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Living in Athens

Athens is the national capital of Greece. Athens had a population of 637,798 in 2021. The city covered 39 km² in 2024. Population density was 16,500.8 people per km² in 2024. The bachelor’s-or-higher share was 29.2% in 2021. The high-school-or-higher share was 66.9% in 2021.

Which Greece-wide rules apply when you move to Athens?

National rules stay on the country page instead of being relabelled as city data.

Visa and entry rulesPassport-specific entry and national residence context.BenefitsCountry-wide eligibility and official application routes.Taxes in GreeceNational rates and thresholds that apply in Athens.Healthcare eligibilityCountry-wide insurance and residence conditions.

Housing and cost

Owner occupation accounted for 53% of homes in October 2021. The city had 320,047 dwellings in 2021.

How much does it cost to rent in Athens?

Average net cold rent is 9.3 EUR/m² per month (2025), excluding heating and operating charges.

Published average over existing tenancies; a specific flat can sit either side of it. Asking-rent series, where present, are separate rows in the table.

  • Average net rent (nettokalt): 9.3 EUR/m²/month · RE/MAX Greece — Residential rental prices per m² 202517
What recurs every month6 published recurring costs, € per month
Athens recurring monthly costs, € per month€510Private kindergarten€193Utilities, 85 m² flat€47Fitness club€28Internet, 60 Mbps€27Transport pass€23Mobile plan, 10 GB€ / month

Supplemental estimate lane; these items are not official statistics.

MetricValuePeriodSource
Fitness club membership, monthly47.42 EUR/month31 Jul 2026Lebenshaltungskosten in Athen15Commercial estimate · Supplemental context
Col Groceries Index Basket Eur Month74.07 EUR/month3 Aug 2026Numbeo16Supplemental estimate · Supplemental context
Internet, 60 Mbps unlimited27.67 EUR/month31 Jul 2026Lebenshaltungskosten in Athen15Commercial estimate · Supplemental context
Private kindergarten, monthly510.1 EUR/month31 Jul 2026Lebenshaltungskosten in Athen15Commercial estimate · Supplemental context
Meal at an inexpensive restaurant15 EUR31 Jul 2026Lebenshaltungskosten in Athen15Commercial estimate · Supplemental context
Mobile plan, 10 GB22.53 EUR/month31 Jul 2026Lebenshaltungskosten in Athen15Commercial estimate · Supplemental context
Monthly transport pass27 EUR/month26 Jul 2026Prices of Products13Official
Basic utilities, 85 m² home192.9 EUR/month31 Jul 2026Lebenshaltungskosten in Athen15Commercial estimate · Supplemental context
Dwellings320,047 dwellings22 Oct 2021GR official material for g05_dwellings_total7Official
Average net rent (nettokalt)9.3 EUR/m²/month31 Dec 2025RE/MAX Greece — Residential rental prices per m² 202517Commercial estimate · Supplemental context

Worked out from these numbers

What does a 60 m² flat cost?

About 558 EUR a month in cold rent at the published average of 9.3 EUR/m² per month, before heating and operating charges.

Heating, water and operating charges come on top, and a specific flat can sit either side of an average.

Source period: 2025

Work and income

The unemployment rate was 14.3% in October 2021. The employment rate was 85.7% in October 2021.

What is the unemployment rate in Athens?

The unemployment rate is about 14.3 % (October 2021).

  • Unemployment rate: 14.34 % · GR official material for unemployment_total_percent10
Unemployment across cities in GreeceUnemployment in Athens is 14.3%. Of 274 cities with data, 210 have unemployment of 10 to under 20%.
unemployment rate, % · measured cities in Greece per band39 cities: 0% to under 10%390–10210 cities: 10% to under 20%21010–20Athens 14.3%22 cities: 20% to under 30%2220–301 city: 30% to under 40%130–401 city: 40% to under 50%140–501 city: 80% to under 90%180–90

Unemployment rate (%)

MetricValuePeriodSource
Employment rate85.66 %22 Oct 2021GR official material for unemployment_total_percent10Official
Unemployment rate14.34 %country median 13.6%22 Oct 2021GR official material for unemployment_total_percent10Official

Family and education

MetricValuePeriodSource
G07 High School Or Higher Share Pct66.91 %22 Oct 2021GR official material for g07_bachelors_or_higher_share_pct8Official
G07 School Enrollment Share Pct13.84 %22 Oct 2021GR official material for unemployment_total_percent10Official

Mobility and administration

A vehicle was available to 51.5% of households in October 2021.

MetricValuePeriodSource
Destinations from nearest airport104 count3 Aug 2026OpenFlights11Official
Nearest airportATH3 Aug 2026OurAirports12Official
Distance to nearest airport20 km3 Aug 2026OurAirports12Official
Public transport monthly pass27 EUR/month3 Aug 2026Numbeo16Supplemental estimate · Supplemental context

Language courses and integration

No exact city-level course record is currently published for Athens. These verified national programmes may still apply; use the official programme page to check local availability.

Country-level information

Preparatory Greek-language classes for migrants and refugees in Second Chance Schools — State Language Course

General Secretariat for Vocational Education, Training and Lifelong Learning — Ministry of Education

For legally resident migrants, refugees aged 18 or over who meet the Second Chance School conditions.

GreekIn Personnot_published
Open official information
Open the full Greece section
National programme information is not treated as proof of a course location in Athens.

Climate and air quality

Monthly mean temperatures were 10.2°C in January and 27.8°C in July. Monthly precipitation was 45.2 mm in January and 5.6 mm in July. Annual PM2.5 was 12.8 µg/m³ in 2024. Annual NO₂ was 32.5 µg/m³ in 2024.

Is the air quality good in Athens?

The annual PM2.5 mean is 12.8 µg/m³ (2024) — above the WHO 2021 guideline of 5 µg/m³ but within the EU limit of 25 µg/m³. Source: EEA city air-quality dataset4

Annual mean at the measuring site(s) serving the city; current-day readings differ.

Temperature through the yearAverage daytime high and night-time low, °C
Athens average monthly daytime high and night-time low temperature, °C0°10°20°30°40°JFMAMJJASOND32°7°Daytime highNight-time low
Rainfall through the yearAverage monthly precipitation, mm
Athens average monthly precipitation, mm020406080454844251466810485166JFMAMJJASONDmm
Sunshine through the yearAverage monthly sunshine, hours
Athens average monthly sunshine, hours095190285380130136183231291336363341276208153127JFMAMJJASONDhours
Air quality vs health guidelinesAnnual means against WHO 2021 guidelines and EU legal limits
Athens annual air pollutant levels against WHO 2021 guidelines and EU legal limitsCity valueWHO guidelineEU limit52512.8PM2.5104032.5NO₂µg/m³

City values from the published air-quality observations. WHO 2021 guidelines and EU limit values are published constants.

MetricValuePeriodSource
NO₂ — annual mean32.5 µg/m³2024EEA city air-quality dataset3Official
PM2.5 — annual mean12.8 µg/m³2024EEA city air-quality dataset4Official
Average daytime high by monthJan 13.4 · Feb 13.9 · Mar 15.8 · Apr 19.4 · May 24 · Jun 28.5 · Jul 31.6 · Aug 31.4 · Sep 28.2 · Oct 23 · Nov 18.9 · Dec 15.2 °C31 Dec 1990DWD climate table — Athens Airport (Hellinikon), 1961-19902Official
Average night-time low by monthJan 7 · Feb 7.3 · Mar 8.6 · Apr 11.7 · May 15.8 · Jun 20 · Jul 22.8 · Aug 22.6 · Sep 19.7 · Oct 15.5 · Nov 12 · Dec 8.9 °C31 Dec 1990DWD climate table — Athens Airport (Hellinikon), 1961-19902Official
Average temperature by monthJan 10.2 · Feb 10.5 · Mar 12.4 · Apr 16 · May 20.6 · Jun 25 · Jul 27.8 · Aug 27.6 · Sep 24.3 · Oct 19.3 · Nov 15.4 · Dec 12 °C31 Dec 1990DWD climate table — Athens Airport (Hellinikon), 1961-19902Official
Average precipitation by monthJan 45.2 · Feb 47.8 · Mar 44.3 · Apr 24.8 · May 14.4 · Jun 6 · Jul 5.6 · Aug 8.1 · Sep 9.7 · Oct 47.8 · Nov 50.8 · Dec 66.3 mm31 Dec 1990DWD climate table — Athens Airport (Hellinikon), 1961-19902Official
Average sunshine by monthJan 130.2 · Feb 135.5 · Mar 182.9 · Apr 231 · May 291.4 · Jun 336 · Jul 362.7 · Aug 341 · Sep 276 · Oct 207.7 · Nov 153 · Dec 127.1 hours31 Dec 1990DWD climate table — Athens Airport (Hellinikon), 1961-19902Official
Annual PM2.5 over time10 published observations, 2013–2024
Annual PM2.5 in Athens by year, µg/m³9.810.912.113.22013201720192021202412.8µg/m³

Annual PM2.5 rose 28.0% between 2013 and 2024, from 10.0 to 12.8.

Which nearby places are linked to Athens?

Official and functional links appear before nearby-only places.

Távros Metro Member · 3.3 km18
Rent
Not collectedNo exact local rent fact
Recorded crime
Not collectedNo exact total-rate fact
Dhafní Metro Member · 3.9 km18
Rent
Not collectedNo exact local rent fact
Recorded crime
Not collectedNo exact total-rate fact
Aigáleo Metro Member · 4.4 km18
Rent
Not collectedNo exact local rent fact
Recorded crime
Not collectedNo exact total-rate fact
Kallithéa Metro Member · 4.4 km18
Rent
Not collectedNo exact local rent fact
Recorded crime
Not collectedNo exact total-rate fact
Galátsi Metro Member · 4.6 km18
Rent
Not collectedNo exact local rent fact
Recorded crime
Not collectedNo exact total-rate fact
Néa Smýrni Metro Member · 4.7 km18
Rent
Not collectedNo exact local rent fact
Recorded crime
Not collectedNo exact total-rate fact
Néa Chalkidóna Metro Member · 4.7 km18
Rent
Not collectedNo exact local rent fact
Recorded crime
Not collectedNo exact total-rate fact
Peristéri Metro Member · 4.8 km18
Rent
Not collectedNo exact local rent fact
Recorded crime
Not collectedNo exact total-rate fact

Cities of a similar size in Greece

Closest published populations, for a like-for-like comparison.

All Greece cities
Thessaloniki319,045 residentsPatras215,922 residentsHeraklion179,302 residentsPátra170,755 residentsPiraeus168,151 residentsLarissa164,095 residents

Population and city profile

How many people live in Athens?

The published population was 637,798 people in 2021. Source: Resident population by gender in the 10 largest municipalities; Athens14

Who lives hereResidents by nationality, % of population
Athens residents by nationalityBy nationalityNational passport79.1%Foreign residents20.9%

Calculated from the population and foreign-resident facts on this page.

MetricValuePeriodSource
City area39 km²2024Eurostat GISCO LAU 2024 dataset5Official
Foreign-resident share20.75 %22 Oct 2021GR official material for foreign_population_share_percent6Official
Foreign residents133,528 people22 Oct 2021City of Athens strategic plan 2024-20281Official
Population density16,501 people/km²2024Eurostat GISCO LAU 2024 dataset5Official
Population637,798 people2021Resident population by gender in the 10 largest municipalities; Athens14Official

Is Athens a good place to live?

There is no universal answer. The profile scores below show who the available published evidence may suit; they are a decision aid, not a personal recommendation.

Try your profile
Remote worker57%strong on work, weak on safety · range 46–68%
Skilled employee55%strong on work, weak on safety · range 45–65%
Student58%strong on cost, weak on safety · range 48–68%
Family46%strong on family, weak on safety · range 35–57%
Retirement53%strong on legal route, weak on admin · range 41–65%
Foreign residents133,528 people22 Oct 2021Official source · City of Athens strategic plan 2024-2028
Population637,798 people2021Official source · Resident population by gender in the 10 largest municipalities; Athens
Average net rent (nettokalt)9.3 EUR/m²/month31 Dec 2025Commercial source · RE/MAX Greece — Residential rental prices per m² 2025
Dwellings320,047 dwellings22 Oct 2021Official source · GR official material for g05_dwellings_total
Employment rate85.66 %22 Oct 2021Official source · GR official material for unemployment_total_percent
Unemployment rate14.34 %22 Oct 2021Official source · GR official material for unemployment_total_percent
Every value keeps its source, geographic scope and verification date · Last checked 2026-08-03

Additional context

MetricValuePeriodSource
Owner-occupied homes53.05 %22 Oct 2021GR official material for g05_dwellings_total7Official
G03 Labour50.18 %22 Oct 2021GR official material for unemployment_total_percent10Official
G07 Bachelors Or Higher Share Pct29.17 %22 Oct 2021GR official material for g07_bachelors_or_higher_share_pct8Official
G09 Households With Vehicle Available Pct51.52 %22 Oct 2021GR official material for g09_households_with_vehicle_available_pct9Official

Yes — migrants can receive medical care in Athens when the national insurance or residence conditions are met.

Healthcare access follows the country-wide insurance rules; local capacity facts remain city data and are not used as proof of eligibility.

Open the official coverage guide
Country rule verified 2026-08-03.

Common questions

Answered from the published values on this page, each with its source and date.

How many people live in Athens?

The published population was 637,798 people in 2021. Source: Resident population by gender in the 10 largest municipalities; Athens.

How much does it cost to rent in Athens?

Average net cold rent is 9.3 EUR/m² per month (2025), excluding heating and operating charges. For a 70 m² flat that is about 651 EUR a month before utilities. Source: RE/MAX Greece — Residential rental prices per m² 2025.

Is the air quality good in Athens?

The annual PM2.5 mean is 12.8 µg/m³ (2024) — above the WHO 2021 guideline of 5 µg/m³ but within the EU limit of 25 µg/m³. Source: EEA city air-quality dataset.

What is the unemployment rate in Athens?

The unemployment rate is about 14.3 % (October 2021). Source: GR official material for unemployment_total_percent.

How many foreign residents live in Athens?

133,528 people residents hold a foreign nationality. Source: City of Athens strategic plan 2024-2028.

How much is public transport in Athens?

A monthly transport pass is 27 EUR/month. Source: Prices of Products.

Is Athens a good place to live?

Athens may suit different people for different reasons. The page's profile scores compare published cost, work, housing, safety, healthcare and other available factors; they are a decision aid, not a universal recommendation.

Which nearby places are linked to Athens?

Távros, Dhafní, Aigáleo, Kallithéa, Galátsi are linked in the current source-backed set. The relationship label distinguishes administrative, metropolitan, commuting and distance-only links.

Cite this page

Open a format to select or copy this ImmigrationDB compilation citation. The native disclosure and text fallback work without JavaScript.

APA citation
ImmigrationDB. (2026, September 12). Athens, Greece: rent, cost of living, jobs [ImmigrationDB compilation; snapshot approved-static-d7ed373c115d60d0; version approved-static-d7ed373c115d60d0]. ImmigrationDB. https://immigrationdb.com/cities/gr/athens/ Retrieved 2026-09-12. Compilation license: CC BY 4.0, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
BibTeX citation
@misc{immigrationdb_immigrationdb_athens-greece-rent-cost-of-living-jobs_aa87e666f4fb,
  author = {ImmigrationDB},
  title = {Athens, Greece: rent, cost of living, jobs},
  publisher = {ImmigrationDB},
  year = {2026},
  date = {2026-09-12},
  version = {approved-static-d7ed373c115d60d0},
  snapshot = {approved-static-d7ed373c115d60d0},
  url = {https://immigrationdb.com/cities/gr/athens/},
  note = {Retrieved 2026-09-12. ImmigrationDB compilation. Compilation license: CC BY 4.0, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/},
}
Markdown citation
[Athens, Greece: rent, cost of living, jobs](https://immigrationdb.com/cities/gr/athens/) — ImmigrationDB; ImmigrationDB; snapshot approved-static-d7ed373c115d60d0; version approved-static-d7ed373c115d60d0; retrieved 2026-09-12; built 2026-09-12.

This citation identifies the ImmigrationDB compilation/page. Underlying source publishers and datasets retain their own terms; inspect the Sources section and cite those records separately. View the underlying source records.

Sources

JSON Markdown
  1. City of Athens strategic plan 2024-2028 cityofathens.gr · checked 2026-07-18
  2. DWD climate table — Athens Airport (Hellinikon), 1961-1990 DWD climate table · dwd.de · checked 2026-07-26
  3. EEA city air-quality dataset tableau-public.discomap.eea.europa.eu · checked 2026-07-18
  4. EEA city air-quality dataset tableau-public.discomap.eea.europa.eu · checked 2026-07-18
  5. Eurostat GISCO LAU 2024 dataset gisco-services.ec.europa.eu · checked 2026-07-18
  6. GR official material for foreign_population_share_percent statistics.gr · checked 2026-07-18
  7. GR official material for g05_dwellings_total statistics.gr · checked 2026-07-18
  8. GR official material for g07_bachelors_or_higher_share_pct statistics.gr · checked 2026-07-18
  9. GR official material for g09_households_with_vehicle_available_pct statistics.gr · checked 2026-07-18
  10. GR official material for unemployment_total_percent statistics.gr · checked 2026-07-18
Show 8 more sources
  1. OpenFlights raw.githubusercontent.com · checked 2026-08-03
  2. OurAirports davidmegginson.github.io · checked 2026-08-03
  3. Prices of Products oasa.gr · checked 2026-07-26
  4. Resident population by gender in the 10 largest municipalities; Athens lms.statistics.gr · checked 2026-07-16
  5. Lebenshaltungskosten in Athen de.numbeo.com · checked 2026-07-26
  6. Numbeo numbeo.com · checked 2026-08-03
  7. RE/MAX Greece — Residential rental prices per m² 2025 RE/MAX Greece · remax.gr · checked 2026-07-29
  8. wikidata.org place coordinates wikidata.org · checked 2026-08-28

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