Cost of Living in Greece for an American (Monthly Budget)

Where these numbers come from

Greece is where rent is cheapest among the euro pages in this series. Numbeo, updated 21 September 2026, lists a one-bedroom at about EUR 483 in a city centre and EUR 391 outside one, or $549 and $444 at 1 euro = $1.1355 (ECB, 30 September 2026). Prices shown in US dollars. Check current exchange rates. Numbeo reports EUR 789 a month for one person excluding rent, which it converts to $901.

Our monthly budgets for one person are $1,212 (low), $1,493 (mid) and $1,881 (high), and $1,688, $2,153 and $2,794 for a couple in one home. Utilities are the surprise: EUR 195 for basic bills plus EUR 28 broadband is about $253, roughly 28% of the non-rent estimate. A monthly transit pass is EUR 30, so getting around a city is cheap.

The visa picture differs from Italy or Panama. The Work from Greece portal describes a digital nomad visa needing EUR 3,500 net a month from an employer or clients outside Greece, plus 20% for a spouse or cohabitant and 15% per child. The Ministry of Migration also lists a separate permit for financially independent persons under Law 4251/2014, article 20A, but the amount sits in a document we could not read, so confirm it with a Greek consulate before planning around it.

Worked example: a remote-working couple with one child needs EUR 3,500 x 1.35 = EUR 4,725 net a month, about $5,365. Their mid budget is roughly $2,153 for two adults, so the income test, not daily costs, sets the real bar. A retiree with $2,500 a month cannot use the digital nomad route at all, which is why the independent-means permit matters.

Health cover is flexible. International Living quotes about EUR 150 a year (about $180) for the basic policy that satisfied a residence permit, and puts full healthcare at about $145 a month for one person in its sample budget. We use $15, $80 and $145 for low, mid and high. Ask a local broker for quotes, since network and deductibles change prices. This is general information, not legal or financial advice. Run your savings in the how long will my money last abroad calculator and compare Italy or Spain.

Sources

• Work from Greece: digital nomad visa requirements
• Greek Ministry of Migration and Asylum: residence permit categories
• Numbeo cost of living: Greece
• ECB euro foreign exchange reference rates (30 Sep 2026)
• International Living: cost of living in Greece
• International Living: healthcare in Greece

Figures checked on September 30, 2026.

Prices shown in US dollars. Check current exchange rates.

This page is general information, not legal, insurance or travel-agent advice. Fees, rules and limits change, so confirm the figures with the official sources listed above before you book or travel.