Greece

Greece offers American expats an exceptional quality of life at a fraction of US costs, with living expenses approximately 40% lower than the United States when including rent (Numbeo, 2026). The country holds the US State Department's safest travel advisory level (Level 1), making it notably safer than peer European destinations like France, Spain, and Italy, which are all rated Level 2. Greece ranks 45th globally on the 2025 Global Peace Index (Vision of Humanity). With a Numbeo Cost of Living Index of 53.96, a single person can expect monthly costs around €774 excluding rent, while a one-bedroom city center apartment averages just €479 per month. Healthcare in Greece is a mixed picture. The country ranks 25th on the FREOPP World Index of Healthcare Innovation (2024) and offers universal public healthcare through its ESY system. However, Numbeo's 2026 Health Care Index scores Greece at 58.90 (rank 66 globally), and the OECD reports that only 27% of residents are satisfied with healthcare availability, well below the 64% OECD average. Private health insurance is affordable at €30–150 per month, and many expats opt for private care to avoid public system wait times. Greece has strong English proficiency, with 51% of the population speaking English (Eurobarometer) and an EF EPI 2025 ranking of 20th globally with a 'High Proficiency' score of 592. English is widely spoken in tourist areas, major cities, and among younger Greeks. Greece has become a top destination for American expats, with over 20,000 US citizens living there permanently as of 2025. The country offers multiple visa pathways including the Digital Nomad Visa (€3,500/month income requirement), the Financially Independent Person (FIP) visa popular with retirees (featuring a flat 7% tax on foreign pension income), and the Golden Visa investment program. Popular expat hubs include Athens, Thessaloniki, Crete (especially Chania), and various Greek islands.