Moving to Greece from Washington

moving to

What to Expect

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

If you moved from Washington to Greece, you would find that Greece is 25.1% cheaper than Washington. A $75,000 salary in Washington would need to be roughly €48,041 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 60°F in Olympia, making it significantly warmer.

How Far Will Your Money Go?

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

What does your salary buy?

$75,000 €48,041

To maintain the same standard of living in Greece

Calculate with your salary →

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

Restaurants

pay 29.8% less

Groceries

pay 29.0% less

Transportation

pay 7.9% more

Housing

pay 42.7% less

Childcare

pay 73.8% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 28.8% 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.

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 Washington.

Washington

Seattle 84%
Bellevue 81%
Redmond 79%

Greece

Corfu 46%
Kavala 40%

Compare cities head-to-head

Get free moving quotes to Greece

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

How many people actually move from Washington 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 Washington to Greece.

How's the healthcare?

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

share of adults with obesity

WA
31.1%
GR
24.9%

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

Will I have good infrastructure?

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

share of households with internet

WA
93.1%
GR
78.0%

Washington 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

WA
5.3%
GR
11.0%
GDP per capita Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024

a broad measure of economic output per person

WA
$87,768
GR
$36,300

Washington 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

WA
79.2 yrs
GR
81.5 yrs

Greece performs significantly better than Washington 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.

Olympia Rain: 50.0 in/yr (1270 mm)
60° / 41°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Olympia Athens
Jan–Mar 50°/34°F (10°/1°C) 57°/42°F (14°/6°C)
Apr–Jun 65°/43°F (18°/6°C) 78°/57°F (26°/14°C)
Jul–Sep 76°/49°F (24°/10°C) 90°/67°F (32°/20°C)
Oct–Dec 51°/36°F (11°/2°C) 65°/50°F (18°/10°C)
View all months
Month Olympia Athens
Jan 46°/34°F (7.7°/0.9°C) 54°/41°F (12.5°/5.2°C)
Feb 49°/33°F (9.6°/0.4°C) 56°/42°F (13.5°/5.4°C)
Mar 54°/35°F (12.2°/1.7°C) 60°/44°F (15.7°/6.7°C)
Apr 59°/38°F (14.9°/3.2°C) 68°/49°F (20.2°/9.6°C)
May 65°/43°F (18.5°/6.2°C) 79°/57°F (26.0°/13.9°C)
Jun 71°/48°F (21.4°/8.7°C) 88°/65°F (31.1°/18.2°C)
Jul 77°/51°F (24.9°/10.4°C) 92°/69°F (33.5°/20.8°C)
Aug 78°/51°F (25.4°/10.3°C) 92°/69°F (33.2°/20.7°C)
Sep 72°/46°F (22.1°/7.8°C) 85°/63°F (29.2°/17.3°C)
Oct 60°/40°F (15.7°/4.7°C) 74°/56°F (23.3°/13.4°C)
Nov 50°/36°F (10.1°/2.4°C) 65°/50°F (18.1°/9.8°C)
Dec 44°/33°F (6.8°/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

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 Washington?

Yes — Greece is on average about 27% cheaper than Washington. 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 €12,010 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 Washington?

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

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

The average high temperature in Athens is 72°F, compared to 60°F in Olympia. Athens receives around 16.3 in of rainfall per year, while Olympia gets 50.0 in.

What language do they speak in Greece?

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

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At a Glance

GR
Population 6,724,540 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