Wondering how far your salary goes in Athens? Here’s what everyday life costs, in local prices — the numbers that matter when you’re deciding to move or negotiating a package.
What things cost
Furnished 1-bed, central (Koukaki/Pangrati/Kolonaki)€600-1,000 / mo
Furnished 1-bed, outer districts / suburbs€450-700 / mo
Taverna dinner (per person, with wine)€12-20
Gyros / souvlaki€3-4.50
Freddo espresso / cappuccino€3-4
Metro / bus 90-min integrated ticket€1.20
Est. single-person monthly (excl. rent)€700-1,000
Good to know
Population
~660,000 (Athens municipality); ~3.6 million (Attica metro)
Languages
Greek (official, own alphabet); English widely spoken by the young and in tourism/business
Currency
Euro (EUR); Greece is in the Eurozone
Time zone
Eastern European Time (GMT+2; GMT+3 in summer — observes EU daylight saving)
Power plug
Type C/F (European 2-pin), 230V/50Hz
Climate
Hot-summer Mediterranean; hot dry summers (35°C+, heatwaves), mild wet winters; little rain Jun-Aug
A note on budgeting
Rent is usually the swing factor — location and whether bills are included move the number most. Build your estimate from the rent band above, add a monthly living figure, and keep a buffer for one-off setup costs (deposits, a residence permit, a local SIM, first-month transport). Globe Quest turns this into a personalized Athens checklist so nothing setup-related catches you off guard.