11.06.2025
Greece has long had a reputation as one of the more affordable places in Europe to buy a holiday or second home. Prices have risen over the past few years, so the picture is more nuanced than it once was, but the value case is still real. Here is an honest look at how Greece compares with other popular European markets, and what makes it worth considering.
Greek property prices have climbed steadily since the post-crisis low, and they are no longer the bargain of a decade ago. Even so, they remain well below the major Western European capitals. According to Bank of Greece and Spitogatos data for late 2025, asking prices in central Athens sit at around €2,400 per square metre, rising to roughly €3,300 in the northern suburbs and around €4,000 or more along the southern coast. Thessaloniki averages in the region of €2,600 to €2,900. Crete and other regional markets offer entry points lower than Athens, though prime coastal and island locations command a premium.
Set against the major capitals, the gap is still substantial. A central apartment in Paris or Amsterdam costs several times more per square metre than its equivalent in Athens. Greece is also competitive with, or below, Lisbon and Madrid, which have seen sharp increases in recent years. The headline, then, is not that Greece is the cheapest market in Europe, but that it offers strong value relative to lifestyle, climate, and rental potential, particularly for buyers from higher-cost markets. These are approximate figures that vary by area and move over time, so it is worth checking current data for the specific location you have in mind.
Greece continues to attract international buyers, drawn by competitive prices, the climate, and a straightforward buying process for foreigners. Much of the underlying demand for holiday lets is supported by tourism, which has been at record levels.
According to the Bank of Greece, 2025 was a record year, with around 38 million international visitors and tourism revenue passing €22 billion. That sustained demand helps keep occupancy high for well-located rental properties in tourist areas, which is part of what makes Greece appealing to buyers thinking about letting their home when they are not using it.
In popular areas, a well-positioned home can earn useful rental income, especially over the summer. Demand is particularly strong in Crete and the Ionian islands, where coastal properties draw both seasonal tourists and longer-staying visitors. Returns vary a great deal by location, property type, and how often you let, so it is more useful to look at realistic figures for a specific area than at a headline percentage. We are happy to talk through what is achievable in the places you are considering, and to give a grounded view rather than an optimistic one.
Greeks are warm and welcoming, and it is easy to feel at home, especially in smaller islands and villages where you quickly become part of the community.
Day-to-day living in Greece is more affordable than in much of Western Europe. Even Athens and Thessaloniki work out cheaper than Paris, Rome, or Amsterdam, particularly on rent and eating out.
The long, warm summers and mild winters are a large part of the draw, especially for buyers from Northern Europe. Summers are genuinely hot, regularly well above 30°C, with cooler, greener winters. The relaxed pace suits holiday use and retirement alike, and the healthcare and social infrastructure provide a solid safety net.
Greece is no longer the rock-bottom market it was after the crisis, but it still offers some of the best value in Europe for a second home, paired with a climate, lifestyle, and rental demand that few other markets match. As always, the right advice on the legal and tax side makes the difference. We've been guiding international buyers to their ideal home in Greece since 1991. You are welcome to speak with us for a no-obligation consultation.
Disclaimer: This article is for general information only. Property prices, taxes, and residency rules change, and individual situations vary. We recommend consulting qualified legal and tax professionals before making any decisions.
09.06.2026
Selling property in Greece means meeting a clear set of legal requirements: the right documents, a notarial deed, settled taxes, and clean title. For owners living abroad, the difficulty is rarely the rules themselves. It is coordinating several Greek authorities from another country. Here is what the process actually involves, and where having a legal team on the ground changes things.
21.05.2026
I bought a home in Greece (or I'm fantasizing about buying one), and I want to rent it out. What does it take to rent out a home in Greece? What taxes will I pay, and what income can I expect? Can I hire someone to assist me in renting out my home in Greece? In this comprehensive guide, we share everything you need to know about renting out a home in Greece, including legal requirements, market insights, and practical tips.
21.05.2026
Buying a home in Greece often starts with one very simple question: what does my budget actually get me?
It is a fair question, because property prices in Greece can vary a lot depending on location, views, accessibility, construction quality, and rental potential. A budget that may secure a sea-view apartment in one region could open the door to a private villa with land in another. In more established destinations, the same amount may buy less space, but stronger location value. In this guide, we look at both existing homes and off-plan projects currently under construction. This reflects how many international buyers search in Greece today: comparing ready-to-use properties with new-build opportunities that may still be in development. In some cases, buying off-plan can offer more flexibility, newer specifications and staged payments, while existing homes may appeal to buyers who want to use or rent the property sooner.
For international buyers, understanding these differences is an important first step. Whether you are looking for a holiday home, a future relocation base, or a long-term investment, knowing what €250K, €400K and €600K can realistically offer helps you search with more clarity.
13.05.2026
A full-service Greek real estate company handles the property search, the legal work, and the support after purchase in one place, so international buyers don't have to hire and coordinate separate agents, lawyers, and administrators. For anyone buying from abroad, that removes the hardest part of the process: navigating Greek property law in a language and a system they don't know. This guide explains what a full-service company does, why it matters for international buyers, and how it works in practice at Elxis.
07.05.2026
Greece has become one of the most appealing places in the world to spend retirement. The climate is mild, the cost of living is reasonable, the healthcare is good, and the tax treatment of foreign pensions is among the most generous in Europe. This guide walks through the practical side of retiring here: how to get residency, how the tax system works for pensioners, how to arrange healthcare, and where people choose to live.
05.05.2026
You can sell a property in Greece yourself. For most owners, though, an agent is the safer and far less stressful route. That is even more true if you live abroad. Here is the honest case for using one, and what selling alone really asks of you.
21.04.2026
The Greek holiday home market in 2026 is no longer defined by a single trend. What is emerging instead is a rising demand for smaller, more affordable holiday homes. This shift reflects broader changes in international buyer behavior. Foreign purchasers are no longer simply searching for a beautiful house near the sea. They are looking more strategically at value, rental potential, construction quality, lifestyle convenience, and future resale opportunities. Greece continues to attract strong overseas interest, but the profile of demand is becoming sharper and more selective.
17.04.2026
Trying to figure out what a property in Greece is really worth has become surprisingly difficult. Not because there’s no demand, on the contrary, the market has been rising steadily, but because “value” in Greece is no longer a single, stable concept. Overall, the market looks healthy. According to the Bank of Greece, apartment prices increased by 7.8% on average in 2025, based on provisional data published in its Q4 2025 residential property price index. However, this overall figure masks important regional differences. In the fourth quarter of 2025 alone, prices rose by 5.9% in Athens, 8.0% in Thessaloniki, 10.5% in other cities, and 8.6% in other areas of Greece, highlighting how uneven price dynamics can be across the country.
.jpg)
