Greece now ranks first on the list of best retirement destinations, according to the platform International Living. This topic is highlighted by the German network RedaktionsNetzwerk Deutschland (RND). Meanwhile, the German financial newspaper Handelsblatt reports on the attractiveness of the Greek luxury real estate market. Read the full reports as presented by Deutsche Welle…
The article from RND is titled: “Greece Instead of a Nursing Home: Why More and More Retirees Are Choosing Greece for Their Retirement.”
Greece now holds the top spot among the best retirement destinations, surpassing countries such as Portugal and Panama, writes RND. The reasons for this rise are “low cost of living, affordable real estate, good healthcare, mild climate, and tax incentives” for foreign retirees.
As the report notes, “Greece’s ranking is also due to the sharp increase in living costs in other popular retirement countries, such as Portugal, Italy, and France. According to Eurostat, a German retiree has nearly 20% more purchasing power in Greece than in Germany.”
The tax regulation allows retirees to pay 7% tax on their income for 15 years, which has boosted foreign arrivals. Property prices in tourist areas such as Mykonos are high, but good opportunities can be found in less popular locations. The case of a French couple who settled in Pylos and found a property for €155,000—which costs much less than in the French Riviera—illustrates the financial benefits. “The program is particularly popular. According to the Independent Authority for Public Revenue (AADE), more than 8,000 applications have been submitted by foreign retirees, 750 of them in the first half of 2025 alone. Eligibility requires residing in Greece for at least 183 days a year,” writes RND.
Greece in the Elite Segment of Luxury Real Estate
The German financial newspaper Handelsblatt reports on the Greek luxury real estate market, which shows remarkable growth in demand, especially from international buyers with high purchasing power.
According to the article, this demand is partly due to the tax advantages Greece offers, such as the non-dom tax regime, which allows foreign investors to pay an annual tax of €100,000 on worldwide income, regardless of its amount. At the same time, the stability of Greece’s economy and political situation has increased buyer confidence, the newspaper writes.
The Greek luxury property market benefits particularly from areas such as the Cyclades. Demand is also rising for the Athenian Riviera, which benefits from its proximity to Athens, good international accessibility, and ongoing infrastructure development, such as the former Hellinikon airport project.
Savvas Savvaidis, President and CEO of Greece Sotheby’s International Realty, emphasizes that Greece has evolved from a niche market into a destination that can now compete with countries such as Italy, France, and Spain. “Greece has reached a point where it can compete with Mallorca and Tuscany, something that would have seemed unthinkable a decade ago,” he notes.
Sotheby’s study of the Greek luxury real estate market shows that the country has reached price levels nearly competitive with the most elite Mediterranean destinations, despite still having significant growth potential.
Demand for such properties is further boosted by the Golden Visa program, which allows foreign investors to obtain residency and a Schengen visa by purchasing real estate worth over €800,000. “Architecturally, the construction boom represents an important addition for Athens,” the newspaper concludes.
Source: Deutsche Welle | Sofia Kleftaki