For a lot of people out there, living in Santorini is the ultimate dream come true. Who wouldn't want to spend the rest of their lives in a paradisical island known for its serene atmosphere, aesthetically pleasing whitewashed towns, stunning coasts, and more? Santorini is, without a doubt, the best destination for a more relaxed and slow-paced lifestyle. But as tempting as this may sound, actually relocating will require a lot of hard work. There's so much to need to know, things to do, and more before you completely settle down here. Let this relocation guide help you out a little.
Overview
Currently, Santorini has a population of around 15,550 residents. If it seems that there are more people on the island, it's possible that most of them are tourists. But as for locals, there aren't that many; even more so for foreign expats. Nevertheless, Santorini has welcomed many new residents from around the world, further growing its international communities. As for the weather, the island is mostly hot all year round. Its hottest month is July, with an average temperature of 26°C (79°F), while the coldest is January, which has an average temperature of 12°C (54°F).
Source: Wikimedia Commons
Visa
You probably already know that you need a
Schengen Visa in order to gain entry to Greece and the rest of the EU. Especially if you're coming from a non-EU country. There's also the option of getting into the country via the
ETIAS Visa Waiver Program. If you're eligible, you can travel to Greece even when you don't have a Schengen Visa. But to stay here for more than 90 days (approximately three months), you can register for a Greek residence permit. You can get it within 30 days upon application. This will allow you to stay for at least a year and from there, you can start the legal process of actually moving here.
Source: Wikimedia Commons
Getting Around
As far as
Santorini's public transport is concerned, it leaves a lot to be desired. This isn't to say that it's inefficient or anything like that, but it can certainly benefit from further improvements. Nevertheless, the buses and taxis that travel throughout the island have proven helpful for both locals and tourists. There's also the option of renting a vehicle instead, be it a car or motorbike. Though costly, they do allow you to travel within Santorini at your own pace. As for using transportation apps here, you can only use GPS navigation programs and journey-planning apps. There are no ride-hailing apps that operate in Santorini.
Source: Flickr.com/ Neil Jennings
Where to Live
It's easy to think that the
towns in Santorini are all the same. They mostly consist of whitewashed houses, follow the same tiered, cascading infrastructure, and most offer amazing views of the Aegean Sea. For the most part, this is true, however, it's important to note that there are still many differences between them. For example, since Fira is the capital town of Santorini, it tends to be a lot busier and more bustling than all the others. Oia, on the other hand, despite its popularity among tourists, is a lot more relaxed and slow-paced. These differences matter when choosing a hometown on the island.
Source: Wikimedia Commons
Real Estate
Since Santorini is a hugely popular tourist destination, it's easy to assume it's an expensive place, right? Well, the truth of the matter is that while the island isn't exactly a cheap destination,
the living costs here aren't that high either. Just look at the common rental fees here. They range from a minimum of €500.00 to a maximum of €2,000.00 a month. In other equally famous places, you won't find luxury homes that are as modestly priced as these. As for your utility costs, the total of your basic bills will mostly cost you around €100.00 to €212.50 a month. Not bad, right?
Source: Wikimedia Commons
Employment
Now, let's talk about employment. You can probably already tell that
finding work in Santorini won't be that easy. It's not impossible, but you'll find that there are fewer opportunities here than in other Greek cities. And that has nothing to do with
Greece's job market either. Santorini simply has few industries to offer. The best you can do is to work in the tourism and/or service industries or start your own business here. But if you're not into all of that, it's still possible to get remote work while you're on the island instead. Do note, however, that wifi in Santorini isn't always the best! You'll need to get a local mobile plan for a better connection.
Source: Wikimedia Commons
Education
How about education? Are there schools in Santorini that you or your little ones can enroll in? The truth of the matter is, instead of standard schools with campuses and all that, what's more, common here are
international educational programs. Think foreign exchange student programs or global study groups—the type where students who are already studying from other places around the world visit Santorini for an educational trip. There are a few Greek language schools on the island too, but they're not as academically inclined as you may hope. For your kids, it may be better to enroll them in online homeschooling programs instead.
Source: Wikimedia Commons
Healthcare
While Santorini may lack in offices and schools, the island still has its fair share of
fine healthcare institutions. From
Santorini Hospital to
Central Clinic of Santorini, both of which are in Fira, you have little to worry about getting medical attention here. Both these places and a few others provide first-class healthcare, especially to those who are registered in Greece's healthcare system. And since it's a universal system, all legal residents of the island have access to it. If you have yet to become a legal resident yourself, you might want to rely on a private medical plan first. It'll be the only way you can get into these institutions with lower medical costs.
Source: Wikimedia Commons
Safety
How about safety? How do
Santorini's crime rates fare in the whole grand scheme of things? Are they a mere point of concern or a major cause for alarm? Well, according to
Numbeo.com, there's absolutely nothing to worry about. As of July 2021, the island's general crime rate is 0.00%, one of the lowest in the world. However, this may not be 100% accurate considering that its rate of increasing crimes is 35.71%, meaning there are still some crimes committed here. But for the most part, there's nothing to worry about. Even Santorini's safety rates are high: 96.88% during the day and 87.50% at night.
Source: Wikimedia Commons
Taxes
There's still the issue of taxes. Relocating to Santorini means you'll have to deal with
Greece's tax system. Are you prepared for that? For now, all you really need to focus on is that your tax income rate depends on how much you earn in a year. For instance, earning less than €20,000.00 a year means your tax rate is 0%, which means you barely have to pay any income tax at all. The rate goes up to 22% when you earn an annual income of around €20,000.00 to €21,000.00, and so on and so forth. As for the Value-Added Tax, that's a flat rate of 24% for most goods and services.
Source: Wikimedia Commons
Relocation Tips
Here are some final relocation tips that may help you. Don't forget to
set up your own local bank account in Greece. This will help you manage your finances here properly. If you can, try to find out which Greek banks have a lot of branches on the island. Those that you can have easier access to should what you choose for your local bank here. Furthermore, make sure to
join a local mobile network too. Your old SIM card won't work here anymore. Only when you have a local phone number will you be able to stay connected to most of your contacts.
Source: Wikimedia Commons
If you want to live out your dream of living in Santorini, know that relocating here won't be easy. Nevertheless, this relocation guide can still help you out every step of the way! You'd do well in relying on it every once and a while.
