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Europe · Greek · updated 2026-10

Moving to Greece: visas, cost of living & citizenship

A single person needs about $1,650 a month to live in Athens, and a family of four about $3,650, including rent. Greece usually lets you apply for permanent residence after 5 yrs, with citizenship after 7 yrs, and dual citizenship is allowed. You can move here without a job offer through the Digital nomad visa and the Financially Independent Person.

Monthly budget
$1,650
Very low cost
Safety
71
Safe
Stability
54
Moderate
Family
70
Very good
Main city
Athens
Language
Greek
Permanent residence
5 yrs
Citizenship
7 yrs
Dual citizenship
Allowed
Digital nomad visa
Yes
What can your passport do in Greece?Pick your nationality to see your exact access, visit rules and personal score.
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Cost of living in Greece, per month in US$

One person
$1,650
Family of four
$3,650
RentGroceriesTransportUtilities & internetEating out & leisureOther
1-bed flat, Athens centre
$650
Estimate
3-bed family flat
$1,200
Estimate
Price level
66
US = 100
Income per person
$2,113
GNI ÷ 12, World Bank

Safety

Safety score
71
Safe
Homicides per 100k
0.84
US 5.8 · UK 1.0 · Japan 0.2

Political stability & governance

Political stability+0.28
Rule of law+0.29
Control of corruption+0.25
Government effectiveness+0.32
−2.5 weak0strong +2.5

Worldwide Governance Indicators, World Bank. Moderate overall (54/100).

Family-friendliness

Family score
70
Very good
Child outcomes (HCI)
0.69
Health & schooling, 0–1
Under-5 mortality
3.8
per 1,000 births
Life expectancy
81.8 yrs
at birth
Health spending
$1,963
per person / year
Education spending
3.4%
of GDP

Spouse and children can join on most work and residence permits, and spouses can usually work. Public schooling is free; international schools are common in the capital.

Visa & residence routes

Remote work
Digital nomad visa€3,500/month net remote income.
Passive income
Financially Independent Person€3,500/month passive income.
Investment
Golden Visa€250,000–€800,000 in property, depending on the area.

Who gets easier access to Greece

EU/EEA free movement: you can live and work here with simple registration.

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Visiting: 93 passports can visit visa-free, 0 with an electronic travel authorisation, 0 get a visa on arrival, 0 can apply for an eVisa and 105 need a visa in advance (Passport Index dataset).

Road to permanent residence & citizenship

ArrivePRCitizen024681012+ yrs
Permanent residence
5 yrs
Citizenship
7 yrs
Dual citizenship
Allowed

Last checked 2026-10.

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to live in Greece?

About $1,650 a month for one person and $3,650 for a family of four in Athens, including rent. A city-centre 1-bedroom flat costs around $650 a month and a 3-bedroom around $1,200. Prices are 66% of US levels. Greece is the 37th cheapest of the 76 countries in the index.

Is Greece safe to live in?

Greece scores 71/100 for safety (safe), ranking 34th of 76. The homicide rate is 0.84 per 100,000 people (US 5.8, UK 1.0, Japan 0.2).

Is Greece politically stable?

Greece scores 54/100 for stability (moderate), ranking 51st of 76, based on the World Bank's indicators for political stability, rule of law, control of corruption and government effectiveness.

Is Greece good for families?

Greece scores 70/100 for family-friendliness (very good), ranking 34th of 76. Life expectancy is 81.8 years and under-5 mortality is 3.8 per 1,000 births. Spouse and children can join on most work and residence permits, and spouses can usually work. Public schooling is free; international schools are common in the capital.

How long does it take to get permanent residence in Greece?

Usually 5 yrs of legal residence.

How long until I can become a citizen of Greece?

Usually 7 yrs of residence. Dual citizenship: allowed.

Can I move to Greece without a job offer?

Yes. Digital nomad visa: €3,500/month net remote income. Financially Independent Person: €3,500/month passive income.

Does Greece have a digital nomad visa?

Yes: the Digital nomad visa. €3,500/month net remote income.

Who can live and work in Greece without a visa?

you can live and work here with simple registration. (EU / EEA free movement: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland.)

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See also: cheapest countries to live · safest countries · most stable countries · best countries for families · where citizens of Greece can move