Which place is cheaper, Thessaloniki or Plovdiv?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Plovdiv or Thessaloniki?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Plovdiv and Thessaloniki can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Plovdiv or Thessaloniki?
Plovdiv
Located in a large, hilly plain between the Rhodope Mountains in the south of Bulgaria and the Balkan Range in the central part of the country, Plovdiv sits uniquely spread across six hills. It is one of the oldest continuously-inhabited cities in the world, dating back roughly 8,000 years. Some of its best features are its ancient ruins and historic architecture.
Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki is the second largest city in Greece and serves as the capital city of the Central Macedonia region. It also has a rich history dating back more than 3,000 years. As a visitor, you'll find that the city has been touched by the Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman empires, all of which left their mark. In particular, the many Byzantine churches are quite impressive, with some of them listed on the UNESCO World Heritage list.
For some great organized tour ideas, see Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Bulgaria, The Best Adventure Tours to Bulgaria, The Best Tours for Seniors to Greece, and The Best Contiki Tours to Greece.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPlovdiv $80Thessaloniki $144
The average daily cost (per person) in Plovdiv is $80, while the average daily cost in Thessaloniki is $144. 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 destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Plovdiv and Thessaloniki in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPlovdiv $44Thessaloniki $85
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPlovdiv $88Thessaloniki $170
Compare Hotels in Plovdiv and Thessaloniki
Looking for a hotel in Plovdiv or Thessaloniki? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Plovdiv Hotel Prices and Thessaloniki Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Plovdiv $22Thessaloniki $14
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Plovdiv
Also for Plovdiv, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Varna: Private Transfer from Varna to Plovdiv: $378
- Transfer from Plovdiv to Sofia: $104
- Transfer from Plovdiv to Pamporovo: $89
- Transfer from Plovdiv to Burgas city/airport with sedan/minivan/minibus: $191
- Transfer from Pamporovo to Sofia: $98
- Transfer Plovdiv to Sofia airport/city with a car 3+1: $98
- Sofia: Private Transfer from Sofia to Plovdiv OR vice versa: $148
- Private Transfer from Pamporovo to Sofia (SOF) Airport: $160
- Private Transfer from Plovdiv to Varna: $356
- Private Transfer from Plovdiv to Sofia / vice versa: $148
- Private Transfer from Plovdiv to Burgas: $263
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Thessaloniki
Also for Thessaloniki, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer from Thessaloniki to Ikos Oceania: $153
- Bus Transfer to/from Kavala: $18
- Thessaloniki to Thessaloniki Airport (SKG) - Departure Transfer: $21
- Thessaloniki Cruise Port: Transfer to Thessaloniki city: $142
- Thessaloniki Airport to TUI Blue Lagoon Hotels Private Transfer: $93
- Thessaloniki Airport to Sani Hotels Private Transfer: $98
- Thessaloniki Airport to Portes Lithos Luxury Resort Private Transfer: $82
- Thessaloniki Airport to Ikos Olivia Hotel Private Transfer: $98
- Thessaloniki Airport to Ikos Oceania Hotel Private Transfer: $87
- Thessaloniki Airport to Alia Palace Hotel Private Transfer: $131
- Thessaloniki Airport to Afitis Boutique Hotel Private Transfer: $109
- Thessaloniki Airport or Cruise Port Private Departure Transfer: $44
Is it cheaper to fly into Plovdiv or Thessaloniki?
Prices for flights to both Thessaloniki and Plovdiv 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
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Food Meals for one dayPlovdiv $21Thessaloniki $45
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Thessaloniki
For Thessaloniki, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Open Market Food Tour with Tasting: $48
- Walking Open Market Food Tour and Tasting: $49
- Cooking & Dining Experience with Greek Family: $63
- Guided Food Tour: $70
- Food Tour in Thessaloniki: $71
- Private Walking Tour Gastronomic Food Tour in Thessaloniki: $87
- Traditional Greek Food Tour With A Local: $95
- Greek Ouzo and Meze Food Tour: $95
- Greek Cooking Class, Market Visit and Lunch: $95
- Traditional Greek Food Tour With A Local: $97
- Greek Ouzo and Meze Food Tour: $97
- Greek Cooking Class, Market visit and Lunch: $97
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Plovdiv $15Thessaloniki $28
Tours and Activities in Plovdiv
For Plovdiv, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 5-Day Guided Tour to Sofia, Plovdiv and Istanbul: $488
- Bachkovo Monastery & Asen's Fortress - day tour from Plovdiv: $82
- Communist Heritage Tour- Buzludzha and The Might of the East Block Aviation: $98
- Day Tour from Plovdiv - Magical Koprivshtitsa, Landscapes & Wine: $156
- Day Tour from Plovdiv full with History, Nature & Forgotten Village Experiences: $144
- Exclusive Private Tour in the Thracian Valley from Sofia: $94
- Food Walk: Bulgarian Food and Culture Tour in Plovdiv: $38
- From Bachkovo Monastery & Asen’s Fortress Tour: $81
- From Musala Peak Full-Day Trekking Tour: $130
- From Sofia - A Story of an Ancient State Day Tour: $95
- Full Day Archeological tour of Plovdiv and the Region: $97
- Full Day Eco Private Tour in Koprivshtitsa and Plovdiv: $150
Tours and Activities in Thessaloniki
For Thessaloniki, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 4-Hour Thessaloniki Jewish Heritage Private Guided Tour: $207
- Archery Odyssey Traditional Archery Experience: $65
- Best of Private Guided Tour: $218
- Best of Private Guided Tour: $192
- Charming pearls of Thessaloniki – Romantic Tour: $153
- City Sightseeing Thessaloniki Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour: $17
- Daily Cruise:Discover Thessaloniki in a different way: $1,069
- Daily Sailing Cruise Olympus Riviera Highlights: $122
- Day Tour at Royal Tombs of Aigai and Museum of Pella with pickup: $93
- Dion and Palaios Panteleimon Myth and History Tour: $153
- Dion-Olympus Private Tour from Thessaloniki: $96
- Discover Olympus from Paralia in Jeep Safari Shared Tour: $76
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPlovdiv $9.57Thessaloniki $16
Sample the Local Flavors in Plovdiv
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Plovdiv:
- Chateau Copsa Wine Tasting Tours & Activities: $21
- Plovdiv Exquisite Wine Tasting: $64
- Old Town Exploring Guide Roman Ruins & Wine Tasting: $80
- Thracian Valley wine tasting - private day tour from Plovdiv: $92
- Private Day Trip From Plovdiv To Wine Cellars And Wine Tasting: $108
- From Sofia: Plovdiv and Perushtitsa Tour With Wine Tasting: $134
- Half-Day of Horseback Adventure with Wine Tasting: $168
Sample the Local Flavors in Thessaloniki
Also in Thessaloniki, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Friday Night Bar Crawl in Thessaloniki: $25
- From Pella-Edessa wine tasting: $64
- Small-Group Wine Tasting Tour with Appetizers: $81
- Thessaloniki Small-Group Wine Tasting Tour with Appetizers: $83
- Winery Visit with Wine Tasting Experience: $91
- Wine Tasting Experience from Thessaloniki: $93
- Thessaloniki to Naoussa, Wine Tasting Tour – Private Day Trip: $207
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Plovdiv and Thessaloniki, we can see that Thessaloniki is more expensive. And not only is Plovdiv much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Plovdiv would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Plovdiv 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 Thessaloniki would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Thessaloniki than you might in Plovdiv.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Plovdiv Expensive? and Is Thessaloniki Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Plovdiv or Thessaloniki?
Thessaloniki has a larger population, and is about 4% larger than the population of Plovdiv. When comparing the sizes of Plovdiv and Thessaloniki, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.