How much do you need to earn to live here, after Greece takes its share?
Here's the gross monthly salary that covers rent, food, transport, and utilities once Greece's tax system has taken its cut. (2026)
The floor in Athens is roughly €1,801/month gross, on a lean budget.
For something that feels comfortable, think €2,272/month gross (€1,672 net after ~26% tax).
| Expense | Budget | Comfortable | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rent (1BR) | €611 Cheapest neighborhood (Residential District) | €808 Median neighborhood | €966 Premium neighborhood (City Centre) |
| Groceries | €288 | €346 | €432 |
| Transport | €84 | €84 | €84 |
| Utilities | €204 | €204 | €204 |
| Dining & Entertainment | €192 | €230 | €288 |
| Total Monthly Expenses | €1,379 | €1,672 | €1,974 |
€1,801/month gross
€2,272/month gross
€2,770/month gross
Second-hand 1BR rents across 3 neighborhoods in Athens.
Residential District
22 min by transit
€611 - €760
University Quarter
15 min by transit
€720 - €896
City Centre
8 min by walk
€861 - €1,070
City Centre
8 min by walk
€861 - €1,070
University Quarter
15 min by transit
€720 - €896
Residential District
22 min by transit
€611 - €760
All 3 neighborhoods, the full expense sheet, and what you could save.
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We add up monthly expenses (rent, groceries, transport, utilities, dining out) for each lifestyle tier, then work backwards to find the gross salary that lands on that number after Greece's income tax and social contributions. Rent data reflects second-hand listings, which is what expats actually pay. All figures come from 2026 official government statistics. Full attribution lives on our data sources page.
On a budget lifestyle, you need at least €1,801/month gross salary to cover basic expenses in Athens. For a comfortable lifestyle, aim for €2,272/month gross. These figures include rent, food, transport, utilities, and dining out, with taxes calculated for Greece.
The average 1-bedroom rent across 3 neighborhoods in Athens is approximately €820/month. Rents range from €611 in Residential District to €1,070 in City Centre.
Monthly groceries for a single person in Athens cost approximately €288. This covers basic home cooking. Dining out and premium food will add to this budget.
Tax rates in Greece are progressive. At the budget salary level of €1,801/month, the effective tax rate is approximately 23%. At the comfortable level of €2,272/month, it rises to approximately 26%. This includes income tax and social contributions.