Comfortable Weather
#14
of 124 cities
85/100 weather score
Current value
#120 of 124
Europe
Athens
Greece
Salary & Cost of Living
How do salaries and expenses in Athens compare to Bangkok?
Purchasing Power Comparison
An engineer in Athens is 51% worse off vs in Bangkok
This shows how far a software engineer's salary goes in Athens compared to Bangkok, taking into account both salary differences and cost of living.
Net Salary
$18,240
-$11K (-37%) vs Bangkok
Tax Rate: 42%
Community Insights
NewAthens presents a stark dual reality for software engineers. For those working remotely with foreign capital, it offers a dream lifestyle of sun, history, and travel at a reasonable price point. However, the local labor market is challenging; the city ranks near the bottom for Net Income (#111) and Purchasing Power (#120), meaning engineers on local contracts often struggle to save or afford property. The tax wedge is high, and the housing affordability crisis (16.7 years of salary to buy a flat) is a major pain point. While the weather and social vibes are world-class, the infrastructure—ranging from bureaucracy to traffic—can be exhausting.
Resident Sentiment
The sentiment is deeply divided. Expats and digital nomads often express love for the energy, the people, and the "chaos" that makes the city feel alive, viewing the drawbacks as part of the charm. In contrast, locals and long-term residents dependent on the Greek economy express frustration and resignation regarding the economic stagnation, rising rents, and the feeling that the city is becoming a playground for tourists while becoming unlivable for workers. The phrase "love the country, hate the state" encapsulates the feeling of enjoying the culture while despising the administrative and economic structural issues.
Rankings
Top 11%
Cost of Living
#42
of 124 cities
41/100
Current value (lower is better)
Community Events
#73
of 124 cities
0 events on luma
Current value
Housing Affordability
How affordable is housing for a software engineer in Athens compared to Bangkok?
Salary Converter
Enter your annual gross salary (before taxes) to see what you would need to earn in Athens to maintain the same standard of living.
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