The word ‘cheap’ is relative on Mykonos — nothing is what it would cost on the mainland. But there are meaningful price differences between categories of eating, and understanding them helps. A souvlaki from a grill counter in Chora costs €3–4. A fresh-fish lunch at a beach taverna costs €25–35. A dinner at a well-positioned restaurant on Matogianni costs €60–80 per person. All three can be the right choice depending on the meal. This page focuses on the lower end of that range — where you get the most for the least without sacrificing the experience.
Souvlaki and Street Food
Several grill counters in Chora serve souvlaki, gyros, and grilled sandwiches at mainland-comparable prices. These are the most reliably affordable option on the island. The quality varies — find one with a line of locals and you’ve found the right one. Gyros in Mykonos are typically pork, served in pita with tomato, onion, tzatziki, and fries. The local version is sometimes smaller and tidier than the mainland style.
Lunch Over Dinner
The single most effective money-saving move on Mykonos is reversing the conventional meal schedule: eat a proper lunch and a light dinner, rather than the reverse. Most tavernas serve identical food at lunch for 20–30% less than their dinner menu, and some serve a daily plate (piatou imeras) that doesn’t appear on the evening menu. The pace of a lunch table in Greece is also slower and more relaxed than dinner — a better meal in several senses.
The Market Streets
The streets between the old harbor and the bus station at Fabrika have a higher concentration of local-serving businesses than the tourist strip further north. Bakeries, small cafes, and lunch counters operate here at prices that reflect their primary customer base. A meal in this area costs significantly less than equivalent food on Matogianni.
Practical Tips
- The supermarkets in Chora stock a better-than-expected range of local products — kopanisti, local honey, island olive oil, good bread. A self-assembled lunch from the supermarket is a legitimate and often excellent option, particularly for a beach day.
- The bus station cafe at Fabrika serves coffee and pastries at normal prices. It’s surrounded by tourist establishments charging three times as much for the same thing.
- Ano Mera village is 20 minutes from Chora and has taverna lunch options at substantially lower prices than the tourist areas.