Working in Athens
Thinking about working in Athens? The Greek capital offers international job opportunities, a relaxed Mediterranean lifestyle and plenty to discover outside working hours. From customer service and sales to technical support and other multilingual roles, Athens has opportunities for professionals from different backgrounds. Find out what it’s like to work and live in Athens, what you can expect to earn and how much it costs to live there.
Working in Athens
If you want to start working in Athens, it’s important to know about everything that involves having a job in this Greek capital. We tell you everything you need to know about what it’s like to have a job in Athens.
Working hours in Athens
Most full-time jobs in Athens follow a 40-hour working week, typically spread across five days. A standard office-based schedule is often around 8 hours per day, although exact working hours depend on the company and position.
Salaries in Athens
Salaries in Athens vary depending on your role, experience, language skills and employer. International companies hiring multilingual employees often offer salaries that are different from those found in the wider Greek job market.
| Position | Indicative monthly salary |
|---|---|
| Customer Service | €900–€1,200 |
| Technical Support | €1,000–€1,400+ |
| Sales | €1,000–€1,500+ |
| Experienced/Specialised roles | €1,200–€1,600+ |
Holidays and time off
Employees in Greece are entitled to paid annual leave, with the minimum entitlement depending on the length of employment and whether you work a five- or six-day week. For a standard five-day working week, employees receive at least 20 working days of annual leave during the first year, with the entitlement increasing with length of service.
Work culture in Athens
Work culture in Athens can vary between companies, but relationships and personal communication are generally important in Greek workplaces. Building good relationships with colleagues and business contacts is often an important part of professional life.
International companies can feel different from more traditional local workplaces. Many international employers in Athens have multicultural teams where English and other European languages are used every day. This is particularly common in customer service, sales, technical support and other roles aimed at international markets.
The hierarchy and communication style also depend on the company. Smaller and international teams may have a more informal atmosphere, while larger organisations can have clearer management structures and processes. Working hours and work-life balance depend largely on the role, with office positions often following regular weekday schedules and customer-facing roles sometimes requiring shifts.
Finding a job in Athens
Athens has a growing international job market, particularly for people who speak European languages in addition to English. International companies regularly recruit for customer service, technical support, sales, content moderation, travel and other multilingual positions.
Speaking languages such as Dutch, German, Danish, Swedish, Norwegian, Finnish, French, Italian or Polish can be useful for multilingual positions, while English is commonly required for communication within international teams. Greek is not always required for these roles.
Experience requirements depend on the position. Some specialised sales and technical roles require previous experience, while other customer service positions are suitable for candidates without extensive experience and provide training before you start.
Job Squad can help you find a suitable job in Athens and guide you through the recruitment process. Our recruiters can explain the requirements, salary and benefits of each position and help you prepare for your move abroad.
Life in Athens
Athens is a city that combines ancient heritage with modern living, offering a unique and captivating atmosphere.
Picture yourself strolling through the streets of Athens, where ancient ruins stand proud alongside vibrant street art. Athens is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world with over 3400 years of history. So it’s almost impossible not to stumble across iconic landmarks like the Acropolis and the ancient Olympic Stadium.
Work in Athens
- Average working hours per week: 36 to 40 hours, 7 to 8 hours daily
- Typical working day: Monday to Friday from 9:00 am to 5:00 or 6:00 pm
- Number of Vacation days: 20 days / 4 weeks
- Commute: Mostly by bike or train/tram
- Work culture: Flat hierarchy
FAQ
You can move to Athens by yourself, with a friend or as a couple. There are pros and cons to all of the situations. If you consider moving abroad with any kind of friend it can be a really good idea to sit down and talk through practical and everyday stuff such as economy, bills, cleaning, grocery shopping, cooking vs ordering, going out/staying in, how you deal with potentially going out without each other as well as having friends and family visiting (from near and far and extended visits). Apart from the practical arrangements, life is fun when you can share your new core memories with other people – so it is very recommendable to move abroad together. Moving with a friend can cause you to interact less with new people compared to if you move abroad by yourself. But if this is a good or a bad thing entirely depends on your personal goals and wishes as well as your personality.
Conclusion: communication is key if you and your friend decide to move abroad together
The best public transportation in Athens is the Athens Metro system. It is efficient, reliable, and covers a large part of the city. Additionally, the bus network in Athens is extensive and provides connectivity to areas not covered by the metro. Both the metro and buses are reasonably priced.
You can buy different public transport passes in Athens:
- A 24-hour pass: €4,10
- 5-day pass: €8,20
- Monthly pass: €27-€30
The cost of living in Athens can vary depending on factors such as accommodation, lifestyle choices, and personal preferences. Generally, compared to other European capitals, Athens offers a lower cost of living. Some of the most popular areas for European foreigners include: Kallithea, Moschato, Piraeus and Pangrati. These areas are considered safe. If you want more green areas and nicer places, go for areas like: Marousi, Irakleio and Kifisia. Some of the cheapest locations to live in Athens include neighbourhoods like: Kypseli, Sepolia and Peristeri.
Average rent prices in Athens:
- 1-bedroom apartment in the city center: €700-€1,300
- 1-bedroom apartment outside the city center: €480-€600
- Room in a shared apartment in the city center: €250-€450
- Room in a shared apartment outside the city center: €200-€350
- Spring: 17–22°C. Mild, bright and gradually warming, with occasional rain.
- Summer: 27–33°C. Hot, dry, very sunny, sometimes heat waves.
- Autumn: 18–26°C. Warm early, mild later
- Winter: 10–15°C. Mild but humid, with some chilly nights and occasional rain.
How expensive is living in Athens?
If you have made the decision to start living and working in Athens, it’s important to know about the costs of living over there. Of course, how much money you spend every month depends on your personal lifestyle. But when we take a look at the average costs, we see that Athens is relatively cheap in comparison to other big Northern European cities:
- Groceries: €200-€300 a month
- Simple meal in a restaurant: €10-€15
- Coffee in a café: €2-€4.
- Half a liter of beer: €2-€5
- Gym membership: €45-50 a month
- Cinema ticket: €9-10
- Ticket for visiting Acropolis: Acropolis ticket: €20 in summer, €10 in winter
Still not sure about moving to Athens?
Athens is so much more than its ancient monuments. It’s a diverse and vibrant city where all neighbourhoods can feel like you’re suddenly in a whole other country. Some other highlights of athens:
- The harbour area; includes the charming Piraeus with an endless amount of bars and restaurants overlooking the overwhelming amount of boats and yachts.
- Discover the different amazing beaches in and around the city.
- From the port of Piraeus you can venture out to a wealth of the most beautiful islands of Greece.
- The center of Athens is vibrant and provides a modern nightlife, shopping, dining and sightseeing.
- The northern suburbs provide a more local community, ideal for families and settling down in beautiful surroundings.
- Head to the central Monastiraki neighbourhood where you’ll find numerous tavernas and souvlaki joints offering delicious Greek cuisine at affordable prices.
- For drinks, visit the Exarcheia neighborhood, known for its vibrant and alternative atmosphere.
- Don’t forget to explore Psiri, a trendy district with a mix of traditional tavernas and modern eateries, where you can enjoy a variety of cuisines drinks.
Athens offers great passion for sports, especially basketball and football. So there’s a lot of options for creating a life just how you want it. Read our blog about how to enjoy life in Athens as a local expat for more tips on making your life even better when living and working in Athens!
