Author: Ivana Stanojevic

When we compare income in Serbia and Greece, salaries are plus-minus three times bigger in all sectors. In the last year, some salaries dropped to 500e, (what is really tragic, but there is no lot of people with this salary). This is mainly in supermarkets where cashier works for 4 or 6 hours and that is why they are paid that much. Statutory minimum wage is slightly more than 550 euros. Doctors specialists have a salary from 2200 to 2500 euros, depending on past years work, specialists around 1000-1200 euros. The average salary of civil servants in the civil service is about 900-1000 euros, in banks the same. Salaries in the private sector are around 700-800 euros. Salaray of teachers depends on past years service on a scale of 700 to 1300 euros (700e for those who just started to work). Faculty professors are getting between 1500 and 2000e.

Employees in some higher position in the private sector (for example, bosses) I would say they have about 1000.
In tourism, there are salaries from 600-1000 euros depending on the position. Waiters in cafes and restaurants in tourist places work for a daily wage, which is from 25 to 50 euros depending where is a cafe, quality and so on. Sellers in tourist places have about 900 euros, but the job is seasonal. It is important to note that the jobs in season are quite difficult, usually without day off, which is why they are paid more, but usually the employer gives accommodation and sometimes food.
Taxi drivers are usually the owners of their vehicles, and if they are employees I think they are sharing what they earn.

Housekeepers take an average 6 euros per hour of work.
Now, since there is a wide range of jobs, then of course we can speak abou this topic a lot. Services are very expensive in relation to Serbia, so those who are engaged in these jobs are making good money.


** Dues and bills in Greece **

Electricity is paid on a two-month basis and avarage bill is about 150 euros for an average home (it costs 75 euros per month).
Internet and phone are about 30 euros a month.

We are paying internet and phone and TV 55 euros.
A lot of people who live in Thessaloniki, for example, they are heating on gas and they are paying around 80 to 100 euros a month (but only during the heating season - according to the principle “what you spend, you pay”), many people have petrol heating system, which is more expensive, so for example, we are spending about 1500 euros for 3 and a half month of heating (only three and a half month we are at home during winter). Lately, a lot of people are heating on fireplaces or wood boilers, but I do not know how much it costs.
The apartments are from 250€ and up depending on the size, location and quality of the apartment.

There are common costs if you live in the building (for cleaning and lighting which are about 20€).
Regarding the EU scale, it is low if we compare with western countries.

For an apartment of 56 square meters, annually, the gas for heating system is about 400€ per year, electricity 450€, telephone and internet about 420€ and water about 100€.

For children, there is a fantastic program called Espa and with that program kids can go for free in kindergarten and have extended stay if the parents receive less than 14.000e per year. In the extended stay, children have included free classes of acting, languages, school of painting, music school, school for computers and they help them learning with tutors. National kindergarten is about 80e, and for two 150e. Private kindergaarten is much more expensive.

You can read more about life in Greece, taxes and income here