How Much Does It Cost to Live In Greece?
Greece is a country of myths and legends which is especially colorful and beautiful.
This is a small country that has a lot of islands in the Aegean Sea, the Mediterranean Sea, the Sea of Crete, the Thracian Sea, and the Ionian Sea.
Each of the 13 regions of Greece has its own administrative management.
The top cities that are great for tourism and living are Athens, Salonika, Peloppones, Larissa, and Piraeus.
The coldest months in Greece are January and December, and the swimming season starts in late May.
Greece : Cost of Living by City
RESTAURANTS
The traditional Greek dishes are cooked with fresh vegetables, seafood products, herbs and spices, classical yogurt, and olive oil.
There are many authentic restaurants and cafes that serve traditional dishes, while you are not likely to find those in the hotels.
The portions in Greece are large, so you can even order one course for two people and this will be really cheap.
MARKETS
Food markets in every city and village in Greece will impress you with their tidiness and abundance.
The open-air markets are part of the national traditions of Greek where people go to meet friends, enjoy small talks and buy products, too.
If you cannot find the local market, any local citizen will help you find them.
TRANSPORTATION
The Greek transportation system is developed and is represented by automobiles, railways, air connections, waterways, sea transport, and public transport in the cities.
The latter had been improved before the Olympics in 2004, namely high-speed trams, trolleybuses, buses run in the streets of the large cities in Greece, and subway in Athens.
UTILITIES (MONTHLY)
Prices for monthly utilities do not seem high as in the rest of the European countries.
Water, electricity, rubbish management, cooling, and heating in Greece cost $219.37 per month on average.
One minute of prepaid mobile tariff local is $0.50, and the high-speed Internet is $33.91 per month.
SPORTS & LEISURE
Where else will you find such a great variety of available water sports if not in Greece?
Yachting, swimming, paragliding, parasailing, diving, surfing, and wakeboarding will be just perfect for an active day in the seashore.
Skiing, alpinism, hiking, cycling, and extreme sports are available in the mountains.
CLOTHING & SHOES
Well, Greece is not Italy or France, and you will still be able to find lots of designer and popular brands here, but Greece has many authentic manufacturers with original designs and colors.
Zara is the most numerous chain of stores, along with other popular chains like H&M, Bershka, Stradivarius, and so on.
The mid-July and the mid-January are the starting months for traditional summer and winter sales in Greece.
RENT PER MONTH
Greek accommodation is very affordable, especially for those coming from European counties or the Americas with a high level of income.
A one-bedroom apartment in the city center costs $447.79, and the same square meters in the suburbs are $377.85.
Of course, there can be found some cheaper options with fewer furniture or appliances.
Cost of Living Averages Table for Greece
*Note: All prices are indicated in USD.| Average Restaurant Prices | |
|---|---|
| Meal (Inexpensive Restaurant) | $13.05 |
| Domestic Beer (0.5 Liter) | $4.35 |
| Water (0.33 Liter) | $0.54 | Average Market Prices |
| Milk (1 Liter) | $1.50 |
| Loaf Bread (500g) | $1.14 |
| Eggs (12) | $3.79 | Average Transport Prices |
| One Way Ticket | $1.31 |
| Monthly Pass | $32.63 |
| Gasoline | $2.27 | Average Utilities Prices |
| Basic (Water, Electricity, Garbage, Heating, Cooling) | $219.37 |
| 1 min. of Prepaid Mobile Tariff Local | $0.50 |
| Internet (Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) | $33.91 | Average Leisure Prices |
| Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult | $40.50 |
| Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour) | $19.78 |
| Cinema, 1 Seat, International Release | $8.70 | Average Clothing Prices |
| 1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Comparable) | $76.74 |
| 1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, etc...) | $35.29 |
| 1 Pair of Adidas Walking Shoes (Mid-Range) | $80.79 | Average Rent Prices |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Center | $447.79 |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Center | $377.85 |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Center | $774.45 |
How Does the Average Person Spend Their Money in Greece?
Moving gradually from the least important to the most significant items of expenditure, we will name clothing and shoes first.
Only 3.2% of the monthly income of an average Greek is spent on shopping.
Interestingly, the second less expensive thing in Greece is recreation.
As much as 6.4% of the money is spent on leisure and sports activities.
The next one on the list is utilities which are given 12% from each family or single person.
Transportation, rent per month, and restaurants demand almost equal sums of money, although the monthly rent takes less than the restaurants, and transportation is the last among the three.
Markets are the place where the Greek love going and spending money at.
Average Costs Breakdown
Greece: Average Salary, Minimum Wage & Mortgages
The minimum wage in Greece is fixed at a level of $891.1 per person per month.
To compare, an average monthly salary after tax is $884.02 per employee.
Many jobs pay per hour, so the salary actually depends on the type of job you do and the number of hours you spend.
Also, some people do not work at all and earn money from rented apartments.
The tenants give regular monthly payments to the landlords and this gives the latter the opportunity to pay out 4.28% of the interest rate of the mortgage which is given for 20 years.
Greece Safety Overview
READ THE FULL REPORT: Greece Safety Review
Safety Index:
- OVERALL RISK: LOW
- TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: LOW
- PICKPOCKETS RISK: MEDIUM
- NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: LOW
- MUGGING RISK: MEDIUM
- TERRORISM RISK: LOW
- SCAMS RISK: MEDIUM
- WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW
Cost of Living by City in Greece
| City | Cost of Living Index |
|---|---|
| Athens | 60.44 |
| Thessaloniki | 57.97 |
Minimum wage is 780 euros, overall great article.