Life in Athens can be a pleasure and a challenge. Let me explain why:
1. Housing in Athens is expensive, especially for the Greeks
Housing in Athens is expensive and the current trend is upward. The amount paid for rent or mortgage gets a continuously bigger part of an average monthly salary.
A good case scenario for a typical Greek household is for both persons to work and almost one of the two salaries to be spent on rent plus utilities.
According to the real estate ads data, in Athens, in the year 2022, the average rental price ranges at 9.8 € / sq.m. for an apartment 80sqm-110sqm above the 1st floor, built after 2000.
Example: In order to rent a house of 100sqm one could spend on average from 815 € to 1140 € per month. This does not include the cost of utilities, electricity, and other expenses.
Neighborhoods like Pangrati and Koukaki are getting more expensive as the owners with properties within the central Athens area prefer the Airbnb rental option.
There are more than 7,500 active rentals of the Airbnb type of accommodation in the central sector of Athens, thus diminishing the ones offered for traditional long-term rent.
Prices in the suburbs have a lot to do with the area selected and the proximity to a metro station.
Rents in Athens are on average higher than in any other city in Greece.
2. Economy and the cost of living
The economy in Greece is currently on an upward trend. Recently the American rating agency Standard & Poor’s upgraded Greece’s credit rating from BB to BB+, with a stable outlook. This – and other developments within and outside the EU – are votes of confidence for the country’s economy.
Athens has managed to move away from the days when it was in the headlines for its intense financial problems.
Unfortunately, the international upheaval has recently led to a rise in the inflation rate and the prices are rising. Some indicative ones are the following:
- Public Transportation Prices one metro/bus/tram ticket:
- Duration 90 minutes: 1,20 € – 1.26 $
- Duration 5 days: 8,20 € – 8.60 $
- Duration 30 days: 27 € – 28.33 $
- Groceries and Fruits per kilo (2 pounds)
- Bananas 1,75 € – 1.84 $
- Green Apples 1,36 € – 1.43 $
- Tomatos 2,10 € – 2.20 $
- Carrots 0,74 € – 0.78 $
- Lemons 1,82 € – 1.91 $
- Aubergines 1,85 € – 1.94 $
- Alcohol (one item, popular brands, medium supermarket prices)
- Beers 1,50 € – 1.57 $
- Wine 7,50 € – 7.87 $
- Whisky 24 € – 25.20 $
- Rum 19 € – 19.95 $
- Olive Oil ( one liter ) 5 € – 5.30 $
3. Safety is one of the Athens’ strong points
Despite the fact that there are a few roads in the center of Athens, mostly right after Omonia Square, where one shouldn’t walk alone, overall crime rates in Athens are much lower in comparison to most well-known capital cities.
The number of police agents is considered to be lower than the norm for a 4 million habitants city and there are constant complaints with regard to their training and efficiency.
But women do not have to think twice about going out for a drink.
4. Internet speed is currently in the top 20% of the world
The speed of fixed and mobile internet in Greece is improving according to the Oakla Speedtest global index that “measures” the performance of the internet worldwide. Currently, Greece ranks 27th in a ranking of 138 countries worldwide.
There are three major providers in Athens, Cosmote, Wind, and Vodafone. The majority of neighborhoods enjoy a stable 4G internet access that allows for remote work and overall easy internet usage.
In order for you to find out exactly the speed available for the neighborhood in Athens, you are interested in checking here.
There are investments launched of over 3 billion euros over a five-year period, between 2022 and 2027, with the aim of creating fiber optics bringing the country well into the 5G connectivity era.
The cost today is considered to be higher than in other European cities and a household usually pays for internet about 30 euros per month.
5. Commute time has improved but it can get better
Most people living in Athens devote one hour on average to go to work and one to return back home. There are exceptions to the rule. One can find examples of people living within a 10′ min walking distance from their work but in a 4 million habitants city this is not that common.
The bus network has improved over the past 2 years as an attempt to facilitate people to choose mass transportation options over their cars. The aim is to battle the rising gas prices and promote environmentally friendly solutions.
An indicator that the city has returned to its normal post-pandemic ways is the traffic jam which was non-existent during the repeated lockdowns.
6. Food culture in Athens is strong
Greeks enjoy their food. There is a dynamic culture that reinforces cooking as a habit both for health and financial reasons.
Most families find it reasonable to eat some takeaway food, most probably about once a week, but this is not an everyday habit. Even young people who live alone find it logical to cook almost on a daily basis.
When people eat out there is always the souvlaki option which is extremely popular. It consists of pita bread with meat and vegetables. And of course the not-so-secret tzatziki sauce with garlic and yogurt.
Eating out in Athens also includes a variety of foreign kitchens which have been so popular that they are not considered as exotic anymore.
7. Startups – the new business opportunity
Over the past few years, Greece is considered by many financial experts as a hub of creativity and forward-thinking.
It is a fact that the startup ecosystem is growing at a fast pace and investors have funded only 2021 Greek startup companies with more than €500 million. The newly deployed capital almost tripled compared to the year before, while there was a record number of follow-on investments. 2022 seems to be a promising year too.
As mentioned in the yearly report on the Greek start-up ecosystem by Found.ation:
The top three areas in which start-ups are active remain Life Sciences, Retail and AgriTech, with the startups of Maritime Tech and Deep Tech continuing to be on the rise and are expected to maintain this trend in 2022.
The participation of non-Greek investors in investment rounds of Greek companies rises to an impressive 84.9%, validating the development of the local ecosystem and creating the ground for more extroversion.
Startups in Greece – thefoundation.gr
8. Healthcare in the post covid era
The two covid years have challenged the whole healthcare system in Greece, the same way it was a setback, to say the least, for countries all over the world.
In the map presented here, Greece is presented with a Health Care Index of 57 which is below the world’s average and the room for improvement is apparent.
On the other hand, people do not get usually bankrupt over a minor health challenge and in the same research 10 years ago Greece’s ranking was much worst (51).
9. Education is a high priority in Athens
Education in Greece is mandatory for children up until the age of 15 yrs.
There are both state and private educational institutions at all levels and one can find in Athens many of the major University Schools. Since the 1930s admission to the university is after exams.
The typical Greek family values education – especially for the children – very much. Ηaving a tertiary degree education is considered particularly important by the majority of Greek families.
Parents feel the need to provide the best education they can pay and in order to achieve that, they can decide on severe budget cuts on almost anything else.
This means that they usually pay more than 3.000 euros per year on average per child for tutorial lessons (frontistirio) throughout secondary school and high school. Then, they usually support their children during their University studies whether these take place in their hometown, in another city in Greece, or even abroad.
As a result, young people in Greece typically start their business life free of the burden of any demanding student loan.
What they do have is the knowledge that they are expected to pay it forward, to their own kids in the future.
10. Taxation is high
Taxation is high in Greece. Personal Income tax is 44% which makes the country the 25th higher in taxation among the 157 countries of the world. Corporate income tax is 22% reduced from 24% in 2021.
| Rank | 157 Countries of the World | Personal Income Tax % |
| 1 – 36 | Bahamas, Bahrain, Bermuda, Brunei, Cayman Islands, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Guatemala, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Libya, North Macedonia, Mongolia, Romania, Serbia, Macau, Moldova, Uzbekistan, Belarus, Bolivia, Russia, Tajikistan, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iraq, Mauritius, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Yemen. | 0% – 15% |
| 37 – 66 | Angola, Ukraine, Cambodia, Estonia, Fiji, Georgia, Isle of Man, Lithuania, Madagascar, Czech Republic, Singapore, Syria, Liechtenstein, Albania, Armenia, Nigeria, Sri Lanka, Azerbaijan, Botswana, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Egypt, Honduras, Jamaica, Laos, Lebanon, Myanmar, Panama, Slovakia, Trinidad and Tobago | 17% – 25% |
| 67 – 94 | Samoa, Brazil, Barbados, Bangladesh, Chad, Congo, El Salvador, Gambia, Ghana, Indonesia, Jordan, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Malaysia, Nicaragua, Peru, Rwanda, Tanzania, Latvia, Mozambique, Poland, Sweden, Canada, New Zealand, Puerto Rico, Swaziland, Venezuela | 27% – 34 % |
| 95 -119 | Algeria, Argentina, Cyprus, Ecuador, Equatorial, Guinea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Malta, Mexico, Pakistan, Philippines, Thailand, Tunisia, Vietnam, Croatia, Uruguay, European Union, Namibia, United States, Zambia, Morocco, Suriname, Norway, Cameroon, Colombia | 35% – 39% |
| 120 – 135 | Chile, Guinea, Mauritania Republic of the Congo, Senegal, Switzerland, Taiwan, Turkey, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Euro area, Papua New Guinea, South Korea, India, Italy, Greece | 40% – 44% |
| 136 – 157 | Australia, China, France, Germany, South Africa, Spain, United Kingdom, Luxembourg, Iceland, Ireland, Portugal, Netherlands, Belgium, Israel, Slovenia, Aruba, Austria, Denmark, Japan, Finland, Ivory Coast | 45% – 60% |
High taxation rates, a complicated regulatory control system, and unemployment have led to an almost 40% shadow economy.
This practically means that one should not be that surprised by the question “with receipt or without?” when one buys something and asks for a discount because tax evasion in Greece is very popular.
11. Leisure & Culture are Athens’ special assets
Athens provides numerous opportunities for leisure activities.
Many prefer running or walking in the National Park right next to Syntagma Square, in Syngrou Forest, in Nea Smyrni Park, in Diomedes Botanical Garden in Chaidari, or by the sea at the stylish Flisvos Marine.
Bicycling by the Athens Riviera is popular while if one wants to play golf, the only available option in Athens is in Glyfada.
In most months of the year daylight and the weather prompt people to go out after work even if it is only for a coffee.
Museums, Galleries, the National Opera, and numerous theater plays (many of which have subtitles in English) are favored choices throughout the year. Open-air cinemas are available only in the summer but they usually exceed expectations.
And of course, there is always a variety of ethnic cuisines along with the Greek traditional taverns, and all sizes of bars that operate almost every day of the week.
12. Tolerance in a troubled era
Up until the 90s,’ Greece was a very homogeneous country with 98% belonging to one culture, one religion, and one ethnicity. Following the dismantling of Yugoslavia, the opening of the Albanian borders, and the recent immigration crisis more than a million immigrants now live in Greece, many of whom are located in Athens. This has forced Greeks to prove their “openness” and lack of prejudices they were so proud of.
The level of success and the level of tolerance for anything different than the norm varies according to the neighborhood and the situation. For example, Greek-speaking Albanians who used to be the punch line of discriminatory jokes are now friends and family.
There is a growing awareness and acceptance of the LGBTQ community even though the Greek legislation still lags behind other European cities in some areas.
Greece is one of the 14 countries out of the 27 European Union countries that recognize the right of same-sex couples to marry.
13. Faith – religious but not fanatics
A quite homogeneous city up until 30 years ago, today includes Muslims, atheists, and many more different views on religion.
The religion of the vast majority of the population is Christian Orthodox.
The people feel comfortable in stating that they are believers in the Christian faith and they do not enjoy being mocked about it.
On the other hand, the atheist community is growing and about one in two weddings are not conducted in the church but they are civil marriages taking place in a town hall.
In most cases, regular attendees in the Sunday Orthodox service are few, and only during the Easter holidays, churches are packed.
14. Outdoor activities are an utter joy
People who live in Athens play football whenever the weather permits it, and that is not a rare occasion.
Football is the most popular sport and there are many courts, some of them small and they are called 5X5 as they work with 5-persons teams.
They also go swimming quite often.
Greece was awarded second place in the world in Blue Flags a high-quality symbol for beaches and marines awarded by the International Foundation for Environmental Education.
It is overall a sea nation and people feel comfortable with swimming and all sea sports. Porto Rafti, Glyfada (Blue Flag winner), Rafina, and Varkiza are only a few of the options available close to the center of Athens.
Hiking in the Penteliko mountain is popular too, as it is only half an hour away from most neighborhoods.
Picnics and day excursions to nearby islands add to the puzzle but do not complete the picture, of our outdoor activities.
Athens is a city still trying to decide exactly what her modern identity is. The city is not yet there, but the path seems to be the right one.