Currency in Greece: Real Prices from 1,500+ Trips

Last reviewed - May 2026

Greece has a knack for leaving tourists bewildered even before they set foot on Greek soil. Some people think every isolated island will be sky-high in price thanks to Instagram. Others still imagine Greece as one of Europe's cheapest beach destinations. Then they arrive in Mykonos, order a couple of cocktails by the sea, and suddenly have to face reality: it's somewhere in the middle.

After pouring over data from over 1,500 customer trips through Simify to Greece, what became immediately clear is:

How much you pay in Greece really depends on where you go.

Santorini and Mykonos were a world apart from Crete or Rhodes. ATM fees swung wildly from one island to the next. Some places hardly needed cash at all while others still relied on it like it was going out of style. And many flyers said their biggest shocks weren't accommodation costs - it was food, transport, and sneaky ATM charges that stung them.

The good news is that you can still get great value out of Greece if you get a handle on the differences between the islands before booking.

This guide breaks down real spending data from Greece in 2026, with island by island prices, ATM fee experiences, tipping customs, and the money mistakes people most commonly regretted afterwards.

This article is produced by Simify for your information.

What is Greece's currency?

The Greek currency is the Euro - and the Euro is used everywhere in Greece.

The Greek drachma was the main currency from 1832 until 2002 when it got replaced at a rate of 340.75 to 1 Euro - a little tidbit worth knowing for context and history.

Country Currency Greece Euro (€) The Euro comes in coins and notes and 1 Euro is made up of 100 cents.

Which is a relief for UK travellers, as you don't have to worry about some local currency like you would in Prague or Turkey.

But despite the currency itself being straightforward, actual prices vary so widely depending on which Greek islands you visit.

Real Greece prices at the mid-market rate from traveller's experiences in 2026

After pouring over customer reported spending data, this table gives an idea of what everyday prices looked like for people in Greece in 2026.

Item	Typical Price
Coffee	€3–€6
Gyros or casual lunch	€6–€14
Restaurant dinner	€18–€45
Beer	€4–€8
Cocktails	€10–€22
Taxi from airport	€20–€60
Sunbed rental	€15–€80

 

The good news is that the cost of living in Greece is still lower than in many northern European countries, but dining out, groceries, accommodation and transport have all gone up recently. To be honest it's just the same as the rest of the world - the current inflation rate is 5.40% and it's all down to higher production and energy costs.

And that one caught people off guard.

Beach clubs and premium sunbeds became some of the biggest "hidden expenses" people kept mentioning - especially on the luxury-focused islands.

Which Greek island felt the most expensive?

Traveller reports made one thing crystal clear.

Island Cost Level Mykonos Very expensive Santorini Expensive Corfu Mid-range Rhodes Mid-range Crete Better value Mykonos consistently came out on top as the most expensive destination overall. People were shocked by high cocktail prices, beach club costs, expensive taxis, luxury restaurants and accommodation prices.

Santorini wasn't far behind, especially around caldera view hotels and sunset dining areas.

But on the other hand Crete got a lot of praise for offering noticeably better value food and lower daily costs. If you pick an island with loads of museums, cultural activities, and varied beaches then you might find that all your expenses spread out over a week or so and you get even better value.

Island	General Cost Level
Mykonos	Very expensive
Santorini	Expensive
Corfu	Mid-range
Rhodes	Mid-range
Crete	Better value

 

How much did travellers spend in Mykonos?

Mykonos was the destination with some of the widest price ranges in traveller reports.

Item	Typical Mykonos Price
Cocktail	€15–€25
Beach club sunbeds	€40–€120
Dinner for two	€70–€180
Coffee	€5–€8

 

And almost everyone loved the island but nearly everyone said it was way more expensive than they expected. What was interesting was that repeat Greece visitors kept saying it was a good idea to do Mykonos and a cheaper island rather than trying to do the whole trip there.

Was Santorini cheaper than Mykonos?

Not dramatically, but Santorini seemed slightly better value overall.It was still getting a lot of "premium pricing" comments from travellers, especially in Oia, Fira, and when it came to caldera-view restaurants and sunset bars. But food and transport generally seemed a bit more reasonable than Mykonos.

Which Greek island gave travellers the best value?

Crete kept popping up when people talked about value for money.Visitors just kept mentioning:

• Bigger food portions
• Lower restaurant prices
• Better value hotel deals
• Cheaper car rental
• More affordable beach destinations

Corfu and Rhodes seemed to do a great job of balancing the price tag with convenience.

Watch out for hidden fees: Greece ATM fees left travellers in a tricky spot

You'd expect to just withdraw cash from an ATM in the eurozone, but many travellers got a nasty shock from the high fees charged by private ATM providers in tourist areas.

Even in cities like Athens, ATMs are pretty common, but on smaller islands or in rural areas they can be a bit scarce, so it's a good idea to plan ahead and bring some cash with you.

We also heard a lot of traveller advice along the lines of:

• Stick to bank-run ATMs if you can.
• Avoid those standalone tourist ATMs.
• Decline the option to convert currency, that just adds extra charges.
• Try to withdraw bigger amounts less often.

The "Would you like to pay in GBP instead?" screen seemed to cause a lot of confusion, and to be honest, it usually works out better if you choose to pay in euros. Just make sure you convert your cash at a decent exchange rate, compare bank or exchange office options, and use the mid-market rate as a benchmark – you'd be surprised how high the mark-up can be at some hotels or kiosk desks.

Is Greece now a cash, debit card or card only kind of place?

Well, mostly card-friendly now. Credit and debit card payments are pretty much accepted everywhere:

• Restaurants.
• Hotels.
• Beach bars.
• Ferries.
• Supermarkets.
• Cafes.

But you still need to carry some cash around for:

• Smaller family-run tavernas.
• Island villages.
• Taxi rides.
• Beach rentals.
• The smaller businesses

Even in cities and tourist areas, cash is still a good idea for rural spots and some of the islands.

Most visitors found it sensible to bring a bit of cash along, even if you're mostly using your card – using the right card can save you money by avoiding unnecessary charges or conversion fees.

Do you need to tip in Greece?

Yep, but don't go overboard.

What we saw from traveller reports was that most people tended to:

• Round up the restaurant bill.
• Leave around 5-10% for good service.
• Give taxi drivers a bit of a tip, but not too much.
• Leave small hotel tips from time to time.

It's not like the US, where tipping is really expected – but if you do get good service, it's nice to show your appreciation.

How much are Greek ferries now?

Some travellers were in for a surprise with ferry pricing in 2026, especially during peak summer months.

Route Type	Typical Ferry Price
Short island hop	€20–€50
Longer fast ferry	€60–€120

 

People kept saying that ferry costs really added up when they were island-hopping a lot.

Especially for families. Since a lot of these trips start in Athens, it's a good idea to factor in ferry costs from the get-go.

Staying connected while you're in Greece

Phone usage became a huge part of how people spent their money while on holiday.

Having a phone that works helped travellers stay on top of bookings, maps, and money stuff, especially when moving between the islands.

People used their mobile data for all sorts of things:

• Checking ferry schedules.
• Using Google Maps.
• Getting banking apps to work.
• Checking exchange rates.
• Booking restaurants.
• Using taxi apps.
• Translation tools.
• Mobile boarding passes.

And it was especially useful for people moving between islands to have a working phone as soon as they arrived.

For travellers heading there: Europe eSIM plans

Make sure you check what's included in your plan before you go, though – some travellers were caught out by the fine print.

Lots of people mentioned how nice it was not to have to hunt down a local SIM shop after arriving by ferry. Reliable mobile data also made it a lot easier to share updates with friends or send messages while in Greece.

What did most travellers find most surprising about costs in Greece?

We saw a few patterns emerge from all these reports:

Firstly, island choice mattered a lot more than people expected financially.

Secondly, some first-time visitors got quite a shock at just how pricey Mykonos was.

Thirdly, ATM fees turned out to be a bigger frustration than actual restaurant or accommodation prices.

And finally, many travellers still said Greece felt like it was good value overall compared to Italy, France or Spain – as long as you avoided the super-luxury hotspots.

Is Greece still affordable in 2026?

For many travellers, yes – but not in the "incredibly cheap paradise" way some older travel blogs might have you believe.

Food quality, scenery, transport and travel experience still felt good value compared to most of Western Europe, but accommodation and premium beach tourism have clearly got a lot pricier in the more popular islands.

That's especially true since the post-2008 economic crash – Greece has had a slower recovery than some other countries, and there's been a bit of inflation pressure lately.

But outside the luxury hotspots, Greece can still feel worth the cost.

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