Consumers across Greece rushed to petrol stations and supermarkets amid growing concern over the war…
Tag: Cost of living
A recent report from the General Secretariat of Trade has highlighted a striking trend: between…
Greece recorded a cheaper typical supermarket basket than several European countries, even as it faced…
Renters across Attica faced steep housing costs in 2025, as rising rents made affordable homes…
This city has become the world’s leading city in terms of millionaire residents, with one…
Greece recorded the second-lowest average annual adjusted full-time wages in the European Union in 2024,…
Greek wages and household incomes remain significantly below pre-crisis levels, according to Eurostat data, highlighting…
Greek taxpayers who fail to cover at least 30% of their annual income through electronic…
Democrat Zohran Mamdani was sworn in as mayor of New York City on Wednesday, officially…
As Australia becomes one of the first countries in the world to enter 2026, Sydney…
A nationwide open-ended strike at Greece’s street markets (laikes agores) will begin on January 7,…
Greece has been ranked the number one country in the world to retire to in…
Applications for Greece’s 2025–2026 heating allowance have exceeded 1,075,000, as households rush to meet the…
A major support package worth approximately €600 million enters into force today, benefiting 2.4 million…
The Greek government has set a December 5, 2025 deadline for households to apply for…
Greece faces a growing social challenge, with 26.9% of the population—around 2.74 million people—at risk…
The cost of a typical household shopping basket in Greek supermarkets remains lower than in…
As Greece prepares to unveil its 2026 draft budget on October 6, the nation faces a challenging economic landscape. The government projects a robust 4% primary surplus, exceeding expectations, but this comes amid slowing growth, with GDP expected to dip to 1.9% in 2026. Persistent inflation, forecasted at 3.1%, continues to strain households, driven by rising costs for food, rent, and wages. While fiscal gains may allow for new social benefits, Greek families are feeling the squeeze of a high cost of living.
Young Greeks are among the last in Europe to leave their parents’ homes, according to Eurostat data. With the average age of independence at 30.7 years, Greece stands out as both a “negative champion” and an outlier, combining late home-leaving with some of the EU’s highest housing cost burdens.
Rising inflation is curbing summer spending in Greece, with sluggish sales despite the discount season and half of Greeks unable to afford a vacation this year, prompting calls for urgent government action.
Greece faces one of the highest inflation rates in the Eurozone at 3.7% in July, up from 3.6% in June, prompting concern from the Prime Minister. While consumer prices dipped 0.3% monthly, Greeks are experiencing sharper price increases than the European average, with food and alcohol prices rising fastest at 3.3%.
Greece ranks first in the EU for housing cost burden, with the average household spending 35.5% of its disposable income on housing—and the poorest households nearly two-thirds. Despite government measures, the affordability crisis continues to deepen, highlighting a growing gap between income and basic living expenses.
Athens, July 10, 2025 – Greece is in the grip of a worsening housing crisis as rent prices skyrocket, with ELSTAT reporting an 11.4% surge compared to June 2024. Eurostat data shows Greece leading Europe with a 10.5% rent increase in Q1 2025, far above the EU’s 3.2% average. Renters now spend 35.2% of their income on housing, the highest burden in Europe, as the nation races toward a potential new peak in rental costs.
Nearly one in three Greek workers cannot afford even a small weekly personal expense, according to a new report by the Labour Institute of GSEE. Despite being employed, a significant share of Greece’s workforce lives in poverty—placing the country second in the EU for rates of working poor and highlighting deepening economic hardship and social deprivation.
Greece has launched a campaign to reduce drowning deaths, with around 400 fatalities reported annually in its seas and pools. Partnering with Safe Water Sports, the initiative targets both tourists and residents, focusing on education and first aid training. Data shows 254 of last year’s 388 drownings involved people over 70, while drowning remains a leading cause of death for children under 14.
Inflation is making Greece’s iconic souvlaki a luxury, with prices climbing to 5 euros in some areas and up to 7 euros on the islands. Rising costs for meat, charcoal, electricity, and wages are driving the increase, pushing families toward home-cooked meals as a single gyro becomes unaffordable for many.
Athens ranks seventh globally as an affordable city for expats in 2025, with relocation costs around €6,780, offering a balance of quality living and low expenses, according to Remitly’s report.
While many Greeks struggle with low wages and rising living costs, new tax data from 2024 reveals a contrasting picture of widespread homeownership, luxury spending on yachts and private schools, and significant wealth held abroad—highlighting the deepening economic divide in Greek society.
With Easter approaching, Greek shoppers face a 9% increase in the cost of their traditional Easter meal in 2025, driven by rising prices for lamb, eggs, and chocolate. At Varvakeios Market, lamb prices have climbed to €10–12 per kilogram, while the government’s “Easter basket” initiative aims to ease the burden with affordable supermarket products. A family of four can expect to spend €110–145, about €12 more than last year.
A nationwide 24-hour strike in Greece disrupted flights, ferries, and public transport on Wednesday as unions demanded an end to austerity measures, higher wages, and restored bargaining rights amid a rising cost of living and global economic concerns.
