Pros and Cons of Living in Greece

Summary: Pros and Cons of Living in Greece. Expats, Retirees and Digital Nomads talk about the pros and cons of living in Greece

What are the pros and cons of living in Greece?

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Expats, digital nomads and retirees living in Greece responded:

"I love the area where I live and honestly I wish there was more incentives for homeowners / landlords to rent out their place to locals rather than use them for Airbnb. It is nearly impossible to find a nice modern place for a decent rate in the area. and I understand why they do it because owners pay a much lower tax rate to rent out to tourists vs locals. They should do something about that because it's a big problem," said another expat in living in Athens, Greece.

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What do expats in Greece appreciate most about the local culture?

"Oddly the laissez faire attitude is appealing. Less red tape and rules or rather less notice taken of it! Very freeing! Though the same attitude is also frightening in some aspects, like on the roads. Eeek! Not for the less assertive driver! Making small cameos of spaces attractive amongst the greyness of concrete. The most wonderful thing has been seeing children playing without being wrapped in cotton wool and overprotected. A real childhood," explained one expat living in Nafplio.

"I love the close family atmosphere and the way Greeks make wonderful friends if you treat them with respect and love," said another expat in Corfu.

"Greeks are assertive, have a culture of education so can speak lots of languages, and have the highest number of university degrees in the population. They are a useful sort to your company, business and governmental liaison. Loads of languages and having global languages and some may have spent a lot of years in England, either at university or university and work for a while. Even more useful," added another person living in Athens.

"Friends and family are not casual relationships here. They will bend over backward to help and support you in whatever way they can. One just has to learn to ask and accept that help," explained one expat living in Athens.

What do expats find most challenging?

"The language obviously. The lack of interest in change and thinking ahead, especially in this time of economic hardship. The lack of care for animals. The standard Greek loo paper bins. Shudder," remarked another in Nafplio.

"The politics, sense of righteousness, lawlessness, outright hostility to anything foreign, unmistakably corrupt system, terrible driving and parking culture that goes completely unchallenged. It's the wild west when they think they belong to civilization," explained one expat.

"Getting to grips with red tape and the way things are done here, like paperwork. The way the rules change all the time make it very confusing at times," said another person in Corfu.

"The whole body language, facial gesture, hand stuff that is entirely unknown in the more restrained, reserved English cultural ways," remarked another expat in Athens.

"Realizing that the sense of humor and level of tolerance for foreign ideas of many of the locals is very different from mine," explained one expat living in Athens.

Pros and Cons of Living in Greece

What are the pros and cons of living in Greece?

What do expats in Greece appreciate most about the local culture?

What do expats find most challenging?

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