Moving to Greece: tax, residence and real costs (2026)
Greece: EUR 100k a year flat on all foreign income (+EUR 20k per family member) · up to 44% on Greek income. The cheapest route to residence is non-dom flat tax needs a EUR 500k investment; basic residence: FIP visa (EUR 3.5k/month income) or EU registration: USD 550k that stays yours (deposit, investment or funds shown) plus about USD 2,000 in fees, in about 4 months. Living costs about USD 1,450 a month for one person in Athens, USD 930 in Lamia, and around USD 880 on a bare-minimum budget.
Key facts
| Tax in one line | EUR 100k a year flat on all foreign income (+EUR 20k per family member) · up to 44% on Greek income |
| Foreign income | EUR 100k a year flat on foreign income (+EUR 20k per family member), up to 15 years |
| Gains · dividends | foreign: covered · foreign: covered |
| Wealth · inheritance tax | none · foreign assets exempt under the regime |
| Cheapest residence | non-dom flat tax needs a EUR 500k investment; basic residence: FIP visa (EUR 3.5k/month income) or EU registration |
| Money needed | USD 550k that stays yours (deposit, investment or funds shown) plus about USD 2,000 in fees |
| Time | about 4 months |
| Doable yourself? | Mostly; a local fixer for one step helps |
| Days you must spend there | 183 days |
| Citizenship | 7 years |
| Online business | 22% effective, about USD 2,000 a year to run: moving your business: 50% income-tax reduction for 7 years (5B) ~22% effective |
| Living (one person a month) | Athens ~USD 1,450; bare minimum ~USD 880; family of four ~USD 3,000 |
| Good for | flat tax for 15 years for new residents investing EUR 500k; pensioners: 7% flat on foreign pensions for 15 years |
| Common set-up | golden visa property + the EUR 100k non-dom regime; retirees: the 7% pensioner regime |
Pros and cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
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Programmes
| Programme | All-in, one person | Months | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Golden Visa | USD 300k | 4 | EUR 800k in Athens, Thessaloniki, Mykonos, Santorini and big islands; EUR 400k elsewhere; EUR 250k for conversions or listed buildings. Can't rent short-term. |
| Non-dom flat tax | USD 550k | 4 | EUR 100k a year on foreign income, EUR 500k investment in Greece. |
Questions
- How much does residence in Greece cost?
- Non-dom flat tax needs a EUR 500k investment; basic residence: FIP visa (EUR 3.5k/month income) or EU registration: USD 550k that stays yours (deposit, investment or funds shown) plus about USD 2,000 in fees, about 4 months.
- Does Greece tax foreign income?
- EUR 100k a year flat on foreign income (+EUR 20k per family member), up to 15 years. In one line: EUR 100k a year flat on all foreign income (+EUR 20k per family member) · up to 44% on Greek income.
- What does it cost to live in Greece?
- Living costs about USD 1,450 a month for one person in Athens, USD 930 in Lamia, and around USD 880 on a bare-minimum budget (based on livingcost.org, 2026).
- Can I run an online business from Greece?
- Effective tax about 22% with the cheapest legal set-up, which costs about USD 2,000 a year: moving your business: 50% income-tax reduction for 7 years (5B) ~22% effective.
- What is the catch in Greece?
- Must not have been Greek resident for 7 of the last 8 years.
- What residence or citizenship programmes does Greece have?
- Golden Visa: about USD 300k all-in for one person, ~4 months; Non-dom flat tax: about USD 550k all-in for one person, ~4 months
Compare
- Monaco: 0% on foreign income · 0% on local income (French citizens excepted)
- Andorra: 10% on foreign income (credit for tax paid abroad) · 10% on local income · 10% top
- Switzerland (lump-sum taxation): lump-sum: a yearly fixed tax on living costs instead of tax on income (foreign income and gains included)
- Italy (flat tax for new residents): EUR 300k a year flat on all foreign income and gains, whatever the amount · 43% on Italian income
- Cyprus (non-dom): 0% on dividends and interest (non-dom, 17 years) · 20-35% on work income · 0% on securities gains
- Malta: foreign income: 0% unless brought to Malta (min. tax EUR 5k) · 35% top on Maltese income
- Portugal (IFICI): 0% on most foreign income (IFICI, 10 years) · 20% flat on qualifying Portuguese work income · 48% otherwise
- United Kingdom (FIG regime): first 4 years: 0% on foreign income and gains (FIG) · up to 45% on UK income · then worldwide
Compare all 53 places with your own income and budget →
Sources
- https://www.aade.gr
- https://cy.andersen.com/news/greek-non-dom-tax-regime/
- Living costs: based on livingcost.org (livingcost.org, June 2026), rounded