Should you visit Kos or Positano?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel cost comparison between Kos and Positano 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.
Positano
Located on the Amalfi Coast in Campania, Italy, Positano is a very scenic town that offers spectacular coastal views. The town sits on the edge of a hill and flows down toward the sea. Because of its dramatic beauty, Positano attracts thousands of visitors year around.
The town dates back to medieval times when it was a port for the Amalfi Republic. It thrived throughout the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries but by the mid-nineteenth century its prosperity was falling. During those times more than half of the population left, migrating predominantly to America. During the 1950s the town gained popularity as a tourist destination, in part because of John Steinbeck's essay about the area in Harper's Bazaar (May, 1953).
Which city is cheaper, Positano 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 Positano is €180. 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 Positano 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.
For a normal double-occupancy room in Positano, €240 is the average cost for a hotel room. Also in Positano, the typical price for a place to stay for one person is €120, such as in a hostel.
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.
Positano food costs typically run travelers around €42 per day. Eating every meal in a nicer restaurant will drive the cost up, and grabbing fast food or casual meals will help you save money.
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Food
Meals for one day
Kos €35
Positano €42
Typical Food prices in Positano
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Positano:
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Sitdown Dinner (for Two)
€31
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Pizza in a Restaurant
€9.32
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Sandwich in a Restaurant
€12
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Positano
For Positano, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
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Positano for Foodies- The authentic food tour in Town:
$106
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Dining experience at a local's home in Positano & cooking demo:
$106
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Dining experience at a local's home in Positano with show cooking:
$106
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Small-group Street food tour in Positano:
$111
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Market tour and lunch or dinner at a local's home in Positano:
$173
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Private Pizza & Tiramisu Class at a local's home with tasting in Positano:
$180
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Private cooking class at a local's home with tasting in Positano:
$180
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Local market visit and private cooking class at a local's home in Positano:
$235
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Vico Equense: Market Tour, Home Cooking Class, and Dinner:
$240
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Exclusive hands-on cooking class with a local in Positano:
$372
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.
Positano's transportation costs can vary by the type of transport chosen by visitors. Naturally, taxis and private drivers cost much more than public transportation options. On average, visitors spend €6.19 per person, per day on transportation in Positano.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kos
Also for Kos, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Private departure Transfer from Kos island resorts to Kos airport:
$96
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Kos - Airport Private Transfer:
$62
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Private Airport Transfer: from Kos Island to Kos Airport (KGS):
$41
Typical Local Transportation prices in Positano
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Positano:
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Positano
Also for Positano, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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private transfer from positano to naples:
$195
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private transfer from Positano to Naples:
$93
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private transfer Positano to Roma:
$296
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Transfer from Positano to Naples:
$94
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Transfer from Naples to Positano with 2 hours Private Tour in Herculaneum:
$327
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Transfer From to Ravello and Naples:
$252
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Transfer From to Positano and Naples:
$202
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Transfer From to Amalfi and Rome:
$757
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Sorrento Coast - Positano Private Transfer:
$77
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Siena: 1-Way Private Transfer to and from Positano:
$928
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Private transfer with stop in Pompeii:
$435
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Private transfer to Matera from Positano or reverse:
$346
Is it cheaper to fly into Kos or Positano?
Prices for flights to both Positano 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.
Sightseeing, admission tickets, things to do, and other entertainment expenses in Positano can vary widely by price. On average, visitors spend around €48 per person, per day on entertainment and sightseeing here.
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
Typical Entertainment prices in Positano
For Positano, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
Tours and Activities in Positano
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Positano.
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AMALFI COAST EXPERIENCE Amalfi, Ravello, Sorrento - From Positano:
$302
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Amalfi & Ravello Tour from Positano:
$285
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Amalfi Coast COLLECTIVE boat tour:
$118
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Amalfi Coast Classical Tour:
$622
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Amalfi Coast Positano and Ravello Cruise Shore Excursion from Naples Port:
$218
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Amalfi Coast Private Chauffeur at your disposal for Business Shopping or Touring:
$375
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Amalfi Coast Tour: Positano, Amalfi and Ravello:
$655
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Amalfi Coast grottos speed tour:
$249
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Amalfi Coast half day tour:
$560
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Amalfi Coast private tour by traditional and elegant wooden boats:
$883
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Amalfi Coast tour from Positano with private English speaking driver:
$255
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Amalfi Coast with Positano and Ravello Shore Excursion from Naples Cruise Port:
$218
Alcohol
Typically, people visiting Kos spend on average €16 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
Alcoholic beverages can often be a significant portion of a traveler's budget, and the costs can vary greatly from person to person. In Positano, the average amount that a visitor spends on alcoholic beverages per day is €12.
Typical Alcohol prices in Positano
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Positano:
Sample the Local Flavors in Positano
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Positano:
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Pompeii & Vesuvius Wine Tour from Amalfi Coast - small group tour:
$162
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Pompeii,Vesuvius with Lunch & wine tasting from Positano all inclusive:
$260
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Private Irpinia Wine Tour from Positano, Amalfi or Ravello with Sommelier:
$301
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Pompeii-Vesuvius-Wine Tasting tour with licensed guide included:
$373
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Paestum Temples+Bufala Mozzarella Farm+Wine tasting in Cilento (from Positano):
$809
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kos and Positano, we can see that Positano is more expensive. And not only is Kos much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Kos would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Kos 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 Positano would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Positano than you might in Kos.
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