Should you visit Ios or Monaco?
Should I visit Ios or Monaco? 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.
Ios
Ios is an island in the south of Greece, located in the Cyclades group of islands in the Mediterranean Sea. It is a peaceful beach getaway by day, and a lively party scene by night. While its main town is the hub for nightlife, it is also a charming place during the day, typical of a traditional Greek village with shops and cafes against a backdrop of whitewashed buildings and turquoise waters.
Monaco
Monaco is a small city-state that is completely surrounded by France. The Italian Riviera is only a few kilometers to the east and the country enjoys a wonderful, Mediterranean climate. Monaco is also the second smallest independent state in the world, with the Vatican being the smallest. It is six times as large of the Vatican and also the world's most densely populated independent country. It is entirely urban and a fun place to spend a few days.
Which city is cheaper, Monaco or Ios?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Ios is €73, while the average daily cost in Monaco is €148. 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 Ios and Monaco in more detail.
Accommodation
If you're traveling alone, you may be able to find a budget hotel or hostel for around €31. But for two people in a standard two-person hotel room in Ios the cost is €62 on average.
Monaco's average price for two people sharing a typical double-occupancy hotel room is €188. A typical place to stay for one person, per day is €94.
Food
While meal prices in Ios can vary, the average travelers spends about €26 per day on food. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out, an average meal in Ios should cost around €10 per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in Ios is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.
On average, meal and food prices in Monaco cost around €43 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 €17.
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Food
Meals for one day
Ios €26
Monaco €43
Local Transportation
The average price of local transportation around Ios is €13 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.
The average price of local transportation around Monaco is €14 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 Monaco
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Monaco:
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Private Departure Transfer from Monaco Hotels to Nice Airport:
$65
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Monaco Transfer: Monaco Cruise Port to Nice Airport:
$80
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Departure Private Transfers from Monaco City to Nice Airport NCE:
$98
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Nice Airport Transfers : Monaco City to Nice Airport NCE in Business Car:
$108
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Departure Private Transfers from Monaco City to Nice Airport NCE in Luxury Van:
$118
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Nice Airport Transfers : Monaco City to Nice Airport NCE in Luxury Van:
$124
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Nice Airport Transfers : Monaco City to Nice Airport NCE in Luxury Car:
$157
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Monaco Private Transfer from Monaco-Ville to Nice Airport:
$174
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Between Monaco and Nice: Single Helicopter Transfer:
$199
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Private transfer: Monaco Airport (MCM) to Monaco:
$622
Is it cheaper to fly into Ios or Monaco?
Prices for flights to both Monaco and Ios 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
Ios's costs for entertainment, tickets, attractions, and tours will often cost around €21 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.
Monaco's costs for entertainment, tickets, attractions, and tours will often cost around €18 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 Ios
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Ios are as follows:
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Ios Speed Boat Adventure:
$54
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From Ios to Sikinos Island & Winery Tour:
$96
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Half Day Sunset Sailboat tour (afternoon):
$210
Typical Entertainment prices in Monaco
Here are a few typical costs in Monaco for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
Tours and Activities in Monaco
Here are a few actual costs in Monaco for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
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Oceanographic Museum of Monaco Ticket:
$14
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Monaco Hop on Hop Off Sightseeing Bus Tour:
$29
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Monte-Carlo and Monaco sightseeing walking tour with an expert guide:
$56
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Group tour of French Riviera from the port of Monaco/Monte-Carlo:
$112
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Helicopter Sightseeing Flight:
$164
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Monaco 30/60-Minute Ferrari Driving Experience:
$185
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Lamborghini Sports Car Experience from Monaco:
$211
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Monaco Private Walking Tour:
$245
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Monaco Shore Excursion to Nice, Eze, Monaco & Monte-Carlo Full Day Tour:
$249
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Private Tour: Personal Travel Photographer Tour in Monaco:
$279
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30 Minute Ferrari California T Sports Car Experience from Monaco:
$290
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Monaco Private Walking Tour:
$332
Alcohol
The average person spends about €26 on alcoholic beverages in Ios per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
While the amount that someone spends on alcohol while visiting Monaco may vary from person to person, on average a person spends €21 per day on alcoholic beverages.
Sample the Local Flavors in Monaco
Also in Monaco, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
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Authentic Wine Tasting Experience:
$48
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Monaco Shore Excursion: Private Tour of Nice and Eze with Wine Tasting:
$657
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Private St-Jeannet, St-Paul-de-Vence, and Wine Tour from Monaco:
$843
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Ios and Monaco, we can see that Monaco is more expensive. And not only is Ios much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Ios would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Ios 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 Monaco would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Monaco than you might in Ios.
