Cost of Living in Athens

Summary of cost of living in Athens, Greece:

Restaurants
Edit Range
Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant 16.23 $ 10.82-27.04
Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course 54.09 $ 43.27-86.54
McMeal at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal) 9.74 $ 7.57-10.82
Domestic Beer (1 pint draught) 5.41 $ 3.25-6.49
Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle) 5.41 $ 4.33-7.57
Cappuccino (regular) 3.72 $ 2.16-4.87
Coke/Pepsi (12 oz small bottle) 2.09 $ 1.08-3.25
Water (12 oz small bottle) 0.57 $ 0.54-1.08
Markets
Edit
Milk (regular), (1 gallon) 6.36 $ 4.14-8.19
Loaf of Fresh White Bread (1 lb) 1.19 $ 0.79-1.96
Rice (white), (1 lb) 1.22 $ 0.54-2.21
Eggs (regular) (12) 4.52 $ 2.60-6.49
Local Cheese (1 lb) 6.10 $ 3.93-8.83
Chicken Fillets (1 lb) 4.96 $ 2.45-7.36
Beef Round (1 lb) (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) 6.39 $ 4.91-7.36
Apples (1 lb) 0.89 $ 0.54-1.47
Banana (1 lb) 0.89 $ 0.74-1.96
Oranges (1 lb) 0.59 $ 0.34-1.47
Tomato (1 lb) 0.96 $ 0.64-1.47
Potato (1 lb) 0.56 $ 0.39-0.98
Onion (1 lb) 0.53 $ 0.29-0.98
Lettuce (1 head) 1.13 $ 0.76-2.16
Water (1.5 liter bottle) 0.99 $ 0.27-1.62
Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) 9.74 $ 5.41-16.23
Domestic Beer (0.5 liter bottle) 1.80 $ 1.08-2.49
Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle) 2.67 $ 1.57-4.33
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro) 4.98 $ 4.54-5.41
Transportation
Edit
One-way Ticket (Local Transport) 1.30 $ 1.30-1.51
Monthly Pass (Regular Price) 29.21 $ 29.21-32.45
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff) 4.33 $ 2.60-5.41
Taxi 1 mile (Normal Tariff) 1.74 $ 1.57-3.48
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff) 16.23 $ 10.82-32.45
Gasoline (1 gallon) 7.70 $ 6.96-8.19
Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90 KW Trendline (Or Equivalent New Car) 30,666.82 $ 25,961.33-32,127.14
Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6l 97kW Comfort (Or Equivalent New Car) 27,847.16 $ 23,797.88-32,451.66
Utilities (Monthly)
Edit
Basic (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) for 915 sq ft Apartment 204.13 $ 108.17-324.52
Mobile Phone Monthly Plan with Calls and 10GB+ Data 24.84 $ 16.23-37.86
Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) 32.79 $ 27.04-43.27
Sports And Leisure
Edit
Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult 48.75 $ 27.04-75.72
Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour on Weekend) 24.51 $ 16.23-32.45
Cinema, International Release, 1 Seat 9.74 $ 8.65-11.90
Childcare
Edit
Preschool (or Kindergarten), Full Day, Private, Monthly for 1 Child 474.09 $ 432.69-540.86
International Primary School, Yearly for 1 Child 10,821.92 $ 7,572.05-14,062.39
Clothing And Shoes
Edit
1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar) 85.31 $ 54.09-108.17
1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, H&M, ...) 37.80 $ 21.63-54.09
1 Pair of Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) 94.33 $ 64.90-129.81
1 Pair of Men Leather Business Shoes 112.63 $ 75.72-162.26
Rent Per Month
Edit
Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre 646.37 $ 540.86-865.38
Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre 565.24 $ 432.69-811.29
Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre 1,169.51 $ 865.38-1,947.10
Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre 1,011.04 $ 757.21-1,622.58
Buy Apartment Price
Edit
Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre 309.02 $ 200.99-502.47
Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre 287.19 $ 190.94-401.98
Salaries And Financing
Edit
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) 1,074.61 $
Mortgage Interest Rate in Percentages (%), Yearly, for 20 Years Fixed-Rate 4.64 3.70-6.00

Prices in Athens

This city had 5109 entries in the past 12 months by 602 different contributors.
Last update: October 2024
Distribution of Expenses Using Our Statistical Model:
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40 Comments so far
Anonymous on Jul 06, 2024:
Athens is an eyesore to Greece. It's true the Greek government has turned their backs on the younger generation who cannot find suitable employment that actually pays a wage acceptable to their careers. Look around Athens it's filled with hate graphiti visit Athens it's all there.Violent protests happens often throughout Athens. Basically Greece is broke for just one reason politicians are lining their pockets is how it really is.
Anonymous on Apr 01, 2024:
14 salaries in Greece with minimum gross amount as of 1st of April: 968 Euros.
Of course not ideal based on the costs, but salaries ( based on 12 months ) are higher to what people mention below. High educated people , who live abroad for more than 7 years, have a 50 % tax free of salary benefit.
stelios on Nov 06, 2023:
A lot of figures are outdated. Electricity alone is more expensive than the overall given for bills. Rents for decent equipped studios start from 650, the current values are a joke.

Average Monthly Net Salary is at best 800
George on Oct 10, 2023:
I understand that you cant be right with prices..All over Greece all products etc comes up every week!We have the most expensive gas,electricity on all Europe (with much lower salaries)..You just cant live here anymore..One man monthly cost with a small rent, car and basics are almost 1000€ and most salay are 800€
Anonymous on May 26, 2023:
I agree with Christos
Average wage in Greece is €1176 which is 1092 after tax for 2023. Greeks are famous for crying about their financial situation because we are a low-trust society. Both my parents make 2.5 times more than the average wage and still cry.

Sources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_European_countries_by_average_wage
https://www.ot.gr/2023/01/17/oikonomia/ergani-pos-apotyponetai-i-eikona-ton-epixeiriseon-kai-ton-ergazomenon-to-2022/
Christos Tsegkis on Mar 20, 2023:
The situation is better than is presented from some people here.
Just see the minimum wages in Europe. Greece's minimum wage is 910 gross as of April 2023

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_European_countries_by_minimum_wage
Anonymous on Mar 09, 2023:
I must agree with the post about Greeks dumpster diving.I saw the same thing passing through Athens last month.
Thanos Panagiotopoulos on Feb 13, 2023:
TO ZINA
It's all correct, it's really hard to get by in Athens with a regular job, at current regular costs.
Thanos Panagiotopoulos on Feb 13, 2023:
The statistics pie of the expenses does not represent the actual situation, it is micalculated IMO and needs to be corrected. You cannot present an average of 19.6% of expenses for rent with an average rent at 491 euros for a single bedroom,when at the same time the average salary after tax is 909 Euros. Maybe it's presented this way because most people cannot afford to live by themselves and share an apartment. Even if you examine the 3bedroom apartments at 856 euros, then it's 285 euros per person, which leads at a 32% on average as an expense per person...not 19.6. Maybe, this could be the case. But still,it's misleading IMO.
Anonymous on Jan 31, 2023:
We transited through Athens enroute to another country last month.Comments here singing the praises of Athens are all false.The airport is falling apart with many people dumpster diving for food at the airport.
Anonymous on Jan 08, 2023:
That's very old news besides Macedonians has had far more intense encounters with Greeks than turks ever did.Greeks don't really mean anything to other countries just like Greeks don't Turks don't just like turkey doesn't either.That tells you I'm neither Greek or Macedonian so I'm not biased.
Greek on Jan 03, 2023:
FOR EVERYONE THAT READS THESE COMMENTS

For the last 25 years the relationship between Turks and Greeks is escalating to the worst. Turks are threatening, Greeks stand their ground. As I see here, there are many turk trolls trying to damage our country reputation.

You, objective reader: keep that in mind.
Anonymous on Jan 02, 2023:
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax): You have to indicate that Greece provides with 14 monthly salaries and adjust it accordingly. Divided my 12 is fore sure over 1000/month
Missconceptions on Dec 28, 2022:
Now I will address some misconceptions

Tourism is very important in Greece where 1/6th of the population works in a seasonal basis but it's not our biggest source of income. Greece's biggest source of income is processed petroleum and shipping, in fact Greece is #1 in the shipping sector. The other bigger companies are our banks who have many subsidiaries over the Balkans. And our electricity providers that now thanks to the energy crisis worth billions.

I wrote bellow that you should not come to Greece if you want to work 9 to 5, well if you are working in the electricity/power plant sector or renewable energies, then you will make lots of cash.

Now, another misconception is "if the average wage is 1050 euros and average rent is 400 euros how do people get by", the answer is that Greece is within top 10 countries of home ownership, about 75% of Greeks own their house, and good chance is if you are in the remaining 25% you are probably crushing at your parents home lol.

Also we have a housing crisis ongoing, due to said homeowners refusing to rent their houses and instead putting them up for AirBNB usage, which has skyrocketed the rent costs, fun fun...
My critique of Athens on Dec 28, 2022:
To get this straight, for all foreigners puzzled, the average gross salary in Greece stands at 1355 euros a month, which turns into 1050 euros a month after taxes are paid (net salary) this is the equivalent of 1977 American dollars (Purchasing Power Parity) with the current exchange rate (29/Dec/2022).

Sources:
https://stats.oecd.org/Index.aspx?DatasetCode=AV_AN_WAGE#
https://aftertax.gr/

Now salaries wary depend on the sector you work at, I would say that with 0 years of experience, expect to get paid around €760/month salary without a college degree, unless you are self-employed and work with commissions, my friend who is into the insurance sector 5 years now, makes ~€1800/month. With a college degree wages go up to €1500/month with 0 years of experience. My college educated parents (PhD) make around €2500/month after decades of experience, I make €800/month (I am an under-graduate).

These wages were more than enough to get by, but due to the recent inflation crisis, I struggle to get by with my bills on time. I also own my own two bedroom apartment, so I am better off that people of my age.

For everyone thinking about moving to Greece, you have to assess your situation, if you are self-employed, work from home or a retiree, then Greece will be a paradise for you, this is a Mediterranean country with a warm weather, no need for heating 10 out of the 12 months of the year and we are very customer friendly, you can order food from supermarkets or restaurants via online delivery often provided in English as well. Sklavenitis and Vasilopoulos do groceries deliveries and there are many food delivery companies such as efood, box, wolt, deliveras and so on.

52% of the Greek population speaks English at a conversational level and the vast majority of Greeks under 35 are very fluent in English, only behind Cyprus and Scandinavian countries. Additionally many places from museums to theatres are in English, as well as all traffic signs and so on.

BUT, if you are an employee working 9 to 5 at your average day job and just want to move to Greece because it has "cool history" and sunny weather, this country will be your nightmare, you will struggle to find a day job as a foreigner with our current 12% unemployment rate (which ironically is a historically low since the 2000s), the selfish attitude of Greeks will ruin your day, the traffic is a disaster, crime and safety is really mediocre, more on par with America than any western European country. There is little to no green to be found in the dystopian cement-favela called Athens, unless you move in well-off suburbs, but remember that the traffic sucks and will take away hours from your life, public transportation although much better than any US city outside New York maybe, is really inferior to most European capitals. There are constant delays and a yolo and 0 f's given attitude in this country.

And this is why I consider moving to western Europe once I graduate :) as hundreds of thousand of young Greeks have done.
This country really tests your nerves if you are a family man trying to get by on your daily life. Great place if you are self-employed or a retiree though.

This is my input on Greece, again I would also recommend staying away from Athens if you are here for a 9 to 5 job, go to a smaller city, your kids will thank you forever.
Anonymous on Dec 28, 2022:
YES ZINA

What you read is correct 700€ without rent is correct.People are only surviving due to living with family members but even then it's a stretch.You should rethink your plans of moving to Greece you will be greatly disappointed guaranteed.
Zina on Dec 27, 2022:
I am planning on moving to Athens (1 single person) but I am getting scared when looking at the costs and average income listed above... Can it really be correct that living costs (without rent!) Is arounz 700€ and the average income is around 1000€? How are people surviving?
Anonymous on Dec 13, 2022:
However the EU dealt themselves a heavy financial blow banning american tourists from the EU especially since American tourists spend the most of any tourists in the EU.This includes Greece Paris all of the EU.But American tourists have gone elsewhere and the EU as a whole has lost the biggest spenders of them all American tourists not to return
Anonymous on Dec 13, 2022:
Greece depends heavily on tourism for their economy actually 100% of their economy is based on tourism.Paris in particular made it very clear American voices are missed for tourism to the extent Paris tourism sector saying WE WANT OUR AMERICAN TOURISTS BACK WE MISS YOU.Greece echoed the same anno
JK on Dec 13, 2022:
It is same the same person leaves comment like those below. Probably grow up in non civilised country so I would feel the same in his position.
Bill on Oct 03, 2022:
How s possible rent costs 20% of monthly salary when you report rent at 430€ and salary at 850?
Anon on Aug 27, 2022:
Anonymous, you are no idea of what you are saying. You definitely want to ruin Greece's reputation.
Greeks have the highest ownership in EU
Anonymous on Aug 16, 2022:
Greece is hate filled full of stinking nasty disease ridden hoes nobody wants.
Anon on Jul 13, 2022:
I’m surprised to read some of the sour statements in this stream. I’ve found Athens and the Athenians to be utterly charming. I heartedly recommend the place for its mix of modern and ancient; grittiness and beauty.
Virna on Jun 29, 2022:
Eu visite athena do dia 20/06/22 durante 1 semana e adorei, limpa, com muitas atracoes nao vi muitos desabrigados, pessoas acolhedoras.
Anonymous on Jun 05, 2022:
Athens is broke just like all of Greece is and it shows.A tiny country full of conartists,lowlifes,theives,nobodiesis what Greeks are.Now that the scamdemic,is winding down few if any tourists are returning and there won't be either. Greece depended heavily upon American tourists 95% of the time,this is true and they have for many years.

But Greeks burned their bridges with Americans and Europeans from other countries in Europe many times but now the party is over permanently. Very few Europeans visit Greece for obvious reasons,bad karma breeds bad karma throughout Greece.Greeks are arrogant and self serving.

Greeks aren't worthy to even breathe air.
Anonymous on May 20, 2022:
Probably the guy below does not work in Greece. The salaries were 50euros less from 713euros and have 14 salaries per year.
Evangelos on May 18, 2022:
The average salary with taxes on it in Greece is 713 Euros and this happened from the 1st of May 2022, before it was much lower at 613 Euros your numbers are massively inaccurate
Anonymous on Dec 29, 2021:
UPDATE !!!

The EU approved 26,309 Haiti refugees into Greece to arrive February 13 2022.The majority will be in Athens since it's the main artery for the government where processing will be done.We are leaving Greece permanently before the Haitians arrive.
Corrector on Oct 23, 2021:
Aberage monthly net salary is 1116 not 802
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_European_countries_by_average_wage
Anonymous on Sep 28, 2021:
How is the refugee and homeless situation? I heard that It's getting worse in recent years. I don't know if It's true or not.
Evangelo on Jun 05, 2021:
Jealousy is a very bad thing. I'm very sorry for you because I'm sure you were abused when you were little.
997turbo on Apr 11, 2021:
I would strongly recommend anyone considering a move to Greece to not read the comments here but rather visit the country and ask locals about the daily life there. Spend some time exploring and figure out the numbers before deciding on the move.

Also don’t listen to the anonymous (Turkish) comments about the Muslims and Syrians and all these refugees. They are contained and will soon be shipped out to their destination.
Anonymous on Mar 21, 2021:
The third wave of covid19 has saturated France Germany Italy and Greece. On average just in Germany 20,000 infections per day. Since Greece depends heavily upon tourism it'll affect Greece longterm. The EU mentioned last week taxes on retirement pensions plus other assets may be taxed at 17% more than normal to offset the impact of covid19. This isn't good news for some especially people who depend solely upon retirement pensions. But it could affect other assets being the same tax rate. We're leaving Greece in several days before the new tax rates kick in going back to the UK where there isn't such drastic measures.If foreigners own businesses the 17% tax rate will apply to that as well. Hopefully the pandemic will end soon and people can get back to somewhat normalcy.

Cheers
Anonymous on Mar 12, 2021:
Greece is going to be bombarded by over 800,000 Syrian refugees from Turkey soon ha ha ha there's no stopping it.
Anonymous on Feb 19, 2021:
Lol Santini is under water Greek citizen I live in Athens flooded too tides have been surging often. Try a different site you Russian trol.
Greek citizen on Feb 18, 2021:
There is no flood, I live in Athens, Anonymous may indeed be on drugs
Anonymous on Dec 23, 2020:
You obviously don't live in Athens but I do,flooding is rampant.
Anonmous2 on Dec 22, 2020:
Anonymous is probably on drugs. There is no flooding or damage.
He- she probably means to stay away due to the coronavirus situation, and you should! But dont spread misinformation!!
Anonymous on Dec 20, 2020:
Hold off on visiting Athens or anywhere else in Greece anytime soon. We've had major flooding here over the past month so most areas have been damaged badly.