Moving to Greece from Illinois
What to Expect
Considering a move from Illinois to Greece? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Illinois to Greece, you would find that Greece is 35.1% cheaper than Illinois. A $75,000 salary in Illinois would need to be roughly €43,500 in Greece to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Greek. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Athens averages 72°F vs 59°F in Chicago, making it significantly warmer.
Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓Is Greece cheaper than Illinois?
How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 15.6% less
Groceries
pay 32.0% less
Transportation
pay 6.7% more
Housing
pay 53.9% less
Childcare
pay 69.9% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 23.7% less
Data: MyLifeElsewhere's crowdsourced cost of living database, with prices submitted and updated by users worldwide. Exchange rates are refreshed regularly from public sources.
What salary do you need in Greece?
What does your salary buy?
$75,000 → €43,500
To maintain the same standard of living in Greece
Calculate with your salary →Cost of living by city
Cost of living varies a lot by city. Each figure is a city's overall cost of living as a percentage of New York City (the priciest, = 100%).
On average, cities in Greece cost about 27% less than cities in Illinois.
Compare cities head-to-head
Get free moving quotes to Greece
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Who Else Is Making This Move?
What the data shows about people moving from Illinois to Greece.
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Greece compared to Illinois.
How's the healthcare?
share of adults with obesity
Greece performs significantly better than Illinois across all health & wellbeing metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
share of households with internet
Illinois performs better than Greece across all infrastructure metrics.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
share of people below the poverty line
Illinois performs better than Greece across all employment & economy metrics.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
Greece performs significantly better than Illinois across all family life metrics.
Sources: World Bank (2021–2025), US Census Bureau (American Community Survey) (2023), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES) (2022), World Health Organization (2024), Bureau of Labor Statistics (2025), Bureau of Economic Analysis (2024), OECD Regional Demography (2020). How we calculate this
Weather in Greece vs Illinois
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Chicago | Athens |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 38°/22°F (3°/-6°C) | 57°/42°F (14°/6°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 70°/48°F (21°/9°C) | 78°/57°F (26°/14°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 80°/60°F (27°/16°C) | 90°/67°F (32°/20°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 48°/32°F (9°/0°C) | 65°/50°F (18°/10°C) |
View all months
| Month | Chicago | Athens |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 31°/17°F (-0.6°/-8.6°C) | 54°/41°F (12.5°/5.2°C) |
| Feb | 35°/20°F (1.8°/-6.6°C) | 56°/42°F (13.5°/5.4°C) |
| Mar | 47°/29°F (8.1°/-1.6°C) | 60°/44°F (15.7°/6.7°C) |
| Apr | 59°/39°F (15.0°/3.8°C) | 68°/49°F (20.2°/9.6°C) |
| May | 70°/48°F (21.1°/9.1°C) | 79°/57°F (26.0°/13.9°C) |
| Jun | 80°/58°F (26.5°/14.5°C) | 88°/65°F (31.1°/18.2°C) |
| Jul | 84°/64°F (28.9°/17.7°C) | 92°/69°F (33.5°/20.8°C) |
| Aug | 82°/63°F (27.7°/17.2°C) | 92°/69°F (33.2°/20.7°C) |
| Sep | 75°/54°F (23.8°/12.4°C) | 85°/63°F (29.2°/17.3°C) |
| Oct | 62°/43°F (16.8°/6.0°C) | 74°/56°F (23.3°/13.4°C) |
| Nov | 48°/32°F (9.0°/0.2°C) | 65°/50°F (18.1°/9.8°C) |
| Dec | 35°/21°F (1.6°/-6.3°C) | 57°/44°F (14.1°/6.8°C) |
Data:
National Weather Service,
Hellenic National Meteorological Service
Can you move from Illinois to Greece?
Short-stay tourist visa rules between United States and Greece. To live, work, or study long-term in Greece, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Greece's immigration authority.
United States passport holder visiting Greece
Visa Free
Greece passport holder visiting United States
Electronic Travel AuthorisationData: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it cheaper to live in Greece than Illinois?
On average Greece is about 35% less expensive than Illinois, with major cities narrowing the gap.
How much money do I need to move to Greece?
Budget about €10,875 for 3 months in Greece (based on a $75,000 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.
Can I work remotely from Greece?
From major Greece cities the network usually holds up. Visa rules, your employer's stance on overseas employees, and tax residency in Illinois and Greece are what actually decide it long-term.
How is healthcare in Greece compared to Illinois?
Greece performs significantly better than Illinois across all health & wellbeing metrics.
What's the weather like in Greece compared to Illinois?
The average high temperature in Athens is 72°F, compared to 59°F in Chicago. Athens receives around 16.3 in of rainfall per year, while Chicago gets 36.9 in.
What language do they speak in Greece?
The official language in Greece is Greek. In Illinois, the official language is English.
