Which place is cheaper, Crete or Kefalonia?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Kefalonia or Crete?
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 Kefalonia and Crete. 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: Kefalonia or Crete?
Kefalonia
With its dramatic landscapes, picturesque villages, and endless sandy beaches, Kefalonia offers a quintessential Greek island experience away from the crowds. This stunning Ionian gem has something for everyone, from outdoor adventurers to history buffs to beach bums. Kefalonia provides excellent value compared to some of Greece's more popular islands like Santorini or Mykonos. Hotels are not as expensive, and budget-friendly options are common. Eating at casual tavernas or buying fresh produce from local markets can keep food costs very reasonable, too.
Crete
The largest and most populous island of Greece, Crete has become a frequent vacation destination for many visitors. The terrain of the place is quite varied - very mountainous stretching east to west, with lush valleys, fertile plateaus, gorges, and famous caves like Idaion, the birthplace of the Greek god Zeus. The surrounding smaller islands and beaches are key attractions as well.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours from Athens, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Greece, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Greece, and The Best Historical Tours in Greece.
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Kefalonia Prices
Greece PricesCrete Prices
Greece Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKefalonia €294Crete €144
The average daily cost (per person) in Kefalonia is €294, while the average daily cost in Crete 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 Kefalonia and Crete in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKefalonia €120Crete €55
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKefalonia €240Crete €110
Compare Hotels in Kefalonia and Crete
Looking for a hotel in Kefalonia or Crete? 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: Kefalonia Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Kefalonia €53Crete €47
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kefalonia
Also for Kefalonia, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Island Sightseeing Bus Tour with Hotel Transfer: $38
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Crete
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Crete:
- Private Guided Trek to Samaria Gorge with Transfer: $706
- Samaria Easy Way Hike From Sfakia with Prive Transfer: $547
- Full-Day Trip to Santorini island by Boat from Ag.Nikolaos Elounda with Transfer: $290
- Private Taxi Transfer from Heraklion Airport to Rethymno: $260
- Crete Private Taxi and Transfer from Chania Airport to Rethymno: $260
- From Rethymnon: Santorini Day Tour with optional transfer: $248
- Crete : Samaria Easy way Gorge from Sfakia with Private Transfer: $246
- Transfer from Chania airport to Elafonisi up to 3 or vise versa: $243
- Crete Private Taxi and Transfer from Kalyves to Heraklion: $234
- One-Way Private Taxi/Transfer Heraklion to/from Chania: $231
- Private Transfer Between Chania and Heraklion with Rethymno Tour: $226
- Private Transfer From,To Heraklion Airport & PORT To,From CHANIA: $220
Is it cheaper to fly into Kefalonia or Crete?
Prices for flights to both Crete and Kefalonia 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 dayKefalonia €140Crete €58
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Kefalonia
For Kefalonia, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Sunset Cooking Class in a prickly pear farm: $154
- Authentic Honey, OliveOil & Farm-to-Table Cooking: $296
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Crete
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Crete.
- Traditional Cretan Night: Live Show and Dinner: $32
- Traditional Dance Show and Buffet Dinner with Wine: $33
- Troy Dinner-Show: $42
- Spectacular Dinner-Show: $47
- Plate smashing | Greek Night with Dancing & Buffet Dinner: $69
- Olive Oil Factory Tour, Dinner & Traditional Dancing: $71
- Rethymno: Cretan Night with Dinner and Live Music, LOCAL GUIDE: $71
- Quad Safari: Off-Road Day Tour with Dinner & Transfers: $74
- Olive Oil Festival in Cretan Farm with Traditional Dinner: $77
- Rethymno Old Town Walking Food Tour Local Market Visit Tastings: $89
- Heraklion: Finikia Horse Riding Tour with Lunch or Dinner: $90
- Amazing Sunset Jeep Safari Route with Dinner: $93
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Kefalonia €33Crete €25
Tours and Activities in Kefalonia
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Kefalonia.
- Argostoli Sightseeing & Makris Gialos Beach Experience: $40
- Ithaca Island Full Bus Tour from Kefalonia: $41
- Argostoli: Golden Hour Eco Tuk Tour: $51
- Old Farsa Village Sunset Walking Tour: $51
- Ithaca Full-Day Cruise with Swimming Stops: $57
- Kefalonia Shore Excursion for Cruise Ship Visitors: $74
- Argostoli: Full-Day Traditional Boat Cruise with Lunch: $74
- Melissani, Drogarati & Beach Small-Group Tour: $74
- Myrtos Beach, Melissani Lake, & Winery Tour: $74
- From Blue Cave Boat Cruise & Shipwreck Photo Stop: $80
- Ionian Bliss: Atokos & Ithaca Coastal Cruise: $80
- From Zakynthos cruise wth Shipwreck Beach: $85
Tours and Activities in Crete
Here are a few actual costs in Crete for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 2 days Local Life Experience at Lassithi Plateau from Heraklion: $109
- 4 Hour Fishing and Swimming Boat Experience in Schisma Eloundas: $148
- 5Hour Safari Tour in Crete(Heraklion)with Quad,Jeep,Buggy & Lunch: $106
- 6-Hours Safari Tour in Damnoni and Skinaria Beach, from Plakias: $33
- Agiofarago and Matala Beach Tour with Lunch | Private: $224
- Archaeological Museum & Knossos Palace Guided Tour Half Day: $114
- Archaeological Museum Guided Tour Half Day: $63
- Archaeological Museum of Heraklion Tour: $119
- Balos & Falassarna Beach - Jeep Tour with Loungers and Lunch: $196
- Balos Lagoon & Gramvousa Island Cruise Tour: $64
- Balos Lagoon semi private Jeep tour: $166
- Battle of Crete 4 Day Private WW2 War History Tour: $1,025
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKefalonia €22Crete €22
Sample the Local Flavors in Kefalonia
Also in Kefalonia, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Kefalonia Island: Melissani, Myrtos,Fiscardo & wine tasting: $44
- Kefalonia Wine Tour: $102
- Kefalonia Shore Excursion: Hidden Caves, Views & Wine Tour: $154
- Kefalonia:Private Olive Oil, Honey & Wine Tasting Experience: $177
Sample the Local Flavors in Crete
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Crete:
- Vatolakkos: Boutique Winery Tour & 5-Wine Tasting: $28
- From Chania:Elafonissi Beach Day Trip, Elos, Honey & Wine Tasting: $33
- Cretan Wine Tasting Experience: $42
- Authentic Crete Farm & Wine Tasting Experience from Heraklion: $51
- Platanias: Guided Road Trip with Olive Oil and Wine Tastings: $80
- Jeep Tour to Archanes with Wine tasting & Lunch: $113
- Cave and Cretan Brewery semi private jeep tour with beer tasting: $154
- Heraklion: Ebike - All in one - Food tasting & Wine tasting: $176
- PRIVATE Walking Tour with Lunch and Wine Tasting by a Sommelier: $190
- Gastronomy tour and wine tasting in traditional villages: $214
- Private Wine Tour at Peza Valley - 2 Wineries and Lunch at Peza: $276
- Private Wine Tour with Tastings at Peza Valley (Lunch Included): $297
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kefalonia and Crete, we can see that Kefalonia is more expensive. And not only is Crete much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Crete would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Crete 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 Kefalonia would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Kefalonia than you might in Crete.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Kefalonia Expensive? and Is Crete Expensive?.
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.