Athens inexpensive for many Europeans — but expensive for its own residents
Analysis finds that average rents and everyday prices consume a large share of local incomes in Athens despite lower costs versus many European cities.
Athens can appear affordable when compared with many Western European capitals, but for its residents the city is costly because wages remain low.
Rent and income in numbers
A one‑bedroom apartment in central Athens rents on average for €640. That amount represents roughly 55 percent of the typical monthly salary in the city, which stands at about €1,158.
Several European cities show higher nominal rents: a similar central flat in Lisbon costs about €1,430 while the average income there is €1,432. In London the monthly rent for a central one‑bedroom reaches €2,677 — around 70 percent of local pay — and the rent‑to‑income ratio is also high in Rome (65 percent) and Madrid (64 percent).
By contrast, some large European capitals offer a more favourable balance between pay and housing costs: Vienna’s average rent equals about 38 percent of wages, while Paris and Berlin are each close to 45 percent.
Daily expenses further squeeze household budgets in Athens. A standard restaurant or fast‑food meal costs around €15 — comparable to Paris, Berlin, Rome and Lisbon, and only marginally cheaper than in Vienna — despite markedly higher average earnings in those cities. Meat prices are elevated in Athens, while fruit and vegetables remain comparatively cheap. Milk is listed at €1.66, the highest level among the cities included in the analysis.
Public transport in Athens ranks among the cheaper European capitals (third cheapest), but commuters face high taxes and particularly costly fuel. The study notes that education is relatively accessible, and although property prices are climbing in Athens, only Bucharest remains cheaper in the sample.
Photo: press material from the event
