In short
Athens is the cheaper capital: a single person with a central 1-bedroom spends about €1,500 a month, against about €1,930 in Rome. Greece offers Americans a digital nomad visa, a retirement visa and a golden visa. Italy offers Americans a digital nomad visa, a retirement visa and a golden visa. Citizenship takes about 7 years of residence in Greece and 10 in Italy. Every figure below is checked against official sources.
The verdict
Which Country Fits You?
Where one side is clearly better for most Americans, it gets the point — the rest depends on your plans.
Choose Greece if…
- You want lower costs — about €430 a month less for a single person with a central 1-bedroom in Athens.
- You want citizenship sooner: 7 years, B1 Greek and civics exam; dual citizenship allowed.
- You will run a company — corporate tax is 22%.
Choose Italy if…
- You live on a pension or savings and want the lower bar: Elective residence visa — about €31,000 a year of passive income; no work at all.
- You work remotely and want the lower bar: Digital nomad visa — at least €24,789 a year; degree or experience required; 1 year, renewable.
- You are a founder: Italia Startup Visa — €50,000 of funds; decision in about 30 days.
Retirement Visa
Italy Asks Less Income From Retirees
| Greece | Italy | |
|---|---|---|
| Retirement / passive-income visa | GreeceFinancially independent person — €3,500 a month; no work | ItalyElective residence visa — about €31,000 a year of passive income; no work at all✓ |
| Public healthcare | GreecePublic cover through social-security contributions; FIP and golden-visa holders need private insurance | ItalyFree SSN for workers; others pay at least €2,000 a year to join |
| Special tax regime | Greece7% flat on all foreign income for retirees with a foreign pension, up to 15 years | Italy7% flat on foreign income for pensioners in small southern towns (10 years) |
| Income tax | Greece9% to 44% (top rate above €60,000) | Italy23% to 43%, plus regional and municipal surcharges |
Cost of Living
Athens Is About €430 a Month Cheaper
| Greece | Italy | |
|---|---|---|
| 1-bed apartment, city centre | Greeceabout €665 (Athens)✓ | Italyabout €1,085 (Rome) |
| 1-bed apartment, outside centre | Greeceabout €575 (Athens)✓ | Italyabout €780 (Rome) |
| Everyday costs, single person (no rent) | Greeceabout €835 (Athens) | Italyabout €845 (Rome) |
| Total a month — single, central 1-bed | Greeceabout €1,500 (Athens)✓ | Italyabout €1,930 (Rome) |
Living costs: Numbeo estimates for the capital (2026), as shown with sources on each city guide and in the key facts below.
Settling In
Greece Leads to Citizenship Sooner
| Greece | Italy | |
|---|---|---|
| Permanent residence | GreeceLong-term residence after 5 years, with Greek language and civics | ItalyEU long-term permit after 5 years, with A2 Italian |
| Citizenship | Greece7 years, B1 Greek and civics exam; dual citizenship allowed✓ | Italy10 years, B1 Italian; dual citizenship allowed |
| Public healthcare | GreecePublic cover through social-security contributions; FIP and golden-visa holders need private insurance | ItalyFree SSN for workers; others pay at least €2,000 a year to join |
Tax & Business
Taxes & Company Rules
| Greece | Italy | |
|---|---|---|
| Income tax | Greece9% to 44% (top rate above €60,000) | Italy23% to 43%, plus regional and municipal surcharges |
| Special tax regime | Greece7% flat on all foreign income for retirees with a foreign pension, up to 15 years | Italy7% flat on foreign income for pensioners in small southern towns (10 years) |
| Usual company | GreeceIKE — capital from €1; no notary with standard articles | ItalySRL — €10,000 standard capital, or €1 if fully paid in cash; notarial deed |
| Corporate tax | Greece22%✓ | Italy24% IRES plus 3.9% IRAP |
US citizens & Green Card holdersThe US still taxes you
Wherever you live, the US taxes its citizens on worldwide income. You keep filing a US return, and an FBAR once your foreign accounts total more than $10,000 at any time in the year.
Daily Life
Daily Life in Athens and Rome
| Greece | Italy | |
|---|---|---|
| Population (capital) | GreeceAbout 643,000; 3.8 million in Attica | ItalyAbout 2.75 million; 4.2 million in the metropolitan city |
| Public transport (capital) | GreeceMonthly pass €27; metro to the airport €9 | ItalyMonthly pass €35; Leonardo Express to Fiumicino €14 |
| Nonstop flights to the US | GreeceAbout 10 hours nonstop from New York — year-round and seasonal routes | ItalyRome and Milan about 8–9 hours nonstop from the East Coast |
| Currency | GreeceEuro | ItalyEuro |
FAQ
Greece or Italy? Your questions
Is Athens or Rome cheaper?
Athens is cheaper: a single person with a central 1-bedroom spends about €1,500 a month there, against about €1,930 in Rome (Numbeo, 2026). Rent for a central 1-bedroom is about €665 in Athens and €1,085 in Rome.
Can I retire in Greece or Italy as an American?
Greece: Financially independent person — €3,500 a month; no work. Italy: Elective residence visa — about €31,000 a year of passive income; no work at all.
How long until I can get citizenship?
Greece: 7 years, B1 Greek and civics exam; dual citizenship allowed. Italy: 10 years, B1 Italian; dual citizenship allowed.
Do I still pay US taxes if I move?
Yes. The US taxes its citizens on worldwide income wherever they live. You keep filing a US return, and an FBAR once your foreign accounts total more than $10,000. Foreign tax credits and the treaties usually prevent paying twice on the same income.
Greece vs Italy: key factsLast verified 1 October 2026
| Greece: 1-bed apartment, Athens | about €665/month in the centre, €575 outside estimate Source: Numbeo: cost of living in Athens (Sep 2026) |
|---|---|
| Greece: Living costs, single person (Athens) | about €835/month without rent estimate Source: Numbeo: cost of living in Athens (Sep 2026) |
| Italy: 1-bed apartment, Rome | about €1,085/month in the centre, €780 outside (Numbeo, Sep 2026) estimate Source: Numbeo: cost of living in Rome (Sep 2026) |
| Italy: Living costs, single person (Rome) | about €845/month without rent estimate Source: Numbeo: cost of living in Rome (Sep 2026) |
| Greece: Financially independent person (FIP) | €3,500 a month (€42,000 a year), +20% for a spouse and +15% per child; no work in Greece Source: TaxLaw Greece: residence permit for financially independent persons (Feb 2026) |
| Italy: Elective residence visa | About €31,000 a year of passive income per adult (US consulates ask about €62,000 for a couple); registered lease or deed; no work of any kind, including remote work Source: Consulate General of Italy in Houston: elective residence visa checklist (Dec 2025) · Embassy of Italy in Washington: elective residence visa |
| Greece: Healthcare | Public cover (EOPYY) comes through Greek social-security (EFKA) contributions; FIP and golden visa holders need private insurance Source: Argophilia: optional health insurance for third-country pensioners · TaxLaw Greece: residence permit for financially independent persons (Feb 2026) |
| Italy: Healthcare | Workers are enrolled in the national health service (SSN) for free; retirees and others not working in Italy pay at least €2,000 a year to join voluntarily (since 2024) Source: Arletti Partners: voluntary national health service enrolment (€2,000 minimum) |
| Greece: 7% regime for pensioners | If you receive a foreign pension, all your foreign income can be taxed at a flat 7% for up to 15 years; not tax resident in Greece in 5 of the previous 6 years; apply by 31 March Source: Income Tax Code art. 5B: 7% regime for foreign pensioners · PwC Tax Summaries: Greece — individual tax incentives |
| Italy: 7% regime for pensioners | 7% on all foreign income for 10 years if you receive a foreign pension and move to a southern town of up to 30,000 people (since April 2026); no Italian tax on foreign assets Source: Fiscomania: 7% flat tax for foreign pensioners — towns up to 30,000 · Il Sole 24 Ore: no foreign-asset reporting for the 7% regime |
| Greece: Income tax | 9% to 44% (top rate above €60,000) Source: PwC Tax Summaries: Greece — personal income tax |
| Italy: Income tax (IRPEF) | 23% up to €28,000, 33% to €50,000, 43% above (2026), plus regional and municipal surcharges Source: ECNews: 2026 Budget Law — new IRPEF rates |
| Greece: Long-term residence | After 5 years; absences of at most 6 months in a row and 10 months in total; Greek language and civics, income and insurance needed Source: AIDA (ECRE): long-term residence in Greece |
| Italy: Permanent residence | EU long-term permit after 5 years: no more than 6 months away in a row or 10 months in total, A2 Italian and enough income Source: Assolombarda: EU long-term residence permit |
| Greece: Citizenship | 7 years of legal, continuous residence (usually after long-term residence; 12 years on other permits); PEGP exam (B1 Greek + civics, €150); fee €550; dual citizenship allowed Source: Mitos (gov.gr): naturalisation of foreign nationals · gov.gr: PEGP naturalisation knowledge exam · US Department of State: dual nationality |
| Italy: Citizenship by residence | 10 years of legal residence, B1 Italian and enough income; €250 fee; dual citizenship allowed Source: InfoImmigrazione: citizenship by residence (Jul 2026) · Chamber of Deputies: Italian citizenship law — current rules |
| Greece: Usual company type | IKE (private company): capital from €1 or even zero; no notary needed with the standard articles Source: Law 4072/2012 art. 43: IKE capital · Law 4072/2012 art. 49: IKE formation document |
| Italy: Usual company type | SRL (limited liability company): €10,000 standard capital, or €1–9,999 if fully paid in cash; notarial deed Source: Civil Code art. 2463 (SRL capital) |
| Greece: Corporate tax | 22% Source: PwC Tax Summaries: Greece — corporate income tax |
| Italy: Corporate taxes | IRES 24% plus regional IRAP 3.9% (4.82% in Lazio) Source: PwC Tax Summaries: Italy — corporate income tax · InformazioneFiscale: regional IRAP rates |
| Greece: Population | Greece about 10.4 million (2025); Athens 643,000 and Attica 3.8 million (2021 census) Source: ELSTAT: estimated population 2025 · ELSTAT: 2021 census results |
| Italy: Population | Italy 58.9 million (ISTAT, 1 Jan 2026); Rome 2.75 million, metropolitan city 4.22 million Source: ISTAT: demographic indicators (Mar 2026) · Il Sole 24 Ore: Rome, Italy's most populous municipality (ISTAT data) |
| Greece: Athens transport | 90-minute ticket €1.20; monthly pass €27; metro to the airport €9 (about 40 minutes from Syntagma) Source: OASA: Athens ticket prices · STASY: metro line 3 timetable |
| Italy: Rome transport | Monthly pass €35, annual €250; 100-minute ticket €1.50; Leonardo Express to Fiumicino €14, about 32 minutes Source: ATAC: Rome tickets and passes · Trenitalia: Leonardo Express to Fiumicino |
| Greece: Flights from the US | About 10 hours nonstop from New York — year-round on Emirates, seasonal from many US hubs Source: The National Herald: US cities with nonstop flights to Athens |
| Italy: Flights from the US | Rome and Milan about 8–9 hours nonstop from the East Coast; nonstops to many US cities; none to Florence Source: Boltflight: direct flights from the US to Rome · The Local Italy: new direct US–Italy flights in 2026 |
| Italy: Italia Startup Visa | €50,000 of funds for a new innovative startup; nulla osta from the MIMIT committee in about 30 days; free to apply Source: Italia Startup Visa: guidelines (MIMIT) · Italia Startup Visa: official site (MIMIT) |
Go deeper
The full guides
Across Europe
Every guide and comparison
- OverviewMove to Europe
- CountriesAll 29 Countries
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- RetirementRetire by Country
- CitiesBest Cities to Live In
- BusinessCompany Formation
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- InvestorsGolden Visas
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- RetirementRetirement Visas
- CitizenshipCitizenship by Descent
- CostsCost of Living
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- TaxTax Residency
- PetsMoving with Pets
- DrivingUS Driver's License
- PropertyBuying Property
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