It depends on how much you have. Beginning with the house price you will find out that houses in Greece are far too cheaper than in any other advanced western country.
So let as talk about renting, housing, bills and costs.
If you have the money the things to consider are the reputation of the area and the distance you have to travel to your workplace. A good place to live (always talking about 2 bedrooms apartment over 65sm, with its own wc, kitchen, storage room and a living room) can go up to 900 euros in Halandri. Halandri is considered really a nice place to live in. It is upper class area but not for extreme rich guys. Going down to the centre Kipseli is an overcrowded place, but you can easily find a house of 110sm for 590euros. I would not suggest this one though. Nea Smirni is the place I used to live. It is a nice neibourhoud with middle class, close to the sea, close to the center and a silent oasis into Athens. 520 to 550 is your number! Always for a 2 bedrooms apartment.
For a studio, prices are even lower (350 to 450). Studios, usually, can be found in old block of apartments. Best areas to search in are Nea Smirni, Kallithea, Neos Kosmos, Zografou, Kipseli, Patisia and Brahami. These are areas with a lot of students, working class and some immigrants. If you are a multi-culti person you will love Patisia. It is full of ethnic restaurants owned by Africans and Asians. There are also many gathering points and cultural associations of foreigners as well.
The rent is not the only expenses you’ll have. You also have to pay bills. One person can consume up to 20euros of electricity, 10euros of water each month. Another thing you’ll have to pay is a bill for the expenses of the block of apartments you live in. This bill includes petrol consumption for warming up your place, lift maintenance, maintenance costs generally. This can go up to 25euros summertime, 60euros winter time. Telephones are expensive. I would propose VoIP solutions. If not, a house telephone can cost about 40euros a month using it normally. Cell phone is turning cheaper and cheaper every year. Can be up to 20euros a month. Internet connection is the biggest problem you will face. You will soon understand that the 1Mbps line costs about 30euros. For broader internet connection you simply wont do it! It is required that the provider has a broadband net in your area and also you’ll have to pay a lot. About cell phones and internet connection try us out in some days. We will write about it soon, more extensively.
Areas to avoid include Vathis square and Omonoia square as well as any other house 1km around them. Criminality is elevated, junkies may provoke problems by night, police is absent, ‘red light houses’ attract sometimes dangerous people. Sepolia is also a place not to be. Houses are easily targeted by burglars there. Excepting these three areas Athens isn’t a dangerous city at all.
Another thing you must check out, before renting, is the accessibility of the means of public transport. Center is accessible, while areas like Haidari, Voula, Aigaleo and others are not. Since I will write more about transportation in a later article, I quit for the moment.
Expats! I will appreciate much any of your questions. I have lived for 6 years in Athens, 17 years in Thessaloniki, while now, I am an expat myself. You can write us to info@hitgreece.com or just leave a response.
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