A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Thessaloniki vs. Costa de Prata for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Thessaloniki or Costa de Prata?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Should I visit Thessaloniki or Costa de Prata? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Where Should I go: Thessaloniki or Costa de Prata?

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.

Costa de Prata

Costa de Prata is a region located on the Silver Coast of Portugal, an hour north of Lisbon. The area is known for its beautiful beaches, ancient architecture, and relaxed, welcoming, atmosphere. The area experiences gorgeous weather nearly all year round, with temperatures in the high 70's and 80's Fahrenheit from May-September. June-August sees the warmest ocean temperatures, making these the best months for swimming. Even during their winter, temperatures rarely dip below 60°F, although ocean temperatures drop, making swimming a bit colder.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Tours for Seniors to Greece, The Best Contiki Tours to Greece, The Best 10-Day Tours in Portugal, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Portugal.


Which place is cheaper, Costa de Prata or Thessaloniki?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Thessaloniki is €134, while the average daily cost in Costa de Prata is €151. 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 Thessaloniki and Costa de Prata in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Thessaloniki 79
    Costa de Prata 78
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Thessaloniki 158
    Costa de Prata 156
Compare Hotels in Thessaloniki and Costa de Prata

Looking for a hotel in Thessaloniki or Costa de Prata? 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.

Hotels in Thessaloniki


Hotels in Costa de Prata


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: Thessaloniki Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Thessaloniki 13
    Costa de Prata 53

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 Thessaloniki or Costa de Prata?

Prices for flights to both Costa de Prata and Thessaloniki 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 Meals for one day
    Thessaloniki 42
    Costa de Prata 44

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
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Thessaloniki 26
    Costa de Prata 13

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
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Thessaloniki 15
    Costa de Prata 8.13

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 comparing the travel costs between Thessaloniki and Costa de Prata, we can see that Costa de Prata is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Europe, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Thessaloniki Expensive? and Is Costa de Prata Expensive?.



When is the best time to visit Thessaloniki or Costa de Prata?

Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Thessaloniki or Costa de Prata in the Summer?

Both Costa de Prata and Thessaloniki are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The summer months attract visitors to Thessaloniki because of the beaches, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences.

Thessaloniki is around the same temperature as Costa de Prata in the summer. The daily temperature in Thessaloniki averages around 25°C (77°F) in July, and Costa de Prata fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).

It's quite sunny in Costa de Prata. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Thessaloniki. Thessaloniki usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Costa de Prata during summer. Thessaloniki gets 327 hours of sunny skies, while Costa de Prata receives 308 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Thessaloniki usually receives more rain than Costa de Prata. Thessaloniki gets 26 mm (1 in) of rain, while Costa de Prata receives 14 mm (0.6 in) of rain each month for the summer.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Thessaloniki 25°C (77°F) 
    Costa de Prata 23°C (73°F)

Should I visit Thessaloniki or Costa de Prata in the Autumn?

Both Costa de Prata and Thessaloniki during the autumn are popular places to visit. The city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene are the main draw to Thessaloniki this time of year.

In the autumn, Thessaloniki is cooler than Costa de Prata. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Thessaloniki in October average around 16°C (61°F), and Costa de Prata averages at about 18°C (65°F).

In the autumn, Thessaloniki often gets less sunshine than Costa de Prata. Thessaloniki gets 159 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Costa de Prata receives 184 hours of full sun.

Costa de Prata gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Thessaloniki usually gets less rain in October than Costa de Prata. Thessaloniki gets 41 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Costa de Prata receives 101 mm (4 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Thessaloniki 16°C (61°F) 
    Costa de Prata 18°C (65°F)

Should I visit Thessaloniki or Costa de Prata in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Thessaloniki and Costa de Prata. Many travelers come to Thessaloniki for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

In January, Thessaloniki is generally much colder than Costa de Prata. Daily temperatures in Thessaloniki average around 5°C (41°F), and Costa de Prata fluctuates around 11°C (51°F).

Thessaloniki usually receives less sunshine than Costa de Prata during winter. Thessaloniki gets 101 hours of sunny skies, while Costa de Prata receives 124 hours of full sun in the winter.

Costa de Prata receives a lot of rain in the winter. In January, Thessaloniki usually receives less rain than Costa de Prata. Thessaloniki gets 37 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Costa de Prata receives 139 mm (5.5 in) of rain each month for the winter.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Thessaloniki 5°C (41°F) 
    Costa de Prata 11°C (51°F)

Should I visit Thessaloniki or Costa de Prata in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Thessaloniki as well as Costa de Prata. Many visitors come to Thessaloniki in the spring for the beaches and the activities around the city.

Thessaloniki is cooler than Costa de Prata in the spring. The daily temperature in Thessaloniki averages around 13°C (56°F) in April, and Costa de Prata fluctuates around 15°C (59°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Costa de Prata. In the spring, Thessaloniki often gets less sunshine than Costa de Prata. Thessaloniki gets 196 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Costa de Prata receives 217 hours of full sun.

Thessaloniki usually gets less rain in April than Costa de Prata. Thessaloniki gets 36 mm (1.4 in) of rain, while Costa de Prata receives 92 mm (3.6 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Thessaloniki 13°C (56°F) 
    Costa de Prata 15°C (59°F)

Typical Weather for Costa de Prata and Thessaloniki

Thessaloniki Costa de Prata
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 5°C (41°F) 37 mm (1.5 in) 11°C (51°F) 139 mm (5.5 in)
Feb 7°C (44°F) 40 mm (1.6 in) 12°C (53°F) 140 mm (5.5 in)
Mar 9°C (49°F) 46 mm (1.8 in) 13°C (56°F) 86 mm (3.4 in)
Apr 13°C (56°F) 36 mm (1.4 in) 15°C (59°F) 92 mm (3.6 in)
May 18°C (65°F) 44 mm (1.7 in) 17°C (63°F) 77 mm (3 in)
Jun 23°C (73°F) 32 mm (1.3 in) 21°C (69°F) 49 mm (1.9 in)
Jul 25°C (77°F) 26 mm (1 in) 23°C (73°F) 14 mm (0.6 in)
Aug 25°C (76°F) 21 mm (0.8 in) 23°C (73°F) 13 mm (0.5 in)
Sep 21°C (70°F) 26 mm (1 in) 22°C (71°F) 48 mm (1.9 in)
Oct 16°C (61°F) 41 mm (1.6 in) 18°C (65°F) 101 mm (4 in)
Nov 11°C (52°F) 58 mm (2.3 in) 14°C (57°F) 128 mm (5 in)
Dec 7°C (44°F) 53 mm (2.1 in) 11°C (52°F) 130 mm (5.1 in)