I'm Greek , was born and live in Athens , centre. First of all , Greeks we don't use the word taverna (it's what tourists call any type of reastaurant in Greece, they automatically think it 's taverna . Well, it's not) Taverna used to be restaurants of really basic dishes (and a few) , true that they were only in the cities and mostly for working class. I was born end of 70's but at that time they didn't even exist because this word doesn't mean a type of eatey but it means an era which simply doesn't exist anymore. The place you have eaten , we would call it mezedopoleio or estiatorio (this word means restaurant). Now , if it's a casual place or high dining we would use the same word , estiatorio (which means restaurant again). You 've mentioned about the things that are more or less as expensive as San Francisco (food and rent cheaper here and electricity cheaper there) but you forgot to mention the most basic thing which is salary . So working in Athens , Greece would be 20 times less of what you would be paid in San Fran. So , in order for your viewers to understand , the rent you pay (more or less 650 dollars) , this is the greek basic monthly salary without electricity ,water and taxes , so no way you would be able to pay for this. If you are a foreigner and you are living in another country you always need to mention the cost of living with the actual terms of that city , meaning , also working in that city. Otherwise you could rename the video , as living in Greece as a pensioner ( which means that your income doesn't come from Greece but from USA).All good luck to you.
Well i was born in USA but i live in Greece, and of course they call them tavernas and restaurants like the lady said who is greek . Sinse when there are no tavernas i go to them very often especially on the weekends when they have live music.Mezedopolio? How many greeks use that word? THE GREEKS FROM GREECE LIKE YOU SEEM TO KNOW EVERYTHING AND THEY ALWAYS LIKE TO CORRECT OTHERS BUT,,,LOOK AT GREECE WAS IT AN ACCIDENT? AND ALL THE IMMIGRANTS ESXOS DROPI KITA TA XALIA SU KE ASE TIS DIORTHOSIS. DEMPELIDES KE AXRISTOI ISASTE MALON GIATI ETSI VOLEFTIKATE. GET A LIFE SWEET HEART....
@@yiannis389 Don't know any greek who uses the word "taverna" again. For all the other things you have written to me, you should talk to your psychiatrist. If you don't have one, already , then you should,it's obvious.
Well the cost of living is the COST, not sure how or why she would mention income considering she can’t know or or compare all of the viewers income. I get that YOU compare it because you are from there, but it’s irrelevant to me or anyone else watching this who is interested in the COST.
She's lived there for 8 years so she should know what they are called, Duh! I'm going with Taverna which acctally means Tavern or Bar but you don't need to be Greek to know the language.
Don’t you love narcissistic fools who think they have to share their imagined vast knowledge on people´s videos? My entire Greek family uses the word “taverna.”
The rent cost mentioned is higher than most places in Athens, but is justified for that neighborhood. Not all can see the Acropolis from their terrace. You can rent a 2-bedroom apartment for that money, even with a parking place included in most neighborhoods in Athens. The electricity bill is higher than the US, because Greece doesn't have oil of their own. Thus fuel prices are higher than the US as well. The subway is sufficient and one can live in the city without owning a car.
So true especially in Athens,people choose islands.Koukaki is expensive in 2024.Airconditioners don’t burn much electricity when necessary in heatwaves.❤️👌🙏
The weather in Athens is famous since antiquity. It has been called the "perfect" climate by many a visitor, while some have even speculated that the clarity of the atmosphere and mildness of the weather have contributed to the rise of philosophy and science in the city. In a sentence, mild winters, more than 300 days sunσηινε, hot but dry summers with the amazing so called "attic breezes" which are something you need to experience to understand.
Nice video. However, given that the average salaries in Greece are about 1/3 of those in the US (or even less), living in Greece is very expensive for most Greeks. I read a study some years back and it concluded that living in Athens for a Greek, is about as expensive as for an American living in Manhattan.
An email from International Living brought me here talking about a SF expat. I searched for cost of living in Greece & was surprised to find your video. Would love to visit this place- the cradle of Western civilization. Greetings from the Bay area, CA.
Nice! Great Info... Just been noticing Greece as a potential place to iam for retirement. I'm really liking what I'm finding so far! I've lived in France, Germany, Australia, New Zealand, Philippines, New York, Las Vegas, Portland, St. Petersburg...Greece seems to be so much wrapped into one. In addition to a Deep ancient culture all westerners should feel a kinship with it has jaw dropping landscapes .. definitely coming for a visit soon! BTW.... You're quite jaw dropping as well, if may be so bold(looking for a partner? Lol)😇 Love to hear more...keep it coming
Lynn, Aloha from Hawaii! We are thinking of moving to Greece because it has many of the things we love here about Island life but without the excessive cost of living. I’m part Greek too! How did you get your visa sorted out, if you don’t mind me asking? Cheers!
talking to a guy on tiktok who lives in greece where he lives looks like a dumpyard with scrap everywhere and thievery! this looks so different here in your area!
There are places that are really neglected and there are real nice places too. In some areas in Athens I would not go, specially at night, but most areas are OK. Of course the greater Athens area has many suburbs as well and most of them are much better than some places in the center of Athens. Like in American cities, It really depends were you are.
I want to add a small but crucial detail here. Yes the electricity cost is bigger in Greece because Greece imports oil and gas. That might change in the future if oil drills where to be conducted to Western Greece or South of Crete. Yes in the summer most people turn on the air condition. Personally I can’t stand it and use ceiling fans and humidifiers and the cost is significantly less. But at same time winters in Greece usually are more mild especially to the South of the country. If you consider that the last two winters where snowy (an exception to the weather) then for someone who suffers in deep cold I would say that it’s the ideal country to live (300 days of sunshine per year and in Lesvos island or Mytilene 330 days). So the weather is quite sweet most of the year. The second thing that I know for sure is that the vegetables and most of the fruits are so much more tasty and sweet than most of the western countries and especially from Canada USA England Germany Holland Denmark and all Scandinavian countries. Even the products from greenhouses are much tastier than from similar products abroad. Which is fundamental for someone’s diet.
More specific examples would have made this about cost of living. Just saying more or less expensive than the USA is a very general statement . . like how much did that meal at the end cost? . . or how much do you spend on electricity during the hot summer? The only number quoted in the whole thing was rent
Hey Michael. We have a full page on the website dedicated to the cost of living in Greece, including an overview of basic costs and a sample budget. You'll see there is a link in the description box.
That meal would cost 30-35 euros at most. The electricity bill for the 3 summer months could go up to 500 euros. Bear in mind that the electricity bill in Greece contains the city tax.
Greeks didn't grow up with air conditioning, they learned to manage the temperature in the house or apartment. This means open windows in the night, closed during the day and closed blinds. I grew up in Cyprus next to the sea and practice this method here in Switzerland. I can achieve around 12°C difference between outside and inside (eg. 38°C - 26°C). Of course cities are worse, because they don't cool so much in the evening and they retain heat in the day. Air con is nice but decadent, IMHO. I found the video because someone recently put a bee in my bonnet about living in Greece - at least for part of the year. I will soon be retired. Having been an ex-pat in Switzerland, France and Belgium, a couple of things you didn't mention were taxes and healthcare. My main aim is to improve my command of the language - it would be my fifth language (English mothertongue, French, German, Italian + now Greek).
Thank you for this video - always loved Greece, currently researching what is involved in moving there and living there - is there any language issues between English and Greek ... the native langage?
Not to be negative but sales tax is 24 percent and gas is 7 dollars a gallon. Supermarkets are pricey.. small and fewer options. Wages are lowest in the EU.. just being objective.. thanks for the video
Wages aren't the lowest in the EU and the sales tax is 24 only in the mainland. Regular petrol costs 1.6-1.7 per liter which is around 4.5 dollars per gallon Super unleaded costs around 1.9-2 euros
How about the 75% income tax rate. How about the 24% sales tax. How about the nearly 8 dollars per gallon for gas. I enjoyed visiting there, but could not afford the very high taxes. The restaurants were about the same in cost here in the states. I liked the people. Very nice. Athens was very dirty, but the ancient areas where the tourists go is kept clean.
Yea, Athens wouldn't be my choice I would much rather enjoy island life in Greece. But you are absolutely right about taxes etc. I live in Quebec Canada and taxes here are 15% the 24% in Greece is way more! Life is cheaper there however if you grow your own food, live simply and do not have a materialistic focus.
I don't live in America so I don't know how prices compare. It would be nice though if you're doing a video on cost of living in Greece to list the cost of living. Cheers
I am a 60 yo guy looking to visit Athens in August. Will that be a good time of the year to find a place to live? I plan to stay in the area for 3 months. thanks in advance
Interestingly when you mentioned the part of Athens being hot in Summer - I immediately jumped to Google to see the average temperatures. And from where I'm living at the moment - temperature today (in Feb) is equal to the hottest month in Athens
What inspiration for me. I have The wish to live in a small apartment by The sea. Near Ierapetra Makrigialos on The south part of this wonderful Island of Crete. I have planned to cock by my self shopping i The Market. And of course visiting taverna with dolmades. Zatziki. Octapodie. Choriatike Salada. Keftedes and of course a smal ouzo with olivers And could white Wine like Cretes of Minos. Far away from Sweden 🏝️🌅🍱🇬🇷
...depends on a gazillion things. Like what is your profession/expertise, current (and at least short-termed future) financial status, what you intend to do here to make ends meet etc. However, in general : Greece has fairly high unemployment rates. Which means it would be kinda hard here for a foreigner, jobwise. It also pays significantly low wages. Average minimum wage would be around 400-500 Euros (say 500 USD), while in northern European countries it's at least double or triple (and in some cases even quadruple that) for an 8-hour/6 days per week, gig (pumping gas for example or working at a retail shop). Which of course means you'd either have to have a family to back you up with either housing or meals or whatnot. Alternatively, you'll have to share a small flat or a house (since single homes are either too expensive to afford or hard to come by anyway). To give an example, an average studio apartment will cost you (granted you'll find one to rent, since most owners don't tend to rent apts to foreigners) will at least cost you at about 200 to 250 Euros (unfurnished, excluding power, heating, water, landline with Internet which all amount to around another 150 per month at least) and will probably be in an average too "not so great" condition. All in all, a minimum layman's salary for 8 hours is around 500 and the expected expenses including bills and food (indicatively : a loaf of bread of 350 grams is around 1 Euro, a kilo of cheap pork meat around 4 to 5 Euros at least, the cheapest chicken is 2 to 4 Euros per kilo, fruit and vegetables are around 1 Euro/Κg during summertime and at least double that during winter months - even though one can get them half the price in local open-markets all over every single Greek city once a week - cheese would be around the same price as meat, milk is around 1 Euro per litre, cheap pasta can be bought at around 1 Euro per Kg and finally a pork-meat taco costs in average 2.5 Euros - just to get an idea of the cost of viling) gets roughly around 600-700E for a single person living alone (which generally means you have to work overtime, that is an extra 2 to 4 hours per day in order to make enough, which btw is not easy, I mean getting those extra hours, since most people nowadays work 4-hour shifts as it is...) . In other words, "damn". You'll have to find something (considering work) requiring a skill that you possess, in order to get by, because like everywhere else in the world, skilled work gets better pay (generally around 800 E, or maybe even 1,000 - considering what it is you do) Another thing is the language. You'd better start an elementary course in Greek, before you attempt to get into a place that written and spoken stuff is gonna sound way too,,,Greek for your liking. Younger Greeks do speak English quite adequately, but there's no guarantee that you'll encounter enough of them while doing everyday functions. In other words, it's kinda unwise to get you ass down here, without having some connection to somebody that has already taken the step himself and still is around here. Btw, if you're American (non-European for that matter), I think you're gonna need a work-permit visa too. Which means you'll have to be invited by some employer. I honestly know nothing about how to make all this work, but my guess for the best way to start your journey is by Googling sentences like "american applying for job in greece". Some decades ago, it used to be customary for native English speakers to get jobs here as teachers in private language schools. I don' t know if this is still hot, but try to find out. In the old days such a teacher didn't even need a college degree to work here like one - what was important was that he was a native speaker and was usually handed courses that did not need a special knowledge of Grammar in order to teach through specific textbooks. Working in the tourist industry (mainly during summertime season, that is vaguely from May to September, either at most Greek islands or the city of Athens), is another alternative and job opportunities may be more forthcoming. No matter what, do not attempt to start fresh here, without having at least 5 to 10 thou dollars saved, for "just in case shit goes upcreek". Or, in this case, "upgreek"......) All the above of course AFTER the Covid pandemic ends on a worldwide scale, which God knows when will actually happen, 'cause right now Greek economy has gone to the dogs due to repetitive lockdowns....
I would like to move to Greece, would you help me? Mostly how do you do banking? Are they trust worthy? What bank in Greece(EU) best for Transfers from American banks. Edit: I am disabled and need medical care for constant pain, fibromyalgia, back, knee, and feet conditions. What can you tell me about medical care and where and whom is best. Should I just travel to Sweden for care and live in Greece?
Dont move to greece the system is shit and a lot of bad ways things are being handled..we do have really good and relatively cheap medical facilities for all kind of conditions and I'm pretty sure you can also find a jolly greek person to help you full time cheaply
We are considering moving to Greece. Currently live in Netherlands. What about getting services and dealing with the bureaucracy? We would buy a home there. Heard that during the financial crisis property taxes went sky high...true? Is the govt more stable now? generally safe? Appreciate any insights. σας ευχαριστώ
As a fellow EU citizen, you wouldn't have significant bureaucracy problems buying a house and residenting in Greece. If you are pensioners, try Crete or Peloponnese. Look for a house close to the sea. Property taxes during the financial crisis went from near to zero to normal. Also depends on the area. Although public hospitals will take you, do buy a health insurance for no more than 400 euros per person per year. Greeks generally speak English way above south-EU average, but not necessarily in the public sector. So I would recommend you hired a lawyer to help you deal with buying the house and settling in. You will save a lot of time, maybe even money. Other than that, the sun and the relaxing way of life will not dissapoint you. Enjoy
Hey, can you tell me where in Greece the cost of living is cheaper and it should be also a good place to move for a family with a 2 year old child. Maybe you can also tell us what kind of jobs we find there? Thank you!
Everywhere else except Athens. I highly recommend you to seek cities like these ones : Patras city (in Peloponnese, western Greece), Kalamata city (in Peloponnese, south Greece) Ioannina city ( in Epirus, northwestern Greece), Trikala city, Larissa city, Volos city (in Thessaly, central Greece), Kavala city (in eastern Macedonia, northern Greece), Thessalonica city (in central Macedonia, northern Greece, the second largest city of Greece)... Also, you can seek places to move in one of the numerous islands of Greece, as Corfu, Zakynthos or Zante, Kefalonia (isles of Ionian sea, western Greece), that are very green islands (woods).
Exactly my thoughts! Where does she work? Because most people I know in Greece make around 600-700 a month.. I want to move there so bad, its so beautiful there, but finding a job and making ends meat really scares me.
@@crystalrockjewelry4578 still i dont think is very good to have a comfortable life, for example if you have a 2.0 liter you need to pay about 1500 € every year only for insuranse and taxes olny for 2.000cc
Cost of life for single person with no assets as of 2023: 1. Poor lifestyle, starting income of (or less than) 500-600eur/month 2. Moderate lifestyle, starting income of 800-1000eur/month 3. Rich lifestyle, starting income of 2000-2500eur/month For families multiply the above by 2x or 3x depending on how many heads are in the family.
Dont dine out save money. Even if you make 6 figures eat stuff like pasta and potatoes much cheaper than wasting money at restaurants i been living off pasta and potatoes for a year now and ive saved so much money a friend of mine never cooks he only orders food and each meal is roughly 30-40 dollars lets say the average he spends on food is 30 dollars a meal 2 meals a day in one year he spends over 20 thousand dollars on food every year while im out here eating like shit saving money and reinvesting it in stocks
