Moving to Greece from South Carolina

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What to Expect

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

If you moved from South Carolina to Greece, you would find that Greece is 14.2% cheaper than South Carolina. A $75,000 salary in South Carolina would need to be roughly €51,759 in Greece to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Greek.

How Far Will Your Money Go?

What to expect for your wallet after moving from South Carolina to Greece.

What does your salary buy?

$75,000 €51,759

To maintain the same standard of living in Greece

Calculate with your salary →

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

Restaurants

pay 27.7% less

Groceries

pay 24.9% less

Transportation

pay 40.4% more

Housing

pay 40.0% less

Childcare

pay 66.3% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 5.6% less

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 USD = 0.8717 EUR (June 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.

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We've teamed up with a vetted network of international movers to help MyLifeElsewhere readers plan their move with confidence. Tell us about your move and get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes in under 2 minutes.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

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

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

Key indicators for anyone considering a move from South Carolina to Greece.

How's the healthcare?

Adult obesity rate Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), 2022

share of adults with obesity

SC
35.4%
GR
24.9%

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

Will I have good infrastructure?

Internet access US Census Bureau (American Community Survey), 2023

share of households with internet

SC
87.0%
GR
78.0%

South Carolina 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

SC
4.9%
GR
11.0%
GDP per capita Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024

a broad measure of economic output per person

SC
$49,914
GR
$36,300

South Carolina performs better than Greece across all employment & economy metrics.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy OECD Regional Demography, 2022

average years of life at birth

SC
74.8 yrs
GR
81.5 yrs

Greece performs significantly better than South Carolina across all family life metrics.

Data: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), OECD Regional Demography, US Census Bureau (American Community Survey)

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Columbia Rain: 46.3 in/yr (1175 mm)
66° / 46°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Columbia Athens
Jan–Mar 47°/28°F (8°/-2°C) 57°/42°F (14°/6°C)
Apr–Jun 76°/55°F (24°/13°C) 78°/57°F (26°/14°C)
Jul–Sep 86°/65°F (30°/18°C) 90°/67°F (32°/20°C)
Oct–Dec 55°/36°F (13°/2°C) 65°/50°F (18°/10°C)
View all months
Month Columbia Athens
Jan 40°/22°F (4.3°/-5.3°C) 54°/41°F (12.5°/5.2°C)
Feb 45°/26°F (7.2°/-3.3°C) 56°/42°F (13.5°/5.4°C)
Mar 56°/35°F (13.3°/1.7°C) 60°/44°F (15.7°/6.7°C)
Apr 67°/46°F (19.3°/7.6°C) 68°/49°F (20.2°/9.6°C)
May 75°/55°F (24.0°/12.9°C) 79°/57°F (26.0°/13.9°C)
Jun 85°/65°F (29.2°/18.1°C) 88°/65°F (31.1°/18.2°C)
Jul 90°/69°F (32.0°/20.4°C) 92°/69°F (33.5°/20.8°C)
Aug 88°/67°F (31.3°/19.6°C) 92°/69°F (33.2°/20.7°C)
Sep 80°/58°F (26.6°/14.5°C) 85°/63°F (29.2°/17.3°C)
Oct 68°/47°F (20.0°/8.1°C) 74°/56°F (23.3°/13.4°C)
Nov 55°/37°F (12.7°/2.6°C) 65°/50°F (18.1°/9.8°C)
Dec 42°/25°F (5.6°/-3.8°C) 57°/44°F (14.1°/6.8°C)

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

Visitor Visa Requirements

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 South Carolina?

Yes — Greece is on average about 21% cheaper than South Carolina. 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 €12,940 in Greece on a $75,000 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees).

Can I work remotely from Greece?

Usually fine from major cities in Greece. The harder questions are legal — digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.

How is healthcare in Greece compared to South Carolina?

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

What's the weather like in Greece compared to South Carolina?

The average high temperature in Athens is 72°F, compared to 66°F in Columbia. Athens receives around 16.3 in of rainfall per year, while Columbia gets 46.3 in.

What language do they speak in Greece?

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

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At a Glance

GR
Population 4,625,364 10,533,871
Currency United States Dollar ($) Euro (€)
Languages English Greek
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +1 +30
Time zones 11 1
Emergency number 911 112