Should you visit Paros or Crete?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the prices of travel for Paros 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. So, let's dig into it.
Paros
A popular vacation destination for visitors to the Greek islands, Paros is the second largest island of the Cyclades group. It is characterized by beautiful Mediterranean beaches and charming seaside villages.
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 Paros?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Paros is €97, 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 Paros and Crete in more detail.
Accommodation
For a normal double-occupancy room in Paros, €84 is the average cost for a hotel room. Also in Paros, the typical price for a place to stay for one person is €42, such as in a hostel.
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.
Local Transportation
Public transportation tends to be much less expensive in Paros than paying for a taxi or private car service, as is expected. Typically, people spend €30 on transportation in Paros on average per day.
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 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 Paros or Crete?
Prices for flights to both Crete and Paros 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
Food in Paros costs travelers about €36 per day on average. Restaurants can vary significantly in price, so choose wisely if you're trying to save money. Fast food and street stalls are typically your cheapest options, which sit down restaurants can be significantly more expensive.
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
Paros €36
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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Olive Oil Factory Tour, Dinner & Traditional Dancing:
$56
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From Rethymno: Winery Tour & Cretan Folk Show with Dinner:
$64
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Heraklion: Cretan Cooking Lesson with Dinner in Arolithos:
$113
Entertainment
Sightseeing expenses in Paros, including the cost of admission tickets for day tours, museums, and attractions, usually cost an average of €18 per day, per person.
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 Paros
For Paros, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
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Paros Island Tour:
$81
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Paros Island Tour:
$81
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Paros Island Tour in French:
$96
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Paros Island Tour in French:
$102
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Authentic foodie tasting experience of Paros! (Vegan Vegetarian Carnivore):
$106
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From Naxos: Full-Day Catamaran Sailing Cruise with Lunch:
$159
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Full-Day Sailing Cruise in the Small Cyclades:
$176
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Semi-Private Tour of Paros Island:
$240
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Semi Private Tour of Paros Island:
$243
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Round of Antiparos & Despotiko on Parian Cruises sailing boat:
$268
Tours and Activities in Crete
Here are a few actual costs in Crete for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
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Agia Pelagia: Quad Safari-Family Tour:
$85
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Chania, 90-Minute Segway Night Tour:
$55
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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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Chania: Sunset Boat Cruise with Guide:
$14
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Chania: Sunset Cruise with Cretan Wine:
$395
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Chania: Traditional Boat Cruise to Lazaretta Island:
$30
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Classic and Authentic Day Tour of Crete:
$137
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4 Hour Half Day Sailing Cruise:
$428
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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
Alcohol
Typically, people visiting Paros spend on average €20 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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Rethymno: Wine Tasting at The Cretan House of Wine:
$88
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From Chania: Olive Oil & Wine Tasting - Safari Tour w/ Lunch:
$141
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Heraklion: Cretan Wine Tasting Tour & Gourmet Lunch:
$169
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Heraklion: Private Knossos & Wine Tasting Tour with Lunch:
$299
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Paros and Crete, we can see that Paros 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 Paros would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Paros than you might in Crete.
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