With the digital nomad visa now available in Greece, interest has been rising. Remote workers from all over the world are checking their options. Greece, after all, is quite popular, and that is not only because of its history and culture. Greece boasts beautiful areas throughout the country, excellent food, and very gracious people.
To top that, the Greek government has already voted on a series of benefits for anyone who chooses to officially work remotely from Greece for at least 2 years. The tax breaks and benefits are valid for up to 7 years. The law applies to newcomers. Starting on January 1st of 2021.
You can read the law in Greek by following this link. Article 40 is of interest. So, if you have already done that part of the math and now the time has arrived to look for a place in Greece where you could live, check this out. Would you rather be in an area where cities, Towns, Traditional Villages, the Sea, Lakes, Rivers, Mountains, Ancient Sites, and delicious cuisine all coexist?
A captivating, approachable, friendly, and welcoming area of Greece?
This and more is what the region of Epirus is all about.
In search of a city lifestyle? Head to Ioannina!
The region’s capital has a population of over 160.000 people. A place full of life all day and year long. A city built around the legendary Lake Pamvotis adds a truly special touch to the overall charm. Ioannina, or Giannina as the Greeks call it, is also a university city. One of the top Greek Universities is found here. UOI was founded back in 1964 as a chapter of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. In 1970, it became independent. UOI is renowned for its postgraduate courses, which attract many international students.
The city of Ioannina has it all. Excellent accommodation options are available for both short-term and long-term rentals, with hundreds of restaurants, tavernas, takeaways, cafes, and pastry shops nearby. A wide variety of food-related items is available in the numerous grocery stores. High-street boutiques and international brands, such as Zara, H&M, and IKEA. Excellent infrastructure in terms of basic necessities, including healthcare, with the University Hospital of Ioannina among the top in the country.
And to top all that, from Ioannina, you can be in the mountains or the sea in less than an hour’s drive. You can be in Athens in 4 hours by car. Or travel to Thessaloniki in just two and a half hours by car.
For a quieter lifestyle but still with a city feel, head to Arta, Preveza, or Igoumenitsa.
All have something special to offer. If you are after a real sense of Greek traditions and lifestyle, uninfluenced by tourism, head to Arta. Arta is relatively small, with a population of approximately 44,000 people. A lovely place, the river and the ancient stone bridge, with its own myth, dominate the scene for many.
If you are an explorer at heart, you may want to choose Igoumentisa. The port city of Epirus. According to the 2011 records, the population was almost 26.000 people. Being a port city, Igoumenitsa is quite modern and very busy. It is a passage for travelers to the Greek Islands of Corfu and Paxi, as well as to Italy’s main ports. Therefore, if you like to travel a lot, especially to Italy, this could be your destination.
For a relaxed lifestyle, great seafood, incredible views, and proximity to ancient sites, head to Preveza. Such a lovely town by the sea on the Ionian. A town with character and history. Quite small. Its population, according to public records, is just over 14,000 people. Preveza is a holiday destination. It has a small marina too, just by the town center. So summers are busy, but it gets pretty quiet, and it’s a bit dull in the winter months. Still very close to Ioannina.
For a serene and remote experience, Epirus is definitely the region to choose.
Where to start? The number of villages that have wowed us more times than we can remember is so many.
The Zagori Villages are 46 in total, and each is a true jewel. Then there are Metsovo, Tzoumerka, Konitsa, and Parga, just to add a few more to the list. What is unfortunate, though, is that the internet service providers in these areas are utterly unreliable for landlines and the internet. However, if you have a strong 4G signal on your mobile phone, the problem can be solved.
Essentials
Accommodation
Finding a place to rent is easy in Ioannina and all towns. In Ioannina’s real estate market, we found that smaller properties tend to have higher rents than larger ones. Everyone explained that this is a result of the city hosting the university and thousands of students. Which actually makes sense.
Therefore, when you look for accommodation, have that in mind. Monthly rent can be as low as 200 Euros for a studio apartment and around 500 Euros for a relatively new 3-bedroom 1-bathroom apartment for a long-term rental. The amounts mentioned above are for the monthly rental fee only. Nothing else is included. A warranty deposit is also required, equal to at least two months’ rent. On top of that, you have to add all expenses for electricity, telecoms, water, and heating, which are the basics.
Food depends totally on each one of us, so it is hard to calculate.
The supermarkets/grocery stores, though, have the same rates all over the country, so you can log in to any of them, such as Sklavenitis, AB Vassilopoulos, Lidl, and so on, in order to check where they stand.
When it comes to the villages, the real estate situation changes. Greeks do not tend to rent their properties even if they don’t live there. Unless they already have them available for short-term lets via the various platforms.
Real estate agents are not the only way to find a property in the area if you are already there. You will probably find what you need by just asking the locals. The people at the bakery, the kiosk, the cafe, the restaurant, or any shop owner in the neighborhood you liked a lot. In general, if you can avoid realtors, you are better off.
Moving Around
If you enjoy exploring, having a car is a must. But you do not need to buy one or bring one with you. That, of course, if you choose to live in Ioannina or one of the other towns. If you decide to live further afield, in the villages, then having a car is mandatory. You can always rent a car for a longer term through one of the major car rental companies. All have offices in the towns and airports of the area. The rates, especially during the off-season, are surprisingly low.
Shopping
Grocery and food supply prices vary from place to place. There are supermarkets with online shopping facilities where you can check the prices of items you prefer.
Clothes and accessories are found at all prices. Major brands have the same prices all over Greece, so again you just need to go online and check.
Amazon delivers all over. With the UK out of the EU, we recommend you shop on Amazon in Germany, Italy, or France.
Dining Out
Hard to advise since it all depends on the lifestyle we choose. Overall, the prices are lower than in many other parts of Greece. A meal at a fish taverna in Preveza, including fresh fish, salads, desserts, and soft drinks, for three people last summer cost just 49 Euros. At an Italian restaurant by the lake in Ioannina, a meal for two with starters, a main course, dessert, soft drinks, and water is around 60 Euros.
Utilities
This part is valid nationwide, not just in the Epirus region.
Electricity is expensive in Greece. What you will pay, though, depends on the consumption as well as the property size and location.
You see, in Greece, included in the electricity bill are charges for garbage collection, the TV, which is unfortunately worthless, and a few more inexplicable ones. Therefore, please do not rely on information you find online or that is provided by realtors. Nothing is to be trusted.
Your bill depends a lot on your habits. Indicatively, having the electrical water heater on all day, cooking and using an oven a lot, using a dryer, ironing, and heating and cooling are really tricky.
Landlines and Broadband plans for home use have acceptable rates. Fiber speed, though, is not available everywhere, and even if it is, there is a keyword you need to pay extra attention to. That keyword is “up”. That means the providers do NOT offer any guarantee. Given how important this service is to every Digital Nomad and Remote Worker, please make sure you verify what is available before you commit to renting a property.
Mobile Telephony is very expensive compared to what is available in Italy or the UK. Make sure to review all plans carefully and choose wisely based on your real needs. All providers have English-speaking teams that can provide you with more information.
Make sure, though, to have a list of questions ready. And insist on getting a clear answer on each one of them. Be extra cautious with the term of commitment. They all tend to push subscribers toward a 24-month commitment, and if you are not 1000% sure you will be staying in Greece for that long, make sure you do not get caught in a trap.
If you decide to go with a “pay as you go” mobile service, please be aware that the free minutes are calculated in an unusual way. Meaning that even if you just talk to someone for a few seconds, 3 full minutes will be deducted from your total allowance.
Water bills are another matter to pay attention to. Water rates depend on the area you choose to live in. In some areas, there is close to nothing, and in others, they are extremely expensive. In the region of Epirus, though, there are more than acceptable. But to be on the safe side, make sure to discuss it with the property owners and/or the realtor.
Taxes
If you plan to stay in Greece for a longer period, you must check what the Greek Government has to offer. Some really impressive reductions in taxes and other benefits of interest were voted on by the Greek Parliament in December 2020. Surely not to be ignored.
If you need more information about the region of Epirus, do reach out, and we will be happy to assist.
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