Which place is cheaper, Thessaloniki or Ephesus?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Ephesus or Thessaloniki?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Ephesus or Thessaloniki, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Where Should I go: Ephesus or Thessaloniki?
Ephesus
The ancient city of Ephesus was famed for the Temple of Artemis (completed around 550 BC). It is one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. The temple was destroyed in 401 AD and rebuilt by Emperor Constantine I along with new public baths. The town was again partially destroyed by an earthquake in 614 AD. The city's importance as a commercial center declined as the harbor was slowly silted up by the Cayster River (Kucuk Menderes).
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.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Cultural Tours in Turkey, The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Turkey, The Best Tours for Seniors to Greece, and The Best Contiki Tours to Greece.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayEphesus $143Thessaloniki $144
The average daily cost (per person) in Ephesus is $143, while the average daily cost in Thessaloniki is $144. 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 Ephesus and Thessaloniki in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personEphesus $70Thessaloniki $85
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomEphesus $140Thessaloniki $170
Compare Hotels in Ephesus and Thessaloniki
Looking for a hotel in Ephesus or Thessaloniki? 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: Ephesus Hotel Prices and Thessaloniki Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Ephesus $51Thessaloniki $14
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ephesus
Also for Ephesus, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- VIP Transfer Kusadasi From/To Bodrum Airport: $128
- Transfer izmir Adnan Menderes Airport to/from Kusadasi Davutlar: $98
- Scuba Diving Experience in Kusadasi with Instructor and Transfer: $60
- Private Transfers İzmir City or Adnan Menderes Airport to/from Kusadasi Town: $131
- Private Transfers İzmir City Adnan Menderes Apt to/from Selçuk, Ephesus, Şirince: $131
- Private Transfers From Kusadasi: $173
- Private Transfer | KUSADASI - IZMIR Airport: $120
- Private Transfer from Kusadasi hotels to Kusadasi Cruise Port: $22
- Private Transfer from Kusadasi hotels to Kusadasi Cruise Port: $24
- Private Transfer from Kusadasi Cruise Port to Kusadasi hotels: $24
- Private Transfer from Kusadasi Cruise Port to Kusadasi Hotels: $22
- Private Transfer from Kusadasi Cruise Port to Izmir Airport (ADB): $58
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Thessaloniki
Also for Thessaloniki, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- From Private Day Trip to Meteora with Transfer: $428
- Private Transfer from Thessaloniki to Sofia (SOF) Airport: $254
- Private Transfer from Kavala to Sofia (SOF) Airport: $237
- Transfer from Thessaloniki to Ikos Oceania: $153
- Thessaloniki Airport (SKG): Transfer to Thessaloniki city: $142
- Thessaloniki Airport (SKG): Transfer to Thessaloniki Port: $142
- Thessaloniki Cruise Port: Transfer to Thessaloniki city: $142
- Thessaloniki Airport to Alia Palace Hotel Private Transfer: $131
- Private Transfer to Thessaloniki Airport from Thessaloniki City: $120
- Thessaloniki Airport to Afitis Boutique Hotel Private Transfer: $109
- Private Transfer from Thessaloniki Airport to Ammon Zeus Hotel : $109
- Private Transfer from Thessaloniki Airport to Sani Resort: $109
Is it cheaper to fly into Ephesus or Thessaloniki?
Prices for flights to both Thessaloniki and Ephesus 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 dayEphesus $33Thessaloniki $45
Typical Food Prices in Ephesus
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Ephesus:
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Sandwiches$0.15
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Dessert$0.17
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Lunch at Beach (for 2)$0.59
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Snacks$0.25
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Ephesus
For Ephesus, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Cooking Class in Kusadasi Ephesus: $110
- Ephesus Tour with Cooking Class in the Village: $149
- Taste of Traditional Turkish Cuisine | Small Group Kusadasi Food Tour: $211
- Cooking Class in Ephesus Selcuk Town: $228
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Thessaloniki
For Thessaloniki, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Open Market Food Tour with Tasting: $48
- Walking Open Market Food Tour and Tasting: $49
- Cooking & Dining Experience with Greek Family: $63
- Guided Food Tour: $70
- Food Tour in Thessaloniki: $71
- Private Walking Tour Gastronomic Food Tour in Thessaloniki: $87
- Traditional Greek Food Tour With A Local: $95
- Greek Ouzo and Meze Food Tour: $95
- Greek Cooking Class, Market Visit and Lunch: $95
- Traditional Greek Food Tour With A Local: $97
- Greek Ouzo and Meze Food Tour: $97
- Greek Cooking Class, Market visit and Lunch: $97
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Ephesus $59Thessaloniki $28
Tours and Activities in Ephesus
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Ephesus.
- Ephesus Half Day Small Group Tour: $40
- Ephesus Shared Tour from Kuşadası Port: $130
- Ephesus Tour With Small Group From Kusadasi: $76
- Ephesus Tour from Kusadası Port: $44
- Ephesus small groups Tour For Cruisers (skip the line): $100
- Ephesus tours Sirince Village from Kusadasi Port with lunch: $63
- Ephesus tours and Virgin Mary's House Temple Artemis tours : $67
- Private Tour Ephesus for Cruise Guests : $250
- Private Tour to Ephesus, Virgin Mary, and Artemis Temple From Cruise Ship/Hotel: $120
- Small Group Pamukkale Day Tour from Selcuk or Kusadası : $93
- "Ephesus Tours" Port Kusadasi lunch guide bus shopping Caravanserai artemis : $58
- "No Better Way to Explore History - Affordable Ephesus Tour": $30
Tours and Activities in Thessaloniki
For Thessaloniki, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 4-Hour Thessaloniki Jewish Heritage Private Guided Tour: $207
- Archery Odyssey Traditional Archery Experience: $65
- Best of Private Guided Tour: $218
- Best of Private Guided Tour: $192
- Charming pearls of Thessaloniki – Romantic Tour: $153
- City Sightseeing Thessaloniki Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour: $17
- Daily Cruise:Discover Thessaloniki in a different way: $1,069
- Daily Sailing Cruise Olympus Riviera Highlights: $122
- Day Tour at Royal Tombs of Aigai and Museum of Pella with pickup: $93
- Dion and Palaios Panteleimon Myth and History Tour: $153
- Dion-Olympus Private Tour from Thessaloniki: $96
- Discover Olympus from Paralia in Jeep Safari Shared Tour: $76
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayEphesus $15Thessaloniki $16
Typical Alcohol Prices in Ephesus
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Ephesus from other travelers:
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Beer$0.12
Sample the Local Flavors in Ephesus
Also in Ephesus, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Skip-the-line Ephesus & Wine Tasting Tour From Kusadasi Port: $53
- Ephesus port tours and Wine Tasting Tours : $70
- Ephesus&Sirince Village with Wine Tasting Shore Ex: $100
- Ephesus and Sirince with Wine tasting Private Half Day Shore Excursion: $100
- Ancient Ephesus tour with Wine Tasting in the village and visit to Mother's Mary House: $130
- Private Ephesus Tour with Wine Tasting: $134
- Virgin Mary Bread and Wine Tour included Lunch: $300
Sample the Local Flavors in Thessaloniki
Also in Thessaloniki, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Friday Night Bar Crawl in Thessaloniki: $25
- From Pella-Edessa wine tasting: $64
- Small-Group Wine Tasting Tour with Appetizers: $81
- Thessaloniki Small-Group Wine Tasting Tour with Appetizers: $83
- Winery Visit with Wine Tasting Experience: $91
- Wine Tasting Experience from Thessaloniki: $93
- Thessaloniki to Naoussa, Wine Tasting Tour – Private Day Trip: $207
When comparing the travel costs between Ephesus and Thessaloniki, we can see that Thessaloniki 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.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Ephesus Expensive? and Is Thessaloniki Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Ephesus or Thessaloniki?
Thessaloniki has a larger population, and is about 6 times larger than the population of Ephesus. When comparing the sizes of Ephesus and Thessaloniki, 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 Ephesus or Thessaloniki?
Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.
Should I visit Ephesus or Thessaloniki in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Ephesus and Thessaloniki. Furthermore, most visitors come to Thessaloniki for the beaches, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences during these months.
Ephesus is around the same temperature as Thessaloniki in the summer. The daily temperature in Ephesus averages around 27°C (81°F) in July, and Thessaloniki fluctuates around 25°C (77°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Thessaloniki this time of the year. In Ephesus, it's very sunny this time of the year. Ephesus usually receives more sunshine than Thessaloniki during summer. Ephesus gets 378 hours of sunny skies, while Thessaloniki receives 327 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Ephesus usually receives less rain than Thessaloniki. Ephesus gets 1 mm (0 in) of rain, while Thessaloniki receives 26 mm (1 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyEphesus 27°C (81°F)Thessaloniki 25°C (77°F)
Should I visit Ephesus or Thessaloniki in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Ephesus as well as Thessaloniki. Additionally, the autumn months attract visitors to Thessaloniki because of the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene.
In the autumn, Ephesus is a little warmer than Thessaloniki. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Ephesus in October average around 19°C (66°F), and Thessaloniki averages at about 16°C (61°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Ephesus this time of the year. In the autumn, Ephesus often gets more sunshine than Thessaloniki. Ephesus gets 232 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Thessaloniki receives 159 hours of full sun.
Ephesus usually gets less rain in October than Thessaloniki. Ephesus gets 29 mm (1.1 in) of rain, while Thessaloniki receives 41 mm (1.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberEphesus 19°C (66°F)Thessaloniki 16°C (61°F)
Should I visit Ephesus or Thessaloniki in the Winter?
Both Thessaloniki and Ephesus are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Also, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Thessaloniki this time of year.
In January, Ephesus is generally much warmer than Thessaloniki. Daily temperatures in Ephesus average around 10°C (50°F), and Thessaloniki fluctuates around 5°C (41°F).
Ephesus usually receives more sunshine than Thessaloniki during winter. Ephesus gets 131 hours of sunny skies, while Thessaloniki receives 101 hours of full sun in the winter.
It's quite rainy in Ephesus. In January, Ephesus usually receives more rain than Thessaloniki. Ephesus gets 149 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while Thessaloniki receives 37 mm (1.5 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryEphesus 10°C (50°F)Thessaloniki 5°C (41°F)
Should I visit Ephesus or Thessaloniki in the Spring?
Both Thessaloniki and Ephesus during the spring are popular places to visit. Also, many travelers come to Thessaloniki for the beaches and the activities around the city.
Ephesus is a little warmer than Thessaloniki in the spring. The daily temperature in Ephesus averages around 15°C (59°F) in April, and Thessaloniki fluctuates around 13°C (56°F).
It's quite sunny in Ephesus. In the spring, Ephesus often gets more sunshine than Thessaloniki. Ephesus gets 231 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Thessaloniki receives 196 hours of full sun.
Ephesus usually gets less rain in April than Thessaloniki. Ephesus gets 32 mm (1.3 in) of rain, while Thessaloniki receives 36 mm (1.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilEphesus 15°C (59°F)Thessaloniki 13°C (56°F)
Typical Weather for Thessaloniki and Ephesus
| Ephesus | Thessaloniki | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 10°C (50°F) | 149 mm (5.9 in) | 5°C (41°F) | 37 mm (1.5 in) |
| Feb | 10°C (50°F) | 103 mm (4.1 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Mar | 12°C (53°F) | 86 mm (3.4 in) | 9°C (49°F) | 46 mm (1.8 in) |
| Apr | 15°C (59°F) | 32 mm (1.3 in) | 13°C (56°F) | 36 mm (1.4 in) |
| May | 19°C (67°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) | 18°C (65°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) |
| Jun | 24°C (75°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 32 mm (1.3 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 1 mm (0 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 26 mm (1 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 1 mm (0 in) | 25°C (76°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) |
| Sep | 24°C (75°F) | 23 mm (0.9 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 26 mm (1 in) |
| Oct | 19°C (66°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) |
| Nov | 14°C (58°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) |
| Dec | 12°C (53°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 53 mm (2.1 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.