Which place is cheaper, Playa del Ingles or Thessaloniki?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Thessaloniki or Playa del Ingles?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Thessaloniki or Playa del Ingles? 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 del Ingles?
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 del Ingles
Translating to "Englishman's Beach," Playa del Ingles is a sea resort located on the south coast of the Gran Canaria island of Spain's Canary Islands. Since the 1960s it has been built up to accommodate tourists from around the world, especially from Europe. Some of the most popular attractions include an abundance of bars and clubs as well as beachside activities like swimming, surfing, scuba, and snorkeling.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Tours for Seniors to Greece, The Best Contiki Tours to Greece, The Best Contiki Tours to Spain, and The Best G Adventures Tours to Spain.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayThessaloniki €134Playa del Ingles €180
The average daily cost (per person) in Thessaloniki is €134, while the average daily cost in Playa del Ingles is €180. 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 del Ingles in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personThessaloniki €79Playa del Ingles €93
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomThessaloniki €158Playa del Ingles €186
Compare Hotels in Thessaloniki and Playa del Ingles
Looking for a hotel in Thessaloniki or Playa del Ingles? 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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Thessaloniki €13Playa del Ingles €61
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 Playa del Ingles?
Prices for flights to both Playa del Ingles 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 del Ingles €49
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 del Ingles €33
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 del Ingles €7.86
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 del Ingles, we can see that Playa del Ingles 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 del Ingles would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Playa del Ingles 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 del Ingles Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Thessaloniki or Playa del Ingles?
Thessaloniki has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Playa del Ingles. When comparing the sizes of Thessaloniki and Playa del Ingles, 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 del Ingles?
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 del Ingles in the Summer?
Both Playa del Ingles and Thessaloniki are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Thessaloniki for the beaches, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences.
In July, Thessaloniki is generally a little warmer than Playa del Ingles. Daily temperatures in Thessaloniki average around 25°C (77°F), and Playa del Ingles fluctuates around 22°C (72°F).
It's quite sunny in Playa del Ingles. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Thessaloniki. Thessaloniki usually receives more sunshine than Playa del Ingles during summer. Thessaloniki gets 327 hours of sunny skies, while Playa del Ingles receives 293 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Thessaloniki usually receives more rain than Playa del Ingles. Thessaloniki gets 26 mm (1 in) of rain, while Playa del Ingles receives 0 mm (0 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyThessaloniki 25°C (77°F)Playa del Ingles 22°C (72°F)
Should I visit Thessaloniki or Playa del Ingles in the Autumn?
Both Playa del Ingles and Thessaloniki during the autumn are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Thessaloniki in the autumn for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene.
Thessaloniki is cooler than Playa del Ingles in the autumn. The daily temperature in Thessaloniki averages around 16°C (61°F) in October, and Playa del Ingles fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).
In Playa del Ingles, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the autumn, Thessaloniki often gets less sunshine than Playa del Ingles. Thessaloniki gets 159 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Playa del Ingles receives 213 hours of full sun.
Thessaloniki usually gets more rain in October than Playa del Ingles. Thessaloniki gets 41 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Playa del Ingles receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberThessaloniki 16°C (61°F)Playa del Ingles 23°C (73°F)
Should I visit Thessaloniki or Playa del Ingles in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Thessaloniki and Playa del Ingles. Most visitors come to Thessaloniki for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.
In the winter, Thessaloniki is much colder than Playa del Ingles. Typically, the winter temperatures in Thessaloniki in January average around 5°C (41°F), and Playa del Ingles averages at about 17°C (63°F).
Thessaloniki usually receives less sunshine than Playa del Ingles during winter. Thessaloniki gets 101 hours of sunny skies, while Playa del Ingles receives 187 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Thessaloniki usually receives more rain than Playa del Ingles. Thessaloniki gets 37 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Playa del Ingles receives 17 mm (0.7 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryThessaloniki 5°C (41°F)Playa del Ingles 17°C (63°F)
Should I visit Thessaloniki or Playa del Ingles in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Thessaloniki as well as Playa del Ingles. The spring months attract visitors to Thessaloniki because of the beaches and the activities around the city.
In April, Thessaloniki is generally cooler than Playa del Ingles. Daily temperatures in Thessaloniki average around 13°C (56°F), and Playa del Ingles fluctuates around 19°C (66°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Playa del Ingles. In the spring, Thessaloniki often gets less sunshine than Playa del Ingles. Thessaloniki gets 196 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Playa del Ingles receives 225 hours of full sun.
Thessaloniki usually gets more rain in April than Playa del Ingles. Thessaloniki gets 36 mm (1.4 in) of rain, while Playa del Ingles receives 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilThessaloniki 13°C (56°F)Playa del Ingles 19°C (66°F)
Typical Weather for Playa del Ingles and Thessaloniki
| Thessaloniki | Playa del Ingles | |||
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| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 5°C (41°F) | 37 mm (1.5 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 17 mm (0.7 in) |
| Feb | 7°C (44°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 22 mm (0.9 in) |
| Mar | 9°C (49°F) | 46 mm (1.8 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Apr | 13°C (56°F) | 36 mm (1.4 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) |
| May | 18°C (65°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| Jun | 23°C (73°F) | 32 mm (1.3 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 0 mm (0 in) |
| Jul | 25°C (77°F) | 26 mm (1 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 0 mm (0 in) |
| Aug | 25°C (76°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 0 mm (0 in) |
| Sep | 21°C (70°F) | 26 mm (1 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 9 mm (0.4 in) |
| Oct | 16°C (61°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Nov | 11°C (52°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) |
| Dec | 7°C (44°F) | 53 mm (2.1 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 21 mm (0.8 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.