Product prices
As in other countries, resort areas in Greece are distinguished by high prices not only for buying or renting real estate, but also for products that are about 10-20% more expensive in tourist places. This also applies to the capital Athens – prices here will also be slightly higher than the national average. On the islands, due to transportation costs, the cost of basic products and fuel also increases than on the mainland. But the highest food prices in Greece can be seen on the Cycladic Islands.
It is most profitable in this country to buy products in markets and in large supermarkets, for example, in chain stores A & B or Marinopoulos. And it is also worth understanding that the supermarkets of the German Lidl chain products are inexpensive, but the quality is lower there. In the Greek markets, which are called laiki, you can always buy fresh seafood, vegetables and fruits, olive oil, flowers, inexpensive clothes and much more, but meat is not sold in such markets. On average, 200 euros per month is spent on products for one person.
All shops in Greece are closed on Sunday, supermarkets are open on weekdays from 9.00 to 21.00, and on Saturday from 9.00 to 20.00. Grocery stores (pastry shops) where you can buy bread, milk and other everyday products are open every day seven days a week.
Approximate prices for some products:
- 1.5 l bottle of water 0.5-1.5 euro
- Bread 0.7-1 euro
- Milk 1 l – 1.5 euro
- Eggs 12 pcs. – 3-3.5 euros
- Cheese 1 kg – from 7 to 13 euros
- Sugar 1 kg – 1 euro
- Fish 1 kg – 5-15 euros
- Lamb 1 kg – 6-9 euros
- Beef 1 kg – 6 euros
- Pork 1 kg – 5-6 euros
- Chicken 1 kg – 3-6 euros
- Fruits and vegetables 1 kg – 1-4 euros depending on the season (in the markets 1 kg costs less than 1 euro)
- Olive oil 1 l – 3-5 euros
- Olives 1 kg – from 5 euros
- Local beer 0.5 l – 1-2 euros
- A bottle of local wine – from 1.5 euros to 15 euros
Restaurants
In Greek taverns, not filled with foreign tourists, you can eat tasty and inexpensive - dinner for two with a bottle of local wine and meat dishes will cost 30-40 euros, with fresh fish dishes it is more expensive - 50-60 euros. When visiting restaurants in tourist places, it is better to choose places where the Greeks themselves eat.
Prices in restaurants vary depending on the city or resort, as well as on the area of the city. Lunch or dinner in a middle-class restaurant, which will include a salad, main course and drinks, will cost about 12 euros per person. A plate of spaghetti, for example, will cost 6-7 euros, a Greek salad – 4-5 euros. The average check for breakfast per person in Greece will be 5.5 euros, lunch - 14 euros, dinner - 25 euros.
In addition to local taverns, in this country you can eat in specialized cafes, where dishes of fresh meat and chicken are served in a flatbread (1-1.5 euros) or as a separate dish (2-5 euros). There are also many pizzerias and chain cafes in Greece, from where you can order food with delivery.
You can spend your leisure time in Greece in a nightclub, bar or "bouzouki", where live music performed by Greek stars plays. The cost of one alcoholic drink will be 7-12 euros, the cost of a table for four with a bottle of alcohol, a light snack and service will cost about 170 euros. On average, locals spend about 200 euros a month on trips to restaurants.
Clothing
Greece is known for its fur coat tours, which cost an average of 1500-3000 euros per item. The main centers for such purchases are in Kastoria and Paralia-Katerini.
As for buying ordinary clothes and shoes, in the middle of summer and at the end of December, you can get to the total sales season, when discounts range from 30% to 80%. In shopping malls and boutiques you can buy clothes from European and world brands.
Approximate prices for clothes and shoes:
- Leather shoes – 60 euros
- Summer dress – 20 euros
- Sneakers – 50 euros
- Jeans – 50 euros
- T-shirt – 30 euros
- Shorts – from 20 euros
- Jacket – 55 euro
Rental and maintenance of real estate
In Greece, utility bills and taxes make up the majority of housing maintenance costs. In addition to electricity, water supply, garbage collection and street maintenance are also paid. The cost of electricity and water in Greece is about the same as in Russia. On average, it takes about 1,000 euros per month to pay for housing and communal services for a small apartment. The presence of a swimming pool or garden can increase the cost of housing maintenance. In turn, energy-saving technologies will help save on utilities.
The maintenance of private houses and apartments in modern residential complexes is more expensive, and, depending on the level of infrastructure, costs may increase. In the resort areas of Greece, the temperature does not fall below zero, but housing still needs to be heated at least three months a year. In winter, the maintenance of apartments in Athens will cost an average of about 120 euros per month.
In Greece, separate receipts for the payment of additional property tax come along with the bills, its size is low. For a two-bedroom house near the sea in the resort area of Crete, all taxes, including annual and additional, will amount to about 250 euros per year, which is not so much by European standards.
Rental rates in Greece have decreased slightly with the crisis, now in Crete you can rent apartments in a house in the 80s–early 90s with three rooms in the city from 300 euros per month, and a villa on the coast with furniture in season - from 650 euros per week. On the island of Mykonos in August, you can rent an apartment for two people for 60 euros per day. Renting a three-bedroom apartment in the center of Athens will cost about 500 euros per month.
In Greece, owners prefer to rent out villas for short-term rentals during the holiday season from April to October, as it is more profitable than signing long-term contracts.
Mobile communication
Foreigners in Greece have access to mobile communication via a prepaid system, a SIM card is issued with a passport, its cost will be about 5 euros. A minute of talking on a mobile phone inside the country costs 0.2-0.5 euros. The cost of an unlimited Internet tariff will be about 20 euros.
Transport
Car rental is the most convenient way to travel around the country, its cost depends on the class of the chosen car and on the rental period. For example, you can rent a car with an automatic transmission of the middle class for 50-60 euros per day, for a period of 10 days - from 40-50 euros. It is recommended to have an international license with you. A liter of gasoline costs about 1.7-1.8 euros, diesel fuel will cost 1.4-1.5 euros per liter.
In mainland Greece, many roads are toll-free. For example, a one-way trip by car along the Thessaloniki-Athens toll road will cost 34 euros. There are also free roads, but it will take longer to drive along them.
The cost of a taxi ride in Greece depends on the region. In Athens and Thessaloniki, for example, a trip within the city will cost from 3 to 15 euros. The base fare for boarding is 0.70 euros, then the calculation goes for each kilometer traveled – 0.1-0.5 euros per 1 km. Taxi drivers charge 0.35 euros for luggage for each bag over 10 kg, an hour of waiting costs 9.6 euros. In the resort areas, the rates are slightly higher, from 12 am to 6 am, the tariff doubles.
A monthly pass in Athens by public transport will cost about 35 euros, one trip will cost 1 euro.
Medical services
If you plan to live in Greece for a long time, it is better to get private health insurance. The level of medicine in the country's public institutions is at a low level compared to other EU countries. Standard insurance per person per year costs 500-1000 euros. Doctors' services and medicines are relatively inexpensive here. A consultation with a therapist in a private clinic costs about 30 euros without tests. To pass a standard general check-up examination will cost from 50 euros.
Education
Officially, studying at public universities in Greece is free of charge. Only the first year of language learning is paid - its cost is usually 800-1000 euros. The price of study programs in private colleges in the country varies depending on the level of education: from 5,000 to 10,000 euros per year.
Thank you forпомощь в подготовке материала:
Наталию Ковалеву, директора по продажам компании Real Estate Services
Наталью Руву, эксперта компании Roula Rouva Real Estate Agency
