Yup, this is going to be a hefty post! I have recently moved to Bucharest after a month and 10 days living in Athens, Greece. I would like to report my expenses so you can get a better idea of how much to budget if you’re planning to visit Athens.
Spending By Category
Food
| Euros | USD | |
| Gyro | 2 | $2.32 |
| Market | 5 | $5.80 |
| Supermarket | 8 | $9.28 |
| Gyros | 2 | $2.32 |
| New York Sandwiches – burgers | 10 | $11.60 |
| Sandwich | 3.5 | $4.06 |
| Lunch at Noodle Bar | 3 | $3.48 |
| Souvlaki | 3.5 | $4.06 |
| Hamburger meal | 5 | $5.80 |
| Lunch and dinner at Noodle Bar | 15 | $17.40 |
| Groceries at the market | 3.5 | $4.06 |
| Sandwich | 6 | $6.96 |
| Chinese food | 5.5 | $6.38 |
| Instant noodles | 2 | $2.32 |
| Gyros | 3.8 | $4.41 |
| Orange juice + pork meal | 5 | $5.80 |
| Chicken and potatoes | 5.5 | $6.38 |
| Dinner at Street Wok | 6 | $6.96 |
| Drink | 3.5 | $4.06 |
| Sprite bottle | 1 | $1.16 |
| Bakery pastries | 0.4 | $0.46 |
| Smoothie | 1.4 | $1.62 |
| Kebab | 1.7 | $1.97 |
| Burger | 5.5 | $6.38 |
| Chinese fried rice (Noodle Bar) | 6.4 | $7.42 |
| Popcorn | 2 | $2.32 |
| Water | 0.5 | $0.58 |
| Water | 0.5 | $0.58 |
| Water | 0.5 | $0.58 |
| Gyros + coke + water | 3.6 | $4.18 |
| Mall Asian Food | 6.9 | $8.00 |
| Noodle Bar Schezuan Chicken | 8.9 | $10.32 |
| Gyros + 2 water bottles | 3.5 | $4.06 |
| Greek food – rice + beef | 6 | $6.96 |
| Smoothie | 2.7 | $3.13 |
| Peaches | 0.33 | $0.38 |
| Spaghetti and coke | 5.5 | $6.38 |
| 2 water bottles | 0.38 | $0.44 |
| 2 peaches | 0.28 | $0.32 |
| Sandwich | 4 | $4.64 |
| Sandwich + water | 4.9 | $5.68 |
| Sandwich + water | 11.2 | $12.99 |
| Spaghetti | 9.5 | $11.02 |
| Water | 0.5 | $0.58 |
| Hamburger | 3.4 | $3.94 |
| Ruffles | 2 | $2.32 |
| Pizza + coke | 10 | $11.60 |
| Water | 0.5 | $0.58 |
| Sandwich + water | 4.9 | $5.68 |
| Fish rice vegetables | 8 | $9.28 |
| Peach + water | 1 | $1.16 |
| Water + 2 peaches | 0.83 | $0.96 |
| Smoothie | 3.7 | $4.29 |
| Sandwich | 2 | $2.32 |
| Spaghetti | 6.5 | $7.54 |
| Tuna baguette | 2 | $2.32 |
| Tuna baguette | 2 | $2.32 |
| Water + pizza chips + peaches | 3.5 | $4.06 |
| Gyros | 3 | $3.48 |
| Spaghetti | 5.3 | $6.15 |
| Noodle soup | 7.5 | $8.70 |
| Noodle soup | 10 | $11.60 |
| Chips | 1.3 | $1.51 |
| Burger + fries | 5.3 | $6.15 |
| Peach | 0.75 | $0.87 |
| Instant noodles | 1.07 | $1.24 |
| Apple juice drink | 3.2 | $3.71 |
| Water + Peaches | 1 | $1.16 |
| City Zen Meal with parents | 37 | $42.92 |
| New York Sandwiches Meal | 17 | $19.72 |
| Popcorn | 2 | $2.32 |
| Lunch – 3 gyros, 2 drinks | 9 | $10.44 |
| 2 waters, 2 peaches | 1 | $1.16 |
| Pizza chips | 1.3 | $1.51 |
| Bakery pastries | 1.8 | $2.09 |
| KitKat bar + pizza chips | 2 | $2.32 |
| Mall food | 5.6 | $6.50 |
| Bubble tea | 2.3 | $2.67 |
| Water | 1 | $1.16 |
| Hamburger meal | 5.1 | $5.92 |
| McDonald’s | 4.5 | $5.22 |
| $422.52 |
Entertainment
| Euros | USD | |
| Cocktail | 4 | $4.64 |
| Alcohol | 7 | $8.12 |
| Alcohol | 16 | $18.56 |
| Poseidon’s Temple admission | 8 | $9.28 |
| Beer | 1.35 | $1.57 |
| Beer | 5 | $5.80 |
| Movie | 6 | $6.96 |
| Shopping | 19 | $22.04 |
| Alcohol at Gasoline | 8 | $9.28 |
| Shisha | 1 | $1.16 |
| Alcohol | 6 | $6.96 |
| Alcohol | 2.5 | $2.90 |
| Alcohol | 2.5 | $2.90 |
| Alcohol | 3.5 | $4.06 |
| Akrotiri Archaeological ruins | 6 | $6.96 |
| Beer | 5 | $5.80 |
| Beer | 3 | $3.48 |
| Go Kart Racing | 10 | $11.60 |
| Beer | 4 | $4.64 |
| Cocktail | 9 | $10.44 |
| Cocktail | 10 | $11.60 |
| Movie (Tarzan) | 6 | $6.96 |
| Games | 4.2 | $4.87 |
| $170.58 |
Transportation
| Euros | USD | |
| Bus Pass | 6 | $6.96 |
| Taxi | 3 | $3.48 |
| Taxi | 3 | $3.48 |
| Bus from Fira to Oia | 1.8 | $2.09 |
| Bus from Oia to Fira | 1.8 | $2.09 |
| Bus to Akritori | 2 | $2.32 |
| Bus to Akritori | 2 | $2.32 |
| Bus to Athinios Port | 2.3 | $2.67 |
| Change ferry | 9 | $10.44 |
| Bus to airport | 6 | $6.96 |
| Ferries around Greek Islands | $104.40 | |
| Ferry again… | $37 | |
| Stockholm to Athens | $63.83 | |
| $248.03 |
Miscellaneous
| Euros | USD | |
| Toilet Paper | 1 | $1.16 |
| Nail polish / body soap / conditioner | 5 | $5.80 |
| Toothpaste | 1 | $1.16 |
| Mosquito repellent & lotion | 10 | $11.60 |
| Coworking space | 10 | $11.60 |
| Phone for the month | $33.00 | |
| Collector’s souvenir | 3 | $3.48 |
| Razors | 2.5 | $2.90 |
| Phone for the month | $39.00 | |
| Sim card for parents | 15 | $17.40 |
| Skirt | 4 | $4.64 |
| Donation | 10 | $11.60 |
| Printing | 1.6 | $1.86 |
| $145.20 |
Accommodations
| USD | |
| Athens AirBnB | $405 |
| Santorini hotel | $68.00 |
| Naxos hotel | $38.66 |
| $511.66 |
Overall Spend
| Food | $422.52 |
| Entertainment | $170.58 |
| Transportation | $248.03 |
| Miscellaneous | $145.20 |
| Accommodations | $511.66 |
| $1,497.99 |
It cost around $1,497.99 for 1 month and 10 nights in Athens, Greece. This sum includes my trip to Santorini and Naxos as well and averages out to about $37.45 per day and $1,123.49 per month.
I’m actually pretty impressed with myself! As you know, my goal with my year abroad is to explore the world while building my businesses, and reduce expenses without sacrificing happiness. And happiness was something I DID NOT sacrifice! I was able to do a week vacation in the Greek islands, go out multiple times a week, and eat out almost every day (though I probably shouldn’t for health reasons).
The amount I’ve spent per month is actually less than average San Francisco rent, which shows how traveling the world does make financial sense. If I keep this average up, I could be spending a mere $14k for the entire year. We’ll see how I do!
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