tours to Israel, and The Best Budget Tours to Israel.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAthens €127Jerusalem €100
The average daily cost (per person) in Athens is €127, while the average daily cost in Jerusalem is €100. 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 Athens and Jerusalem in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAthens €63Jerusalem €60
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAthens €126Jerusalem €120
Compare Hotels in Athens and Jerusalem
Looking for a hotel in Athens or Jerusalem? 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: Athens Hotel Prices and Jerusalem Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Athens €27Jerusalem €6.24
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:
- Bus Transfer to/from Argos: $14
- Athens Hotels To Piraeus Port-Hotels Luxury Transfer Services: $22
- Private transfer between Athens hotels and Piraeus Port: $23
- From Athens Airport: 1-Way Private Transfer to Rafina Port: $24
- Athens Private Transfer: Central Athens to Piraeus Cruise Port: $24
- Mercedes Private Transfer Athens - Piraeus: $24
- Athens Private Transfer Service: Athens Hotel To / From Piraeus Port : $25
- Piraeus Port: Private One-Way Transfer to Athens City Center: $26
- Athens hotels to Piraeus port Private departure transfer: $27
- Piraeus Port Private First Class Vehicle Transfer: $27
- Airport Transfer/ Athens Greece: $28
- The Best Welcome Transfer Airport Services : $28
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Jerusalem
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Jerusalem are as follows:
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Local Bus€2.94
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Light Rail Jerusalem€9.10
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Jerusalem
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Jerusalem:
- Private Transfer From Ben Gurion Airport To Haifa Hotels : $300
- Jerusalem to Petra Private Transfer: $300
- Jerusalem Private Transfer To Petra: $290
- Private Transfer from Jerusalem to Tel Aviv: $247
- Transfer Between Tel Aviv city and Jerusalem city: $215
- Jerusalem Private Transfer To Amman: $195
- Private Transfer from Dead Sea Hotels to Aqaba Airport: $160
- Jerusalem to Ben Gurion Airport Private Transfer: $150
- Jerusalem to Allenby Bridge Private Transfer: $150
- Private Airport Transfers to/from Hotel: $148
- VIP transfer between Ben Gurion Airport and Jerusalem: $130
- VIP Transfer between Ben Gurion Airport and Jerusalem: $130
Is it cheaper to fly into Athens or Jerusalem?
Prices for flights to both Jerusalem 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.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayAthens €37Jerusalem €29
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 Menu for Lunch or Dinner: $24
- Hard Rock Cafe Athens with Set Lunch or Dinner: $26
- Street Food Tour Market & City Centre: $42
- Foodies’ Favorite Food tour: $46
- Greek Street Food Tour: $52
- Athens Street Food Tour: Explore City's Iconic Eateries: $52
- Street Food Tour with Local Guide and 7 Tastings: $57
- Traditional Greek Cooking Class and Organic Lunch on Poros: $60
- Koukaki Food Tour with a Local Friend: $60
- Greek Spirits & Meze, Food Tour in Athens: $62
- Greek Traditional Vegan Cooking Class with Meal: $64
- Alternative, truly authentic food tour in secret Athens: $64
Typical Food Prices in Jerusalem
Some typical examples of dining costs in Jerusalem are as follows:
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Orange Juice€2.49
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Watermelon€3.74
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Lunch€11
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Food at Market€14
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Juice€2.49
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Bagels€7.48
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Lunch for 2€13
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Snacks€5.23
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Jerusalem
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Jerusalem.
- Private Lunch or Dinner at a Local Traditional Restaurant from Dead Sea: $96
- Private Madaba Haret Jdoudna Restaurant Lunch or Dinner from Dead Sea: $115
- The Best Food Tour in Jerusalem-Perfect for Viral Travel Content: $117
- Christmas Eve in Israel: Jerusalem Sightseeing Tour with Dinner and Midnight Mass Viewing in Bethlehem: $125
- Experience Shabbat With Dinner In Jerusalem: $170
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Athens €36Jerusalem €7.92
Tours and Activities in Athens
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Athens.
- Self-guided First Discovery Walk and Reading Tour: $3.23
- Self Guided Tour In Athens With 100 Captivating Audio Stories: $3.26
- Exclusive Self-Guided Audio Tour into Byzantine Gems: $4.63
- Acropolis Highlights Self-Guided Audio Tour: $4.70
- 360 Virtual tour of Ancient Athens: $6.00
- Herakleidon Museum of Ancient Greek Technology: Entry Ticket: $6.46
- Private Audio Guided Walking Tour in Athens: $6.54
- Ancient Agora of Athens Self-Guided Audio Tour: $6.99
- Ancient Agora of A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $6.99
- Ancient Highlights Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt & Tour: $7.00
- Ancient Agora: Audiovisual self-guided tour with 3D models: $7.52
- South Slope of the Acropolis audiovisual self-guided tour: $7.52
Typical Entertainment Prices in Jerusalem
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Jerusalem are as follows:
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Cooking Classes for 2€31
Tours and Activities in Jerusalem
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Jerusalem are as follows:
- 2 Days Bethlehem, Herodion, Judean Desert Monasteries and Jericho Private Tour: $275
- Political Private Tour Ramallah: $140
- (From Jerusalem) One-Day Tour to Bethlehem Jericho & Jordan River Qasr alyahood: $99
- 2 Hour Shooting Experience: $173
- 360 Virtual Tour of Ancient Jerusalem: $6.00
- Amazing Family Tour in Jerusalem: $505
- Ashdod Shore Excursion: Jerusalem and Bethlehem - for cruise ship guests only: $115
- Best of Jerusalem Day Tour from Jerusalem: $102
- Best of Jerusalem Full-Day Tour from Jerusalem: $69
- Bethlehem & Dead Sea Day Tour from Jerusalem & Tel Aviv: $147
- Bethlehem Alternative Tour: $90
- Bethlehem Christian Guided Tour: $20
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAthens €23Jerusalem €15
Sample the Local Flavors in Athens
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Athens:
- Liquer tasting in Polykala's Distillery Show Room in Athens: $17
- Greek Wine Tasting: $23
- Premium Wine Tastings: $36
- Greek Wine Tasting Experience with a Sommelier: $43
- 1 Hour Private Four Greek Wine Tasting and Food Pairing in Athens: $44
- Old Town Athens Wine Tasting: $53
- Best rated Acropolis Wine Tasting : $54
- Greek food and wine tasting: $54
- 2 Hours Wine Tasting Odyssey in Athens: $54
- Rare Greek Wine Tasting w/Sommelier by the Acropolis: $59
- Acropolis Private Wine Tasting @ Finewine store : $61
- Small-Group Wine Tasting Tour with Appetizers: $79
Typical Alcohol Prices in Jerusalem
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Jerusalem are as follows:
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Beer€4.49
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Athens and Jerusalem, we can see that Athens is more expensive. And not only is Jerusalem much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Athens is in Europe and Jerusalem is in Middle East, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Jerusalem would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Jerusalem 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 Athens would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Athens than you might in Jerusalem.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Athens Expensive? and Is Jerusalem Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Athens or Jerusalem?
Athens has a larger population, and is about 2% larger than the population of Jerusalem. When comparing the sizes of Athens and Jerusalem, 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 Athens or Jerusalem?
Athens has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Jerusalem experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Athens or Jerusalem in the Summer?
Both Jerusalem and Athens during the summer are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Athens in the summer for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Jerusalem year-round.
In the summer, Athens is a little warmer than Jerusalem. Typically, the summer temperatures in Athens in July average around 27°C (81°F), and Jerusalem averages at about 23°C (73°F).
In Jerusalem, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Athens. In the summer, Athens often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Jerusalem. Athens gets 357 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Jerusalem receives 364 hours of full sun.
Athens usually gets less rain in July than Jerusalem. Athens gets 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Jerusalem receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyAthens 27°C (81°F)Jerusalem 23°C (73°F)
Should I visit Athens or Jerusalem in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Athens and Jerusalem. Most visitors come to Athens for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area during these months. Jerusalem attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In October, Athens is generally around the same temperature as Jerusalem. Daily temperatures in Athens average around 19°C (67°F), and Jerusalem fluctuates around 19°C (66°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Jerusalem this time of the year. In Athens, it's very sunny this time of the year. Athens usually receives less sunshine than Jerusalem during autumn. Athens gets 206 hours of sunny skies, while Jerusalem receives 274 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Athens usually receives more rain than Jerusalem. Athens gets 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Jerusalem receives 20 mm (0.8 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberAthens 19°C (67°F)Jerusalem 19°C (66°F)
Should I visit Athens or Jerusalem in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Athens as well as Jerusalem. The winter months attract visitors to Athens because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. The warm climate attracts visitors to Jerusalem throughout the year.
Athens is a little warmer than Jerusalem in the winter. The daily temperature in Athens averages around 10°C (51°F) in January, and Jerusalem fluctuates around 8°C (46°F).
In the winter, Athens often gets less sunshine than Jerusalem. Athens gets 143 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Jerusalem receives 184 hours of full sun.
Athens usually gets less rain in January than Jerusalem. Athens gets 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Jerusalem receives 90 mm (3.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryAthens 10°C (51°F)Jerusalem 8°C (46°F)
Should I visit Athens or Jerusalem in the Spring?
Both Jerusalem and Athens are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The activities around the city and the natural beauty are the main draw to Athens this time of year. Plenty of visitors come to Jerusalem because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In the spring, Athens is around the same temperature as Jerusalem. Typically, the spring temperatures in Athens in April average around 16°C (60°F), and Jerusalem averages at about 16°C (61°F).
It's quite sunny in Jerusalem. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Athens. Athens usually receives less sunshine than Jerusalem during spring. Athens gets 226 hours of sunny skies, while Jerusalem receives 269 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Athens usually receives more rain than Jerusalem. Athens gets 25 mm (1 in) of rain, while Jerusalem receives 20 mm (0.8 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilAthens 16°C (60°F)Jerusalem 16°C (61°F)
Typical Weather for Jerusalem and Athens
| Athens | Jerusalem | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 10°C (51°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) |
| Feb | 11°C (51°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) |
| Mar | 12°C (54°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| Apr | 16°C (60°F) | 25 mm (1 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) |
| May | 20°C (68°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Jun | 24°C (76°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Sep | 24°C (76°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Oct | 19°C (67°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) |
| Nov | 16°C (60°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Dec | 12°C (54°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 60 mm (2.4 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.