As much of a paradise as Santorini may seem, you might still face a lot of real-world problems on the island. The most common of which is money! It's no secret that Santorini is one of, if not the most popular destination in Greece. It should come as no surprise that it's also an expensive place. But just how expensive is it here? Or in other words, what are the living costs in Santorini? How much will you need to stay comfortable on the island? Will you be able to stay within your budget? Here's what you need to know.
Costs of Renting in Santorini
Firstly, let's see how much rent costs in Santorini. You've seen the beautiful whitewashed homes with bright blue domes, right? With so many on offer, it's easy to think that renting one of them would be affordable. And for the most part, you're right. At least, when compared to other destinations that are just as famous as Santorini,
renting a luxury home on the island isn't all that expensive. The common rental fees range from around €500.00 to €2,000.00 a month. One-bedroom rentals go from €350.00 to €900.00, while three-bedroom places range from €700.00 to €2,000.00 a month. Not bad, right?
Costs of Buying Property in Santorini
But how about if you want to purchase your own home in Santorini? How much will that cost exactly? As you might expect, it'd cost you a fortune. But again, compared to other equally popular destinations, whose home prices range within the tens of thousands per square meter, the costs here in Santorini are comparably lower. Specifically, if you choose a home at the heart of the
main towns on the island, it'd cost you around €3,000.00 to €6,000.00 per square meter. On the other hand, a place along the outskirts of the cities will go for around €2,000.00 to €4,000.00 per square meter.
Utilities Costs
As far as your utilities are concerned, they're not as costly as your other regular expenses. After all, it's easy to see that life in Santorini isn't as bustling as in other parts of the country. The island is known for its more relaxed way of life, so when it comes to utility costs here, they're not that high. For your basic bills that include electricity, water, heating, garbage disposal, and the like, they'd only cost you around €100.00 to €212.50 a month. For your wifi connection here, that'll be about €22.00 to €45.00 per month, depending on which
telecommunications company you chose.
Food Costs
How about when it comes to food? Surely an island like Santorini, known for its rich fertile lands and abundant seafood in the nearby seas would have low food costs, right? Correct! For the most part, buying food in Santorini won't cost you a lot. The total common median price here is €65.72, and that's already good for around one to two weeks' worth of groceries. This total takes into account 1.5 liters of water, a liter of milk, a dozen eggs, a loaf of bread, various types of fruits, vegetables, meats, other snacks, and even some alcohol too.
Dining Costs
Enjoying dinner by the coast in Santorini, especially during the sunset, is one of the ultimate ways to enjoy your time here. With that said, the island isn't exactly a food capital. Sure, it boasts
a few hotspots that are known for their culinary excellence, but for the most part, eating out in Santorini won't cost you a lot. This, however, still depends on where you eat. If you go to an affordable place, you'll only have to spend around €15.00 to €21.08 for your meal. Taking someone out to a mid-range establishment will cost you about €23.30 to €50.00 for a three-course meal. Those don't sound too bad, do they?
Transportation Costs
Now, let's talk about transportation. Since
Santorini's public transport isn't all that well-developed, you won't need to spend a lot of money to get around here. Possibly the most expensive you'll have to face is getting to Santorini yourself, be it airfare or your ferry ticket. But when you're on the island, taking the bus will only cost you around €1.80 to €2.50 per ride. Meanwhile, if you prefer to take a taxi, they typically cost about €4.00 to €25.00, depending on how far your destination is from your current location. And if you want to rent a car for your stay in Santorini, that'll cost you €25.00 to €35.00 a day, depending on the peak season for tourists.
Clothing Costs
Despite how luxurious Santorini is as a destination, you'll rarely find designer brands to set up shop here. The next best thing is their small shops in five-star hotels and luxury resorts. But for the most part, when it comes to shopping in Santorini, the costs aren't that high. Take shopping at a local boutique, for instance. A piece will usually go for around €35.00 to €45.00 each. If you want to buy a new pair of sneakers, that'll cost you €80.00 to €100.00. And if you need new elegant dress shoes for special occasions, prepare to spend around €90.00 to €300.00 a pair.
Leisure Costs
You'd be surprised at how many gyms there are in Santorini. You'd think that climbing or hiking up their whitewashed towns, most of which are perched atop the island's mountainous regions or high cliffs by the sea, would already be quite the workout. But the place also offers its own fitness centers to help you exercise and keep fit. They typically cost around €50.00 to €60.00 for a monthly membership fee. Meanwhile, if you want to rent a sports court on the weekends, prepare to spend €13.00 to €20.00 per hour.
Childcare & Education Costs
Finally, there are your childcare and education costs in Santorini. Even on this island, you'll still need to spend a lot to ensure your kid is safe and well-taken care of. Now, if you enroll your little one at a private daycare and/or kindergarten, it'll cost you around €300.00 to €470.00 in fees. As for their primary education onwards, this will be a bit tricky. Although Santorini has a few schools of its own,
international educational programs are more common than standard institutions. So for now, it's pretty hard to determine the common tuition fees parents will face when they enroll their kids in school on the island.
In a popular and luxurious destination like Santorini, you'd think the living costs here would be sky-high, right? Well, you might just be surprised with how they actually are! For the most part, it's safe to say that the island is a lot more affordable than you imagine!
