An alternative is to open an international bank account with a company like Barclays. Hi everyone! Both the mainland and the islands essentially see 365 days of sunshine a year. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. From 2700 to 1420BC the island was the center of Europes first advanced civilization, the Minoans. I currently live in France, however as far as I am aware since 2005 Residence Permits are no longer required for any EU citizen living in any EU cousntry. My problem is leaving Greece and returning every 3 months is expensive. Evia, Greece's second largest island after Crete, is also open for business in winter, with many people going to its spas in towns like Aedipsos. Now based in France, Emily is a freelance writer from the UK with a passion for travel. Greece has a fairly good national healthcare system, which you can enter after three months of residency. The Best Places To Live In Greece For Expats, Living In Greece: Essential Expat Guide 2023, Greece: Visa & Residency Options For Non-EU Nationals, Living In Santorini: Expat Essential Guide. After that, you will pay normal Greece tax rates on your income. However, the island is large enough to have everything you might need. Of course, not everything is cheap, and some things cant be bought on the main island and shipped over. Greece currently has an overall falling crime rate when charted over the last 10 years, with levels sitting lower than the UK or the USA. The south coast of the island is less busy with tourists in summer, which is fantastic. Not only will this help from the language side, but they will also ensure you dont overpay. Eating big Mediterranean meals by the sea sounds extremely indulgent, but not only is great food relatively affordable in Crete; it's everywhere too. Youll find whole communities of expats sharing their knowledge and culture with other expats in tiny villages and pockets of the island. International health insurance can be quite expensive. In Athens, you can expect to pay around 9.50 per square metre, but only 5.25 per square metre in somewhere like rural Thessaloniki. Temperatures do dip as low as 2-3 degrees in the winter months, and there are occasional bursts of winter rain or snow. Gabi has been living in Crete for the last five years. Read on to find out more about what you can expect from living in Greece and how to get settled in this amazing country. You can, of course, find online forums and ask for the advice of other expats, but if you want to meet up, join a community and take advantage of the network of expats living on Crete, you might want to be in an area with a higher percentage of expats. 1.10%. The other main concern of expats is healthcare. Of course, when the tourist season comes, I always suggest people pay close attention to their surroundings, especially in very crowded areas. The Best Places To Live In Greece For Expats, Living In Greece: Essential Expat Guide 2023, Greece: Visa & Residency Options For Non-EU Nationals, Living In Santorini: Expat Essential Guide, How do I become a resident of Crete non-EU citizens. Pros and cons, residency and property matters, cost of living, and the most popular places to live. Where are the best places to live in Greece? In border areas, such as Rhodes and Crete, properties are restricted and your application must go through a committee. Retiring in Crete Greece How to choose the best place to move to. As far as work is concerned, it depends on which part of Crete you are coming to. These cookies do not store any personal information. Applying for a residence permit will take some time. The CIC (Cretan International Community) based in Rethymnon meet for coffee once a month and organise activities, trips, and expat support. Also buying fresh produce from the local farmers saves you a lot of money and you get fresh great quality products like organic eggs, fresh fruits, and vegetables, and things like honey. Hi, we are planning to move to Crete within the next two years. We have some friends who long term renters. Some links on this website are affiliate links. Water sports (windsurfing, kitesurfing, kayaking) are potential activities to do in our vacation time. Most of these villages have year round services but on a smallish scale. You can contact Jacob on LinkedIn: Jacob Powell. EU citizens must apply for a residence permit after three months, but this is more of a formality. British citizens who had lived in the EU pre-Brexit had a certain time window to settle their status and it looks like you missed it. Greeces current corporate tax rate is 24%, which has been reduced from 28%. I found all this very interesting .I actually live in Cyprus do found your comparison very useful.life is good in Cyprus but in 14 years has changed s lot..There are new buildings everywhere and lots of people from third world countries, in addition to the Filipino and Sri Lankan maids. Position: Med Aide - PRN - Assisted Living in Crete (24hr/month) Overview: TABITHA'S. PURPOSE: We empower people to live joyfully, age gratefully. If you plan to stay and/or work on the island for longer than 3 months, you need to sort out your residency. I was just wondering if you know where I would have to pay tax? Would this meet the criteria for us both to gain a Type-D visa , and ultimately a full residents visa on arrival in Kefalonia . kind regards Driving on Crete is pretty infamous as terrifying and unpredictable. There will be a lot of paperwork to be sorted, but I am sure this will not hinder those who want to settle in Greece. Life in Crete can be a contradiction when it comes to the cost of living. Can you help at all? I think anyone looking for a calm relaxed lifestyle will enjoy retiring in Crete. This can prove difficult in the first year because you need extra money available, but it gets easier once youre generating income. Many non-EU citizens including Brits, USA citizens, etc., can stay in Greece for up to 3 months without a visa. Probably the most active one in the winter is Kalyves as there is also a local Greek community which requires shops and services. I know that locals arent always the best drivers in the world, however, the impressive beauty of the mountain and sea landscapes around Crete really makes up for that. Crete also has several medical translators who can come to appointments with you and make sure you understand any prescriptions or procedures. However, there are some quirks and abnormalities which are worth knowing before you go. VerticalScope Inc., 111 Peter Street, Suite 600, Toronto, Ontario, M5V 2H1, Canada. This was a great article I came across your video Black in Crete while scrolling YT. But because I left in 2021 and didnt return until now. But what is life in Crete like? Everything you need to know about living in Crete as an expat - the pros and cons, the cost of living, the best places to live, how to integrate better and much more. Greece: Visa & Residency Options for non-EU Nationals, compare international health insurance options, The Expat Guide To UK Pensions Abroad: Understand Your Options, The Essential Guide To Cost-Effective International Removals, https://kefaloniapulse.homeinkefalonia.properties/?p=41780. Another thing that you will find frustrating and I have mentioned this in my other article about moving to Crete, its the slow pace at what things are done, and the laid back attitude of the Greek people, although its a good thing, and that is one of the reasons you want to settle in Crete, it can get very frustrating when you have a leaking sink that needs to be fixed. Id suggest, however, to read as much as you can about living in Crete before making any decision. I am planning on moving permanently to Kefalonia Greece , with my partner. Life in the mountains is more similar to life in other Mediterranean countries, where the year is divided into growing and harvesting produce. I just booked a trip and upon arrival talked to locals to find a place to live. My wife and I are living in Western Crete, close to the city of Chania. and a bus route around sitia etc as i dont drive. Some things such as local foods are dirt cheap, making day-to-day life very inexpensive. A common clich could be saying that I dont really enjoy the way locals drive. Its no secret that Greece is an incredibly popular tourist destination. Most people who decide to retire in Crete prefer purchasing a property rather than renting one, although there are some who go for long term rent. Your email address will not be published. To qualify, applicants must not have been tax resident for at least 5 of the previous 6 financial years. In mainland Greece, earthquakes up to seven in magnitude have been recorded in the past, rising to up to 7.2 in islands like Crete. God bless. Our historic center is really charming, with romantic cobblestone alleys, a magical Venetian harbor, and dozens of little bars and taverns serving fantastic local wines and tasty Greek food. Your email address will not be published. There are loads of hiking and mountain biking trails, wildlife hot spots, and beaches. In the smaller villages, you can find huge villas which attract A-list celebrities and have a matching price tag. Well, one of the things that you will find frustrating is the paperwork, Bureaucracy is something that you will deal with and you will have to be very patient. In fact, in some areas such as Hora Sfakion and Souda, plenty of people head out to the local market or pop to their neighbours for coffee without locking up. If you are wondering about visas and residency, you are in the same boat as other non-EU nationals. The advantage to this over standard citizenship application is that its generally quicker and saves a lot of paperwork. Latest Blogs by English Expats Living in Greece Cariad in Crete Living on either island is the dream for many. here you will find very useful information, and tips about Crete. Cost of living in Crete in 2023 Cost of living in Crete (Greece) In the last decade, Crete has become the most favoured place of residence among Western expats, even more popular than Athens and Thessaloniki, especially among those who choose to retire in this country with a golden visa. Cyprus does have a warmer climate, with summer temperatures averaging over 30 most days. Both islands offer very traditional Greek food featuring lots of fresh tomatoes, feta cheese, lamb, olives, wine, and plenty of seafood. Like most of Europe, locals on the island generally speak English for tourists and are more than happy to help out if you try to speak in Greek, to begin with. Hi Wondered about local taxes and costs for electric supplies? Also if the UK company would have to pay tax in Greece? If you have questions or need more information about your Golden Visa options, we have a complete guide to EU Golden Visa Schemes and you can also contact us via our Advice page, we will be happy to help. Old buildings and village walls are the ones that get damaged, as the majority of the new builds are designed to withstand earthquakes, meaning that Greek cities and towns are less likely to experience serious structural damage.