How much does Corfu cost?
Real daily numbers for three travel styles, itemised.
Daily totals for three budgets
| Style | Sleep | Food | Transit | Sights | Daily total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | €45 | €18 | €3 | €5 | €55–75 |
| Mid-range | €95 | €35 | €8 | €12 | €95–140 |
| Luxury | €190 | €70 | €35 | €40 | €190+ |
Totals from city.yaml cost estimator (checked Aug 2026) — exclude flights and car hire. Mid-range assumes one paid sight (e.g. Old Fortress €10) and blue bus day pass €5.
Accommodation
Hostels €25–40 · mid hotels €70–130 · luxury €190+ per night (seasonal — check locally). Old Town boutiques charge premiums for location; Garitsa trades lane charm for quieter seafront. Easter and August need early booking — see Where to Stay. Municipal tax may apply at checkout.
Food and drink
Budget day: bakery lunch + supermarket dinner ~€18. Mid-range: taverna lunch and dinner with wine ~€35 (city.yaml food estimator). Coffee €2.50–4 on Liston. Seafood by weight can blow the budget — confirm kilo prices. Picnic supplies from Alexandras Avenue supermarkets cut costs on beach days.
Getting around
Walk the UNESCO core for free. Blue bus Zone A €1.30, day pass €5 (Astiko KTEL, checked Aug 2026). Green bus to Paleokastritsa €2.50. Airport Line 15 same zone. Taxi across town ~€8–10; airport ~€15 day / ~€20 night (cfu-airport.gr). Car hire adds €35+ daily in luxury band — parking scarce in Old Town.
Museums and attractions
Old Fortress €10 · Achilleion gardens €7 · other Ministry sites €7–10 typical (odysseus.culture.gr / achillion-corfu.gr, checked Aug 2026). Spianada, Liston and monastery exteriors free. Budget one paid sight per day in mid-range totals; two in luxury. Ministry free days listed on odysseus.culture.gr — plan around them to save.
Nine ways to spend less
- Buy bus tickets at kiosks — never on board surcharge.
- Use the €5 blue bus day pass for multiple Zone A rides.
- Picnic from supermarkets instead of Liston lunches.
- Target Ministry free-admission days.
- Stay in Garitsa vs inner Campiello premiums.
- Walk Old Town sights — skip taxi hops under 2 km.
- Book shoulder season (May, October).
- Share green bus day trips vs private tours.
- Refill water — tap safe in town.
Estimate your own trip
Use the calculator below — defaults match city.yaml sleep/food/transit/extras bands for 2026. Add flights, car hire and shopping separately. Adjust nights and travel style, then compare with our mid-range taverna dinner figure (€14–28) on Eat & Drink.
Three realistic Corfu budgets
Excludes flights. Uses cited local fares (Astiko KTEL / KTEL / cfu-airport.gr / odysseus.culture.gr, checked Aug 2026).
48 hours, mid-range
Two nights Old Town or Garitsa (~€190 hotels). Line 15 both ways (€1.30 each) or one taxi from CFU (€15). One Old Fortress ticket (€10), Liston coffees, two taverna dinners (~€35/day food). Blue bus day pass one day (€5) for Kanoni. ~€280–320 for two days excluding flights.
Beach day + monastery
Green bus A9 to Paleokastritsa (€2.50 each way). Monastery free (donation). Sunbed or picnic — supermarket supplies from town ~€8–12. Return same day. Add one Achilleion gardens visit (€7) on a separate morning if you hire a taxi or join a timed coach. Beach day alone: ~€15–25 transport + food if you picnic.
Week, mixed island
Seven nights mid hotel (€70–130/night seasonal). Mix walking Old Town, two green-bus coasts, one ferry day-trip to Paxos (fare check locally — not in the urban ticket). Daily mid band €95–140 still holds if you skip a private boat every day. Car hire (~€35+/day) replaces most bus spend but adds fuel and Old Town parking stress.
Compare styles on Corfu vs Rhodes if you are choosing islands, and read Where to Stay before locking Easter or August dates.
Budget questions
Is Corfu expensive?
Mid-range by Greek island standards — budget €55–75/day, mid €95–140, luxury €190+ (city.yaml, checked Aug 2026). Old Town restaurants and August hotels cost more than north-coast villages. Buses remain cheap at €1.30 Zone A.
How much money do I need per day in Corfu?
Plan €95–140/day mid-range including hotel, taverna meals, one €10 sight and buses. Backpackers can hit €55–75 with hostel bed and bakery meals. Add €35+ if hiring a car. Excludes flights.
Is Corfu cheaper than Rhodes?
Similar Greek island pricing — both sit in mid-range bands. Corfu adds ferry links to Italy; Rhodes has longer dry season. Compare hotel quotes for your exact week; shoulder season discounts apply on both islands.