Retire in Greece
To retire in Greece from outside the EU you need €3,500 a month after tax for the FIP permit. Prices run at about two-thirds of the US, and new resident pensioners can pay a flat 7% on foreign income.
What it takes, what it costs, and where retirees settle, from Greece's law and official data. Checked on Oct 8, 2026.
- Retiree visa
- From €3,500/mo (about $3,910) Net income from a foreign pension, a bank account or other own means of legal origin, plus…. Migration Code; Decision 225679/2024. Checked Oct 8, 2026.
- Price level
- ~66% of the US Household consumption, 2025. World Bank. Checked Oct 7, 2026.
- Tax on a foreign pension
- 7% or 9% to 44% A 7% flat option for new residents. PwC Tax Summaries. Checked Oct 8, 2026.
- Travel advisory
- Level 1 of 4 Exercise Normal Precautions. US State Department. Updated Oct 22, 2025.
- Health spending
- $1,963/person Per year; US $13,473. World Bank. Checked Oct 7, 2026.
- US tax treaty
- Yes An income tax treaty with the US is in force. IRS. Checked Oct 7, 2026.
Do you qualify?
Retirees from outside the EU move to Greece on the financially independent person (FIP) permit: a residence permit for people who live on a foreign pension, savings or other means of legal origin and do not work in Greece in any form.
FIP visa: documents and feesRetiring in Greece, topic by topic
Visa
FIP visa requirements
Documents, government fees and the other routes to residency.
Healthcare
Healthcare for retirees
The hospitals retirees use, what insurance covers, and Medicare abroad.
Money
Banking, pensions and tax
How US, UK and Canadian pensions reach a local bank, and what you report at home.
Budget
Cost of living
Official prices and a budget built from your own rent.
What it costs
Household prices in Greece run at about 66% of US levels. Rent is the line nobody publishes officially, so the cost of living page builds your budget from your own rent.
Build your budgetWhere retirees settle
Athens
- Capital, 643,452 people in the city (2021), 74 m above sea level
- HYGEIA in Marousi, JCI accredited
Thessaloniki
- Northern port city, 309,617 people (2021)
- Interbalkan Medical Center
Heraklion
- Port city on Crete, 145,440 people (2021)
- Creta InterClinic, 24-hour medical assistance
Chania
- Harbour town in western Crete, 54,559 people (2021)
- Nearest listed hospital: Creta InterClinic in Heraklion
Wikidata; HYGEIA; Athens Medical Group; Creta InterClinic. Checked Oct 8, 2026.
Greece compared
More guides on Greece
Visiting Greece first
Most people spend a few weeks in Greece before they apply for anything. Two things to sort out for that trip:
Kiwi.com
Flights to Greece
Compare routes and dates before a scouting trip.
Airalo
eSIM for Greece
Mobile data from the day you land, without a local SIM.
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Retiring in Greece: questions
Is Greece safe for retirees?
The US State Department rates Greece Level 1, exercise normal precautions.
Do I pay tax in Greece on my pension?
Yes. A resident's foreign pension is taxed on the normal scale of 9% to 44%. A pensioner who moves tax residence to Greece from a country with a tax cooperation agreement, and was not a Greek tax resident in five of the previous six years, can choose a flat 7% a year on all foreign income instead, applying by 31 March. US citizens still file a US return.
How hard is it for an American to retire in Greece?
Most use the FIP permit, which needs €3,500 a month after tax, private health insurance meeting legal minimums and no work in Greece. Government fees are €180 for the visa, €1,000 for the permit and €16 for the card.
Where do retirees live in Greece?
In Athens, the capital, Thessaloniki in the north, or on Crete in Heraklion or Chania, each with a private hospital in or near the city.
Does Greece offer a tax break for retirees?
Yes. A pensioner moving tax residence to Greece from a country with a tax cooperation agreement, who was not a Greek tax resident in five of the previous six years, can pay a flat 7% on all foreign income instead of the normal 9% to 44%.
