What It Means To Be Wealthy In Greece The Acropolis of Athens, Greece The Acropolis and the Parthenon Temple, Athens Greece getty Greece is more than just a holiday destination—it's an incredible place to call home, especially for those seeking financial and lifestyle advantages. It has breathtaking islands, world-class beaches, and thriving cities. Still, beyond its natural beauty, Greece boasts attractive incentives for expats, including a flat tax scheme for ultra-high-net-worth individuals, a streamlined golden visa program, and a digital nomad visa for remote workers. Plus, the cost of living remains significantly lower than in a lot of Western Europe, making luxury living more accessible. Here's what it means to be wealthy in Greece. Being Wealthy in Greece Is All About the Landscape CNTraveler listed Greece as the 10th best country in the world in the Readers' Choice Awards 2024, citing "postcard-perfect Santorini, mythology-steeped Mykonos, and massive Crete, with its reemerging viticultural scene." TripAdvisor recently labeled the latter as having the best of the best beaches—Elafonissi in Crete, famed for its pink sand and crystal clear waters, which are as attractive to hikers as to water sport enthusiasts. Aerial View Of Elafonissi Beach On The Greek Island Of Crete Elafonissi beach on the Greek island of Crete—Trip Advisor's Best of The Best Beach Winner 2025 DeFodi Images via Getty Images A record number of visitors are seeking out Greece's more under-explored islands, such as Paros, and other favorites like Hydra, Ios, Tinos, and Zakynthos. And that's not forgetting Athens itself. Indeed, CNTraveler noted the Athens Riviera as one of the 25 best places to visit in Europe in 2025. Just 30 minutes from Athens city center, this 40-mile stretch of coastline is undergoing a resurgence, driven by the completion of Europe's most extensive coastal park, planned for the end of 2025, and a raft of the most fabulous hotel chains setting up home. So, what might it mean to live in Greece, and how would your salary and wealth stack up against the country's averages and the cost of living? Being Wealthy In Greece–Greece's Average Annual Salary As reported by Euronews, workers in Greece have an average annual salary of $18,600 (€17,707), which is lower than the EU average of around $30,000 (€28,217). As a comparison, Greece's average is much lower than the highest in European countries, in Switzerland, $90,000 (€85,582), in Iceland, $56,600 (€53,885), or in Norway, $48,100 (€45,798), for instance. The lowest average annual salary in the EU is in Bulgaria and Turkey, where both are around $9,500 (€9,000). Being Wealthy In Greece–Greece's Cost Of Living When taken globally, a comparison of the cost of living in Greece is lower than it is in many other countries such as the U.S., the U.K., and France: France: $1,200 per month for a single person, not including rent. U.S.: $1,166 per month for a single person, not including rent. Canada: $1023 per month for a single person, not including rent. Italy: $905 per month for a single person, not including rent. Greece: $832 per month for a single person, not including rent. Malta: $801 per month for a single person, not including rent. Spain: $731 per month for a single person, not including rent. Thailand: $650 per month for a single person, not including rent. Portugal: $592 per month for a single person, not including rent. Furthermore, when you factor in rent, it becomes clear that Greece offers more for your dollar per square meter. Accommodation is almost 40% cheaper to rent in Greece than in France, and the cost of living is nearly 21% cheaper. Being Wealthy In Greece–A Flat Tax For UHNWIs Greece has been gradually luring ultra-high-net-worth individuals, most notably with a flat tax of $105,000 per year (€100,000). This is on global income for individuals who transfer their tax residence to Greece, provided they invest in Greek assets with a minimum value of $525,150 (€500,000). Over the past ten years, the number of millionaires in Greece has increased by 14%, and there are now 64,700 millionaires in the country. There are 105 individuals with over 100 million dollars and eight billionaires. They mostly choose to live in Attica, Mykonos, and Crete. Being Wealthy In Greece—Getting A Golden Visa Greece has recently seen a rise in American applicants for golden visas, with monthly government figures increasing from 302 to 383 by November 2024. Greece has one of the fastest golden visa processes, granting residency within 60 days. Plus, it's an attractive scheme as residency holders don't need to live in Greece to maintain their visa status, there is an unlimited expiry date, and the residence applies to the whole family (married spouses, children under 21 years old, and parents of the principal applicant and spouse). After seven years, residents on this golden visa can also apply for citizenship. Now, as per Henley & Partners, it's possible to get a golden visa by investing in real estate in several ways, such as either investing $262,500 (€250,000) to restore a listed building, say, or $420,000 (€400,000) for a property of minimum 120 meters squared. This figure jumps to $840,000 (€800,000) for properties in Athens, Thessaloniki or islands with more than 3,100 residents. The government recently increased the amounts because there have been issues with golden visa schemes leading to a hike in real estate prices for locals, particularly in Spain, where the government recently ended its golden visa scheme. In Greece, you could also take part in other investment schemes to obtain a golden visa, such as investing $525,150 (€500,000) in a public limited real estate investment company that invests exclusively in Greece or purchasing the same amount of Greek government bonds with a remaining maturity of at least three years, through a Greek credit institution. Being Wealthy In Greece—Getting A Digital Nomad Visa Many EU countries offer visas for digital nomads working for foreign companies or freelancers; Greece is no exception. You can live in Greece for one year on a digital nomad visa, provided you meet the minimum monthly income requirement of $3,676 (€3,500) per month, and your clients are not in the country. It is also possible to extend the visa for one further year. It's clear then that Greece is an attractive proposition for expats, delivering an affordable lifestyle, sometimes through a digital nomad visa or a golden visa. Plus, what it means to be wealthy in Greece is significantly lower than in other European countries and the U.S.
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What It Means To Be Wealthy In Greece

The Acropolis of Athens, Greece
The Acropolis and the Parthenon Temple, Athens Greece
getty

Greece is more than just a holiday destination—it's an incredible place to call home, especially for those seeking financial and lifestyle advantages. It has breathtaking islands, world-class beaches, and thriving cities. Still, beyond its natural beauty, Greece boasts attractive incentives for expats, including a flat tax scheme for ultra-high-net-worth individuals, a streamlined golden visa program, and a digital nomad visa for remote workers. Plus, the cost of living remains significantly lower than in a lot of Western Europe, making luxury living more accessible. Here's what it means to be wealthy in Greece.

Being Wealthy in Greece Is All About the Landscape

CNTraveler listed Greece as the 10th best country in the world in the Readers' Choice Awards 2024, citing "postcard-perfect Santorini, mythology-steeped Mykonos, and massive Crete, with its reemerging viticultural scene."

TripAdvisor recently labeled the latter as having the best of the best beaches—Elafonissi in Crete, famed for its pink sand and crystal clear waters, which are as attractive to hikers as to water sport enthusiasts.

Aerial View Of Elafonissi Beach On The Greek Island Of Crete
Elafonissi beach on the Greek island of Crete—Trip Advisor's Best of The Best Beach Winner 2025
DeFodi Images via Getty Images
A record number of visitors are seeking out Greece's more under-explored islands, such as Paros, and other favorites like Hydra, Ios, Tinos, and Zakynthos. And that's not forgetting Athens itself. Indeed, CNTraveler noted the Athens Riviera as one of the 25 best places to visit in Europe in 2025. Just 30 minutes from Athens city center, this 40-mile stretch of coastline is undergoing a resurgence, driven by the completion of Europe's most extensive coastal park, planned for the end of 2025, and a raft of the most fabulous hotel chains setting up home.

So, what might it mean to live in Greece, and how would your salary and wealth stack up against the country's averages and the cost of living?

Being Wealthy In Greece–Greece's Average Annual Salary

As reported by Euronews, workers in Greece have an average annual salary of $18,600 (€17,707), which is lower than the EU average of around $30,000 (€28,217).

As a comparison, Greece's average is much lower than the highest in European countries, in Switzerland, $90,000 (€85,582), in Iceland, $56,600 (€53,885), or in Norway, $48,100 (€45,798), for instance.

The lowest average annual salary in the EU is in Bulgaria and Turkey, where both are around $9,500 (€9,000).

Being Wealthy In Greece–Greece's Cost Of Living

When taken globally, a comparison of the cost of living in Greece is lower than it is in many other countries such as the U.S., the U.K., and France:

France: $1,200 per month for a single person, not including rent.
U.S.: $1,166 per month for a single person, not including rent.
Canada: $1023 per month for a single person, not including rent.
Italy: $905 per month for a single person, not including rent.
Greece: $832 per month for a single person, not including rent.
Malta: $801 per month for a single person, not including rent.
Spain: $731 per month for a single person, not including rent.
Thailand: $650 per month for a single person, not including rent.
Portugal: $592 per month for a single person, not including rent.
Furthermore, when you factor in rent, it becomes clear that Greece offers more for your dollar per square meter. Accommodation is almost 40% cheaper to rent in Greece than in France, and the cost of living is nearly 21% cheaper.

Being Wealthy In Greece–A Flat Tax For UHNWIs

Greece has been gradually luring ultra-high-net-worth individuals, most notably with a flat tax of $105,000 per year (€100,000). This is on global income for individuals who transfer their tax residence to Greece, provided they invest in Greek assets with a minimum value of $525,150 (€500,000).

Over the past ten years, the number of millionaires in Greece has increased by 14%, and there are now 64,700 millionaires in the country. There are 105 individuals with over 100 million dollars and eight billionaires. They mostly choose to live in Attica, Mykonos, and Crete.

Being Wealthy In Greece—Getting A Golden Visa

Greece has recently seen a rise in American applicants for golden visas, with monthly government figures increasing from 302 to 383 by November 2024. Greece has one of the fastest golden visa processes, granting residency within 60 days. Plus, it's an attractive scheme as residency holders don't need to live in Greece to maintain their visa status, there is an unlimited expiry date, and the residence applies to the whole family (married spouses, children under 21 years old, and parents of the principal applicant and spouse). After seven years, residents on this golden visa can also apply for citizenship.

Now, as per Henley & Partners, it's possible to get a golden visa by investing in real estate in several ways, such as either investing $262,500 (€250,000) to restore a listed building, say, or $420,000 (€400,000) for a property of minimum 120 meters squared. This figure jumps to $840,000 (€800,000) for properties in Athens, Thessaloniki or islands with more than 3,100 residents.

The government recently increased the amounts because there have been issues with golden visa schemes leading to a hike in real estate prices for locals, particularly in Spain, where the government recently ended its golden visa scheme.

In Greece, you could also take part in other investment schemes to obtain a golden visa, such as investing $525,150 (€500,000) in a public limited real estate investment company that invests exclusively in Greece or purchasing the same amount of Greek government bonds with a remaining maturity of at least three years, through a Greek credit institution.

Being Wealthy In Greece—Getting A Digital Nomad Visa

Many EU countries offer visas for digital nomads working for foreign companies or freelancers; Greece is no exception.

You can live in Greece for one year on a digital nomad visa, provided you meet the minimum monthly income requirement of $3,676 (€3,500) per month, and your clients are not in the country. It is also possible to extend the visa for one further year.

It's clear then that Greece is an attractive proposition for expats, delivering an affordable lifestyle, sometimes through a digital nomad visa or a golden visa. Plus, what it means to be wealthy in Greece is significantly lower than in other European countries and the U.S.