Move to Greece
Everything a future Greece settler needs to know. Residency, money, safety — the stuff the tourism board won't put on a poster.
Greece at a Glance
1BR rent / mo
Democracy index
Path to PR
Homicides / 100k
English level
How to actually stay
Visas, residency, and the paperwork mountain between you and a lease
Every route into Greece we've verified against official sources — not just the one your recruiter knows about. Set your passport to sort these by what you can actually use.
Just walk in
Treaty rights. The right passport is the entire application.
PR in ~5y
Join family
A spouse, parent, or child already there sponsors you in.
1–6 mo · PR in ~5y
Protection
For when the move isn't a lifestyle choice.
0–1 mo · no PR track
Tax perks once you're in
Not routes into Greece — optimizations you apply for after you're already resident through one of the routes above.
In-depth guides
5 years
to permanent residency
7 years
to citizenship
⚠️ Requires B1 Greek and a Greek history & culture test.
Can your partner work?
Because 'trailing spouse' shouldn't mean 'trailing income'
Dependents can reside in Greece but work rights are restricted — all work must be for foreign clients only, same as the main visa holder.
Source: official guidance
Where to land in Greece
One city, no paradox of choice
What it costs to exist
Real monthly numbers, not what the expat blog says
$737
priciest 1BR / mo
Rent + food + transport + utilities, averaged across 1 cities. No gym membership, no brunch budget.
How rich is everyone, really
GDP, taxes, and other numbers politicians argue about
$44,327
GDP per capita (PPP)
22%
Corporate tax
8.5%
Unemployment
2.7%
Inflation
Moderate inequality — some neighborhoods will feel like different countries.
Will the government leave you alone?
Democracy, press freedom, and whether you should use a VPN
8.07/10
🏛️ Full democracy
85
/100Freedom House score
#45 of 163
Global Peace Index
#89
Press freedom rank
Do they want you here?
How the locals feel about people who moved in — public sentiment, not immigration law
3.3
/9↑Gallup Migrant Acceptance Index — #115 of 140. Last asked in 2016.
Warming up, slowly — "allow no immigrants" down 15pp, 2010–2023 (European Social Survey)
Is Greece safe?
Homicide rates and the stats that matter for sleeping at night
Safe enough to stop thinking about it. Standard urban awareness applies.
Can you order coffee?
The language situation, no sugarcoating
Greek
Primary language
High
English proficiency (#20 globally)
Most people speak decent English. You can survive without Greek, but your landlord will respect you more if you try.
❓ Moving to Greece — Common Questions
What is the best city to move to in Greece?▾
Based on our Livability Score, Athens ranks #1 in Greece with a score of 74/100. City-centre rent starts around $737/month.
How much does it cost to live in Greece?▾
City-centre 1-bedroom rent ranges from $737 to $737/month across our 1 tracked cities. Average monthly solo expenses are around $2,323.
How do I get permanent residency in Greece?▾
The path to permanent residency in Greece typically takes 5 years. Citizenship is possible after 7 years. Note: Requires B1 Greek and a Greek history & culture test.
Is Greece a democracy?▾
Greece scores 8.07/10 on the EIU Democracy Index and is classified as a "Full democracy." It ranks #45 of 163 on the Global Peace Index.
Is Greece safe to live in?▾
The average homicide rate across our tracked cities in Greece is 1.1 per 100,000 people. That's within the normal range for developed countries.