Mykonos on a budget: how to do it well
Short answer
Mykonos on a budget is hard in July and August but possible in shoulder season: allow about €130 per person per day in high season, with about €70 for a shared room, €35 for food, €20 for beaches or boats and €6 for buses. Free beaches, bakeries and gyros make it workable.
A realistic daily budget
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed (per person, sharing) | €70 | €160 | €450 |
| Food & drink | €35 | €80 | €200 |
| Sights & tickets | €20 | €60 | €150 |
| Local transport | €6 | €25 | €80 |
| Per person, per day | €131 | €325 | €880 |
Approximate 2026 prices, two people sharing a room. From our Mykonos day-cost table.
Free things to do
- Walk the lanes of Chora behind Matoyianni Street before 10:00.
- Visit Panagia Paraportiani, the white church built from five chapels.
- Watch sunset from the windmills (Kato Mili).
- Swim at Agios Stefanos or Megali Ammos, 15-20 minutes' walk from Chora.
- Swim at Agios Sostis on the north coast, with no sunbeds and no music.
- Watch sunset from the Armenistis lighthouse without crowds.
Cheap eats
- Pita gyros or souvlaki: roughly €5-7.
- Onion pie (kremmydopita) at a bakery: roughly €3-5 a slice.
- Mostra (Mykonian rusk salad) in a taverna: roughly €9-14.
- Kopanisti cheese with bread: roughly €7-10 a portion.
- Almond sweets (amygdalota): roughly €1-1.50 a piece.
Where to sleep for less
Budget travellers stay near Fabrika or on the outskirts of Chora, within walking distance of the bus station, at about €100-180 a double in summer; there is also camping near Paradise. Prices fall sharply in May, June, September and October.
Getting around cheaply
Buses from Fabrika (south beaches) and the Old Port (north) cost €2-2.50 a ride. The airport is 10 minutes from Chora, and ferries arrive at the New Port, 3 km north; sea buses and buses link it with town. Book transfers ahead, as taxis are scarce.
A sample budget day
- Morning: Chora's lanes and Paraportiani before the cruise crowds (free).
- Lunch: pita gyros (about €6) and a bakery onion pie.
- Afternoon: bus to Ornos or Platis Gialos (about €5 return) and a swim from the free sand.
- Evening: sunset at the windmills (free) and a simple taverna dinner (about €20), with a shared room near Fabrika.
- Total: about €130
More ways to save
- Visit in late May, June or September, when rooms can be 30-50% cheaper.
- Skip Little Venice cocktails and watch sunset from the windmills instead.
- Take the first boat to Delos and bring water and food, as there is no shade.
- Check bus timetables at the stops and plan around the last bus.
- Stay on a cheaper neighbouring island such as Tinos or Naxos and visit Mykonos for a day.
- Pay by card and keep receipts to avoid disputes.
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Common questions
Can you visit Mykonos on a budget?
Yes in shoulder season: stay near Fabrika, use buses, eat gyros and bakery food and use free beaches.
How do I get to Delos?
By boat from the Old Port (about 30 minutes, roughly €25-30 return), with a separate site ticket; no one may stay overnight.
Is there a cheap way to see Mykonos?
Stay on Tinos or Naxos and visit Mykonos on a day trip by ferry.