Moving to Greece from Israel

moving to

What to Expect

Everything you need to know before relocating from Israel to Greece — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.

If you moved from Israel to Greece, you would find that Greece is 29.7% cheaper than Israel overall. A ₪225,799 salary in Israel would need to be roughly €43,539 in Greece to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Greek.

Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓

How Far Will Your Money Go?

What to expect for your wallet after moving from Israel to Greece.

What does your salary buy?

₪225,799 €43,539

To maintain the same standard of living in Greece

Calculate with your salary →

Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day

Restaurants

pay 40.1% less

Groceries

pay 21.6% less

Transportation

pay 14.2% less

Housing

pay 25.8% less

Childcare

pay 51.5% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 31.6% less

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 ILS = 0.291 EUR (July 2026)

Data: MyLifeElsewhere's crowdsourced cost of living database, with prices submitted and updated by users worldwide. Exchange rates are refreshed regularly from public sources.

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 36% less than cities in Israel.

Israel

Ashqelon 68%
Holon 65%

Greece

Corfu 46%
Kavala 40%

Compare cities head-to-head

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

How many people actually move from Israel to Greece, based on official data.

Living there in 2020
725 ↑ 2% vs 2015

people born in Israel live in Greece · UN DESA

Who's moving to Greece?

Top countries of origin for Greece's foreign-born residents.

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Israel to Greece.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

IL
1.6
GR
1.1
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

IL
4.2
GR
7.3

Israel generally does better on safety, though Greece leads in homicide rate.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

IL
$4,033
GR
$3,454
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

IL
37.1
GR
63.7

Greece generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Israel leads in health coverage index.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

IL
15.0
GR
23.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

IL
5.8t
GR
5.0t

Israel generally does better on environment, though Greece leads in co₂ emissions per capita.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

IL
29.4
GR
43.0
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

IL
132.0%
GR
20.7%

Israel generally does better on infrastructure, though Greece leads in broadband per 100 people.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

IL
3.4%
GR
11.0%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

IL
$48,300
GR
$36,300

Israel generally does better on employment & economy, though Greece leads in top income tax rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

IL
83.3 yrs
GR
81.5 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

IL
3.6
GR
3.5

Israel generally does better on family life, though Greece leads in infant mortality.

Data: Israel Ministry of Finance Tax Authority, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Jerusalem Rain: 21.1 in/yr (537 mm)
72° / 57°F

Avg. annual high / low

Athens Rain: 16.3 in/yr (414 mm)
72° / 54°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Jerusalem Athens
Jan–Mar 58°/46°F (15°/8°C) 57°/42°F (14°/6°C)
Apr–Jun 78°/60°F (25°/15°C) 78°/57°F (26°/14°C)
Jul–Sep 85°/67°F (29°/20°C) 90°/67°F (32°/20°C)
Oct–Dec 68°/55°F (20°/13°C) 65°/50°F (18°/10°C)
View all months
Month Jerusalem Athens
Jan 55°/44°F (12.8°/6.9°C) 54°/41°F (12.5°/5.2°C)
Feb 57°/45°F (13.8°/7.1°C) 56°/42°F (13.5°/5.4°C)
Mar 63°/49°F (17.0°/9.2°C) 60°/44°F (15.7°/6.7°C)
Apr 71°/54°F (21.5°/12.1°C) 68°/49°F (20.2°/9.6°C)
May 79°/61°F (25.9°/16.0°C) 79°/57°F (26.0°/13.9°C)
Jun 83°/65°F (28.4°/18.2°C) 88°/65°F (31.1°/18.2°C)
Jul 86°/68°F (30.0°/20.2°C) 92°/69°F (33.5°/20.8°C)
Aug 86°/68°F (29.9°/20.0°C) 92°/69°F (33.2°/20.7°C)
Sep 83°/66°F (28.4°/18.7°C) 85°/63°F (29.2°/17.3°C)
Oct 78°/62°F (25.3°/16.8°C) 74°/56°F (23.3°/13.4°C)
Nov 68°/55°F (19.9°/12.8°C) 65°/50°F (18.1°/9.8°C)
Dec 59°/48°F (15.2°/9.0°C) 57°/44°F (14.1°/6.8°C)

Data: Israel Meteorological Service Israel Meteorological Service, Hellenic National Meteorological Service Hellenic National Meteorological Service

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Israel 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.

Israel passport

Israel passport holder visiting Greece

Visa Free
Israel passport holders can enter Greece without a visa.
Greece passport

Greece passport holder visiting Israel

Electronic Travel Authorisation
Greece passport holders need an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) to enter Israel.

Data: 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 Israel?

Yes — Greece is on average about 34% cheaper than Israel. City-level variation can be significant.

How much money do I need to move to Greece?

Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly €10,885 in Greece on a ₪225,799 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees).

Can I work remotely from Greece?

Internet is rarely the blocker — Greece has 43.0 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people. The real questions are legal: digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.

Is Greece safe for expats?

Israel generally does better on safety, though Greece leads in homicide rate. The homicide rate in Greece is 1.1 per 100,000 people, compared to 1.6 in Israel.

How is healthcare in Greece compared to Israel?

Greece generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Israel leads in health coverage index. There are 63.7 doctors per 10,000 people in Greece, compared to 37.1 in Israel. Greece scores 77 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Israel: 85).

What's the weather like in Greece compared to Israel?

The average high temperature in Athens is 72°F, compared to 72°F in Jerusalem. Athens receives around 16.3 in of rainfall per year, while Jerusalem gets 21.1 in.

What language do they speak in Greece?

The official language in Greece is Greek. In Israel, the official languages are Arabic and Hebrew.

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At a Glance

IL GR
Population 8,914,885 10,533,871
Currency Israeli New Sheqel (₪) Euro (€)
Languages Arabic, Hebrew Greek
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +972 +30
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 100 112