Should you visit Heraklion or Rhodes?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel cost comparison between Heraklion and Rhodes can help. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Heraklion
The largest city on the island of Crete, Heraklion on first glance is almost completely modern — a frenzy of traffic, concrete, and dust. Do not expect pristine beaches and glittering waves (those can be found on other parts of Crete). Heraklion is first and foremost a city. Once you get past its grittiness, you will find that there are some attractive features beneath first impressions. The antiquity of the place lies embedded in the modern and is presented in one of the best museums in Greece, the food is excellent, and the people are friendly and welcoming. And though the sea is not great for swimming, its presence along the Venetian port will take you to another time if you need a break from Heraklion's bustling center.
Rhodes
Rhodes Island is one of the largest and most visited islands in Greece both because of its diversity of sights and its wonderful climate. On the island are some beautiful beaches, well preserved historic sights, and lovely towns. Rhodes City is the capital city on the island of Rhodes and is famous as the former site of the Colossus. Colossus is one of the seven wonders of the ancient world and the oldest inhabited medieval town in Europe. Today Rhodes City has an interesting old town that is surrounded by the medieval wall. Inside you'll find countless souvenir shops and restaurants that cater to tourists. Cruise ships also frequent the island, so it's best visited during the off season when the crowds may be slightly less. You will also find that prices drop when the crowds are thinner and the cruise ships are scarce.
Which city is cheaper, Rhodes or Heraklion?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Heraklion is €126, while the average daily cost in Rhodes is €108. 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 Heraklion and Rhodes in more detail.
Accommodation
Travelers usually pay around €130 for a double occupancy room in Heraklion If you want to be in a premiere location or have high end amenities, you can expect to pay a bit more.
Accommodation prices vary by location and style, but travelers pay on average about €92 for a double occupancy room in Rhodes.
Food
The average traveler spends about €41 per day in Heraklion 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.
While meal prices in Rhodes can vary, the average travelers spends about €38 per day on food. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out, an average meal in Rhodes should cost around €15 per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in Rhodes is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.
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Food
Meals for one day
Heraklion €41
Rhodes €38
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Heraklion
For Heraklion, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
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Live from Heraklion - Cheese Making and Vegeterian Pie Online Cooking class:
$39
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Cretan Cooking Class Gouves (Free Transfer Included):
$86
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5-Hour Cooking Class:
$97
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Private Cooking Class Gouves (Free Transfer Included):
$123
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Heraklion Private Cretan Cooking Class at a Traditional Village:
$218
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Private Cooking Class and Wine Tasting in Heraklion:
$440
Typical Food prices in Rhodes
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Rhodes:
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Coffee
€1.95
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Dinner for Two
€23
Local Transportation
Public transportation tends to be much less expensive in Heraklion than paying for a taxi or private car service, as is expected. Typically, people spend €25 on transportation in Heraklion on average per day.
The average price of local transportation around Rhodes is €39 per person, per day. As this average includes both taxis and public transport, keep in mind that the prices of private drivers and taxis are significantly more expensive than public transportation.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Heraklion
Also for Heraklion, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Arrival Transfer Heraklion Area:
$13
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Creta Private Transfer from Heraklion (HER) Airport to Agia Marina:
$311
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Creta Private Transfer from Heraklion (HER) Airport to Agia Pelagia:
$68
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Creta Private Transfer from Heraklion (HER) Airport to Agios Nikolaos:
$129
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Creta Private Transfer from Heraklion (HER) Airport to Ammoudara:
$42
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Creta Private Transfer from Heraklion (HER) Airport to Analipsis:
$61
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Creta Private Transfer from Heraklion (HER) Airport to Anissaras:
$65
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Creta Private Transfer from Heraklion (HER) Airport to Bali:
$108
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Creta Private Transfer from Heraklion (HER) Airport to Chania:
$291
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Creta Private Transfer from Heraklion (HER) Airport to Eloúnda:
$146
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Creta Private Transfer from Heraklion (HER) Airport to Fodele:
$73
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Creta Private Transfer from Heraklion (HER) Airport to Georgioupoli:
$214
Typical Local Transportation prices in Rhodes
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Rhodes:
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Rhodes
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Rhodes:
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Diagoras Airport Private Hotel Transfer:
$25
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Rhodes Private Departure Transfer to Rhodes Airport:
$22
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Rhodes Private Departure Transfer:
$28
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Private Airport Transfer: from Rhodes to Rhodes Airport (RHO):
$19
Is it cheaper to fly into Heraklion or Rhodes?
Prices for flights to both Rhodes and Heraklion 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 expenses in Heraklion, including the cost of admission tickets for day tours, museums, and attractions, usually cost an average of €30 per day, per person.
Rhodes's costs for entertainment, tickets, attractions, and tours will often cost around €15 per person, per day. This cost can vary widely by the type of activity, however, as this includes admission tickets, day tours, museums, and other things to do.
Tours and Activities in Heraklion
For Heraklion, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
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Skip the Line: Heraklion Archaeological Museum Entrance Ticket:
$12
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Skip the Line: Knossos Palace and Archaeological Site Entrance Ticket:
$15
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Heraklion Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour:
$19
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Royalty Heraklion City Tour-Market-Creta Aquarium:
$25
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Heraklion City Tour-Market-Creta Aquarium:
$32
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From Spinalonga Island ,Elounda Barbeque and Agios Nikolaos Tour:
$45
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From Heraklio: Full-Day Knossos & Heraklion Tour Guided English and German:
$45
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Chrissi Island Cruise from Heraklion:
$61
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Gramvousa Island and Balos Bay Full-Day Tour from Heraklion:
$61
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Royalty Cretan Folklore Night Tour:
$65
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Cretan Folklore Night Tour TR:
$66
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West Crete Day Tour: Chania, Rethymno, Lake Kournas - from Heraklion region:
$76
Tours and Activities in Rhodes
Here are a few actual costs in Rhodes for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
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Hike around Rhodes in a 8 day tour! (Walking holidays):
$1,369
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Private Tour: Lindos Acropolis and Village:
$683
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Private Tour: Lindos and Rhodes Old Town Day Trip:
$1,131
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Rhodes Family Adventure Week:
$1,630
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Rhodes Private Tours:
$995
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Rhodes Shore Excursion: Private Lindos Tour:
$683
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Rhodes Shore Excursion: Private Lindos and Rhodes Old Town Tour:
$1,131
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Rhodes Shore Excursion: Rhodes City Tour:
$572
Alcohol
Typically, people visiting Heraklion spend on average €21 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
While the amount that someone spends on alcohol while visiting Rhodes may vary from person to person, on average a person spends €9.71 per day on alcoholic beverages.
Sample the Local Flavors in Heraklion
Also in Heraklion, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
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The Gourmet Wine Tour of Heraklion area:
$187
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Heraklion and Rhodes, we can see that Heraklion is more expensive. And not only is Rhodes much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Rhodes would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Rhodes 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 Heraklion would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Heraklion than you might in Rhodes.
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