Retiring In Crete Greece What Are The Cons And Pros? Some links on this website are affiliate links. Serenissima in Chania is a highlight. At the moment information is coming in small doses when it comes to UK nationals settling in the EU. If you plan to move to Crete, you may decide to head to one of the remoter places such as Sissi or Kato Zakros. Ampelakia is located in Thessaly, and this mountainous region means its fairly quiet with little tourism. After gaining his BA and MA in English Literature, Jacob decided to take his writing full time. Good luck and I would do it in a heart beat! Shes written for Greek Reporter, published several travel guides about Greece, and had more glasses of frappe than any regular person would be able to handle. One being, what kind of life are you looking to live in Crete? we have one child thats still in primary and one thats just started secondary? You can also find a robust and active community of expats in Agios Nikolaos in East Crete. . document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2023 - Expatra Ltd. UK Company Number 09686420. Thank you fir the information and the beautiful videos snd photos. In fact, in some areas such as Hora Sfakion and Souda, plenty of people head out to the local market or pop to their neighbours for coffee without locking up. Another good thing about retiring in Crete Greece is the fact that Crete has a very low crime rate. To register with a doctor in Greece, youll need to complete a form with your insurance information (if applicable), your personal details, and your tax information. There is something for everyone but only if you know where to look. To be honest, I did not use any resources. Greece Country Guide - Pros and Cons of Living in Greece 2023 Read This, 10 Things You Might Hate About Living In Crete. As a result, you must have a Greek bank account and tax number to purchase a property. Greece puts a lot of emphasis on family, spending time outdoors, and tradition. Generally speaking, the quality of healthcare in Greece is quite high. Rent can be anywhere between 400 to 800, again it depends on the size and style. Latest Blogs by English Expats Living in Greece Cariad in Crete Greece is a fantastic country. A cinema ticket only costs around 7.50 and a bus ticket costs just 1.70. If you want sun most of the year, perhaps living in Cyprus is more suitable. The Living in Crete book The Living in Crete book is a valuable resource giving in-depth and detailed information - all that you need to know before and after a move to Crete or a property purchase - packed with information, advice, tips, useful local addresses, telephone numbers and links. A decent bottle of local wine will only set you back around 4, and fresh bread costs under 2. What's more, for an expat with comfortable funds, life in Crete can be very affordable. I also think its great to support the local farmers by purchasing their products directly from them. Well, one of the things that you will find frustrating is the paperwork, Bureaucracy is something that you will deal with and you will have to be very patient. For example, we had a friend who felt dizzy and fell in her kitchen and when she was taken to the hospital, apart from treating her injuries, they also did lots of tests to determine the cause of her fall. Age: 48 I am American and hoping to move to Crete soon: Chania praefecture probably but possibly Herakleion. Agios Nikolaos General hospital, Sitia General Hospital, Rethimno General Hospital just to name a few, there are also small clinics all around the island and many Private hospitals. Living In Italy: Essential Expat Guide 2023 | Expatra Its safest to deal through an estate agent, as private rentals can often be a minefield for anyone not fluent in Greek. Agriculture is the most important industry on the island, with tourism being a close second. Cost is around $2.20. Here is a quick rundown of the pros and cons of living in Greece, many of which will be expanded upon below. Cooler weather and fewer people mean youre more likely to see wildlife, so many people actually prefer the off-season months to the summer. I was born in Buenos Aires where I graduated as a sworn translator. Greece: Visa & Residency Options for non-EU Nationals, compare international health insurance options, The Expat Guide To UK Pensions Abroad: Understand Your Options, The Essential Guide To Cost-Effective International Removals, https://kefaloniapulse.homeinkefalonia.properties/?p=41780. For comparison, corporate tax is currently 19% in the UK and 28% in the USA. Your email address will not be published. The only thing you really need to consider in terms of your own personal safety is pickpockets during the summer months. iI went out for a holiday when I was 18 years old and just never really came home again.i have been backwards and forwards a few times over the years but I always end up going back.If you stay longer than 6 months then you will need a residence permit which you can obtain from your local police station.you will need to open a bank account and have enough money to live on if you are not working.The life in greece is fantastic but wages are a lot lower than in the UK.Good luck! Even the little villages have a smattering of expats, and the large town of Chania is just half an hour away by car. And I dont know how well learning yet another language would fit in my life. Lynne Evans: The unvarnished truth about living in Greece But, other than that, theres not a lot to dislike about life in Chania, or Crete in general. Crete welcomed a brand-new hospital in Chania in 2000, and its still relatively modern and up to date. Please could you send me details of a recommended estate agent who can help an expat with a house purchase. Is it a similar situation for us as with UK expats? However, beaches like Balos, Elafonissi, and Falassarna still make Crete a perfect beachy location. City Guides | Travel the World | Living Abroad | Travel Guides | Adventure Travel | Digital Nomad Life | Valencia, Spain | California, USA | The Netherlands | How to Plan a Trip, I consent to the storage of my data according to the Privacy Policy, - From Short Trips to Traveling the World & Living Abroad -, Living in Cuba: Things You Want to Know Before Moving Here, A Perfect Catalina Island Day Trip the, Why You Shouldnt Buy Seashells or Take Them, A Moving Abroad Checklist: Things to Do Before You Move Abroad, Things to Know if You Want to Go Sailing in Greece, Why Moving Abroad is Such a Valuable Experience, Things to Concider Before Moving to Another Country. If youre retiring to Greece, you should take healthcare into consideration. Hello, anyone living in Crete from the uk with kids? The INCO, The Cultural Organisation of the Foreign Residents of Aghios Nikolaos, is very busy and an excellent resource for expats in the area. Copyright 2018-2022. Internet Speed In Crete, Can You Work Remotely? Before we start, heres one piece of advice: Greece and therefore Crete follow the Greek Orthodox church. Cost of living in Crete in 2023 - Residence-Greece Choose 1 Nationalities Living in Crete, Greece English Latest Blogs by Expats Living in Greece more expat blogs Crete This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. Over 2 million. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. Youd need about 5 hours to drive from one tip of the island to the other and still have plenty to see and do.. Its the tourism industry that attracts many expats to move to Crete, either for the summer season or for an indefinite period. For example, youll have much better facilities (both public and private) in urban areas, so if you already have health issues, this can be an important factor. The cost of living is fair although its higher than the cost of living in mainland Greece. I already speak English 2 European languages and 1 Asian .. so thats a consideration. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Youll find more private options available in urban areas, but there are still private hospitals in rural areas too. Living In Greece: Essential Expat Guide 2023 | Expatra Temperatures do dip as low as 2-3 degrees in the winter months, and there are occasional bursts of winter rain or snow. Its a great time of year to bond with locals and make yourself a part of the community on Crete. Everything then fell into place little by little, with time. In my next article, I am going to go deeper in the cost of living in Crete, but I will mission that there are some measures that you can take to save money while living in Crete. Even heading out to a local coffee store will only cost you 3 for a regular coffee. The daily cost of life on the island is pretty cheap, especially when it comes to fresh, locally-grown foods. Over 1 million people live on the island for at least part of the year, while Crete is home to around 650,000. However, the cost of living is definitely higher in cities, particularly ones with a lot of tourism. If you only have under a year left, renew early before you leave. To count as a permanent resident of Greece, you must have an address you live at for at least 183 days of the year. Heraklion's Koules is a beautifully restored fortress surrounding the city's harbor, built by the Venetians in the early 13thcentury. Life on an island tends to be calm and more relaxed than on the mainland. Also if the UK company would have to pay tax in Greece? I have read the basics. Eating big Mediterranean meals by the sea sounds extremely indulgent, but not only is great food relatively affordable in Crete; it's everywhere too. Its not surprising, that Greece is one of the best places to retire indeed. There is a shortcut to residency in Greece, known as the Golden Visa program. hi im wanting to retire from uk to sitia ,will i be able to get freeview and english tv, and will they come to install computor etc quickly lol. To qualify, applicants must not have been tax resident for at least 5 of the previous 6 financial years. Qualified UK citizens can apply for the S1 form which will grant them access to the Greece public healthcare system paid by the UK. What is the best resource to find an honest real estate broker in Greece to work with an ex-pat on options to buy a home in Crete? Living in Greece: What is it REALLY Like (2023 Expat Guide) Expats In Crete, Greece I'm new here. Here youll be in the minority and will be surrounded by locals and other Greeks. Unlike some of the smaller islands, Crete doesnt become a ghost town during the winter months. If youre looking for all the amenities you currently enjoy in life then youll need to live in or near a major city, which also means the cost of living will be higher. Mobile connections are mostly fine, although there may be connectivity issues in most rural areas. The rainiest month of the year is December, when, on average, it rains for 11 days of the month. Any specific sites we can check? When saving to move to the island, youll need to factor in how many things you can take with you. However, once youve got everything sorted, its a reasonably inexpensive place to live. Greece Expat Forum: Crete| Expat Exchange Youre also more likely to find a job in Heraklion, and its much more modern and offers a busier lifestyle. This is also the time of year for the olive harvests, which means long workdays and lots of meals with family, friends, and neighbours. Life on Crete moves at a slower pace than on mainland Greece or much of Europe, which can be very enjoyable and perfect for retirement. Would you be so kind as to clarify some points please . If you dont want to buy immediately and are looking to rent before taking the plunge, youll find more options in the larger towns. While you might not have the data speeds youre used to, youll still have mobile signal regardless. Community boards online offer a solid tie to other expats, with plenty of people looking for English-speaking work. First off, Cyprus is both more extensive and more densely populated. Not only will this help from the language side, but they will also ensure you dont overpay. I love the pace of life, the simple details that make every day different. Of course, Heraklion in the east of Crete also has a large community of expats. To be totally honest, they are very similar with mountainous scenery, vineyards, and unique wildlife. If you want to brush shoulders with celebrities and live the high life on the island, the northeastern village of Elounda is a charming fishing village turned playground of the rich and famous. Cyprus has slighter larger towns and can sometimes feel like one giant, spread-out city. Expat Places: Let's Move to Crete - TorFX Cyprus is also seeing more expensive fancy restaurants such as La Maison Fleurie pop up to cater to tourists while Crete restaurants focus on good, fresh, cheap food.