Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki is a city in Greece. Thessaloniki had a population of 319,045 in October 2021. The city covered 19.3 km² in 2024. Population density was 16,052.4 people per km² in 2024. The bachelor’s-or-higher share was 31.5% in 2021. The high-school-or-higher share was 68.9% in 2021. School enrolment accounted for 18% of the population in 2021.
Who Thessaloniki may suit
Relative profile scores use comparable published values. They are a decision aid, not a personal recommendation.
Population and city profile
Derived from the published population and foreign-resident counts.
| Metric | Value | Verified | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| City area | 19.2879 km2 | 2026-07-182024 | Official sourceGR official material for city_area_km2 Source-backed value |
| Foreign-resident share | 6.9498 % | 2026-07-182021 | Official sourceGR official material for foreign_population_share_percent Source-backed value |
| Foreign residents | 22,173 people | 2026-07-182021 | Official sourceGR official material for foreign_population_share_percent Source-backed value |
| Population density | 16,052.3613 people/km² | 2026-07-182024 | Official sourceGR official material for city_area_km2 Source-backed value |
| Population | 319,045 people | 2026-07-182021 | Official sourceGR official material for population_total Source-backed value |
Population fell 16.9% between 1991 and 2021, from 383,967 to 319,045.
Each point keeps the source and period it was published with.
Housing
Owner occupation accounted for 57.8% of homes in October 2021. The city had 157,409 dwellings in 2021.
| Metric | Value | Verified | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dwellings | 157,409 dwellings | 2026-07-182021 | Official sourceGR official material for g05_dwellings_total Source-backed value |
| Average net rent (nettokalt) | 7.4 EUR/m²/month | 2026-07-29Aging | Commercial estimateRE/MAX Greece — Residential rental prices per m² 2025 Supplemental context |
Cost of living
A monthly estimate placed a fitness-club membership at €43.85 in August 2026. A monthly estimate placed a 10 GB mobile plan at €20.73 in July 2026.
Published city cost observations. Some items come from the supplemental estimate lane and are not official statistics.
| Metric | Value | Verified | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fitness club membership, monthly | 35.6792 EUR/month | 2026-07-272022 | Supplemental estimateGlobal Cost of Living — Kaggle snapshot v2 Supplemental context |
| Internet, 60 Mbps unlimited | 29.5028 EUR/month | 2026-07-272022 | Supplemental estimateGlobal Cost of Living — Kaggle snapshot v2 Supplemental context |
| Private kindergarten, monthly | 312.5092 EUR/month | 2026-07-272022 | Supplemental estimateGlobal Cost of Living — Kaggle snapshot v2 Supplemental context |
| Meal at an inexpensive restaurant | 11.9371 EUR | 2026-07-272022 | Supplemental estimateGlobal Cost of Living — Kaggle snapshot v2 Supplemental context |
| Mobile plan, 10 GB | 20.73 EUR/month | 2026-07-27Fresh | Commercial estimateCost of Living in Thessaloniki. Jul 2026. Prices in Thessaloniki Supplemental context |
| Monthly transport pass | 16 EUR/month | 2026-07-26Fresh | Official sourceΤhessCard για Λεωφορεία Source-backed value |
| Basic utilities, 85 m² home | 233.964 EUR/month | 2026-07-272022 | Supplemental estimateGlobal Cost of Living — Kaggle snapshot v2 Supplemental context |
Work and income
The unemployment rate was 16.7% in October 2021. The employment rate was 83.3% in October 2021.
| Metric | Value | Verified | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Employment rate | 83.2915 % | 2026-07-182021 | Official sourceGR official material for unemployment_total_percent Source-backed value |
| Unemployment rate | 16.7099 % | 2026-07-182021 | Official sourceGR official material for unemployment_total_percent Source-backed value |
Climate and air quality
Annual PM2.5 was 16.1 µg/m³ in 2024. Annual NO₂ was 36 µg/m³ in 2024.
City values from the published air-quality observations. WHO 2021 guidelines and EU limit values are published constants.
| Metric | Value | Verified | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| NO₂ — annual mean | 36 µg/m³ | 2026-07-182024 | Official sourceGR official material for air_quality_no2_annual_ug_m3 Source-backed value |
| PM2.5 — annual mean | 16.1 µg/m³ | 2026-07-182024 | Official sourceGR official material for air_quality_no2_annual_ug_m3 Source-backed value |
Annual PM2.5 fell 23.3% between 2019 and 2024, from 21.0 to 16.1.
Each point keeps the source and period it was published with.
Family and education
| Metric | Value | Verified | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| G07 High School Or Higher Share Pct | 68.9043 % | 2026-07-182021 | Official sourceGR official material for g07_bachelors_or_higher_share_pct Source-backed value |
| G07 School Enrollment Share Pct | 17.9708 % | 2026-07-182021 | Official sourceGR official material for unemployment_total_percent Source-backed value |
Additional context
| Metric | Value | Verified | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Owner-occupied homes | 57.7756 % | 2026-07-182021 | Official sourceGR official material for g05_dwellings_total Source-backed value |
| G03 Labour | 44.9015 % | 2026-07-182021 | Official sourceGR official material for unemployment_total_percent Source-backed value |
| G07 Bachelors Or Higher Share Pct | 31.4508 % | 2026-07-182021 | Official sourceGR official material for g07_bachelors_or_higher_share_pct Source-backed value |
| G09 Households With Vehicle Available Pct | 55.1766 % | 2026-07-182021 | Official sourceGR official material for g09_households_with_vehicle_available_pct Source-backed value |
Worked out from these numbers
Arithmetic on the published values above. Each one names what it assumed.
What does a 60 m² flat cost?
About €444 a month in cold rent, from the published average of 7.4 EUR/m²/month. Heating, water and operating charges come on top, and a specific flat can sit either side of an average.
Uses a supplemental estimate, so treat it as indicative.How international is the population?
6.9% of residents hold a foreign nationality — 22,173 people of 319,045 people. This counts nationality, not place of birth, so long-settled residents who naturalised are not in it.
Common questions
Answered from the published values on this page, each with its source and date.
How much does it cost to rent in Thessaloniki?
Average net cold rent is 7.4 EUR/m²/month, excluding heating and operating charges. For a 70 m² flat that is about €518 a month before utilities. This is a supplemental estimate, not an official municipal measurement. Source: RE/MAX Greece — Residential rental prices per m² 2025, checked 2026-07-29.
What is the unemployment rate in Thessaloniki?
The unemployment rate is 16.7099 %. Source: GR official material for unemployment_total_percent, checked 2026-07-18.
Is the air quality good in Thessaloniki?
The annual PM2.5 mean is 16.1 µg/m³. The WHO 2021 guideline is 5 µg/m³ and the EU limit value is 25 µg/m³, so this reading is above the WHO guideline but within the EU limit. Source: GR official material for air_quality_no2_annual_ug_m3, checked 2026-07-18.
How many people live in Thessaloniki?
The published population is 319,045 people. Source: GR official material for population_total, checked 2026-07-18.
How many foreign residents live in Thessaloniki?
22,173 people residents hold a foreign nationality. Source: GR official material for foreign_population_share_percent, checked 2026-07-18.
How much is public transport in Thessaloniki?
A monthly transport pass is 16 EUR/month. Source: ΤhessCard για Λεωφορεία, checked 2026-07-26.
Cities of a similar size in Greece
Closest published populations, for a like-for-like comparison.
Sources
Spotted a number that looks wrong? Every value here carries its source and date — tell us what you found and we will re-check it against the source.