Should you visit Kos or Crete?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel cost comparison between Kos and Crete can help. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Kos
Kos is a Greek island and third largest island of the Dodecanese group, located near the Turkish coast in the southeast Aegean Sea. It is best known for its beautiful sandy beaches, which make it a popular tourist destination, as well as its ancient Greek and Roman landmarks.
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.
Which city is cheaper, Crete or Kos?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Kos is €107, while the average daily cost in Crete is €81. 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 Kos and Crete in more detail.
Accommodation
Travelers usually pay around €98 for a double occupancy room in Kos If you want to be in a premiere location or have high end amenities, you can expect to pay a bit more.
If you're traveling alone, you may be able to find a budget hotel or hostel for around €38. But for two people in a standard two-person hotel room in Crete the cost is €76 on average.
Food
While meal prices in Kos can vary, the average travelers spends about €35 per day on food. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out, an average meal in Kos should cost around €14 per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in Kos is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.
On average, meal and food prices in Crete cost around €28 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 €11.
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Food
Meals for one day
Kos €35
Crete €28
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Crete
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Crete.
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Heraklion: Cretan Cooking Lesson with Dinner in Arolithos:
$113
Local Transportation
To get around in Kos, the average visitor spends €29 per day, per person. This includes the costs of taxi rides and private drivers as well as public transportation, which tends to be much more affordable.
While taxis and private drivers typically cost much more than public transportation, people usually spend around €19 per day to get around in Crete.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kos
Also for Kos, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Kos - Airport Private Transfer:
$62
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Private Transfer to/from Kos Airport (KGS):
$71
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Private Airport Transfer: from Kos Island to Kos Airport (KGS):
$41
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Private departure Transfer from Kos island resorts to Kos airport:
$96
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Crete
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Crete:
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Acqua Plus Water Park Admission with Optional Transfer:
$32
Is it cheaper to fly into Kos or Crete?
Prices for flights to both Crete and Kos 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
In Kos, the costs for things to do, activities, admission tickets, and other sightseeing expenses are on average €26 per person, per day.
Activities, things to do, and other forms of entertainment usually cost around €20 per person, per day in Crete. This cost includes the price of admission tickets to attractions and museums as well as daily tours.
Tours and Activities in Kos
For Kos, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
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Kalymnos and Pserimos Day Cruise:
$55
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Photo tour island of Kos:
$684
Tours and Activities in Crete
Here are a few actual costs in Crete for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
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Chania, 90-Minute Segway Night Tour:
$56
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Chania: 3-Hour Guided Segway Tour:
$96
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Chania: Guided Halepa Segway Tour:
$51
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Classic and Authentic Day Tour of Crete:
$137
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Heraklion Archaeological Museum Ticket & Audio Guide:
$16
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Hiking Tour in Samaria Gorge:
$43
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Day Tour of Spinalonga, Agios Nikolaos, Elounda & Plaka:
$36
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From Chania: Crete World War II History Tour:
$91
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From Heraklion: Knossos and Lasithi Plateau Full-Day Tour:
$51
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Georgioupolis Full-Day Land Rover Safari Experience:
$78
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Heraklion: Archaeological Museum & Knossos Ticket with Audio:
$26
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Heraklion: Cretan Meat Tasting Tour in Galatas Village:
$40
Alcohol
Typically, people visiting Kos spend on average €16 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
While the amount that someone spends on alcohol while visiting Crete may vary from person to person, on average a person spends €16 per day on alcoholic beverages.
Sample the Local Flavors in Crete
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Crete:
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From Chania: Olive Oil & Wine Tasting - Safari Tour w/ Lunch:
$142
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Heraklion: Cretan Wine Tasting Tour & Gourmet Lunch:
$170
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Heraklion: Private Knossos & Wine Tasting Tour with Lunch:
$300
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kos and Crete, we can see that Kos 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 Kos would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Kos than you might in Crete.
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