Live and work in Athens

Work in Athens

Working conditions in Athens

The Greek economy remains one of the least developed within the EC. The computer technology and electronics sectors, in particular, are still in their infancy in Greece. Domestically, the emphasis is on the development of medium-sized cities (including Patras, Volos and, in the north, Xanthi, Kavalla and Alexandroupolis). This, among other things, attempts to limit the further growth of Athens.

Although the number of holidays you can take varies by company or institution, Greece has 14 national holidays. Furthermore, a working week of 5 days is common in Greece. Working hours can vary from company to company, but generally the 9-to-5 mentality is adhered to.

Read more about working in Greece and Greece in general here.

Salaries in Athens

The average gross annual salary of a Greek is €22,800. The lower cost of living in Athens means you can easily make ends meet with this.

The minimum wage in Greece was €580 per month in 2002 and €684 per month in 2018. As of 1 May 2022, the minimum wage increased to €713 per month. With eyes on economic recovery, it is likely that the minimum wage will continue to rise in the coming years.

Tax in Athens

If you go to work in Greece, you will of course have to pay payroll tax. In Athens, therefore, 20% payroll tax is levied on wages. Moreover, in Athens you only pay payroll tax on the first 1,500 euros of income. Do you earn more? Then you don’t have to pay any extra wage tax on that. In addition, there are various deductions and exemptions you can qualify for, which can ultimately reduce the amount of tax you have to pay.

Overall, Athens is therefore a favourable country in terms of taxation for both companies and individuals who want to work in Athens.

The work culture in Athens

The work culture in Athens is slightly different from what you might be used to. Companies in Athens have a relaxed work culture. For example, it is not unusual to have long lunch breaks in Athens. Greeks use their lunch breaks to catch up and build relationships with colleagues. While these long lunch breaks are the perfect opportunity to get to know your colleagues better, they can sometimes be detrimental when trying to get your work done. Punctuality, following schedules and meeting deadlines is not so important in Athens.

Nevertheless, Greeks are generally very passionate about their work. They are very driven and motivated and working together is very important.

Important sectors in Athens

The most important sector in Athens is the service sector. This sector provides more than three quarters of employment in Athens.

In addition, the tourism sector also contributes significantly to the city’s economy. Indeed, more than 16 million people visit Greece’s capital every year. The retail sector is also an important one. Indeed, there are many large department stores and shopping centres in the city.

Moreover, Athens has the largest seaport and airport in Greece. There is therefore a lot of work to be found in the transport sector. There are also a number of large hospital in Athens, so the healthcare sector is also an important part of the economy in Athens.

Networking in Athens

When you start working abroad, you have the opportunity to build up a valuable international network that can benefit you greatly in the future. And if you are looking for a (new) job in Athens, networking is always a good idea. Fortunately, there are many opportunities to do this in Athens. In fact, networking events are organised regularly. Think, for instance, of the Athens Startup Job Fair that is held several times a year. During this event, you have the chance to connect with professionals and potential employers.

There are also several online groups for professionals in Athens, including the Athens Business Networking Group on LinkedIn. Through these groups, you can easily meet other professionals in your field.

Another good way to get a new job is to connect with other expats in Athens. Athens is a popular destination for expats and there are thousands of expats in Athens working in different sectors who can tell you all about the opportunities. There are several Facebook Groups specifically for expats in Athens that you can join, including Expats in Athens (Greece).

Working in Athens experience

Would you like to work abroad and do you like living in Athens? Then now is the time to do some more research on the city and career opportunities. Of course, it is also nice and important to read about the experiences of others.

Among other things, she explains why she started working abroad, how she feels about living in Athens and what she has learned through this experience.

Vacancies in Athens

As we mentioned above, there are plenty of career opportunities in Athens in various sectors. So keep a close eye on our vacancies page and stay tuned for new vacancies for Dutch/Flemish speakers in Athens.

Living in Athens

Athens general information

The climate in Greece, and therefore also in Athens, is perfect. It is pleasant all year round. A winter dip is unknown in Athens. If you like the good life, living and working in Athens is for you. ☀️

If there is one thing important in the life of a Greek it is food and drink. Greeks are also very hospitable and happy to welcome you. Walking around the city centre, you can make many stops to admire archaeological highlights. So cultural sights abound. In addition, public transport in Athens is also well organised, so you can explore the city by public transport as well.

Accommodation in Athens

As the (living) costs in Athens are much lower than in the Netherlands and Belgium, flat rents are also considerably lower. From €400 a month, you can already rent a fully furnished flat in Athens.

Athens city centre

Costs are highest if you rent a flat in the historic part and/or the entertainment area of Athens. There, a furnished 1-bedroom flat will cost around between €500-800 per month. For a 3-bedroom flat in the heart of Athens, you’ll pay around €900.

Where to stay in Athens

There are plenty of nice and cosy residential areas in Athens. Each residential area has its own unique amenities and features that make it attractive to certain groups of people. Below, we have listed a few different neighbourhoods in Athens for you:

Kolonaki

This upmarket residential area is perfect for people who like meeting new people and going out. In fact, you will find plenty of hip cafés, bars and restaurants in this neighbourhood.

Mets

This neighbourhood is ideal for people who want to escape the hustle and bustle of the city. It is a quiet area where you can fully enjoy the slow pace of life.

Kifisia

This is an affluent neighbourhood in Athens. The neighbourhood is known for its beautiful parks and green spaces.

Transport in Athens

If you want to travel by public transport in Athens, you can choose from a variety of trams, metros and buses. The metro system (3 lines) is very accessible for visitors. Moreover, ticket machines are international and staff everywhere speak good English. Public transport is available between 5am and midnight. There is also a night bus service for partygoers and people who want to travel to the airport at night. In addition, of course, you can easily take a taxi.

Trams run on 5 main lines and travelling by tram is cheaper than travelling by metro. Thanks to apps like CityMapper and Simera, you will receive real-time travel updates and directions. If you are going to live and work in Athens, you will also find that there are countless buses. A 24-hour card that allows you to use the entire public transport network in Athens costs just €4. Also, for a tenner you already have a card valid for five days.

Eating in Athens

As we mentioned earlier, food and drink is very important to Greeks. We can even say that over the past 10 years, Athens has become one of Europe’s most culinary cities. The city is full of trendy restaurants and traditional taverns. What Athenians do a lot of, by the way, is eat outside. They do this mainly because of the soaring temperatures.

Greek cuisine is very diverse with small dishes that eventually make up a full meal. Keep in mind that Athenians eat very late compared to the Dutch and Belgians. Especially in summer, dinner does not start until 10pm.

Typical Greek dishes are: Moussaka, tarama, tzatziki (yoghurt with cucumber and garlic) and stuffed vine leaves. Other common meals include casseroles and meat and fish on the grill. Cooked vegetables and salads are usually topped with olive oil. Vegetables such as tomatoes and peppers are often stuffed with rice and minced meat, but are sometimes prepared entirely vegetarian.

Other Greek specialities include souvlaki (brochette with marinated lamb), horiatiki (Greek salad) and, of course, the famous Greek gyros (pork on a skewer, similar to pita). Feta (Greek goat’s cheese) is also common in Athens. If Greek cuisine isn’t a good reason to live and work in Athens, we don’t know what is! 😉