Should you visit Thiva (Thebes) or Crete?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel cost comparison between Thiva (Thebes) and Crete can help. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Thiva (Thebes)
The City of Thiva (Thebes in ancient times) is a place built on top of history. Dating back to its powerful city-state status in the 4th Century BC, the city was home to legends like Hercules and Dionysus, and laid basis to the famous story of Oedipus as well. Following the Trojan War, Thiva had reached its golden age as a dominant city of the Boeotia region. The glory however was short to last. Around 335 BC, Thiva was all but destroyed by Alexander the Great for siding with the Persians under Xerxes against Athens.
Crete
The largest and most populous island of Greece, Crete has become a frequent vacation destination for many visitors. The terrain of the place is quite varied - very mountainous stretching east to west, with lush valleys, fertile plateaus, gorges, and famous caves like Idaion, the birthplace of the Greek god Zeus. The surrounding smaller islands and beaches are key attractions as well.
Which city is cheaper, Crete or Thiva (Thebes)?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Thiva (Thebes) is €102, while the average daily cost in Crete is €81. 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 Thiva (Thebes) and Crete in more detail.
Accommodation
The average price for accommodation for two people in Thiva (Thebes) is €98. This is for two people sharing a typical double occupancy hotel room.
If you're traveling alone, you may be able to find a budget hotel or hostel for around €38. But for two people in a standard two-person hotel room in Crete the cost is €76 on average.
Local Transportation
The average price of local transportation around Thiva (Thebes) is €30 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.
While taxis and private drivers typically cost much more than public transportation, people usually spend around €19 per day to get around in Crete.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Crete
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Crete:
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Acqua Plus Water Park Admission with Optional Transfer:
$32
Is it cheaper to fly into Thiva (Thebes) or Crete?
Prices for flights to both Crete and Thiva (Thebes) 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
While meal prices in Thiva (Thebes) can vary, the average travelers spends about €33 per day on food. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out, an average meal in Thiva (Thebes) should cost around €13 per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in Thiva (Thebes) is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.
On average, meal and food prices in Crete cost around €28 per person, per day. While this price can vary widely by location, the type of restaurant, and the amount of food ordered, a typical meal often costs around €11.
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Food
Meals for one day
Thiva (Thebes) €33
Crete €28
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Crete
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Crete.
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Olive Oil Factory Tour, Dinner & Traditional Dancing:
$56
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From Rethymno: Winery Tour & Cretan Folk Show with Dinner:
$64
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Heraklion: Cretan Cooking Lesson with Dinner in Arolithos:
$113
Entertainment
Thiva (Thebes)'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.
Activities, things to do, and other forms of entertainment usually cost around €20 per person, per day in Crete. This cost includes the price of admission tickets to attractions and museums as well as daily tours.
Tours and Activities in Crete
Here are a few actual costs in Crete for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
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Lychnostatis Open Air Museum: Entry Ticket with Add-Ons:
$6.76
-
Chania: Sunset Boat Cruise with Guide:
$14
-
Minoan's World 9D movie & 3D photo tour:
$14
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Heraklion Archaeological Museum Ticket & Audio Guide:
$16
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Heraklion: Hop-on Hop-off Bus Sightseeing Tour:
$17
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Heraklion: Virtual Reality Experience at VR Lab:
$17
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From Agios Nikolaos: Guided Boat Cruise to Spinalonga:
$18
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Rethymno: Sunset Cruise on a Wooden Pirate Boat:
$19
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Heraklion: Archaeological Museum & Knossos Ticket with Audio:
$26
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Chania: Traditional Boat Cruise to Lazaretta Island:
$30
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Rethymnon: Kournas Lake & Argyroupolis Small Group Tour:
$34
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Day Tour of Spinalonga, Agios Nikolaos, Elounda & Plaka:
$36
Alcohol
While the amount that someone spends on alcohol while visiting Thiva (Thebes) may vary from person to person, on average a person spends €14 per day on alcoholic beverages.
While the amount that someone spends on alcohol while visiting Crete may vary from person to person, on average a person spends €16 per day on alcoholic beverages.
Sample the Local Flavors in Crete
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Crete:
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Rethymno: Wine Tasting at The Cretan House of Wine:
$88
-
From Chania: Olive Oil & Wine Tasting - Safari Tour w/ Lunch:
$141
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Heraklion: Cretan Wine Tasting Tour & Gourmet Lunch:
$169
-
Heraklion: Private Knossos & Wine Tasting Tour with Lunch:
$299
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Thiva (Thebes) and Crete, we can see that Thiva (Thebes) is more expensive. And not only is Crete much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Crete would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Crete 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 Thiva (Thebes) would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Thiva (Thebes) than you might in Crete.
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