Greece Is Now Pricier Than Luxembourg for a Summer Holiday
Greece is the most expensive Mediterranean destination for summer 2026, according to a new international study by financial comparison platform Hellosafe, which ranked 131 countries by average daily travel cost.
The study calculates a daily per-person budget based on accommodation, food, and local transport, excluding flights. Greece came in at 168 euros per person per day, placing it fifth most expensive in Europe out of 40 countries surveyed. That puts it just one euro cheaper than Luxembourg, the EU's wealthiest member state.
One in two Greeks will not take a summer holiday this year at all.
The comparison stings when you factor in wages. The average annual salary in Luxembourg is 83,000 euros. In Greece, it is 17,954 euros, the second lowest in the EU after Bulgaria. Greeks are essentially paying luxury-destination prices on near-poverty wages.
Every Mediterranean rival is significantly cheaper. Italy costs 162 euros per day, Spain 139, Portugal 125, and even Turkey comes in at 144 euros. A couple choosing Spain over Greece for a week saves 406 euros. Choosing Portugal saves 602 euros.
Greece has climbed the expensive-destination rankings three years running. It was seventh priciest in Europe in 2024, sixth in 2025, and is now fifth in 2026. The trend is moving in one direction.
The real-world consequence is stark. A consumer survey by IELKA found that one in two Greeks will not take a summer holiday this year at all. The country's own residents are being priced out of vacationing in their own country, while the prices are calibrated for northern European tourists earning five times the Greek average salary.
