Should you visit Paros or Ios?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the prices of travel for Paros and Ios. 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.
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 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 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 Paros and Ios 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 €31. But for two people in a standard two-person hotel room in Ios the cost is €62 on average.
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.
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
Paros €36
Ios €26
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.
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.
Is it cheaper to fly into Paros or Ios?
Prices for flights to both Ios 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.
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.
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 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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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 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 Paros spend on average €20 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 Paros and Ios, we can see that Paros 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 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 Ios.
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