One of the reasons, among the most obvious ones, is the high indirect taxation: Levies like value-added tax and the special consumption tax such as that introduced just a few years ago on coffee, were increased or created during the decade-long financial crisis but have remained in place since.
People Also Ask
Greece is actually pretty cheap. Greek food, glasses of wine, hostel dorms, and public buses aren't super expensive and you can find some really nice accommodation for between 30-50 EUR a night. There are a lot of ways to save money in Greece without sacrificing comfort.
How much money will you need for your trip to Greece? You should plan to spend around €155 ($166) per day on your vacation in Greece, which is the average daily price based on the expenses of other visitors. Past travelers have spent, on average, €40 ($43) on meals for one day and €30 ($32) on local transportation.
Overall, Greece is more expensive than Turkey. Accommodation, food, and transportation costs are all higher in Greece than in Turkey. However, this doesn't mean that Turkey is a cheap destination – you can still expect to spend a fair amount of money on your trip.
For property pricing and living expenses, Greece is far cheaper than the UK. Even in Athens where prices are higher, living costs are 33% lower than living in London. Greece has a more relaxed approach to work, which is a great pull for Brits seeking a better work/life balance.
If you make smart choices, it is possible to spend a week in Greece for under 400-500 euro per person. But if you are interested in luxury hotels or upmarket restaurants, the average cost can easily jump to over 1,500 or 2,000 euro.
There is not a strong tradition of tipping in Greece, particularly among the locals, but it's become expected that tourists leave a small tip while travelling through the country. In restaurants it's common to leave a cash tip for whoever is looking after you – 10–15 per cent is standard.
“Unless your service is an absolute disaster, it's pretty hard to justify not tipping at all.” And income does not necessarily dictate tipping behavior. Those who've worked in the service industry are also typically generous tippers, according to Jodi Smith, founder of Mannersmith Etiquette Consulting.
In Athens and many other parts of Greece, the water is safe to drink. However, because of various concerns regarding supply and infrastructure, it's popular on both the islands and the mainland to buy bottled water rather than drinking straight from the tap.