Did you fall in love with Greece during a business trip or holiday? And now you feel like moving there permanently? Many expats who made the same choice before you felt very much the same way.
Whether you’re travelling alone, as a couple or with your family, it’s essential to know how much you’ll need to budget for your new life abroad.
In this guide, we tell you everything you need to know about the cost of living in Greece, broken down into different categories (housing, groceries, healthcare, transport, education, etc.).
Overview of the average cost of living in Greece
As a reminder, since 2002, the official currency in Greece has been the euro (€) or ‘evro’ in Greek.
The cost of living for one person in Greece averages €1,150 per month, including rent. A family of four should plan on a monthly budget of €3,450.
| Expense | Average price in Greece |
|---|---|
| Average monthly net salary | 960 € |
| Apartment rental price | 390 – 800 € |
| Apartment purchase price per square metre | 2 300 – 2 700 € |
| Petrol (1 L) | 1,83 € |
| Mobile phone plan (calls + 10 GB of data) | 21,50 € |
| A cappuccino in a café | 3,40 € |
| Gym membership | 42 € |
Cost of living in mainland Greece vs. the Greek islands
In general, life on the mainland is cheaper than on the islands.
As a comparison, a person needs an average budget of €1,100 per month to live in Thessaloniki, €1,600 in Athens, and €3,600 to live in Santorini.
This difference is mainly due to the lifestyle offered on certain Greek islands: life by the water with often lush landscapes that attract many tourists every year and contribute to higher prices.
However, it is on the mainland that Greece’s economic heart lies, with the most job opportunities. Some Greek islands are also less expensive, such as Crete (the country’s largest island), where the average monthly budget is €1,400.
Accommodation in Greece
When you choose to live in Greece, you often benefit from lower housing prices than in other European countries.
- One-bedroom apartment in the city centre: €500
- One-bedroom apartment outside the city centre: €390
- Price per square metre in the city centre: €2,800
- Price per square metre outside the city centre: €2,300
Rental prices in Athens are slightly higher than the national average. For example, you can expect to pay €600 per month for a studio apartment in the city centre.
Certain additional costs should also be taken into account in your monthly housing budget, particularly energy bills:
- Electricity (per kWh): €0.187 (a relatively low price in Europe, considering that the price per kWh of electricity is €0.251 in the UK).
- Gas (per kWh): €0.076
Food budget in Greece
Groceries are one of the main expenses in Greece. Residents enjoy many typical Mediterranean products, ranging from feta cheese and olive oil to aubergines, courgettes and mandarins.
To give you an idea of the monthly budget you should allow for your groceries, here are some examples of prices for certain basic foods:
| Food item | Average price in Greece |
|---|---|
| Milk (1 L) | 1,50 € |
| Water (1,5 L) | 0,90 € |
| Bread (500g) | 1,25 € |
| 12 eggs | 3,90 € |
| Feta (1 kg) | 9 € |
| Extra Virgin Olive Oil (1 L) | 12,75 € |
| Chicken fillet (1 kg) | 9,20 € |
| Meat (1 kg) | 12,40 € |
| Apples (1 kg) | 1,80 € |
| Bananas (1kg) | 1,80 € |
| Tomatoes (1 kg) | 1,90 € |
| Potatoes (1kg) | 1,10 € |
| Onions (1kg) | 1 € |
| Local beer (500 ml) | 4,50 € |
| Imported beer (330 ml) | 5 € |
In summer, prices tend to rise with the influx of tourists, especially in shops located in tourist areas. In the most attractive regions (Corfu, Sifnos, etc.), shopping prices can rise by up to 30% in high season.
When eating out, expect the following prices:
- Meal for two in a mid-range restaurant: €50
- Meat burger in a fast food restaurant: €9
- Two cappuccinos in a café: €6.80
Transport
Bus: in Greece, the average price of a bus journey is €1.20. This is one of the most popular means of transport in the country.
Taxi: expect to pay an average of €4 for a taxi ride, plus €1.10 per kilometre travelled.
Train: with its many islands and mountainous regions, Greece is not exactly a country with extensive rail links. Nevertheless, trains mainly serve the north of the country, but they are not as comfortable as trains in other European countries. The price of a ticket depends on the distance travelled. For example, a journey between Thessaloniki and Florina costs €13.
Ferry: to travel from mainland Greece to the archipelagos or from island to island, the ferry remains the most common means of transport. The cost of a trip depends on the distance, the fares charged by the shipping company you choose and the time of year (again, prices can rise during the high season). To give you an idea, you can expect to pay between €40 and €90 for a trip between Athens (from the port of Piraeus) and the port of Heraklion in Crete (a journey of over 320 km).
Car: Drivers can travel by car, with petrol costing €1.83 per litre. This is at the higher end of the European price range.
Medical expenses in Greece
Here is an idea of the average cost of some medical services in private healthcare facilities in Greece:
| Medical services | Average price in Greece |
|---|---|
| Consultation with a general practitioner | 40 – 50 € |
| Consultation with a specialist | 80 € to 120 € (depending on the specialisation) |
| Consultation with a dentist | 50 € |
| Home visit by a general practitioner | From 80 € |
| Session with a therapist | 60 € |
| Mammogramm | 80 € |
Please note: these prices are sometimes supplemented by a ‘fakelaki’, a practice which involves giving the doctor an envelope containing money in addition to their fees as a token of gratitude. This is much less common if you have private health insurance.
The Greek healthcare system is based on three pillars:
- The universal national health system, known as ESY;
- Social security coverage provided by EOPYY;
- And, in many cases, private insurance.
However, residents face limitations within this system, including long waiting times and, in some facilities (including private ones), health standards that sometimes fall below those of other Western countries.
This is why many expatriates choose to take out international private health insurance for themselves and their families. This allows them to enjoy several benefits:
- Reduced waiting times
- Access to high-quality care at the facility of their choice
- The option of medical repatriation to their country of origin in case of emergency
Education
If you have young children, you can enrol them in a nursery for around €400 per month.
For a private nursery school, you should budget between €300 and €600 per child per month.
At primary level, the average cost of an international school is around €8,300 per year. Several international schools in Greece offer bilingual or even trilingual education. Here are a few examples and their fees for the 2025-2026 school year:
- Lycée Franco-Hellénique: CP, CE1, CE2 at €5,819, CM1 at €5,422, CM2 at €4,997, secondary school at €5,771 and sixth form at €5,635
- Byron College: from €8,250 to €13,750, depending on the cycle
- ACS Athens: primary school €13,200, secondary school €14,354 and sixth form €15,751
Telecommunications
The following are the prices for telecommunications services in Greece:
- Monthly mobile phone plan (calls and 10 GB of data): €21 on average.
- Internet subscription (60 Mbps and unlimited data): around €29 per month.
Leisure and activities
As a reminder about Greece:
- More than 9,000 islands and islets
- One of the oldest countries in the world, the cradle of Western civilisation
- 19 UNESCO World Heritage Sites
- A classic Mediterranean culture
There is no shortage of things to do in the country. At the weekend, exploring paradise islands such as Kos, Rhodes and Andros is a must for expats.
In the evening, Greeks are known for enjoying life to the full, especially in the lively neighbourhoods of Athens and Thessaloniki.
Here is an idea of the prices for some activities:
- Going to the beach: often free (despite appearances) but expect to pay around €10 to rent a sun lounger and parasol.
- Discovering Athens’ museums: the Athens Museum Pass costs €69 per adult and €29 per child.
- Going to the cinema: €8.50 per ticket.
- Stay in the Cyclades: €20 to €30 per night in a hotel in low season, up to €75 in high season. An ideal base for exploring Santorini, Mykonos, etc. There are many historical sites to visit, such as the famous ancient city of Delos, which costs €20 per person to enter.
- Go hiking in Kos Natural Park: €5 admission.
- Get a gym membership: €42 per month on average.
Cost of living in Greece compared to other European countries
Compared to France
The cost of living in Greece is more than 30% lower than in the cost of living in France. This difference is mainly due to much more affordable property prices, with rents in Greece on average 60% cheaper than in France.
However, purchasing power in Greece remains significantly lower, around 80% less than in France. Why is this? The average gross salary is around €960 per month, compared to €2,500 in France.
Expatriates in Greece are generally an exception, as they often work for international companies or hold positions of responsibility. This allows them to enjoy higher salaries than the local average.
Compared to Italy
In general, the cost of living in Greece is around 16% lower than in Italy, including rent. Most items are more affordable in Greece, including housing, food, healthcare and transport, but there is one caveat.
This difference varies depending on the region of Italy. The north of the country is more economically developed and has higher prices (and salaries), while in the south, the cost of living is lower and the difference with Greece is almost negligible.
If you are interested in this topic, check out our comprehensive guide to the cost of living in Italy.
Compared to Malta
Malta has become a prime destination for investors and entrepreneurs.
The cost of living in Malta is still relatively affordable compared to other European countries, but it remains more than 20% higher than in Greece.
The difference is most noticeable in housing, with significantly higher rents.
On average, a person living in Malta needs a monthly budget of around €1,600, compared to €1,150 in Greece.
Compared to Portugal
Life in Greece is on average 6% more expensive than in Portugal. The grocery budget is around 8% higher. Restaurants are on average 28% more expensive. On the other hand, housing is much more affordable in Greece. Rents can be half the price of those in Portugal.
Here are a few examples of prices:
- A one-bedroom apartment in the city centre costs around €500 in Greece, compared to €930 in Portugal
- A three-bedroom apartment in the city centre costs around €700 in Greece, compared to €1,590 in Portugal
Interested in this topic? Check out our comprehensive guide to the cost of living in Portugal.
Compared to the UK
The cost of living in Greece is significantly lower than in the United Kingdom, with an average difference of about 35%, including housing, food, transport, and healthcare. One of the most noticeable differences is rent, which is more than 60% cheaper in Greece than in the UK.
That said, there’s also a major difference in income. The average gross monthly salary in Greece is around €960, whereas in the UK it’s roughly €3,200. This gap in purchasing power means that while daily life is more affordable in Greece, residents also tend to earn considerably less. A one-bedroom apartment in the city centre costs around €500 in Greece, compared to €1,400 in the UK. A three-bedroom apartment in the city centre is about €800 in Greece, while in the UK it can easily reach €2,300 or more. A meal in an inexpensive restaurant costs around €12 in Greece, compared to €20–25 in the UK.
Cost of living in Greece vs Turkey
The cost of living in Greece, including rent, is around 19% higher than in Turkey. However, the items of expenditure vary. Rents are generally more affordable in Greece. But groceries are more expensive, with a difference of more than 20%. In terms of income, the average Greek salary is also higher: €800 compared to €630 in Turkey.
For more information, check out our guide to the cost of living in Turkey.
Cost of living in Greece vs Canada
The cost of living in Canada is higher than in Greece. While a person needs an average budget of €1,150 to live in Greece, this budget increases to € 1,900 in Canada. However, purchasing power is higher, given that the average net salary.