Moving to Greece from Minnesota

moving to

What to Expect

Considering a move from Minnesota to Greece? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.

If you moved from Minnesota to Greece, you would find that Greece is 32.4% cheaper than Minnesota. A $75,000 salary in Minnesota would need to be roughly €45,300 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 55°F in Minneapolis, 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 Minnesota?

How key spending categories compare

Restaurants

pay 21.3% less

Groceries

pay 32.9% less

Transportation

pay 8.0% more

Housing

pay 48.4% less

Childcare

pay 66.3% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 26.0% less

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 USD = 0.8925 EUR (October 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.

What salary do you need in Greece?

What does your salary buy?

$75,000 → €45,300

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 29% less than cities in Minnesota.

Minnesota

Mankato 62%
Rochester 60%
Duluth 50%

Greece

Xanthi 43%
Kavala 42%

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 Minnesota to Greece.

Living there in 2020
23,297 ↑ 2% vs 2015

people born in United States 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

The numbers behind daily life in Greece compared to Minnesota.

How's the healthcare?

Adult obesity rate Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), 2024

share of adults with obesity

MN
33.9%
GR
27.4%

Greece performs significantly better than Minnesota across all health & wellbeing metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Internet access US Census Bureau (American Community Survey), 2024

share of households with internet

MN
91.0%
GR
86.3%

Minnesota performs better than Greece across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

MN
4.3%
GR
8.5%
GDP per capita Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2025

a broad measure of economic output per person

MN
$68,478
GR
$26,948

Minnesota performs better than Greece across all employment & economy metrics.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy OECD Regional Demography, 2024

average years of life at birth

MN
79.1 yrs
GR
81.8 yrs

Greece performs significantly better than Minnesota across all family life metrics.

Weather in Greece vs Minnesota

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Minneapolis Rain: 30.6 in/yr (778 mm)
55° / 37°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Minneapolis Athens
Jan–Mar 31°/15°F (0°/-10°C) 57°/42°F (14°/6°C)
Apr–Jun 69°/48°F (20°/9°C) 78°/57°F (26°/14°C)
Jul–Sep 78°/59°F (26°/15°C) 90°/67°F (32°/20°C)
Oct–Dec 42°/26°F (6°/-3°C) 65°/50°F (18°/10°C)
View all months
Month Minneapolis Athens
Jan 24°/8°F (-4.6°/-13.6°C) 54°/41°F (12.5°/5.2°C)
Feb 29°/13°F (-1.7°/-10.7°C) 56°/42°F (13.5°/5.4°C)
Mar 41°/24°F (5.2°/-4.3°C) 60°/44°F (15.7°/6.7°C)
Apr 58°/37°F (14.3°/2.9°C) 68°/49°F (20.2°/9.6°C)
May 69°/49°F (20.8°/9.4°C) 79°/57°F (26.0°/13.9°C)
Jun 79°/59°F (26.0°/14.9°C) 88°/65°F (31.1°/18.2°C)
Jul 83°/64°F (28.6°/17.8°C) 92°/69°F (33.5°/20.8°C)
Aug 80°/62°F (26.9°/16.6°C) 92°/69°F (33.2°/20.7°C)
Sep 72°/52°F (22.1°/11.3°C) 85°/63°F (29.2°/17.3°C)
Oct 58°/40°F (14.4°/4.3°C) 74°/56°F (23.3°/13.4°C)
Nov 41°/26°F (5.1°/-3.2°C) 65°/50°F (18.1°/9.8°C)
Dec 27°/12°F (-2.7°/-10.9°C) 57°/44°F (14.1°/6.8°C)

Data: National Weather Service National Weather Service, Hellenic National Meteorological Service Hellenic National Meteorological Service

Can you move from Minnesota 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

United States passport holder visiting Greece

Visa Free
United States passport holders can enter Greece without a visa.
Greece passport

Greece passport holder visiting United States

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

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 Minnesota?

On average Greece is about 32% less expensive than Minnesota, with major cities narrowing the gap.

How much money do I need to move to Greece?

Budget about €11,325 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 Minnesota and Greece are what actually decide it long-term.

How is healthcare in Greece compared to Minnesota?

Greece performs significantly better than Minnesota across all health & wellbeing metrics.

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

The average high temperature in Athens is 72°F, compared to 55°F in Minneapolis. Athens receives around 16.3 in of rainfall per year, while Minneapolis gets 30.6 in.

What language do they speak in Greece?

The official language in Greece is Greek. In Minnesota, the official language is English.

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At a Glance

GR
Population 5,830,405 10,413,962
Currency United States Dollar ($) Euro (€)
Languages English Greek
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +1 +30
Time zones 11 1
Emergency number 911 112