Indeed, even with a little pay, the cost of many everyday items in Greece stays sensible. One of the advantages of the Greek economy is that costs for lodging, medical services, and food are among the most minimal in contrast with other European countries. In addition, this nation provides a good standard of living. Greece has produced the perfect setting for living, working remotely, vacationing, retiring, and immigrating as well. Since there is a strong financial system in place, consumers may use credit cards to purchase items even at outdoor marketplaces.
Housing
The greatest cities to start a family in if you wish to reside in a major metropolis are Athens or Thessaloniki. But there are numerous little towns and mid-sized cities in Greece if you are fixated on the idea of living quietly with your family. Based on your preferences, choose any spot to call home. You won’t spend much since Greek rentals are 70% less than American ones. For instance, a one-bedroom apartment in Athens costs about $650 a month. Greek islands’ housing costs are comparable to those in Athens. For instance, it would cost roughly 630 dollars to rent a one-bedroom apartment in Santorini that had an updated kitchen and bathroom yet wasn’t too distant from the city center. Prepare yourself to pay roughly $350 per month if you want to experience life in a tiny city.
Healthcare
Public healthcare and private insurance are the two types of healthcare available. Greek citizens spend around $1,501, or 1,424 euros, per capita on healthcare. And it continues to demonstrate declining expenses year after year. Emergency visits are provided free of charge by public medical services. Everyone, regardless of occupation or nationality, is eligible for free urgent medical treatment. Regularly making payments will also allow you to get assistance for free. In other situations, you’ll need to pay out of pocket or with the help of your employer’s insurance plan. Everyone has access to private insurance. Private clinics provide physicians who speak English and superior equipment. Healthcare in Greece is two times less expensive than in the US or the EU. The cost of a routine checkup if you don’t have insurance is roughly €40. Many individuals agree that healthcare is of extremely good quality, and what is even more encouraging is that costs are fair.
Taxes
All taxes in Greece are graduated. For those with greater incomes, a higher tax rate is applied. Expat income tax rates (annual):
- First €10,000 – 9%;
- Above €10,000 to €20,000 – 22%;
- Above €20,000 to €30,000 – 28%
- Above €30,000 to €40,000 – 36%
- over €40,000 – 44%.
Social Security, capital (on inheritance, gifts, and lottery winnings), and value-added taxes (applicable to the base price of goods and services) are additional taxes that are due by individual taxpayers.
Food
If you often dine out, your daily food budget will likely be in the range of €32. In a café, the typical lunch costs around €13. Compared to lunch or supper, breakfast is substantially less expensive. Large fast-food franchises abound. In this manner, if cash is tight, you might eat at a cheap food establishment. However, for people who want to cook on their own, food is somewhat inexpensive. There are numerous locally produced items available for folks who wish to consume nutritious meals. The typical price of several foods is:
- €3 for a dozen eggs;
- €1.70 for rice;
- €6.75 for 1 kilogram of chicken;
- €0.86 for 500 g of bread;
- €9.13 for beef round;
- €0.82 for potato;
- €1.18 for 1 liter of milk.
Transportation
Getting around cities is easy because of the well-developed transportation infrastructure and affordable prices. Athens has a metro system and city buses for use in public transportation. Only those with current auto insurance are permitted to drive their automobiles by expats. The price of hiring is rather considerable. Transport expenses:
- Bus fare of €1.4;
- €1.4 for one gallon of gasoline;
- Taxi (8 km): €12.
Education
In Greece, most of the children go to state-funded schools. Taxes support the free public education system. Keep in mind that they only provide instruction in Greek. The cost of the child’s school uniform and sometimes supplementary instruction is borne by the parents. International and private schools are not cost-free. These scholastic establishments teach students in both English and other foreign dialects. Costs for private and global schools range from €7,000 to €13,000 every study year. Contingent upon the grade, age, and school, the charges could change. Both Greek and other EU citizens are entitled to free higher education. Foreigners are required to pay €1500 annually. Particularly when compared to the USA, where students spend almost $35,000 a year, this amount is little.
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