Should you visit Paphos or Kos?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Paphos or Kos, this travel cost comparison can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Paphos
Located on the southwestern tip of Cyprus, Paphos has many different archaeological sights and it is renowned as the birthplace of the Greek goddess Aphrodite. The town is situated between the coast and the Troodos Mountains and it has grown in recent years as a tourist destination. As such, the local government has made efforts to improve the quality of the tourism infrastructure including investing in hotels, restaurants and transportation. There is also a commercial center to the city as well as a newly built "promenade" that travels from the marina along a long coastal path. This route offers excellent views, especially during the morning or evening hours when the sun is low.
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.
Which city is cheaper, Kos or Paphos?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Paphos is €77, while the average daily cost in Kos is €107. 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 Paphos and Kos in more detail.
Accommodation
A hotel room in Paphos is about €74 This assumes double occupancy and modest accommodations.
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.
Food
The price of a meal in Paphos can vary widely. However, the average price for food per day is €30 per person, and a typical meal will cost around €12 based on the spending of previous visitors. Less expensive dining options can be found by eating street food or at fast food restaurants.
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.
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Food
Meals for one day
Paphos €30
Kos €35
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Paphos
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Paphos.
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Traditional Cuisine & Cultural Flavours - City Walking Food Tour Paphos 2.5hrs:
$59
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Sea Star Evening Dinner and Fireworks Cruise from Paphos:
$73
Local Transportation
The cost of a taxi ride in Paphos is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent €9.29 per person, per day, on local transportation in Paphos.
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.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Paphos
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Paphos:
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Transfer Paphos Airport PFO to Limassol:
$75
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Shared transfer from Paphos Town to Paphos Airport PFO:
$12
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Shared transfer from Coral Bay to Paphos Airport PFO:
$14
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Shared shuttle transfer from Paphos Airport to Hotels:
$13
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Shared shuttle transfer from Hotels to Paphos Airport:
$13
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Shared airport transfer Paphos Airport - Paphos Town:
$11
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Shared Transfer from Paphos Airport to Coral Bay:
$14
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Shared Departure Transfer: Paphos or Limassol Hotels to Paphos Airport:
$16
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Shared Arrival Transfer: Paphos Airport to Paphos or Limassol Hotels:
$16
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Private Transfer from Paphos to Larnaca Airport LCA in 4 seater Taxi:
$151
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Private Transfer from Paphos Airport to Larnaca in Minivan(Taxi):
$218
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Private Departure Transfer: Cyprus Hotels to Paphos Airport:
$26
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
Is it cheaper to fly into Paphos or Kos?
Prices for flights to both Kos and Paphos 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
Entertainment and activities in Paphos typically cost an average of €9.56 per person, per day. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.
In Kos, the costs for things to do, activities, admission tickets, and other sightseeing expenses are on average €26 per person, per day.
Tours and Activities in Paphos
Here are a few actual costs in Paphos for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
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1 Hour Tour to Local Radio in Paphos with Live Radio Show:
$50
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Akamas 4x4 Adventure:
$197
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All in Paphos big photo tour!:
$398
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Authentic Cyprus Historic Day Tour from Paphos:
$32
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Blue Lagoon Day Cruise from Paphos:
$83
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Cruise and 4X4 Safari Tour at Akamas Peninsula from Paphos:
$106
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Fireworks Night Cruise from Paphos:
$81
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Full-day Famagusta, Varosha, and Salamis Tour from Paphos:
$47
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Grand Tour Jeep Safari - Kykkos Monastery (From Paphos):
$93
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Guided tour “Love stories of Paphos”:
$496
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Half Day BBQ Lunch Cruise from Paphos:
$58
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Halloumi Heaven ( Cheese-Making Workshop & Tour):
$112
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
Alcohol
While the amount that someone spends on alcohol while visiting Paphos may vary from person to person, on average a person spends €7.98 per day on alcoholic beverages.
Typically, people visiting Kos spend on average €16 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
Sample the Local Flavors in Paphos
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Paphos:
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WINE TOUR from Paphos:
$372
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Paphos and Kos, we can see that Kos is more expensive. And not only is Paphos much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Paphos would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Paphos 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 Paphos.
