Moving to Athens
A step-by-step guide for people who actually plan to stay in Athens, Greece. Not a vacation itinerary.
Monthly cost
$1,492
solo, city centre
Livability
74/100
strong
Safety
76/100
Fine. Just keep your wits about you
PR timeline
5 yrs
citizenship: 7y
How to move to Athens
Visas, residency, and the paperwork you can't avoid
Greece Digital Nomad Visa
Some paperworkDuration: 1 year (renewable to 3)
Income ≥ €3,500/mo. Work must be for foreign clients only.
Visa difficulty by nationality
5 years
to permanent residency
7 years
to citizenship
⚠️ Requires B1 Greek and a Greek history & culture test.
Work permit accessibility: moderate
What it costs to move to Athens
First-month sticker shock, decoded
Day-one setup cost
$737
1-bed, city centre / mo
Cheaper than 75% of 97 cities
$1,349
3-bed, city centre / mo
Monthly burn (solo)
$1,492/moRent + groceries + transport + utilities. No avocado toast budget.
Housing friction
Manageable1–3 weeks, improving supply
- •AFM (tax number) needed for formal contracts
- •1–2 months' deposit
- •Airbnb conversions reduced central supply, now partially reversed
- •Greek helpful but English accepted in expat areas
First month in Athens
The to-do list nobody gives you at the airport
- ☐
Apply for Greece Digital Nomad Visa
1 year (renewable to 3). Income ≥ €3,500/mo. Work must be for foreign clients only.
- ☐
Open a local bank account
Bring a Greek-speaking friend or prepare for mime-based banking
- ☐
Get a local SIM card
~$27/mo for 10GB+
- ☐
Find an apartment
Expect 1–3 weeks, improving supply. Housing friction: Manageable.
- ☐
Have $3,701 ready for move-in costs
First month + 2mo deposit + furniture
- ☐
Register with local authorities
Most countries require address registration within 30 days
- ☐
Get health insurance
Private insurance ~$80/mo until residency kicks in
- ☐
Start learning basic Greek
Not strictly necessary, but your landlord will like you more
Language in Athens
Can you order coffee without pointing?
Greek
primary language
Very High
English proficiency
Most people speak English well enough. You can survive without learning Greek, but your landlord will like you more if you try.
Will the government leave you alone?
Democracy, freedom, and regime vibes
8.1/10
democracy index (EIU)
🏛️ Full democracy
regime type
#45 of 163
Global Peace Index (lower = more peaceful)
Travel advisory: Level 1 — Exercise normal precautions
Is Athens safe?
Crime stats for people who read footnotes
🤷
Fine. Just keep your wits about you
1.1
homicides per 100k
Crime index: 55/100
Elevated. Research neighborhoods carefully before signing a lease.
Weather in Athens
What the thermometer actually says
32°C
summer highs
6°C
winter lows
98 Mbps
average download speed
If you get sick
Healthcare access for new arrivals
System: Public system (ESY) covers insured residents; quality varies by region
Before residency: EU citizens: EHIC covers necessary care at public hospitals. Non-EU: emergency care available, private insurance needed for everything else (~€70/mo). Public system strained — most settlers end up using private clinics anyway. (private insurance ~$80/mo)
Specialist wait time: 4–12 weeks public
The honest take
What we'd tell a friend
Going for it
- ✓ Athens's $737/mo rent means you get to save money. Imagine.
- ✓ Violent crime rare in Athens (1.1/100k). Petty theft less so.
- ✓ Athens: 32°C and the sea. Summer sorted.
Think twice about
- ✗ Athens: crime index 55/100. Rare violence, frequent phone-snatching.
- ✗ Greek at the bank and the doctor in Athens isn't optional. Work English won't save you there.
- ✗ Athens's 98 Mbps is okay for daily use. Big transfers suffer.
This is the settler summary. For the full data dump:
Full Athens profile →