Moving to Greece: everything you need to know about living in the country

Pros of living in Greece

• Low cost of living. Compared to other European countries, the cost of living in Greece is relatively low. According to reviews, a family of four can live on €2,000–2,500 per month, including rent.
• Low crime rate. Greece is considered a very safe country with one of the lowest crime rates in Europe. Violent crime is quite rare.
• Delicious food. Greek cuisine is regarded as one of the tastiest in the world. The Mediterranean diet is synonymous with good health, as it includes plenty of fresh vegetables, meat, and seafood.
• Straightforward immigration process. It is possible to stay in Greece by obtaining a residence permit through employment or education. The Digital Nomad Visa (Nomada) is also available.

Cons of living in Greece

• It is difficult to find a job. Moving to Greece is easier if you already have a high freelance income or a stable remote job.
• High taxes. Income tax can reach up to 43%, while VAT in Greece is 24%. There is also a tax on rental income from property and vehicles, which can be as high as 45%.
• Bureaucracy. This is a sensitive issue for many Mediterranean countries — everything moves very slowly. Even simple matters are often delayed by paperwork, and many processes are poorly organized.
• Siesta, the so-called “siga-siga.” Every day from 12:00 to 4:00 p.m., Greek cities and villages switch to a relaxed pace. Shops, cafés, restaurants, and even museums close for about three hours. Those moving to Greece permanently have to adapt quickly to this tradition, which locals value greatly.

The founder of the travel service tripmydream, Andriy Burenok, who has visited 62 countries and filmed videos about emigration to them, shared his ranking of the best countries to relocate to in 2024 on his YouTube channel. Greece ranked fifth on the list.

Visas for entry into Greece

The main type D entry visa is issued at the consulate of the country of residence, is valid for up to 90 days, and can be followed by a residence permit.

Types of visas:

• work visa: provide a document confirming employment from a Greek employer;
• student visa: provide a document confirming enrollment in a university;
• "Golden visa": a five-year residence permit is issued in exchange for an investment in real estate in the amount of €250,000, renewable every five years, provided that the investment is maintained.

The following documents are required to apply for a visa:

• a completed and signed application form;
• 2 color photos, 3x4 cm;
• medical insurance;
• financial resources or a bank statement confirming that you have sufficient funds to stay in Greece.

Citizens of the European Union, as well as of the Schengen Area countries, do not require a visa. Visa-free entry for stays of up to 90 days is also available to citizens of many countries, including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, Japan, and a number of Latin American states. Citizens of countries not included on this list, including most countries in Africa and Asia, must obtain a Schengen visa in advance to travel to Greece.

Digital nomad visa

A digital nomad visa allows you to live and work in Greece without any problems, earning money remotely. After arriving in the country, you need to contact the Ministry of Migration in Athens and submit documents for a residence permit. The visa is issued for a period of 2 years with the possibility of extending it for another 2 years.

Documents required to obtain a visa: valid passport, photo, completed application form, accommodation reservation, certificate of no criminal record, medical insurance, proof of income — at least €3,500 per month.

How to obtain a residence permit, permanent residence, and citizenship in Greece

You can apply for a residence permit through work, study, business, family reunification, or investment. The first card is issued for 1-2 years with the possibility of extending it for 3 years. After 7 years of residence and a long-term residence permit, you can obtain a Greek passport. If a child has studied at a Greek school for 6 years, they become a Greek citizen. To obtain Greek citizenship, you need to pass a rather difficult exam: you need to know the history of the country, which is more than 2000 years old, including all philosophers.

To obtain a residence permit or permanent residence, you should contact the consulate or fill out an online application on the official website and prepare the documents for submission:

• passport,
• passport photos (4 copies),
• a certificate of no criminal record,
• a health certificate (form 082),
• medical insurance,
• marriage certificate and birth certificates of children,
• proof of income from work, tax authorities, and bank (which can confirm your monthly income of €2,000 or more),
• proof of housing,
• receipt for payment of state fees.

With a Greek passport, you can live in any EU country and receive education and medical services on preferential terms in Europe. You can also visit 185 countries, including the US and Canada, without a visa.

Housing in Greece

To find accommodation, you can hire a real estate agent or seek assistance from local residents. You can search for accommodation yourself on the following websites:

• airbnb.com
• booking.com
• housinganywhere.com
• www.ellinhome.com

Payment is made for the first and last month. Accommodation is usually rented unfurnished, and may not even have a chandelier. Traditionally, Greeks are very fond of chandeliers, especially expensive ones. When moving, they may leave the washing machine behind, but they will take the chandelier with them.

The price depends on the area and the town: far from the center in a less touristy town, renting a one-room apartment will cost from €200 per month, closer to the center — from €350 to €400 for a long-term rental. It may be unfurnished and even without dishes. There are also nice, expensive furnished apartments, but the price for them is significantly higher.

Documents required for renting property: your passport, proof of income, your Greek tax number, and the rental agreement itself.

The average cost of real estate in Greece is €1,900 per square meter. In Athens, the cost of housing from a reliable developer is €3,000 per square meter. For example, a two-room apartment in a residential area without renovation, with an area of 45 square meters, will cost about €35,000. A modern 30-square-meter studio apartment with furniture and renovations, located near the sea and the city center, will cost from €65,000.

Cost of living in Greece

The average monthly cost of living for one person in Greece is €730, excluding rent, and the monthly cost for a family of four is €2,470, which is quite sufficient for a comfortable life.

Food in Greece is of high quality, strictly controlled, and delicious. Food costs range from €200 to €600 per month, depending on the number of family members. There are markets and supermarkets, and fruit and vegetables are very affordable during the warm season. In restaurants, if you don't order particularly expensive dishes, a delicious lunch or dinner (without alcohol) will cost an average of € 15-25.

Transportation costs: a bus ticket costs €1.20, or €30 per month; there is only a metro in Athens, which costs €4.50 per day (there are discounts for children under 18 and people over 65); taxis cost €1.20 to get in and €0.30 per km within the city; car rental starts at €25 per day. The cost of gasoline is €2 per liter.

Working in Greece: how and where to look

Due to their mentality and desire to enjoy life, Greeks prefer to work in government institutions and avoid service-related professions. Therefore, foreigners most often work in tourism, sales, and the service sector. Such work often involves a busy schedule and low pay (around €500-600 per month). Jobs that do not require language skills can be found in Facebook groups. With knowledge of English and Greek, you can find a high-paying job.

Job search websites:

• Layboard.com
• Kariera.gr
• Ergodotisi.com

Salaries range from €700 to €4,000 on average, depending on the position. Pay can also be hourly, starting at €7 per hour, with accommodation and lunch provided. Salaries are higher on the islands, but so are prices for everything.

Taxes

If your income is less than €9,600 per year, you do not pay taxes. Above €10,000 per year, the tax rate is 9%; up to €20,000 per year, it is 22%; up to €30,000 per year, it is 28%; and above €40,000 per year, it is 36%. For income over €40,000 per year, the maximum rate is 44%. Taxes are high here, but taxpayers are entitled to tax deductions when purchasing certain goods and services, making large donations to charity, and receiving social security payments. Families with three children are eligible for benefits and social subsidies.

Medicine

Medicine here is both private and public. First aid is provided to anyone, regardless of status or citizenship. Medicine is of a high standard, and all the necessary equipment is available. There are many highly qualified doctors here, including specialists in narrow fields. You do not need a referral from a general practitioner to visit a specialist.

Dental care is relatively inexpensive here. Greeks do not like to visit hospitals, and supply exceeds demand, so clinics reduce the cost of their services. The downsides are long queues. You need to make an appointment with a general practitioner two weeks in advance, and the wait for a specialist is a couple of months.

Private insurance costs between €50 and €150 per month.

Education

Kindergartens are not compulsory here, but children do attend them. There, they prepare for the school curriculum, learn to communicate, and develop. State kindergartens are open from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., with extended hours until 3:45 p.m. Private kindergartens are open until 8:00 p.m. and cost from €300 per month. The main language is Greek, with English lessons. Almost all teachers speak English. Children find it easy to learn Greek.

Education in Greece is completely free, right up to university level. Practically anyone from anywhere in the world can receive a free education; this is a principle in Greece. Children are worshipped here; they are simply adored and spoiled. There are also private schools, as well as schools that teach in Russian. Before entering university, it is necessary to study Greek and obtain a certificate from a Greek language center. The average cost of the course is €500, and it is a university program of 6 hours per day.

Admission to university is based on your high school GPA, with no entrance exam. Tuition is free, but you have to pay for the first year of language study, which costs €800-900. Bachelor's programs are taught in Greek, while master's and doctoral programs are taught in Greek and English. Students can apply for scholarships and work part-time. In private colleges, the cost of education programs ranges from €7,000 to €14,000 per year.

Climate

The climate in Greece is considered to be the most moderate and healthy, with almost constant summer weather, average temperatures of 30 degrees Celsius, sometimes reaching 40 degrees Celsius, clean and warm sea, plenty of sunshine, clean Mediterranean air, and mild, warm, humid winters. In mountainous areas, winters are cold, with rain and snow.

Language and mentality

Greek is easy for children to learn through communication in kindergarten and school, but it is more difficult for adults to learn the language, as some words merge into one word, but in general it is possible. Most Greeks speak English, French, German, Italian, and Russian.

Greeks actively wave their arms and shout — this is normal Greek conversation. Locals talk so enthusiastically and excitedly, as if they haven't seen each other for a year. Greeks love to talk and don't care whether they are understood or not.

Greeks are very noisy, love music, love good food, they don't get drunk, they may drink a little wine or beer. They are very hospitable, well-read, and love to socialize.

There is a cult of children and the elderly here. Older people in the family are highly respected here. Greeks hire caregivers to make them comfortable, and they are willing to pay for it; it is customary here. Greeks are family-oriented, all family members stick together, and all holidays and weekends are spent with children, uncles, and aunts.

Children in Greece are simply adored and taken everywhere. At the market, they are given fruit, at the bakery — a bun, and passers-by reach out to pinch the child's cheeks, which may seem strange to us. Even mothers' remarks to their children are made in an affectionate manner.

How to relocate for retirees

Retirees can obtain a residence permit provided that their monthly income is at least €2,000 per month and they own or have a long-term lease on property in Greece. There is also the option of moving with a "golden visa" — purchasing real estate worth €250,000 or more, which can be new or secondary, residential or commercial property, or land. You can purchase several properties, live in one, and rent out the others.

Moving with pets

When moving to Greece with pets, you must have an international veterinary passport in English or French and proof of rabies vaccination. The animal must also be microchipped. Dogs, cats, and ferrets are allowed to be imported.

Animals are loved and respected in Greece, so finding accommodation will not be a problem. You can walk your pets anywhere, but you must keep them on a leash or in a carrier.

Safety

Greece is a fairly safe country. Quiet hours are strictly observed (from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. in the summer), and neighbors can call the police if you make noise with a drill, for example. After 11:00 p.m., you cannot make noise, and there are large fines for violations. Serious crimes are very rare. Children are loved and safe here; they are allowed to walk around on their own, and if a stranger approaches and a child cries out, people will pay attention and help.

Banking services

There are 36 national and foreign banks operating in Greece. To open an account, you must pass a bank credit check. Payments and transfers can be made around the clock via ATMs, mobile apps, and the bank's website. All major banks have a mobile app.

All accounts allow you to issue a bank card, withdraw cash, transfer funds, or pay for services. You can pay for services in other countries from your account in Greece thanks to the SEPA payment system. Mortgage loans are issued for up to 30 years at 3-4% per annum, depending on the amount and term of the loan.

Who is Greece suitable for?

Bordered by the Aegean, Ionian, and Mediterranean seas, Greece is renowned for its beaches with azure waters, ancient monuments, and exquisite cuisine. However, its appeal extends far beyond tourist interest: expats from all over the world choose this country for its relaxed lifestyle and low cost of living.

The country cultivates respect for children and the elderly, who are loved and revered by all. Life is relatively inexpensive, although salaries are generally low compared to other European countries. Greeks are a cheerful, friendly, and boisterous people. If you have a sense of humor and view life as an exciting journey, you will enjoy it here.