Moving to Greece from United Kingdom

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What to Expect

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

If you moved from United Kingdom to Greece, you would find that Greece is 26.2% cheaper than United Kingdom overall. A £55,958 salary in United Kingdom would need to be roughly €48,402 in Greece to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Greek. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Athens averages 72°F vs 60°F in London, making it significantly warmer.

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How Far Will Your Money Go?

A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between United Kingdom and Greece.

What does your salary buy?

£55,958 €48,402

To maintain the same standard of living in Greece

Calculate with your salary →

How key spending categories compare

Restaurants

pay 20.6% less

Groceries

pay 5.0% less

Transportation

pay 22.8% less

Housing

pay 39.5% less

Childcare

pay 68.5% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 26.9% less

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 GBP = 1.17 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 26% less than cities in United Kingdom.

United Kingdom

Bath 63%
Slough 61%

Greece

Corfu 46%
Kavala 40%

Compare cities head-to-head

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

What the data shows about people moving from United Kingdom to Greece.

Living there in 2020
18,033 ↑ 2% vs 2015

people born in United Kingdom 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 United Kingdom.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

GB
1.0
GR
1.1
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

GB
2.4
GR
7.3

United Kingdom performs better than Greece across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2024

annual government + private spending per person

GB
$6,606
GR
$3,454
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

GB
31.7
GR
63.7

Greece generally does better on health & wellbeing, though United Kingdom 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

GB
13.0
GR
23.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

GB
4.2t
GR
5.0t

United Kingdom performs better than Greece across all environment metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

GB
41.4
GR
43.0
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

GB
14.3%
GR
20.7%

United Kingdom 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

GB
4.1%
GR
11.0%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

GB
$54,100
GR
$36,300

United Kingdom performs better than Greece across all employment & economy metrics.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

GB
81.9 yrs
GR
81.5 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

GB
3.8
GR
3.5

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

Data: HM Revenue & Customs, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

London Rain: 22.0 in/yr (558 mm)
60° / 46°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months London Athens
Jan–Mar 49°/38°F (9°/3°C) 57°/42°F (14°/6°C)
Apr–Jun 64°/48°F (18°/9°C) 78°/57°F (26°/14°C)
Jul–Sep 72°/56°F (22°/13°C) 90°/67°F (32°/20°C)
Oct–Dec 53°/43°F (12°/6°C) 65°/50°F (18°/10°C)
View all months
Month London Athens
Jan 47°/38°F (8.1°/3.1°C) 54°/41°F (12.5°/5.2°C)
Feb 47°/37°F (8.6°/2.7°C) 56°/42°F (13.5°/5.4°C)
Mar 53°/40°F (11.6°/4.6°C) 60°/44°F (15.7°/6.7°C)
Apr 58°/43°F (14.6°/5.9°C) 68°/49°F (20.2°/9.6°C)
May 65°/48°F (18.1°/8.9°C) 79°/57°F (26.0°/13.9°C)
Jun 70°/53°F (21.0°/11.8°C) 88°/65°F (31.1°/18.2°C)
Jul 74°/57°F (23.4°/13.7°C) 92°/69°F (33.5°/20.8°C)
Aug 74°/57°F (23.1°/13.8°C) 92°/69°F (33.2°/20.7°C)
Sep 68°/53°F (20.0°/11.4°C) 85°/63°F (29.2°/17.3°C)
Oct 60°/48°F (15.5°/8.8°C) 74°/56°F (23.3°/13.4°C)
Nov 52°/42°F (11.3°/5.8°C) 65°/50°F (18.1°/9.8°C)
Dec 47°/38°F (8.4°/3.4°C) 57°/44°F (14.1°/6.8°C)

Data: Met Office Met Office, Hellenic National Meteorological Service Hellenic National Meteorological Service

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between United Kingdom 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 Kingdom passport

United Kingdom passport holder visiting Greece

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

Greece passport holder visiting United Kingdom

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

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 United Kingdom?

On average Greece is about 26% less expensive than United Kingdom, with major cities narrowing the gap.

How much money do I need to move to Greece?

Budget about €12,100 for 3 months in Greece (based on a £55,958 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.

Can I work remotely from Greece?

Connectivity is usually fine (Greece: 43.0 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Greece offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?

Is Greece safe for expats?

United Kingdom performs better than Greece across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Greece is 1.1 per 100,000 people, compared to 1.0 in United Kingdom.

How is healthcare in Greece compared to United Kingdom?

Greece generally does better on health & wellbeing, though United Kingdom leads in health coverage index. There are 63.7 doctors per 10,000 people in Greece, compared to 31.7 in United Kingdom. Greece scores 77 on the WHO universal health coverage index (United Kingdom: 88).

What's the weather like in Greece compared to United Kingdom?

The average high temperature in Athens is 72°F, compared to 60°F in London. Athens receives around 16.3 in of rainfall per year, while London gets 22.0 in.

What language do they speak in Greece?

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

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At a Glance

GB GR
Population 67,791,400 10,533,871
Currency British Pound Sterling (£) Euro (€)
Languages English Greek
Driving side Left Right
Calling code +44 +30
Time zones 9 1
Emergency number 999 112