Moving to Greece from Virginia

moving to

What to Expect

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

If you moved from Virginia to Greece, you would find that Greece is 43.0% cheaper than Virginia. A $75,000 salary in Virginia would need to be roughly €38,200 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 ↓

Is Greece cheaper than Virginia?

How key spending categories compare

Restaurants

pay 27.3% less

Groceries

pay 42.2% less

Transportation

pay 8.2% more

Housing

pay 61.1% less

Childcare

pay 77.9% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 30.0% 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 → €38,200

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 40% less than cities in Virginia.

Compare cities head-to-head

Get free moving quotes to Greece

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?

What the data shows about people moving from Virginia 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 Virginia.

How's the healthcare?

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

share of adults with obesity

VA
35.3%
GR
27.4%

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

Will I have good infrastructure?

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

share of households with internet

VA
90.1%
GR
86.3%

Virginia 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

VA
3.4%
GR
8.5%
GDP per capita Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2025

a broad measure of economic output per person

VA
$69,111
GR
$26,948

Virginia 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

VA
77.6 yrs
GR
81.8 yrs

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

Weather in Greece vs Virginia

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Richmond Rain: 43.6 in/yr (1108 mm)
70° / 48°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Richmond Athens
Jan–Mar 53°/32°F (12°/0°C) 57°/42°F (14°/6°C)
Apr–Jun 78°/55°F (26°/13°C) 78°/57°F (26°/14°C)
Jul–Sep 86°/65°F (30°/19°C) 90°/67°F (32°/20°C)
Oct–Dec 61°/39°F (16°/4°C) 65°/50°F (18°/10°C)
View all months
Month Richmond Athens
Jan 47°/28°F (8.6°/-2.1°C) 54°/41°F (12.5°/5.2°C)
Feb 51°/31°F (10.7°/-0.8°C) 56°/42°F (13.5°/5.4°C)
Mar 60°/37°F (15.6°/2.8°C) 60°/44°F (15.7°/6.7°C)
Apr 70°/46°F (21.3°/7.8°C) 68°/49°F (20.2°/9.6°C)
May 78°/55°F (25.5°/12.8°C) 79°/57°F (26.0°/13.9°C)
Jun 86°/65°F (30.1°/18.1°C) 88°/65°F (31.1°/18.2°C)
Jul 90°/69°F (32.1°/20.5°C) 92°/69°F (33.5°/20.8°C)
Aug 88°/67°F (30.9°/19.7°C) 92°/69°F (33.2°/20.7°C)
Sep 81°/60°F (27.3°/15.6°C) 85°/63°F (29.2°/17.3°C)
Oct 71°/48°F (21.7°/9.1°C) 74°/56°F (23.3°/13.4°C)
Nov 61°/39°F (16.3°/4.1°C) 65°/50°F (18.1°/9.8°C)
Dec 51°/31°F (10.4°/-0.3°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 Virginia 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 Virginia?

On average Greece is about 43% less expensive than Virginia, with major cities narrowing the gap.

How much money do I need to move to Greece?

Budget about €9,550 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 Virginia and Greece are what actually decide it long-term.

How is healthcare in Greece compared to Virginia?

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

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

The average high temperature in Athens is 72°F, compared to 70°F in Richmond. Athens receives around 16.3 in of rainfall per year, while Richmond gets 43.6 in.

What language do they speak in Greece?

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

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At a Glance

GR
Population 8,880,107 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