Start your journey to Greece
Are you dreaming of a life far away from wind and rain, and perhaps already looking toward the warm sun of the south? Maybe Greece is already on your radar, and you’re interested in learning more about what the country has to offer? Then you’ve come to the right place.
Greece is home to more than 10 million people and is especially known for its many ancient landmarks and attractions. Among classic specialties, you’ll find olives, fried calamari, souvlaki (grilled meat on skewers), moussaka (baked eggplant with meat and béchamel sauce), and much more.
In your free time, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to explore ancient architecture and go island hopping during the day—and party like the Greek gods at night at the country’s countless bars and nightclubs.
We’ve gathered everything you need to know about living and working in Greece, so you’ll be fully up-to-date on what your future life in the country might look like.
Here’s what we’ll cover (jump to the section you want to learn more about):
Overview:
Fun-facts about Greece
On the southern tip of the Balkan Peninsula lies one of Europe’s most popular travel destinations—Greece.
The country is particularly famous for its many islands, and you’ve likely heard of Crete, Rhodes, and Santorini, all of which welcome thousands of visitors every year.
Did you know:
- Greece has more than 2,500 islands.
- The country invented the words “mathematics,” “philosophy,” and “music.”
- They have a national holiday called “No Day” (Oxi/Ochi) in honor of the Greek prime minister who firmly said no to allowing Italian troops to march into the country on October 28, 1940.
- Greece has participated in the Eurovision Song Contest since 1974 but has only won once, with the song “My Number One” by Helena Paparizou.
- The Mamma Mia movie was filmed on the Greek island of Skopelos.
- And perhaps the most important of them all: Greece laid the foundations for modern democracy as we know it today (if you took ancient history in school, this might not come as a big surprise).
Advantages of living and working in Greece
If you dream of moving to Greece to live and work, you’re far from the only one! With 10-13 hours of sunshine per day and temperatures rarely dipping below 13°C in the winter, it’s easy to see why many choose to start a life there.
Here are several advantages of living and working in Greece:
- Cost of living is significantly lower than in Northern Europe.
- Finding a rental is easier.
- There are jobs for every preference.
- You’ll have the opportunity to improve your English (and Greek, if you’re daring).
- An international experience always looks great on your CV to a future employer.
- It’s easy to move to Greece as an EU citizen.
- Taxes are very low (around 11-12%).
- You’ll live in exotic surroundings, making it feel like an endless vacation.
Housing and work in Greece
There’s no doubt that everyday life in the land of antiquity comes with a bucketful of advantages and unique experiences.
Not only will your time abroad look great on your CV, but you’ll also gain valuable insight into yourself, meet new people, and broaden your horizons on how life can be lived.
In the next sections, we’ll guide you through everything related to living and working in Greece. These insights will be helpful to know before you make the final decision to pack your suitcase and head towards Greece’s azure seas and warmer climates.
What does it cost to rent a home in Greece?
You can easily find a nice studio apartment for around €400-500 in many parts of Greece. If you move in with someone else in a two-bedroom apartment, it’s even cheaper for both of you—expect to pay around €600, or €300 each.
Note: Be mindful of whether the apartment is furnished or unfurnished (not all are furnished). If you’re not already living in Greece, we recommend looking for a furnished apartment.
The most popular places to live in Greece
If it’s your first time in Greece, we highly recommend settling in one of the most popular cities, each offering something truly unique—from the mainland to the Greek islands.
Athens
If you want to ensure everything is within reach, Athens is an ideal place to live and work.
The city represents thousands of years of history and has been inhabited for at least 3,000 years. This is especially reflected in the ancient Greek district, the Acropolis, which dominates the cityscape with one of its most famous landmarks—the Parthenon.
Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki is Greece’s second-largest city, home to more than 300,000 residents. The city has a large student population, which contributes to a vibrant city life, both day and night.
There are plenty of shopping opportunities, bars, restaurants, and nightclubs to enjoy in your free time. Like Athens, it’s definitely a big city that offers the best of all worlds.
Crete
Crete is the largest island in the Greek archipelago and probably the most popular travel destination among tourists. It offers beautiful sandy beaches, local specialties, snorkeling, and many more activities under the southern sun.
The island also has many pedestrian-friendly areas, especially in historic cities like Chania and Heraklion, where you can explore the city on foot. There are also marked cycling routes and paths, so you can bike to and from work or while enjoying the island’s many wonderful spots.
Samos
Samos is also one of the many islands in the Greek archipelago, located just 1 km from Turkey, with regular ferry connections. The island boasts stunning natural landscapes and exceptional beaches and bays. On the northwest side, you’ll find the Potami waterfalls and narrow streams along the way (don’t forget your swimsuit).
Additionally, you’ll notice that housing in Samos is cheaper than in Athens, for example. This is mainly because Athens is a major city, while Samos is a smaller island in the Aegean Sea with only 42,000 inhabitants.
How to find housing in Greece
The first thing you’ll need when you arrive in Greece is, of course, a place to live—and ideally one you’ll enjoy and that isn’t too expensive.
Most of the companies we work with in Greece help you find accommodation at the start. If you prefer to find a place on your own, here are a few tips:
Search for accommodation online: Just like we have Boligportalen and Lejebolig in Denmark, there are similar housing websites in Greece. Check out sites like Spitogatos, Spiti24, and xe.gr. Remember to specify in the search field that you’re looking for a rental (not a purchase). You can also look for housing on Facebook pages such as Rent in Greece. Be aware that all housing searches are at your own risk.
Be patient: Once you start searching for accommodation, you may find that the options can be a bit overwhelming. So, have a little patience with the process and trust that you’ll find something suitable.
Choose housing based on needs and budget: You can make your search easier if you know what you’re looking for. Do you want a one-bedroom or two-bedroom apartment? What is your budget? How long do you plan to stay? Should the apartment be fully furnished or unfurnished? If you’re unsure how long you’ll stay, it’s a good idea to look for a furnished apartment, so you don’t have to buy a bed, TV, or washing machine—and it’ll be easier to leave when you’re ready to return home.
Consider using local real estate agents: A local real estate agent can be a big help, helping you avoid language barriers and guiding you to the best properties in your preferred area. For example, you can start by renting through Airbnb or one of the mentioned sites, then contact a local real estate agent once you’re in Greece. You might want to try Maragos Real Estate to see if they can help you.
Check for shopping and transport options nearby: There’s nothing worse than living somewhere without convenient access to shops and transportation. Enter the address into Google Maps when looking at properties and check if the surroundings meet your preferences. For example, if you need to take a bus to work, it’s nice to have a bus stop nearby.
Living costs in Greece
Most people will quickly notice that the prices of groceries, dining out, and wages are lower in Greece than they’re used to. And it’s not surprising, as Greece is among the cheapest countries in Southern Europe. Your money goes a long way in Greece.
Remember that wages, prices, and purchasing power go hand in hand, and you’ll be able to live well and have plenty of experiences on a Greek salary, even though it’s certainly lower than in other countries where we offer jobs.
The Greek culture
First and foremost, Greek culture and lifestyle are quite different from the Danish way of life, but that’s exactly what makes your journey to Greece so worthwhile.
For example, it’s more common to greet people with cheek kisses if you know them well or have met them at least 1-2 times before. People take things slow, and you’ll find that things move a bit more leisurely than back home. It’s not because Greeks are lazy—they just take their time and enjoy a relaxed lifestyle.
Greeks are also very hospitable, and it’s easy to feel at home. In fact, you don’t need to know a Greek person for very long before being invited to their birthday, wedding, or similar event.
It might challenge your way of culture, but if you’re willing to embrace it, you can easily get a foot in the door to Greek culture.
Greek carnivals
And speaking of Greek culture, we can’t ignore the many fantastic carnivals that take place each year. The country is filled with celebrations and color, both locally and nationally.
If you’re lucky enough to be in Greece in February, you can experience the Greek carnivals up close, which take place 7-10 weeks before Clean Monday (the start of Greek Lent) on February 27th.
The carnival is packed with fireworks, parades, beautiful costumes, traditional dishes, and much more. The largest (and best) are the carnivals in Patras and Rethymno
The Greek language – 10 useful words and phrases
Classical Greek stems from a rich culture, with early written language dating back to 1,400 BCE. Here are ten important words and phrases that would be useful to learn before traveling to Greece:
- Hello = Jassou (informal) / Jassas (formal)
- Goodbye = Adío
- Thank you very much = Efcharistó poli
- Sorry/Excuse me = Signomi
- Yes = Ne
- No = Ochi
- Good morning = Kali méra
- How much does it cost? = Póso káni?
- Where is … ? = Pu íne … ?
- English = Αγγλικά (Anglika)
Public transport: Bus, Train, and Metro in Greece
Depending on where you are in Greece, you can easily get around by bus, train, and metro.
In fact, there are also many airports and ferry routes, so you can reach all corners of the country by air or sea, but the most common form of transport is the bus. Generally, transportation in Greece is not very expensive—a bus ticket costs around 1,5 euros.
If you’re in Athens, you can also hop on one of the three tram lines, which, along with the metro, cover large parts of the city. Tickets can be purchased from a machine before boarding.
Public transport card
In the capital, Athens, it’s possible to buy single tickets as well as transport passes for trains, buses, metro, and trams at very affordable prices.
You can read more about the different transportation options in Athens here: OASA Ticket Fares.
Move to Greece – Your checklist for all the practicalities
When moving to another country, there are several things you need to remember to ensure everything goes smoothly.
As an EU citizen, you can stay abroad for up to three months before you need to officially register in the new country.
However, if you are moving out of your country for more than three months, you must register with the Greek authorities. Additionally, don’t forget to deregister from various services and update your civil registration address, among other things.
We’ve compiled a list of all the essentials right here.
Before you move from your home country
- Register your move with your home country: If you plan to live in Greece for more than three months, you must register your move no later than five days after your arrival. You don’t need to know your new address right away—you can always add it later.
Cancel subscriptions/payment agreements: There’s no reason to pay for services you won’t benefit from in Greece, such as internet, electricity, or insurance (unless they actually cover you in Greece).
Check if your passport is valid: If it expires while you’re in Greece, you can get a new one through the Danish embassy in Athens.
Contact your bank: Notify your bank of your new address, as they may not automatically receive the update. You don’t need a Danish bank account when living abroad, but it can still be convenient, for instance, when you visit home or want to pay in your local currency as usual.
Optionally, contact the local tax authorities: If you’ve updated your address after moving abroad, you shouldn’t have any issues with taxes. If you’re unsure about your situation, your local tax authority can provide guidance.
Arrival in Greece
If you plan to live and work in Greece for more than three months, you will need to apply for the following:
- A registration certificate/ID card
- An AFM number (tax identification number)
- An AMKA number (social security number)
You can apply for an ID card at the local police station or immigration office, while the AFM number can be obtained from the local tax office.
To apply for your AMKA number, you’ll need your ID card and passport, and you can apply for it at a KEP office (unless your employer has already done it for you).
If you’ve secured a job through Next Job Abroad, don’t worry! You’ll receive assistance throughout the entire process, from either us or your new employer, as handling it on your own can be quite overwhelming.
Work in Greece
You might be wondering, what are the job opportunities in Greece? Don’t worry, there are several different options—it’s just a matter of doing thorough research on various job sites, Facebook groups, etc.
And of course, you’ll need to update your CV and be ready to apply (which we can gladly help you with!). If you don’t already have an English CV, you can get a free CV here.
Popular jobs in Greece
There are several different job opportunities in Greece that you can consider.
We often see that the positions available are in Customer Service or Technical Support, and these are the most popular jobs.
But there are also other paths you can explore. For example, you can find jobs in the tourism industry, where language specific employees are often in demand—such as travel guide, content analyst, customer service agent, and more.
Salary and working hours in Greece
It’s very common for working hours in Greece to be from 9 AM to 5 PM each day, though there may be variations, such as weekend or evening shifts. This means your final working hours will depend on the employment contract you agree upon with your future employer.
In the jobs we offer, you can expect a 40-hour workweek in Greece – usually 5 shifts a week, each lasting 8 hours. This leaves plenty of free time to explore the country and enjoy the sun during your time off.
How much can I earn in Greece?
At Next Job Abroad, we typically offer jobs that pay between 1300 and 2500 EUR per month. Greece is one of the more affordable countries to live in, so here the starting salary is closer to 1300 and 1500 EUR per month.
In 2021, the average salary in Greece was approximately 1,352 euros per month, which is the lowest average salary since 2000.
What is the minimum salary in Greece?
In 2020, the minimum wage in Greece was approximately 758 euros. If you’re hired through Next Job Abroad, you’ll earn around double that amount, when you start working in Greece.
Taxes in Greece - how much do you pay?
Income tax in Greece ranges from 9% to 44%, depending on your annual income.
If you earn less than €10,000 per year, you’ll only need to pay 9% in income tax. However, if you earn more than €10,000, the following tax brackets apply:
- The next €10,000 (up to €20,000/year) = 22%
- The next €10,000 (up to €30,000/year) = 28%
- The next €10,000 (up to €40,000/year) = 46%
- Over €40,000 = 44%
Source: PWC (August 2023)
For example, if you get a job where your salary is around 1400-1500 EUR per month, your total tax rate in Greece will be about 12%.
Next Job Abroad helps people finding jobs in Greece
Next Job Abroad is your gateway to living and working in Greece when you’re ready.
Each year, we help many people successfully move abroad with a job in hand and everything they need for a great experience.
All you need to do to be considered for a position is visit our jobs abroad, choose the job that appeals to you the most, and apply. Voila!
