It's necessary to start with a premise: Greek islands are low-cost compared to many other destinations worldwide with the same characteristics of sea, beaches, entertainment, dining, and accommodation. That said, having a vacation on a Greek island while trying to save as much as possible involves finding both an economical trip and an economical stay, as both contribute significantly to the budget.
Regarding the trip, the cheapest Greek islands are obviously those closest to Italy and therefore reachable with a short flight or directly by sea (perhaps with your own car in tow). We are talking about the Ionian islands, particularly Corfu, Cephalonia, and Lefkada. Similarly, islands without an international airport require more means of transport to reach and therefore a larger budget. As with all destinations, booking a flight well in advance is always much cheaper.
For accommodation, you can save by moving from one island to another with a sleeping bag and tent, looking for campsites (which are not many) or, better yet, using the many studios available almost everywhere. These are small apartments (often one or two rooms), equipped with a kitchenette, bedroom, bathroom, and usually run at a family level and at a good price. The hosts are generally very accommodating and provide economical accommodation while meeting the typical needs of a vacation on a Greek island. Regarding dining, you can save thanks to the numerous taverns on the islands, particularly those frequented by residents! To save money, do not underestimate the choice of a less frequented island, perhaps small and far away; it will certainly be fascinating (especially if you appreciate being surrounded by Greeks rather than tourists) and very economical.
If you have no problems leaving on short notice, and the destination is not necessarily predetermined, you can take advantage of "last-minute" offers. There are many and for various destinations. Generally, the last-minute Greek islands are the most touristy ones, with the capacity to accommodate the largest number of people and therefore with the most competition. Accommodation in many cases is of the "all-inclusive" type: flight and full-board stay.
Below, we list (in alphabetical order) a list of islands where you can find economical solutions, but we are well aware that on any Greek island, with a bit of adventure and adaptability, you can have a beautiful vacation while spending little.
Andros (Cyclades) Angistri (Argosaronic) Cephalonia (Ionian) Chios (North East Aegean) Kythira (Ionian) Corfu (Ionian) Crete Aegina (Argosaronic) Ikaria (North East Aegean) Iraklia (Cyclades) Kalymnos (Dodecanese) Karpathos (Dodecanese) Kos (Dodecanese) Lefkada (Ionian) Leros (Dodecanese) Lesbos (North East Aegean) Naxos (Cyclades) Skopelos (Sporades) Symi (Dodecanese) Thassos (North East Aegean) Zakynthos (Ionian)
