Quote from: wizer on Today at 05:42:41 AMGreece is cheap because, well it has to be, as a local family of 4 typically lives on less than 1500 € per month, often closer to 1000 € and many of them rent which takes a good chunk of what they start with.

Almost everything is dirt cheap, especially professional services such as doctors, electricians, plumbers, and veterinarians. Average visit or service call is under 50 €. Contractors charge between 50-70 € per day for home improvement work. Health insurance is 200 €/year for basic coverage which is sufficient for most. Car and house insurance runs about 700 €/year. Utilities maybe 200 €/month total. Property tax is about 1000 € per year. The only thing that's more expensive as compared to the US is gas, which runs about 1.70 €/ liter, or $9 per gallon due to high taxes and because we live in a remote area and have our water delivered, and we have a lot of plants and a swimming pool we pay about 250 € per month for water.

And on top of that you have the pleasant Mediterranean climate. It is dry instead of muggy.

I could not handle Central America or South East Asia where Shen is. The humidity is too extreme.

Quote from: Shen Li on November 14, 2025, 10:47:56 PMGreece sounds like a bargain.

Quote from: DKG on Today at 05:30:46 AMI thought anywhere inside the Euro zone about $2000 per month would be the bare minimum for survival.

Greece is cheap because, well it has to be, as a local family of 4 typically lives on less than 1500 € per month, often closer to 1000 € and many of them rent which takes a good chunk of what they start with.

Almost everything is dirt cheap, especially professional services such as doctors, electricians, plumbers, and veterinarians. Average visit or service call is under 50 €. Contractors charge between 50-70 € per day for home improvement work. Health insurance is 200 €/year for basic coverage which is sufficient for most. Car and house insurance runs about 700 €/year. Utilities maybe 200 €/month total. Property tax is about 1000 € per year. The only thing that's more expensive as compared to the US is gas, which runs about 1.70 €/ liter, or $9 per gallon due to high taxes and because we live in a remote area and have our water delivered, and we have a lot of plants and a swimming pool we pay about 250 € per month for water.

Quote from: Shen Li on November 14, 2025, 10:47:56 PMGreece sounds like a bargain.

Indeed!

I thought anywhere inside the Euro zone about $2000 per month would be the bare minimum for survival.

Quote from: wizer on November 13, 2025, 01:12:40 PMCost of living is very low. The average Greek lives on about $1200 per month.

I live in Singapore which is very expensive. A lot of countries in SE Asia have large expat populations. Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam and the Philippines in particular. A lot of Western expats and Singaporeans retire in those countries.

What I have heard is that you can still retire for $1200/month in the region if you are frugal. Most say $1500 is the minimum you need.  Of course locals can and do live cheaper.

Greece sounds like a bargain.

Quote from: formosan on November 14, 2025, 08:46:55 AMThere are no restrictions on non EU citizens owning property wizer?

Not that I'm aware of.

But conversely, in order to obtain residence and stay longer than 90 days per 180 day period in most of Europe a non citizen needs a special visa, called a "Golden Visa" in many countries, and the most popular way to get one is to purchase property for a specified minimum amount.

Here in Greece it's either 400,000 euros or 800,000 euros depending on where the property is located.

Quote from: wizer on November 13, 2025, 11:32:49 PMWe live in a rural area of mostly Expat holiday homes and AirBnbs. There are very few full timers.

There are no restrictions on non EU citizens owning property wizer?

Quote from: wizer on November 13, 2025, 11:32:49 PMWe live in a rural area of mostly Expat holiday homes and AirBnbs. There are very few full timers.

I believe rural Greece has the same issue towns in Southern Italy have with depopulation.

Quote from: Reggie Essent on November 13, 2025, 11:52:22 PMDo you go to the nearest village on market day and buy stuff off of donkey carts?  Or do they have a SaveWay or an Aldis nearby?

The closest small village which is like 100's of years old and has little more than a post office, a few cafes, bakeries, a church and a supermarket is 15 minutes away. The next larger one which is more of a mid size town is about 20 minutes away, and has numerous cafes, bakeries 2 hardware stores, several supermarkets, at least 3 pharmacies, a plumbing supply store, an auto repair shop etc.

The city of Corinth is 35 minutes away and has almost everything. For the few specialized stores that you can't find anywhere else, it's a trip to Athens, about 1.5 hours away.

Several towns and villages have a market day with rows of street vendors selling fish,fruits, vegetables, clothing and assorted household supplies at significantly reduced prices over the stores.

Quote from: wizer on November 13, 2025, 11:32:49 PMWe live in a rural area of mostly Expat holiday homes and AirBnbs. There are very few full timers.

Do you go to the nearest village on market day and buy stuff off of donkey carts?  Or do they have a SaveWay or an Aldis nearby?

Quote from: Reggie Essent on November 13, 2025, 10:45:36 PMYeah, but you gotta live around all them Greeks.

We live in a rural area of mostly Expat holiday homes and AirBnbs. There are very few full timers.

Greece is one of only a few countries in Europe I want to see.

Quote from: wizer on November 13, 2025, 01:12:40 PMYes you can get a house and property for under $100k in many places.

Cost of living is very low. The average Greek lives on about $1200 per month.

Yeah, but you gotta live around all them Greeks.

Quote from: JOE on November 13, 2025, 12:44:13 PMI heard from someone that Greece is a lot more affordable than Canada or the United States.

Can a person buy some property or Real Estate (like a condo) for $100,000 or less wizer wizer? That's about my budget.

I don't need a mansion either.

Just a decent getaway to spend a few or up to 6 months of the year.

Sweetie you cannot buy a condo with chocolate gold coins.

Face it Jo Jo, you own nothing and you are happy. You are Mr. Carney's kind of people.

Quote from: JOE on November 13, 2025, 12:44:13 PMI heard from someone that Greece is a lot more affordable than Canada or the United States.

Can a person buy some property or Real Estate (like a condo) for $100,000 or less wizer wizer? That's about my budget.

I don't need a mansion either.

Just a decent getaway to spend a few or up to 6 months of the year.

Yes you can get a house and property for under $100k in many places.

Cost of living is very low. The average Greek lives on about $1200 per month.

Quote from: wizer on November 12, 2025, 12:40:42 PMBorn and raised in NY, retired at the end of 2023, moved to Greece and purchased a home in the Peloponnese region, on a mountainside overlooking the Saronic Gulf.

I heard from someone that Greece is a lot more affordable than Canada or the United States.

Can a person buy some property or Real Estate (like a condo) for $100,000 or less wizer wizer? That's about my budget.

I don't need a mansion either.

Just a decent getaway to spend a few or up to 6 months of the year.