Greece is an ideal destination for holidays, but not only. This country is also ideal for long-term living, especially if you are retired. Indeed the country does not lack assets to attract foreign retirees in search of the sun but not only. Gastronomy, taxation, cost of living, real estate and others, there are many reasons to push you to take the plunge and live your retirement in Greece. In recent years, Greece has been attracting more and more foreign retirees, and everyone will find their motivations for living there. In order to better prepare your expatriation project and to see if Greece can meet what you are looking for I’m Lisbob, the expats assistant, and I will give you my 9 good reasons to retire in Greece.

1. Cost of living

This is one of the most important factors to take into account for an expatriation, and one of the most attractive for those who consider retiring in Greece. Indeed, whatever good you consume, it will surely be cheaper than in other countries. Greece is one of the countries whose cost of living is among the lowest in Europe, while having a satisfactory level of development.

Property rentals are much cheaper than in France, and will allow you to have on average an apartment almost twice as large for the same price. You will be able to live in Greece with a better standard of living than in other countries, even if you only have a modest pension.

2. Gastronomy & Food

Greece is internationally recognized for its cuisine, which goes far beyond the simple salad made up of feta cheese, tomato and olives. Far from clichés, its gastronomy is rich in vegetables, fish and seafood, given the omnipresence of the sea throughout the country. The Greeks also use alloys of aromatic herbs that are little known and used abroad.

One of the secrets of its gastronomy and the longevity of its retirees is the quality of its products. Thanks to optimal sunshine, you will have local vegetables that we would typically bring to other countries, such as avocados or mangoes for example. Fresh products have much more flavor than imported products. You will be surprised to rediscover the taste of some very simple products such as tomatoes or courgettes.

Unlike in the UK for example, fresh produce is much cheaper at the market than in supermarkets. Catering in Greece is cheap compared to the rest of Europe, and it is not because it is of lower quality. The hospitality of the Greeks is felt through their catering services, where it is customary to offer customers a free digestive at the end of your meal, such as a shot of ouzo or tsipouro.

In short, retirees looking for authentic and Mediterranean flavors will find what they are looking for in Greece.

3. Many destinations at your fingertips

Did you know that there are over 6,000 islands in Greece? Although this figure includes many islets, there are more than 107 inhabited islands in Greece. Living in Greece will allow you to have easy access to many paradisiacal islands surrounded by crystal clear and turquoise waters. The Greek islands are places of incredible beauty. Living your retirement in Greece also means having the time to be able to discover all these places.

Each island has its signature; some will be more suitable for those who like to explore nature, seek calm, or on the contrary wish to enjoy musical entertainment and rather participate in festive events.

By living on site, you will have the opportunity to discover the islands in a more authentic way, outside the tourist season. You can take all your time to learn the customs and traditions related to each island. The islands are usually divided into clusters, which you can visit in turn in the space of a few hours. From Athens, you can easily go to most of the islands, whether by boat or plane.

When we think of Greece, we typically imagine the image of small houses with white facades and blue shutters, overlooking an incredible view where the sea shines with all shades of blue. In the end, this image does not correspond so much to mainland Greece but is very faithful to that of the islands.

4. Weather

By retiring in Greece, you will have much more time to relax and enjoy the environment around where you live. Greece may not be the ideal place when it comes to the job market, but it offers an exceptional living environment. The climate is really pleasant, the winters are mild and the summers start early in the year. If you want to retire there, you are no longer concerned with the work aspects so you can fully enjoy the country.

Greece is one of the sunniest countries in Europe, so it is the only country in Europe where you can find chameleons in the wild. If you want to live in the sun while avoiding rainy seasons like in tropical regions, Greece is a very good compromise.

5. Greeks speak English!

One of the main barriers when expatriating to Greece is the language. Not everyone has had the chance to learn Greek at school, and the alphabet is too different from ours to be understood by novices. Even more for a retirement where it is not necessarily motivating to have to learn a whole new language and way of writing.

Fortunately though, and although Greek is a relatively difficult language to learn, Greeks generally speak good English. It even seems that it is one of the countries in Europe where English is spoken the best. This will be very practical for you in your daily life and in your administrative procedures. So even if you don't intend to learn Greek (and I understand you), a little effort to learn English (if it’s not your native language) should be able to greatly facilitate your integration for your retirement. The Greeks are also rather welcoming and warm and will easily help you in case you have a problem, or just want directions.

6. Real estate market

The economic crisis in Greece is still relevant, but allows us to identify opportunities on the real estate market. Indeed in Greece properties are particularly inexpensive and it is even one of the countries where real estate is the cheapest per square meter in Europe. It is therefore possible to find village houses for low prices, but there are also great offers in the major Greek cities.

For the same price as in other countries, you will have much larger and more luxurious properties. The formalities to become an owner are not the easiest in Greece, even more so when you do not master the language. Lisbob therefore strongly recommends that you be accompanied by professionals and have a lawyer throughout this procedure in order to avoid any form of fraud.

You can fill out our property form to let professionals take care of the search for the ideal property, by clicking here.

7. Heritage & History

How can we talk about Greece without talking about its exceptional heritage? Between the capital Athens, and its acropolis, the cities of Troia, Thessaloniki, Meteora, or even Mount Olympus, Greece is quite simply a giant open-air museum that will delight retirees in search of adventure and discovery.

The remains of Greek civilization are visible throughout the territory, and Greece is even one of the countries in the world with the most monuments registered with Unesco. In short, if you like millennial cultures and ancient civilizations, Greece will be the perfect country for any retired explorer at heart.

8. Magnificient landscapes

Greece is known for its islands, but it is actually a very mountainous country. You will often be surrounded by mountains when you are at the beach. Whether in the islands or on the mainland, you will find breathtaking landscapes, and spending your retirement in Greece allows you to discover all these places straight out of Homeric tales.

Although the climate is dry, it is not desert so that the vegetation remains rich. The simultaneous presence of the sea, mountains and ancient ruins creates a special atmosphere that is found very little elsewhere. By going to the less touristy islands, you will discover quite unique places, where nature is untouched.

9. Quiet lifestyle

Greece is a country that adapts particularly well to retirement and relaxation. There is a kind of tranquility there, especially in the islands where everything seems to live in slow motion. It can be annoying for some paperwork or when ordering work, but it's nice to live in an environment where people aren't in a rush.

There is a real culture of tranquility, sidewalk cafes, so much so that a national siesta has been instituted, where most shops are closed between 2 and 5 p.m. (during warm seasons). This may or may not suit foreign retirees seeking tranquility. It is true that summers are particularly hot and this reduces mobility; siesta is not a superficial luxury but a necessity in this country.

10. Tax system

Since 2020, Greece has been offering a new tax regime, which is particularly interesting. This new taxation offers an even lower rate than the NHR tax status in Portugal (10% tax for 10 years). Greece has decided to enter the competition in order to attract foreign pensioners and has therefore introduced a fixed tax rate on foreign pensions of 7% for a period of 15 years.

This new scheme was created to attract new foreign retirees to Greece, in order to inject capital into the country. Lisbob will never repeat it enough, this tax regime should not be the main criterion in your choice of retirement, but is an asset to take into account, at the risk of being disappointed and seeing his project fall through. This status should be seen as the icing on the Greek cake! To find out more, we invite you to read our article on the new tax status for pensioners in Greece.

Of course there are other reasons for going to live in Greece for retirement, such as the quality of health care, its beaches or even the hospitality of the Greeks, but everyone must make up their own mind and, above all, go to live in Greece for its good reasons to him.