Greece’s standard tax rates are high, but it offers a significant incentive to people who move their tax home there: a 50% reduction in income tax on employment and business income for seven years. This page explains the position as of October 2026. It is a general guide, not tax advice.
Greek Tax Residency#
You are a Greek tax resident if you spend more than 183 days in Greece in any 12-month period, or if Greece is your permanent or main home or centre of vital interests. Residents are taxed on worldwide income. Digital nomad visa holders who stay most of the year will usually become residents.
The 50% Tax Break#
Under Article 5C of the Greek income tax code, people who transfer their tax residency to Greece can have 50% of their employment or business income exempted from Greek income tax for seven years, if:
- they were not Greek tax residents in at least five of the previous six years,
- they move from an EU or EEA country or a country with a tax treaty or administrative cooperation agreement with Greece, and
- they work for a Greek employer or a foreign employer’s Greek branch, or as a self-employed person in Greece, and stay at least two years.
Whether remote workers for foreign employers qualify depends on how their work is structured, so get advice from a Greek accountant before relying on it.
Greek Income Tax Rates#
Income tax is progressive, with rates from 9% to 44%. Self-employed people pay social security (EFKA) contributions and must register with the tax office. Greece has tax treaties with around 57 countries, including the US, UK and Canada.
What It Costs by Base#
These are ballpark monthly costs for one person living comfortably outside peak summer in a one-bedroom flat, eating out often, with a coworking desk and a social life.
| Base | Lean | Comfortable | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Athens | $1,400 | $2,100 | $3,200 |
| Thessaloniki | $1,200 | $1,700 to $2,100 | $3,000+ |
| Chania, Heraklion | $1,200 | $1,700 to $2,300 | $3,200+ |
| Naxos, Paros (summer) | $1,400 | $1,800 to $2,800 | $4,000+ |
| Kalamata, Corfu | $1,100 | $1,500 to $2,400 | $3,000+ |
Rough prices: a freddo espresso €2.50 to €4, a souvlaki pita €4 to €5, a taverna dinner €20 to €30, a beer €4 to €6, a coworking day pass €15 to €25, and an Athens monthly transport pass €30.
Paying for Things#
Cards and contactless payments are widely accepted, and Greek law requires most businesses to accept them. Small tavernas and island shops sometimes prefer cash. Use bank ATMs rather than independent machines, which charge high fees, and decline currency conversion.
Opening a Greek Bank Account#
Banks such as Piraeus, National Bank of Greece, Alpha and Eurobank open accounts for foreigners with a passport, an AFM tax number and proof of address, though some branches are reluctant with non-residents. Many nomads use a euro account from Wise, Revolut or another EU bank instead.
Taxes and Money FAQs#
Do digital nomads pay tax in Greece?
If you stay more than 183 days in a 12-month period or make Greece your main home, you are a Greek tax resident, taxed on worldwide income. Shorter stays usually don’t make you resident.
What is Greece's 50% tax break?
A seven-year reduction of 50% of income tax on employment and business income for people who move their tax residency to Greece and weren’t residents in five of the previous six years.
Is Greece cheap for digital nomads?
Compared with most of Western Europe, yes: about $2,100 a month in Athens for a comfortable life. Island summer rents are the main exception.
Can I pay by card in Greece?
Almost everywhere. Some small tavernas and island shops prefer cash.