Should you visit Kos or Ios?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel cost comparison between Kos and Ios 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.
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.
Which city is cheaper, Ios 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 Ios is €73. 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 Ios 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 €31. But for two people in a standard two-person hotel room in Ios the cost is €62 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.
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.
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Food
Meals for one day
Kos €35
Ios €26
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.
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.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kos
Also for Kos, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Private Airport Transfer: from Kos Island to Kos Airport (KGS):
$41
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Kos - Airport Private Transfer:
$62
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Private departure Transfer from Kos island resorts to Kos airport:
$96
Is it cheaper to fly into Kos or Ios?
Prices for flights to both Ios 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.
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.
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 Ios
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Ios are as follows:
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From Ios to Sikinos Island & Winery Tour:
$96
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Half Day Sunset Sailboat tour (afternoon):
$210
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Ios Speed Boat Adventure:
$54
Alcohol
Typically, people visiting Kos spend on average €16 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
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.
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kos and Ios, we can see that Kos 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 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 Ios.
