September 29, 2025 
5 mins to read In this blog we will tell you how working in Athens will leave you with more money than living in Copenhagen. We would like to start by painting you a picture: Imagine opening up your window and looking out over the city you moved to just a week ago. We give you two options for the view: the Acropolis in Athens, with the Parthenon glowing in the morning light. Or you open up your curtains in Nyhavn, where you’ll have the iconic, colorful row houses and boats floating along the canal as you sip your morning tea or coffee.
When you make the decision to move abroad and start working as an expat in another country, you also have to pick a destination. Money isn’t the only factor while making this choice, but it is important! In one of these two places, working abroad will leave you with more money. This is Athens, and we will tell you exactly why this is. So keep reading and find out that Athens will give you the possibility to work abroad and live a great life with the money that you save.
Salary comparison: working in Athens vs. working in Copenhagen
The first thing we compare is the average salary for young expats in both of these cities. It shows how much you will earn, which is important. The average salary for a young expat that starts working abroad in Copenhagen is around €2,500-€3,000 a month, while working in Athens would earn you €1,000-€1,500.
What you get paid vs. what you keep
For the income you will get as a young expat, Athens has a way lower tax income than Copenhagen. This means that you will have to ‘give away’ a lot more of your salary in Denmark. So the salary in Denmark may be a lot higher than in Greece, but in the end the difference in what you can keep isn’t that big.
Cost of living: A quick breakdown
Salary is one thing, but even more important is how much life costs in Athens and Copenhagen. And this is where we find the big differences between these two cities. Athens is really affordable, especially compared to Northern European cities, like Copenhagen.
Copenhagen is known for life being really expensive. Living in a one bedroom apartment in the city center will cost you around €1.300-€1.500. Athens is much cheaper: a one bedroom apartment in the center of this ancient city will cost you around €800 a month.
Lifestyle: What You Get for Your Money
Monthly grocery costs in Copenhagen can rise to €350-€450, which is very expensive in comparison to other European cities. In a city like Athens, going out to eat at a restaurant is a regular thing. In Copenhagen this is not that normal, because it’s very expensive. A single meal can cost €20-€25, while in Athens this will be around €12-15. Coffee in a café is also way cheaper in Athens. These costs will also influence your mindset in the place you live in: if dinner costs are high, you will save going out for dinner for special occasions. When the costs are lower, you will use going out for dinner to socialize and have fun with friends.
If you want to live a fun life, including going out for dinner and drinking coffee with friends and coworkers, Athens will provide this for you. Living this life in Copenhagen will be difficult, because it will hit your wallet hard. With these costs, it’s easier to save money while living in Athens. You might earn more in Copenhagen, but the costs of renting an apartment and daily costs will go so high that you need all the money you earn. In Athens you can live a great life and still have money in the bank at the end of the month.
Financial planning: How to make the most of living in Athens
We told you why working in Athens leaves you with more money than in Copenhagen. But still, it’s important to plan financially. This helps you to save even more money and make the most out of living in Athens at the same time. Don’t underestimate the importance of small expenses while you live abroad. By focusing on saving money while working abroad from the start, you give yourself the chance to enjoy living in Athens while saving money at the same time. For more information about saving money while working abroad, read this article we wrote about it.
Working in Athens
Athens is a city with a rich culture and a really long and captivating history. There is a lot of history to discover, but living in Athens also means access to a lot of fun adventures and maybe the best kitchen in the world! Another advantage that Athens has over Copenhagen is the weather. Does year round sunshine in Greece sound better than rainy days in Denmark? We believe so! Read more about this Greece super city in our page about Athens.
At Job Squad, we offer a lot of valuable jobs for young expats in Athens. Whether you want to spend your gap year abroad in this captivating city, or you move for a longer time, we have jobs available. Job Squad isn’t just a recruitment agency. We help you from start to finish: from finding a job that fits you as a person to helping you feel at home in your new hometown Athens. Your personal recruiter will be there for you during every step of this adventure. Check the latest vacancies in Athens here and start working in Athens soon.
