If you’ve ever hopped onto Google and pulled up an image of Greece, you’ve likely seen those whitewashed walls descending to a glittering Mediterranean sea. In fact, we think it’s one of the best islands in Greece, and for good reason.
Fantastically blue domes rear their heads in between the houses, with blue window frames and doors and palm trees waving in between. It’s quintessential Greece … and it was probably taken on Mykonos.
Located in the Aegean Sea, about equidistant from Greece and Turkey and well north of Crete, this tiny island is a party destination like no other.
Often nicknamed “the Ibiza of Greece” for its 24/7 good-time vibes and laid-back vacation atmosphere, it’s a popular destination for tourists who just want some fun in the sun.
If you’re a honeymooner, a traveling student, or an older couple looking to unwind, this is a great spot in which to do it. Despite its popularity, Mykonos is a very affordable place to visit.
Flights will set you back quite a bit, but don’t worry, we’ve got you covered with some hot tips.
Other than that, though, the cost of living and loving in Mykonos for a week is really quite reasonable, so long as you know what you’re doing. So here’s a handy guide, a Mykonos crash course, to get you started today.
Average Trip to Mykonos Cost in 2024
An average one-week trip to Mykonos for two people will cost around $5,000:
- Average Accommodation Cost: $125 per night
- Average Flight Cost: $1,100 per person
- Food, Drink & Activities: $125 per person, per day
- Transportation: $200 total
- Total Cost: $5,000
In recent years, Mykonos has built up a reputation for being packed, obnoxious, and spendy, and some travel experts have gone so far as to suggest you skip it.
Our approach to travel is less Draconian; we say if you want to go, you should! Just make sure it’s affordable, right? The good news is, this isn’t as hard as the Negative Nancys make it out to be.
If you take the right approach to plane tickets, for instance, you can shave hundreds off the total cost. If you know where to look for hotels and apartments for rent, you can get by on a price that would seem reasonable in any American city.
Sound good? Keep reading.
Mykonos Trip Cost: Average by Item
Average trip costs require blurring together a great many factors, from travel time to party size, level of luxury to your desired activities.
Keep that in mind as you read through the following sections, and use our estimates to save money where you can and focus on the areas that will really make your trip special.
Accommodation Costs
Hotels in Mykonos can be shockingly expensive. It is a resort town, after all. However, if you keep your eye on deals, you can find good bookings at about $125 a night.
The same is true for Airbnb, where you can get a studio apartment – perfect for two – for about the same price, including the taxes and fees. One of the best ways to save money staying in Mykonos is to avoid the high season.
That means summer, particularly July and August, and prices are at their steepest. Depending on when you book, you may pay as much as twice what you’ll pay other times of year, because so many visitors are pouring in during this time.
That’s not to say summer isn’t worth it. Greece has the same seasons we do in the US, which means that these months boast the most reliable beach weather, are least likely to be rainy, and offer the longest days – so you can pack in more of what you love to do on vacay.
It’s also when flights are most frequent and ferries are most accommodating between the islands, so there are other advantages as well.
However, if you’re looking to save some easy money, avoiding summer is the best thing to do. Instead, opt for the “shoulder season,” adjacent to the high season: May, June, September, and October.
These months are still mild and sunny, but you’ll face far fewer crowds and see lower prices. Another way to save money on Mykonos hotels is to book in advance.
Unlike with domestic flights, which we will discuss in a moment, there is no reward for booking closer to the date when it comes to lodging. As soon as you have your dates, go ahead and book your hotel or apartment rental – on average, about $125 a night ought to do it.
Flight Costs
Prices range quite a bit for round-trip flights from the US to Mykonos. A flight from Chicago will cost you roughly $1,500, while a flight from LA is more like $1,000.
Flying to Athens is significantly cheaper, however, dropping those flight prices to $1,100 and $800, respectively. For this reason, we recommend booking your flight to Greece’s capital city, then taking the ferry to Mykonos.
Although this may extend your travel time and add something of a hassle, a walk-on ferry ticket is $100 on average, meaning you’ll save about $300 on flights, on average.
Assuming you do that, and have to pay a nominal fee to book airline tickets from a smaller US city, plan to pay about $1,100 per ticket to get to Mykonos. Provided, that is, you price-watch and buy at the right time.
If you can, book any domestic flights closer to the time of your departure.
According to research by CheapAir, whose study “analyzed more than 917 million airfares in more than 8,000 markets across the United States,” “The ‘best day’ to book cheap flights is 70 days before your travel date, on average.”
According to their studies, the “Prime Booking Window” is about 5.5 to 1.5 months before your departure date. If that’s too cavalier for you, then opt for the “Pace of Mind Zone,” which is 5.5 to 7 months in advance.
Happily, “The Peace of Mind zone offers travelers the best of both worlds. Think of it as being positioned nicely between low price and available choice.”
But you’ll definitely see better deals than “First Dibs,” when tickets initially go on sale and those who buy right away are basically suckers. The windows are different for international flights.
Says Forbes, “you’ll save an average of 10% by booking six months in advance instead of two months or less.”
You can often save good money splitting your flights up, since their optimal purchase times are different and airlines may charge you for the convenience of booking your ticket straight through from a smaller airport.
Be aware, though, that this isn’t always the case. Sometimes your total ticket from a small airport is the same, or even cheaper, than from the international hub you’ll have to fly through anyway.
It’s counterintuitive, but that’s why it’s a good idea to routinely check flight prices and buy when you see a significant dip.
Our advice: search in incognito mode. That way, you prevent your browser from saving cookies that will tell airlines to price tickets higher next time you visit.
Food, Drink & Activity Costs
Mykonos food and drink aren’t spendier than anywhere else in Europe. You can eat just fine on about $75 a day, assuming you dine out for lunch and dinner and forego expensive drinks.
Breakfast is usually a hearty affair in Greece, with bread, fruit, and yogurt, but you can enjoy these foods from the corner market or grocery store for less money.
Activities are another matter. Boat tours cost an average of about $150 per person. An offroad vehicle tour of the island is about $175 per person, a food tour about $275, and a farm tour about $45.
Our recommendation is to budget about $125 a day to fit in a few tours and eat well while you’re there. The rest of the time, you can walk and swim, both of which are free!
Transportation Costs
It’s not expensive to get around on Mykonos. Estimates for taxis from the airport to any of Mykonos’s major towns range between $15 and $25 per ride. The buses travel all over the island and fares are only a few dollars.
Many tourists choose to bike on the island, since everything is close together and it’s a beautiful experience. You can also rent a moped for about $40 a day or an ATV for an average of about $60 a day.
Skip renting a car, which is expensive, difficult to park, and – considering how easy it is to use other forms of transportation – pretty thankless. Overall, if you set aside about $200 for cab fare and a motorized vehicle rental or two, you’ll be fine.
Things to Consider
Here are a few other things to consider when planning your trip to Mykonos:
- Mykonos is close to many other islands, including Paros, Naxos, Ios, and Santorini. These are all within a few hours of the island and excellent day trips for walking, eating, and adventuring. You can take an affordable day trip there, then come back to home base for dinner and a stroll – if your busy legs are still up for it! However, the price of ferry tickets isn’t cheap – around $200 per person round trip, but you can get them for as low as $100 during the low season.
- Skip a car rental. Chora, the main town on Mykonos, doesn’t even allow cars inside it, so you’re mostly wasting your money.
- Bring gobs of sunscreen. That hot Mediterranean sun is a scorcher, and sunscreen is expensive in Greece because there isn’t enough competition to make it affordable. Pack enough for your entire trip or you’ll pay … literally.
- If you want a quiet beach, try Agios Sostis. Happy for the party vibe? Check out Mirsini beach, Frangias beach, or Elia beach – ideally, all of the above!
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some frequently asked questions about budgeting your trip to Mykonos:
Is Mykonos worth it?
In a word, yes, Mykonos is worth it. However, it is a party destination. If you’re not there to mingle, enjoy the food and drinks, stay up late, and revel in beach life, then you may get more out of your travel budget by visiting other parts of Greece.
If you only care about the cuisine, say, you could consider Corfu or Santorini, both of which are renowned for their delicious fare. Athens also has enough incredible restaurants to keep you busy for a year, let alone a week.
People who want more history should start in Athens, then check out Mystras, Sparti, Thessaloniki, and Philippi.
How long should I stay in Mykonos?
While we think Mykonos is worth the once-in-a-lifetime true Greek experience, you don’t have to spend your entire Grecian vacation there. Many travelers prefer to use half their allotted time on the island and the other half exploring the mainland, especially around Athens where the history is.
Is it safe in Mykonos?
Greece in general, and Mykonos in particular, are very welcoming to tourists. Areas that cater to tourists and depend on their money usually work hard to keep the area safe, and Mykonos is no exception.
While you should be wary of large crowds, where purse-snatching and pickpocketing are more likely, you don’t have much to worry about.
When is the high season in Mykonos?
The high season in Mykonos runs from July through August. This is when it’s most crowded, but also when it’s the most fun if you’re looking for long, sunny days and that bumpin’ party atmosphere.
However, if you enjoy a bit of peace and quiet and want to see lower prices, travel in May, June, September, or October. Unlike mainland Greece, where winter is a good time for prices and you can still enjoy hiking and tourism, a winter trip to Mykonos is probably a waste.
Is it easy to get around?
Yes, Mykonos has a fabulous busing system that makes it easy to get to the beaches, towns, and other destinations. Avoid renting a car, which is expensive and hard to park – and not even allowed some places on the island.
Over to You — Book Your Trip to Mykonos Today!
🛎️ Average Accommodation Cost | $125 per night |
✈️ Average Flight Cost | $1,100 per person |
🍽️ Food, Drink & Activities | $125 per person, per day |
🚕 Transportation | $200 total |
💲 Total Cost | $5,000 |
The average cost of a one-week trip to Mykonos is around $5,000 for two people. But considering the island location, beautiful blue waters, and party atmosphere, this is well worth it.
So, with so much to see and do, what are you waiting for — book your trip today and experience for yourself all that Mykonos has to offer. Happy travels!