12 replies to this topic

[nicka]

Just curious, reading th various posts here and how so many of you have made a go of it in Crete, how much money does one need to survive?
I would like to one day move to Crete and just wondering how much one would need for an 'average' lifestyle, nothing to fancy.

nicka

[Laid Back Lil]

HI there. Have you been to Crete before? and, how much research have you carried out? Don't mean to be rude or anything, just curious. As to cost of living - I am working to the rule of around 10.5k/PA per couple living comfortably. Any views on this from other board members?/pA/

[lshall05]

I think it all depends on what you consider to be 'average'! What my average is could be 'slumming it' to you or be extravagance to someone else.

It's also going to depend on whether you'll be working or retired, on your own or a couple or a family. If you're working it's likely to be seasonal work so you have to work for 2 seasons before you get IKA winter money. It's also going to depend on whether you rent or buy. If you rent it's obviously going to depend what size of property you rent so you could be looking at anything from around 250 euro to 500+ euro per month - this also seems to depend on which area you're going to live in.

We are working on the basis that we'll probably need around 1000 euros per month for rent, bills, food, going out etc.

During the season, depending on the work you do, you will probably be looking at around 20 - 40 euro per day. Your first season is likely to be at the lower end of the scale as they don't know you or how good a worker you are. You will have to work 7 days a week for the full season - you might be lucky to get a day or 2 days off a month. If you're sick you're not likely to get any money and if you're off for more than a day you probably won't have a job to go back you.

In your first winter (and the time from arriving until you get a job) you won't get any IKA winter payment (unemployment benefit) so you'll have to make sure you have enough to survive. As long as you have worked during the summer you should be able to save quite a bit because you'll be working long hours every day so not have much chance to spend your hard earned cash (unless you have visitors)!!

If you have a family then you need to consider their ages, how easy it will be for them to learn Greek, the cost of child care, the cost of schooling and extra tuition they might need.

If you haven't done any research then I'd advise you to do as much as you can. You also need to realise that the membership of this forum is made up of expats living in Crete (either renting or in bought house), people living there part of the year (either in 1 block or spread over several holidays a year - usually with a house), people who love the island but only go there on holiday, people who are in the process of moving in the next year and people who know they want to move but know it won't be for a few years or until they retire...

[nicka]

thanks for your feedback.
Yes, I have been to crete, once in 1990 and 2004. My father is from Rhythimno. I can speak greek quite well so language is not a barrier.
I've done a little research, things like housing but the biggest challenge is work. I'm 41, single and just looking to get out of the rat race. May even consider opening a business.
Is there a cut off age as to when someone has to do military service?

[Emma1310]

I've a feeling it's quite old as Greek students keep postponing their service!

However, I'm sure I've read somewhere that if you are a Greek citizen but haven't lived in the country past the age of 11, then you are exempt. On the plus side, I imagine it's a good way to meet new people and make contacts.

[househunter]

Is Military Service a compulsion? If we went there to live would our son be obliged to take it?




Thanks.

[lshall05]

Hi Dave

I'm sure it's only Greek nationals that have to do military service. You won't have to worry about it unless of course your son decides after having spent many years there that he wants to do what his friends are doing...

[Retired in Crete]

Quote from Ishall05:

"We are working on the basis that we'll probably need around 1000 euros per month for rent, bills, food, going out etc."

If you are going to pay 250-350 Euros a month for rent I do not think that two of you can now live on 650-750 Euros per month. Sorry.

The cost of electricity here now rivals the UK prices and many other things have increased dramatically in price over the last year. Even the Greeks are complaining:

http://wwk.kathimeri.../11-07-2008.pdf

When we came here just over 3 years ago we could live on 250 Euros a week with no problem as we have no rent to pay. Today we struggle to live on 325 per week. Another thread on a different site says that you need 1300 per month, excluding rent. I would agree with that.

I just hope that you can prove me wrong!

John

[lshall05]

John

You obviously have nothing better to do with your time than try to find posts where I've mentioned money or cost of living etc.

If you think I'm going to bite then think again.

Lynn

[Retired in Crete]

Lynn,

This thread is entitled "How much does one need to live on?" I have only given my opinion and an update on the current cost of living here. If you, and others, read the whole of the link which I posted you will read that Greece is now one of the most expensive countries in Europe to live in. I thought, in my ignorance, that this would be helpfull to you as well as to others planning on making the move.

I assure you that no personal criticism was intended. (I don't care if you end up eating weeds and offal.) I just don't want others to be misled by your comments.

John

[househunter]

Hi Dave

I'm sure it's only Greek nationals that have to do military service. You won't have to worry about it unless of course your son decides after having spent many years there that he wants to do what his friends are doing...


Thank you very much Ishall! At least he has a choice!

[Dinny]

As for costs...

I am single, live in a rented house (300 a month) and maintain 6 cats and a big dog (at the moment). I guess the pets would count for another person, moneywise.

I spend at least around 2,000 a month here. This includes rent, electricity, water, telephone & internet, car taxes and insurance, gasoline, emptying the septic tank, a ton of wood for the stowe, the girl cleaning my house (I am working!!), food & clothing, the occasional wedding present or likewise, taverna & cafenion, and all the other ordinary stuff I have forgotten to mention. It doesn't include the cost of a health insurance, since I am still not able to get one, and it doesn´t include visits to doctors or hospitals or analisis of any kind, you can read my blog for surprises like that.

The more-or-less 2,000 are nett - meaning you will need to earn almost 3,000 a month to cover for taxes.

I don´t say you cannot live on less. This is just what I see is going out of my pockets without me even noticing. ;-)

[leenyhus]

How much would a two bedroom apartment be (rent) in Matala?