Pros and cons of emigrating to Greece

Whether you’re thinking of retiring or simply fed up with your present job and home country, newly-recovered Greece is well worth your consideration.

In spite of a recent survey’s inaccurate assessment that Greece is the very worst location in the world for expats, a good number of incomers would strongly disagree with the report. Given that for the past few years Greece has unarguably been in crisis, there are expats living and working across the country who’ve resisted the temptation to forego their Southern European lifestyle and return to the home country. Their opinions suggest that life as a retiree or a small business owner is great, but those who’re arriving to further their existing careers might be disappointed.

Digital nomads. however, seem to be having the time of their lives, but don’t make much use of online surveys, preferring to form their own opinions and write about them on their blog sites. Now that the ancient land is been seen as recovering from its financial crisis, it’s likely many more will give Greece a chance. If they do, they’ll be met by some of the world’s friendliest peoples, a reasonably low cost of living, a year-round warm climate, an amazing history and heritage and some of the best food in the entire Mediterranean region. Whilst Athens and other large cities aren’t a hotbed for expat relocations paying far more than the average salary, earnings form teaching English and work in the tourist industry are enough to keep the average expat in Greek-style comfort. Being able to communicate in the Greek language is a great help, as it’s easier to get a job with one of the comparatively small number of multinational companies.

The actual cost of living is estimated to be some 20 to 30 per cent cheaper than in most of the rest of Europe and is more inexpensive still in rural areas and, as with every other expat destination worldwide, there are downsides to deal with. Perhaps the most important, especially for retirees, is the level of healthcare. Greece is rated as one of the worst in Europe for medical matters, with private health insurance a necessity rather than an option. It’s basically a cash economy, although card usage is on the up and ATMs are seen in most towns and cities. Real estate is still comparatively cheap compared with other Mediterranean hotspots and even cheaper on most of the islands compared to the mainland. Overall, if a stress-free, independent life is the dream, Greece is the destination for its ability to mix life with work and enjoy both.