Athens is one in every of my favourite cities in Europe. The vibe and vitality of the Greek capital is electrical and I completely love spending time within the metropolis. Athens and Greece on the whole is kind of an inexpensive place to dwell for European requirements.
In the event you’re planning to spend time in Athens for work or as a digital nomad, this publish will go in depth about how a lot issues price within the metropolis.
Athens price of dwelling is on the rise
Whereas Athens on the whole continues to be fairly low cost by Western requirements, the price of dwelling continues to extend. Hire costs have gone up rather a lot lately in addition to dwindling provide. Salaries haven’t saved up with the rise in bills.
Athens specifically struggles from an inexpensive housing subject due to what number of items are used for Airbnb and the way little provide there are within the metropolis middle.
As nicely, Greece has a “Golden Visa” program like that of Portugal the place any foreigner who invests €250,000 right into a property can acquire Greek and thereby EU residency. This has brought about properties in cities like Athens and Thessaloniki, in addition to the islands to extend.
Nonetheless, you possibly can nonetheless count on to dwell a less expensive way of life in Athens as you’d in locations like Rome or Paris. Consider nonetheless that the salaries of the standard Greek employee is considerably decrease than that of their Western European counterparts. It is likely to be low cost for you however it’s prohibitively costly for many Greeks.
APartment Rental Costs in Athens – €650
Like anyplace else on this planet, your lease can be one in every of your largest if not the biggest expense. Athens is an attention-grabbing market. Athens is totally huge and is tremendous unfold out. There was a restrict on constructing top for a very long time which ensures individuals construct outwards as an alternative of upwards. Rents are usually low cost however if you wish to dwell near town middle, your costs will go up far more as a result of giant quantities of Airbnbs.
Normally, costs in Athens are very low compared to cities within the US or the UK. Remember that salaries are usually fairly low in Athens as nicely. €1000 internet wage a month is taken into account good in Athens in any case!
How a lot are rental costs in Athens?
As I acknowledged earlier than, the rental market in Athens is varies drastically. Relying on what you’re searching for and the neighborhood, you possibly can have an enormous vary of costs. Usually, if you wish to dwell within the metropolis middle, I might say costs are round €8-12 per sq. meter. A one bed room 40m2 condominium within the metropolis middle will price someplace between €400-500 a month.
If you’d like an condominium with good Acropolis views and a pleasant balcony on a high ground, you possibly can count on to pay far more. Flats are usually fairly outdated because the buildings are outdated within the metropolis middle so you possibly can count on to pay far more for a contemporary type condominium.
Spitogatos and XE.gr are the primary rental search web sites and you will discover quite a lot of good properties with these companies. Nevertheless, the easiest way to search out lodging, quick or long run, is to make use of Fb teams.
SHort time period rental costs in Athens
In case you are planning to remain in Athens as a digital nomad for just a few months, then you’ll most likely use one thing like Airbnb to search out your lodging. Quick time period leases as you possibly can count on price far more since you’re renting it from somebody who’s operating a resort enterprise.
Yow will discover respectable month-to-month leases in Athens for one thing like €900-€1,300 a month for a 1 bed room condominium. These identical flats will most likely price half the value in case you are renting for a long term. Count on to pay extra in the summertime months as that is Greece’s excessive season.
What neighborhoods to dwell in Athens?
Athens is large. In the event you ever drive out of town, you’ll really feel like you’re in Athens for seemingly eternally. Nevertheless, as a foreigner who doesn’t communicate Greek, it’s higher simply to remain close to town middle so you possibly can communicate English.
Usually, the most well-liked and in demand areas are locations like Pagrati, Kosmos, Koukaki, and Psyri. I ended up dwelling in Kynosargous which is simply south of Koukaki.
Charges for renting an condominium in Athens
Most rental contracts can be 6 months at minimal. You’ll have to pay one month upfront, in addition to a safety deposit of 1 month’s lease.
In the event you use a letting agent, more often than not the renter should pay the agent. That is normally equal to a month’s lease. Due to this fact, you possibly can count on to pay 3 months lease upfront for a long run contract.
Utilities and Payments in Athens – €150
Along with the lease, you’ll should pay gasoline and electrical energy individually. In case you are right here on a long run lease, you’ll have to arrange these funds individually. Plenty of flats these days will simply quote you an all in value relying on the size of your lease.
Gasoline and electrical energy usually differ between €100 – €150 a month relying on the costs of gasoline and the time of the month. The winter months get very chilly at night time and there’s no central heating in a lot of the condominium buildings in Athens. The insulation on most of the buildings are fairly poor as nicely so you’ll positively really feel the chilly within the winter (and the warmth through the summers).
Wifi in Greece is similar to most different cities in Europe. You may get an honest web bundle for €20-30 a month. For shorter time period leases, quite a lot of these packages are already included.
Fitness center costs in Athens – €50
Understanding is necessary for me so I be certain to search out the most effective gyms in each metropolis I’m going to. I’ll hold this quick and say that Athens has a reasonably horrible providing of gyms and health golf equipment.
The standard of gyms in Athens is mediocre at finest and it’s not even that low cost. Don’t count on any good gyms in Athens that you simply may discover in locations like Cape City and even in Frankfurt the place I lived.
The few gyms that I went to in Athens like Holmes Place, Yava Health, Golden Fitness center, Bodyshape and so on. are all fairly horrible. I assume I’ve simply change into accustomed to superior high quality gyms the place I’ve lived.
Holmes Place is the one health club that has a “premium” vibe however even then it’s fairly horrible. It’s the most costly health club in Athens with a value of €70-€100 relying on how lengthy you join. The opposite gyms on the checklist are between €40-60.
The gyms in Athens are nothing to take a look at so simply get in, get your exercise finished and get out.
Cell Cellphone costs in Athens – €10
As with most of Europe, cellular service plans in Greece are usually fairly low cost. The price of knowledge on the numerous suppliers round Greece is just not costly. After all it’s not low cost like it’s in locations like Georgia or Thailand, however you gained’t break the financial institution right here.
The principle cellular suppliers in Greece are:
Cosmote is the nationwide service and has essentially the most complete protection in Greece. Nevertheless, in case you are simply staying round Athens, all three carriers will greater than suffice. It’s solely once you get to extra distant areas like that in Northern Greece the place some carriers will excel vs others.
Yow will discover pay as you go packages on Cosmote for €8-9 a month for 4 GB of information. You possibly can high up knowledge for round €1-2 per additional GB. In case you are staying long run, you possibly can have a look at opening a publish paid contract which is able to make issues even cheaper.
As Greece is a part of the EU, you can even open a cellphone plan in another EU nation and use it freely in Athens.
Eating Out And Socializing In Athens – €800
Going out to eating places with buddies is a lifestyle in Greece. It is usually very moderately priced and also you get far more bang for the buck vs locations just like the US or UK. Hanging out at eating places, cafes, wine bars is a lifestyle in Greece and you may count on to do quite a lot of this in case you dwell within the nation.
Consuming out in Athens
There are numerous eating places in Athens of all totally different cuisines so that you’ll by no means get sick of the choices round you. Greek meals might be my favourite delicacies in Europe so I by no means bored with it.
One of the best a part of Greek meals is that it’s so versatile. You possibly can spend as little as €5 on a scrumptious fast road meals meal of gyros and souvlaki however with €20-25, you possibly can have a tremendous meal at a conventional taverna with numerous meze and wine.
I spend some huge cash eating out as I hardly ever cook dinner. I’m additionally a much bigger man so my protein consumption is bigger than the common individual. Due to this fact, my eating out finances might be not reflective of most individuals so do your individual calculations accordingly.
Consuming at bars in Athens
There’s an abundance of nightlife in Athens. It’s quite common to fulfill individuals for drinks and cocktails and there are countless choices to be present in Athens. Usually, you may get a glass of wine for €4-5 at a classy wine bar. Cocktails can be €9-10 at a pleasant cocktail bar. You possibly can pay extra after all in case you go to fancy rooftop bars overlooking the Acropolis.
Some pricing examples are given beneath to provide you an concept of the usual price of dwelling in Athens.
- 0.5L of beer at a taverna – €2-2.5
- 0.5L of native wine at a bar/taverna – €5
- Cocktail at a pleasant central Athens bar – €9-10
- Gyros pita (so scrumptious) – €2.5
- Stick of souvlaki (about 100-120g of pure meat) – €1.6-€1.8
- Greek salad (sufficient for 2 individuals) at a taverna – €6-7
- Espresso in a pleasant cafe – €2
- Meal at a taverna for 2 individuals – €30
- Cinema tickets – €7 per individual
- Glass of wine at a pleasant wine bar – €5-6
Price of Transportation in Athens – €40
Transportation in Athens is usually fairly low cost. There’s a complete bus and metro system that companies all elements of town. As I dwell within the metropolis middle, I largely simply stroll across the metropolis. From one finish of town middle to the opposite is about 1 hour by foot and it’s uncommon that I ever stroll this a lot without delay.
Uber is excellent within the metropolis and the fares are fairly low cost. After I’m feeling lazy, I simply seize an Uber from one finish to the opposite rapidly. There are not any personal Ubers right here because the app is simply utilized by the official taxi group of Athens.
You positively don’t want a automotive in Athens except you reside far out within the suburbs and/or have household. Parking is a nightmare to search out and the value of gasoline is dear. Many individuals do have scooters or bikes in Athens nonetheless. I like me scooter however I discover that it the visitors is a bit too hectic within the metropolis to take pleasure in utilizing one. I’d a lot moderately choose a scooter for cruising across the Cyclades islands.
As for bicycles, I see nearly no individuals biking. There aren’t many bike lanes to talk of sadly however I wouldn’t be against utilizing one thing like this!
Right here is an instance of the costs for transportation across the metropolis
- A technique bus/metro ticket – €1.40
- Month-to-month Athens transportation cross – €30
- Taxi fare from Psyri to Koukaki – €4-6
- Taxi from town middle to the airport – €35
- Bus from town middle to the airport – €10
Price of Groceries and Family items in Athens – €100
I didn’t do a lot grocery buying whereas in Athens as I simply ate out most of my meals. It’s exhausting to cook dinner something cheaper when you may get a scrumptious charcoal grilled stick of souvlaki meat for €1.6. To not point out the tradition of Greece simply facilities round consuming and going out greater than common.
Nevertheless, in case you are eager to do grocery buying and cook dinner for your self, then the most well-liked grocery chains are Sklavenitis, AB Vassilopoulos, and Lidl. Lidl is unquestionably the most affordable possibility you’ve got and AB is a bit greater finish.
Usually meats, greens, and fruits are fairly inexpensive. You possibly can count on to pay extra for imported toiletry and identify branded groceries. As well as, there are native markets in all places the place you will discover recent merchandise at good costs. I like shopping for recent feta cheese on the market (count on to pay €9-10/kg or thereabout). Bakeries are additionally everywhere in the metropolis promoting recent baked bread in addition to numerous pastries like spanakopita and burek.
Abstract of Month-to-month Dwelling Prices in Athens
Lastly, to sum up the bills I’ve listed right here, I spend someplace round €1,800 a month. In actuality, I most likely spend a bit of bit extra with one off bills so let’s name it €2,000 a month.
After all, that is completely variable together with your way of life and what you worth. I may dwell in a less expensive condominium outdoors of town middle and eat out far much less. I may simply hold my finances underneath €1,500 if I attempted. Keep in mind most individuals in Athens dwell on €1,000 and make it work.
- Month-to-month condominium rental (92 m2 place) – €650
- Extra month-to-month payments (electrical energy, web) – €150
- Fitness center Membership: €50
- Month-to-month cellphone invoice – €10
- Price of toiletries and groceries for the month – €100
- Eating out: €800
Complete: €1,800per month
Coworking Areas in Athens, Greece
In case you are shifting to Athens and planning to be a digital nomad, coworking areas is likely to be one in every of your month-to-month bills. Athens isn’t a digital nomad hotspot like Lisbon or Tbilisi is, however it’s slowly making its method up. They aren’t as good because the coworking areas in different cities I’ve been to so hold that in thoughts.
There have been many coworking areas lately so that you can meet up and work at. Athens coworking areas are usually fairly affordable with costs hovering between €120-€150 a month. Loads of locations supply free espresso, tea, snacks, printing and so on. which makes it value it after awhile.
You would get the identical choices without delay of the various cafes within the metropolis however your month-to-month invoice may develop into the identical after shopping for coffees on a regular basis.
Coworking areas in Athens
- Stone Soup
- The Dice
- Selina
- Affect Hub
- Cowork.gr
Cafes to work from in Athens
- The Underdog
- That is loco
- Dope Roasting Co
In Conclusion
I hope this information helps you propose your transfer to Athens. Athens is just not an costly place by any means, however it’s not low cost in case you are hoping to dwell a way of life that’s above common for Greek requirements.
In the event you’re a digital nomad and planning to dwell on a brief time period lease or on Airbnb, count on to pay far more for lease, particularly in the summertime months.
As soon as you’re settled in Athens, the approach to life may be very rewarding and implausible. The social scene is terrific and there’s at all times one thing occurring. Whereas there’s not as massive of a digital nomad presence in Athens, I discover it was nonetheless very straightforward to fulfill individuals. Greek persons are fairly open and at all times down for celebration.
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