Which place is cheaper, Playa de las Americas or Thessaloniki?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Thessaloniki or Playa de las Americas?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Thessaloniki or Playa de las Americas? 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 Playa de las Americas?
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.
Playa de las Americas
If you are looking to escape your life - to relax on a modern day pleasure island, then you need to book a trip to the Playa de las Americas resort town. Located on the south coast of Tenerife, this party, beach, and vacation capital never goes to sleep. Packed with nightclubs, bars, live music, shops and restaurants, Playa de las Americas is the stuff Hollywood movies are made of.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Tours for Seniors to Greece, The Best Contiki Tours to Greece, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Barcelona, and The Best 10-Day Tours from Madrid.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayThessaloniki €134Playa de las Americas €195
The average daily cost (per person) in Thessaloniki is €134, while the average daily cost in Playa de las Americas is €195. 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 Playa de las Americas in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personThessaloniki €79Playa de las Americas €115
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomThessaloniki €158Playa de las Americas €230
Compare Hotels in Thessaloniki and Playa de las Americas
Looking for a hotel in Thessaloniki or Playa de las Americas? 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: Thessaloniki Hotel Prices and Playa de las Americas Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Thessaloniki €13Playa de las Americas €56
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Thessaloniki
Also for Thessaloniki, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- From Private Day Trip to Meteora with Transfer: $428
- Private Transfer from Thessaloniki to Sofia (SOF) Airport: $254
- Private Transfer from Kavala to Sofia (SOF) Airport: $237
- Transfer from Thessaloniki to Ikos Oceania: $153
- Thessaloniki Airport (SKG): Transfer to Thessaloniki city: $142
- Thessaloniki Airport (SKG): Transfer to Thessaloniki Port: $142
- Thessaloniki Cruise Port: Transfer to Thessaloniki city: $142
- Thessaloniki Airport to Alia Palace Hotel Private Transfer: $131
- Private Transfer to Thessaloniki Airport from Thessaloniki City: $120
- Thessaloniki Airport to Afitis Boutique Hotel Private Transfer: $109
- Private Transfer from Thessaloniki Airport to Ammon Zeus Hotel : $109
- Private Transfer from Thessaloniki Airport to Sani Resort: $109
Is it cheaper to fly into Thessaloniki or Playa de las Americas?
Prices for flights to both Playa de las Americas 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
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Food Meals for one dayThessaloniki €42Playa de las Americas €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.Thessaloniki €26Playa de las Americas €30
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 dayThessaloniki €15Playa de las Americas €8.57
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 Thessaloniki and Playa de las Americas, we can see that Playa de las Americas is more expensive. And not only is Thessaloniki much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Thessaloniki would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Thessaloniki 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 Playa de las Americas would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Playa de las Americas than you might in Thessaloniki.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Thessaloniki Expensive? and Is Playa de las Americas Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Thessaloniki or Playa de las Americas?
Thessaloniki has a larger population, and is about 120 times larger than the population of Playa de las Americas. When comparing the sizes of Thessaloniki and Playa de las Americas, 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.
When is the best time to visit Thessaloniki or Playa de las Americas?
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 Playa de las Americas in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Thessaloniki and Playa de las Americas. The beaches, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Thessaloniki this time of year.
Thessaloniki is around the same temperature as Playa de las Americas in the summer. The daily temperature in Thessaloniki averages around 25°C (77°F) in July, and Playa de las Americas fluctuates around 24°C (75°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Playa de las Americas this time of the year. In Thessaloniki, it's very sunny this time of the year. Thessaloniki usually receives more sunshine than Playa de las Americas during summer. Thessaloniki gets 327 hours of sunny skies, while Playa de las Americas receives 268 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Thessaloniki usually receives more rain than Playa de las Americas. Thessaloniki gets 26 mm (1 in) of rain, while Playa de las Americas receives 2 mm (0.1 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyThessaloniki 25°C (77°F)Playa de las Americas 24°C (75°F)
Should I visit Thessaloniki or Playa de las Americas in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Thessaloniki as well as Playa de las Americas. Many travelers come to Thessaloniki for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene.
In the autumn, Thessaloniki is cooler than Playa de las Americas. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Thessaloniki in October average around 16°C (61°F), and Playa de las Americas averages at about 24°C (75°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Playa de las Americas. In the autumn, Thessaloniki often gets less sunshine than Playa de las Americas. Thessaloniki gets 159 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Playa de las Americas receives 200 hours of full sun.
Thessaloniki usually gets more rain in October than Playa de las Americas. Thessaloniki gets 41 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Playa de las Americas receives 20 mm (0.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberThessaloniki 16°C (61°F)Playa de las Americas 24°C (75°F)
Should I visit Thessaloniki or Playa de las Americas in the Winter?
Both Playa de las Americas and Thessaloniki are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Thessaloniki in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
In January, Thessaloniki is generally much colder than Playa de las Americas. Daily temperatures in Thessaloniki average around 5°C (41°F), and Playa de las Americas fluctuates around 19°C (66°F).
Thessaloniki usually receives less sunshine than Playa de las Americas during winter. Thessaloniki gets 101 hours of sunny skies, while Playa de las Americas receives 191 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Thessaloniki usually receives more rain than Playa de las Americas. Thessaloniki gets 37 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Playa de las Americas receives 29 mm (1.1 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryThessaloniki 5°C (41°F)Playa de las Americas 19°C (66°F)
Should I visit Thessaloniki or Playa de las Americas in the Spring?
Both Playa de las Americas and Thessaloniki during the spring are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Thessaloniki for the beaches and the activities around the city during these months.
Thessaloniki is cooler than Playa de las Americas in the spring. The daily temperature in Thessaloniki averages around 13°C (56°F) in April, and Playa de las Americas fluctuates around 20°C (68°F).
In Playa de las Americas, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the spring, Thessaloniki often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Playa de las Americas. Thessaloniki gets 196 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Playa de las Americas receives 205 hours of full sun.
Thessaloniki usually gets more rain in April than Playa de las Americas. Thessaloniki gets 36 mm (1.4 in) of rain, while Playa de las Americas receives 11 mm (0.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilThessaloniki 13°C (56°F)Playa de las Americas 20°C (68°F)
Typical Weather for Playa de las Americas and Thessaloniki
| Thessaloniki | Playa de las Americas | |||
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| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 5°C (41°F) | 37 mm (1.5 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) |
| Feb | 7°C (44°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) |
| Mar | 9°C (49°F) | 46 mm (1.8 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) |
| Apr | 13°C (56°F) | 36 mm (1.4 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 11 mm (0.4 in) |
| May | 18°C (65°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) |
| Jun | 23°C (73°F) | 32 mm (1.3 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 1 mm (0 in) |
| Jul | 25°C (77°F) | 26 mm (1 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| Aug | 25°C (76°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
| Sep | 21°C (70°F) | 26 mm (1 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) |
| Oct | 16°C (61°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) |
| Nov | 11°C (52°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) |
| Dec | 7°C (44°F) | 53 mm (2.1 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) |
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.