Townleap

Cost of Living: Athens vs Perth (2026)

Greece vs Australia — relocation comparison

Your passport:
Athens
Perth
$737/mo
Rent
$1821/mo
74/100
Livability
68/100
76/100
Settler safety
92/100
77/100
Healthcare
86/100
5 yr
PR path
98 Mbps
Internet
50% Foreign Income Exemption (Art. 5C), Non-Dom Regime (Art. 5A)
Tax breaks

Open incentive regimes for newcomers

Freelance setup
Self-employed
  • VAT-free under €10k
  • 27% social
  • €700/yr accountant
WiseStripe
Sole Trader with ABN
  • VAT-free under €46k
  • €600/yr accountant
WiseStripe

Sourced from Numbeo · Updated April 2026

TL;DRAthens is 60% cheaper on rent ($737/mo vs $1821/mo). Both countries will let you complain about the government in public — and mean it.
Athens edges ahead 74 to 68. Perth isn't far behind — it depends what matters to you.
Household
Athens
Metric
Perth
$737/mo
🏠
Rent (1BR centre)
lower is better
$1821/mo
$599/mo
🛒
Living costs (no rent)
lower is better
$611/mo
$3,701
🧳
Cost to land
lower is better
$11,432
76 / 100
🛡️
Settler safety
higher is better
92 / 100
1.1 / 100k
🔒
Homicides
lower is better
0.8 / 100k
7.3 / 100k
🚗
Road deaths
lower is better
4.5 / 100k
45 / 100
🚨
Safety Index
higher is better
32°C
☀️
Summer high
personal taste
29°C
6°C
❄️
Winter low
personal taste
9°C
98 Mbps
Internet speed
higher is better
12.3 μg/m³
🌬️
Air quality (PM2.5)
lower is better
5.3 μg/m³
8.1 / 10
🗳️
Democracy
higher is better
8.8 / 10
100/100
🗣️
Street English
higher is better
100/100
$44k
💼
GDP per capita
higher is better
$72k
2.7% · Boringly steady
📈
Inflation
lower is better
3.2% · Boringly steady
74 / 100
🏅
Livability Score
higher is better
68 / 100
75/100 — Mostly stable
Grid reliability
higher is better
85/100
🗽
Freedom House
higher is better
5 years
📋
Time to PR
lower is better
See exactly what you keep after taxes in each city

Sources: Numbeo · UNODC · Ookla · WHO · EIU · World Bank · Freedom House · Updated April 2026

💰
Cost of Living
Athens
$1084/mo cheaper on rent alone
🗳️
Democracy
Perth
8.8/10 EIU index
☀️
Weather
32°C vs 29°C summers

Sun

How much sky you actually get

72% clear
Win
Spr
Sum
Fall
Sky clear
avg daytime
78% clear
Win
Spr
Sum
Fall
9.5h
Shortest day
Dec
14.2h
14.8h
Longest day
Jun
10.1h

Sun clocks out early in Athens's winter. Plan accordingly.

Source: WeatherSpark (clear-sky share of daytime hours)

Settler Essentials

improving
Democracy trend
stable
improving
Inflation trend
improving
tourism-techshippingfintechagritech
Industries
active
Startup ecosystem
75/100
Grid reliability
5 yrs
Time to PR
Moderate
🇺🇸 Your visa
Easy
EU visa
Moderate
RU visa
Moderate
UA visa
⚠️ Needs a separate work permit
Spouse works
Not recognized
σύμφωνο συμβίωσης (symvono symviosis)
Partner pathway
3,500/mo
Retiree visa
50% Foreign Income Exemption (Art. 5C), Non-Dom Regime (Art. 5A)
Tax breaks

Visa stamps:Easy <90 daysModerate 3–6 moComplex 6+ mo

Sources: EIU · Freedom House · Startup Genome · IEA · official immigration portals

Reproductive Rights

Because your body shouldn't need a visa too

On request
Abortion access
On request
12 wk
Gestational limit
24 wk

On request up to 12 weeks. Up to 24 weeks for rape or fetal abnormality.

Legal in all states/territories; gestational limits vary by state (16-24 weeks on request).

Source: Center for Reproductive Rights

LGBTQ+ Rights

Can you hold hands without doing a risk assessment first

71/100
Rainbow Index
78/100
Legal
Marriage
Legal
Joint adoption
Adoption
Joint adoption
Yes
Job protection
Yes
Yes
Hate crime law
Yes

Rainbow Index source: ILGA-Europe Rainbow Map (European cities) / Equaldex Equality Index (elsewhere) — two distinct scales

The Short Version

  • Rent is 60% cheaper in Athens ($737/mo vs $1821/mo for a 1BR city centre).
  • Summers are slightly warmer in Athens (32°C vs 29°C).
  • Perth scores higher on democracy (8.8 vs 8.1 / 10 EIU).

Athens vs Perth — Common Questions

Is Athens cheaper than Perth?

Athens is cheaper. A 1-bedroom apartment in city centre costs around $737/month in Athens vs $1821/month in the other city (Numbeo data).

Which is safer, Athens or Perth?

Perth is statistically safer based on UNODC homicide data. Athens has a rate of 1.13 per 100,000 and Perth has 0.83 per 100,000.

Should I move to Athens or Perth?

Athens edges ahead 74 to 68. Perth isn't far behind — it depends what matters to you. See the full comparison above for rent, safety, internet speed, climate, and democracy scores to decide which city fits your priorities.

Is it easier to get residency in Athens or Perth?

Athens: Greece Digital Nomad Visa (moderate requirements, 1 year (extendable to 2)). Perth: no specific remote work visa. See each city's profile page for full requirements.

Which has better weather, Athens or Perth?

Athens is warmer in summer (32°C vs 29°C). Perth has milder summers, which suits those who prefer cooler weather. Climate preference is personal — use the weather section above to compare seasons.

What's the cost of rent in Athens vs Perth?

A 1-bedroom in the centre: $737/month in Athens, $1821/month in Perth (Numbeo). That's 60% cheaper rent in Athens.

Is Athens or Perth better for democracy and rule of law?

Perth scores 8.8/10 on the EIU Democracy Index vs 8.1/10 for Athens. That puts it in 'full democracy' territory — free press, independent courts, the works.

Is healthcare better in Athens or Perth?

Perth scores higher on our composite healthcare index (86/100 vs 77/100 for Athens). That score combines clinical outcomes (IHME), universal coverage (WHO), and resident perception (Numbeo) — not just whether hospitals exist but whether the system actually works for settlers.

Plot twist: other matchups exist

Maybe the real city was the comparisons we made along the way.

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