Cost of living in Greece in 2026, and where to live: a guide for Israelis
Rent by neighbourhood, groceries, bills and transport, monthly budgets for singles, couples and families in euros and shekels, and which area suits you: central Athens, the suburbs, Thessaloniki or the islands.
- A single person lives in Athens on about €1,400 a month including rent, a family of 4 on about €4,000, before international school (Numbeo, 2026).
- Rent in Tel Aviv is about 160% higher than in Athens; other prices in Athens are about 77% of Tel Aviv's.
- Families mostly choose the southern suburbs (Glyfada, Alimos) or the northern ones (Chalandri, Kifisia), near international schools.
With an Israeli income or remote work you can live well in Greece for less. The cost that surprises people is international school, about €10,000 or more a year per child. Choose your visa route and area first, then look for a flat.
How much does it cost to live in Greece? The short answer
Living in Greece costs much less than living in Israel, mainly because of rent. According to Numbeo's comparison (September 2026), rent in Tel Aviv is about 160% higher than in Athens, and other prices in Athens (food, transport, going out) are about 77% of Tel Aviv's.
In practice, a single person can live in Athens on around €1,400 a month including rent, and a family of four on about €4,000, before international school fees. Details below.
Rent in Greece 2026: how much is a flat in Athens?
Numbeo averages (September 2026), per month:
| Flat | Athens | Tel Aviv |
|---|---|---|
| 1 bedroom, city centre | about €653 | about €1,923 |
| 1 bedroom, outside centre | about €576 | about €1,426 |
| 3 bedrooms, city centre | about €1,167 | about €3,204 |
By neighbourhood: in Athens listings (Indomio, September 2026), asking rents run from about €10/m² in Kypseli and Ilioupoli, €12–16/m² in the centre and Koukaki, to €17–22/m² in Glyfada, Voula and Vouliagmeni. An 80 m² flat in Pangrati (about €12.4/m²) comes to roughly €1,000 a month at asking prices. Rent and price per m² in every neighbourhood.
Actual deals are lower than listings. According to RE/MAX (September 2026), the average is €9.8/m² in the Municipality of Athens, €7.7/m² in Thessaloniki and €7.8/m² in the rest of Greece.
How to find a flat, what to check in the lease and how much deposit to pay: Long-term rental in Athens.
Cost of living in Greece: groceries, bills and transport
| Item | Athens | Tel Aviv |
|---|---|---|
| Milk (1 L) | €1.71 | €2.26 |
| 12 eggs | €4.20 | €4.59 |
| Cappuccino | €3.66 | €4.82 |
| Meal, inexpensive restaurant | €15 | about €23 |
| Utilities for 85 m² | about €190 | about €394 |
| Monthly transport pass | €27 | about €90 |
| Petrol (1 L) | €2.03 | €2.30 |
Source: Numbeo, September 2026. Fast home internet is about €29 a month and a mobile plan about €24 (Numbeo).
Power and heating: the heavy bills come in winter and at the peak of summer. Many older Athens buildings have central heating on oil or gas, shared through the building charges. Ask how much heating cost last winter before you sign.
Full comparison: Athens vs Tel Aviv.
Monthly budget: single, couple and family
Our estimate based on Numbeo data (rent + living costs without rent), 2026. Rate: €1 = ₪3.47.
| Household | Rent | Living costs | Total per month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single, flat outside centre | about €576 | about €817 | about €1,400 (₪4,850) |
| Couple, flat in centre | about €650–900 | about €1,500 (estimate) | about €2,150–2,400 |
| Family of 4, 3 bedrooms | about €1,167 | about €2,911 | about €4,080 (₪14,150) |
International school adds a lot: Numbeo puts international primary school at about €9,800 a year per child on average (about €820 a month). The large Athens schools charge more. A full-day private kindergarten is about €480 a month per child.
Compared with local incomes: the Greek minimum wage rose in April 2026 to €920 gross a month. People arriving with an Israeli income or remote work feel the price difference far more than the average Greek.
Working in Greece as an Israeli
- Remote work is the most common route. People working for employers or clients outside Greece can apply for the digital nomad visa (at least €3,500 net a month).
- Working for a Greek employer needs a work permit unless you hold an EU passport. Salaries are lower than in Israel.
- Freelancers must register with the tax office and Greek social security (ΕΦΚΑ) and pay monthly contributions.
Visa routes, AMKA and schools: Moving to Greece with your family.
Health insurance in Greece
- For a visa you need private health insurance.
- Public healthcare is open to people insured with Greek social security, for example through a job in Greece. An AMKA number alone does not give cover.
- In practice many Israelis combine private insurance with private hospitals and clinics, which are quick to access and cheaper than in Western Europe. Prices depend on age and cover, so get several quotes.
Where to live in Greece: the areas Israelis choose
Central Athens: Pangrati, Koukaki, Mets, Kolonaki
Pros: walkable, metro, cafés, city life. Pangrati and Koukaki are popular with young Israelis and couples. Cons: noise, older buildings without parking, less suited to small children. Kolonaki is expensive.
Southern suburbs: Glyfada, Alimos, Palaio Faliro, Voula
Pros: sea, promenade, cleaner air, close to the airport via the coastal road. Popular with Israeli families; Glyfada is close to international schools such as St Lawrence College. Cons: pricier (Glyfada and Voula about €17–18/m² asking rent) and less public transport away from the tram line.
Northern suburbs: Chalandri, Marousi, Kifisia, Psychiko
Pros: green and quiet, near large international schools (ACS Athens in Chalandri), family-friendly. Cons: far from the sea, car-dependent; Psychiko and Filothei are expensive.
Piraeus and Neo Faliro
Pros: cheaper than the south, port, metro and tram, regenerating. Cons: heavy traffic and very mixed neighbourhoods.
Thessaloniki
Pros: cheaper than Athens (about €7.7/m² in actual deals, RE/MAX), young student city, historic Jewish community, direct flights from Israel. Cons: fewer international schools and fewer tech jobs.
The islands and Crete
Pros: quality of life, the sea, small friendly communities. Crete has a Chabad house in Hersonissos and a synagogue in Chania. Cons: many places close in winter, fewer flights, and rents on tourist islands are high (about €14/m² in Santorini and €12 in Mykonos, RE/MAX).
Thinking of buying instead? Buying property in Greece: the full guide.
FAQ
How much money do you need to live in Athens? Based on Numbeo's 2026 data, a single person needs about €1,400 a month including rent, and a family of four about €4,000, before international school fees.
Is Greece cheaper than Israel? Yes. Rent in Athens is roughly 2.7–2.9 times cheaper than in Tel Aviv, and other prices are about 20–25% lower (Numbeo, September 2026).
Where should a family with children live in Athens? Many Israeli families choose the southern suburbs (Glyfada, Alimos, Palaio Faliro) or the northern ones (Chalandri, Marousi, Kifisia), close to international schools.
Can I work in Greece with an Israeli passport? Only with a work permit. Remote workers for employers or clients outside Greece can apply for the digital nomad visa, and EU passport holders can work without a permit.
How much do electricity and heating cost in a Greek flat? According to Numbeo, utilities for an 85 m² flat average about €190 a month, more in winter and at the height of summer.
