Ahh,
Mykonos! Just hearing the Greek Island's name brings about thoughts of white sandy beaches, glistening turquoise seas, and the rustic charms of the Mediterranean. Not to mention high-class resorts, tropical cocktails, and celebrities partying on yachts. Such is the magic of Mykonos, one of the most popular Greek Islands out there. It's easy to see why the rich and famous love going here on vacation, but is it really worth moving to Mykonos altogether? Well, why not? Truth be told, moving to this island isn't as impossible of a process as one might think, as proven by this relocation guide.
What is Mykonos, Greece Known For?
As mentioned earlier, Mykonos is known as one of the finest
Greek Islands in the Mediterranean. Over the years, it's become one of the many playgrounds of the rich and famous, with a good number of them even going so far as to purchase luxurious second homes here. With its natural beauty, idyllic towns, and awesome nightlife scene, it's no surprise that the world's elite fell in love with Mykonos.
Where to Stay in Mykonos Town
Mykonos Town, more commonly referred to as “Chora” by the locals and seasoned travelers, is the capital of the Greek Island. It's the center of all the hustle and bustle, with marketplaces and shops doing business during the day and the bars, nightclubs, and taverns hosting parties at night. Many would argue that this is the best town for anyone to stay in Mykonos. Getting a place near the town center is a wise decision, as is staying by the coast so you can enjoy such amazing views every day.
Mykonos Overview
Mykonos is one of the most popular islands in
Greece. It's part of the Cyclades group of islands in the Aegean Sea alongside Andros, Antiparos, Delos, Kythnos, Milos, and more. Its population ranges between a minimum of 10,000 to 15,000 residents per year, with many moving in and moving out regularly. The island's hottest month is July, which has an average temperature of 79°F (26°C), while its coldest month is January, which has an average temperature of 48°F (9°C). And though the international community in Mykonos is growing, Greek remains the dominant language spoken here.
Why Visit Mykonos?
Before deciding to move to Mykonos, you really ought to visit first. Beyond its reputation as a “
party island,” it remains one of the most breathtaking parts of Greece. See the scenic coasts that belong on travel postcards. Eat delicious local food and discover why Greek cuisine is among the most beloved on the planet. Soak up some sun and get a nice tan. And at night, party in all the hotspots and have the time of your life! Who knows? You might just bump into an A-list celebrity if you do!
What is Mykonos Best Known for?
Truth be told, Mykonos is best known for its electric nightlife. The island is practically a treasure trove of exciting bars, awesome nightclubs, cool taverns, and more. While the place truly is beautiful during the day, there's no denying that most people look forward to the parties that start after dark!
Why is Mykonos So Famous?
Mykonos isn't the only party island in the world. Even
Ibiza has it beat according to many people out there! But in truth, Mykonos is among the most popular destinations in the Mediterranean. Why is that? Well, you can thank all the A-list celebrities for that. Over the years, the Greek Island gained notoriety for its famous famous visitors. The likes of George Clooney, Christian Bale, Matt Damon, Demi Moore, Elizabeth Hurley, Paris Hilton, Jennifer Lopez, and more have all been spotted here. Lindsay Lohan even famously opened a club on the island before. Unfortunately, it has since closed.
Where is Mykonos Located?
As already mentioned, Mykonos is an island in Greece. It's part of the Cyclades Islands, located in the Aegean Sea. It's specifically on the southern part of the Aegean Sea, near in-between Attica and Crete.
Source: Wikimedia Commons
Visa in Mykonos
Before you can even think about settling down in Mykonos, you need to enter Greece first. Depending on where you're coming from, you might need a
Schengen Visa to do just that. Since Greece is part of the Schengen Area, this visa is the only way for anyone coming from outside of the area to enter the country. Those coming from fellow Schengen countries don't need a visa to enter Greece but they'll still need to get a residency permit to stay here for more than three months.
Who Needs a Visa to Enter Greece?
As already discussed, those coming from non-Schengen Area countries are required to get a visa to enter Greece. Citizens from fellow Schengen Area states to get it. The same goes for those eligible for the
ETIAS Visa Waiver Program too, which includes citizens from select territories like the US, the UK, the UAE, Japan, Israel, Australia, and more. Nevertheless, non-residents who intend to relocate to Mykonos will still need to apply for a residency permit.
Source: Wikimedia Commons
Getting Around Mykonos
When it comes to
public transport, Mykonos still has a long way to go. Let's not forget that despite how bustling some of its central towns are, Mykonos is still a largely rural Greek Island. Don't expect to see a metro, trams, and trains here. There are still a few buses and taxis that operate in the more urban areas, but for the most part, you're better off walking or even riding a donkey.
How to Get Around Mykonos
Despite how limited public transport in Mykonos is, there are still many options to get around. You can take the bus to go from one town to the next. It's also common to board a ferry to reach the more undeveloped coasts of the island. And it's also possible to rent a vehicle here (or rent one in Athens and bring it to the island). Unfortunately, ride-hailing
transportation apps don't operate in Mykonos, so you can't get an Uber to get to where you want to be here.
Is It Easy to Get Around Mykonos?
It depends on where you’re going. If your destination is in the same town, then you can just walk there. If you plan to go to another town on the island, you can take the bus which follows its own schedule. And if you want to get to the more untouched parts of the island, your best bet is to go on a ferry.
Source: Wikimedia Commons
Where to Live in Mykonos
It's not really fair to say that the whitewashed
towns in Mykonos are all the same. They may look similar in various ways, sure, but each town has something different to offer. There's Chora, also known as Mykonos Town, for example, which serves as the capital of the island. It's the busiest town in all of Mykonos and often the most crowded with tourists. Little Venice is nearby, modeled after the famous Italian city it was named after. And of course, there's no forgetting Ano Mera, famous for its countryside charms and beautiful windmills.
Where to Stay in Mykonos
When you move to Mykonos, where should you stay? Well, it depends on your specific lifestyle. The aforementioned Ano Mera is perfect for rural life, for example, despite how famous it is. The place may still see a couple of tourists here and there, but the way of life here is as slow-paced as ever. In contrast, Kalafatis is for a more upscale lifestyle, thanks in part to the glitzy establishments that line its beautiful coast. And if you want to experience a true-blue Mediterranean seaside lifestyle, look no further than the Old Port
Where to Stay in Mykonos for The First Time
On your first time in Mykonos, you'd do well to stay in Chora, the island's capital. This is the closest thing the Greek Island has to an urban area, but even then, it's still largely provincial. Nevertheless, everything you need is only a hop and a skip away. You'll also remain largely safe as there are a lot of people around.
Where to Stay in Mykonos on a Budget
As one of the many Mediterranean playgrounds of the rich and famous, going to Mykonos will cost a lot of money. That is if you stay in the more popular areas on the island. If you go to the more rural towns like Ornos, Psarrou, and Platis Jalos, then you can still enjoy a more affordable stay here.
Source: Wikimedia Commons
Mykonos Living Costs
Considering how glamorous Mykonos is, it's easy to think that it's an expensive city. So are the
costs in Mykonos really that high? Surprisingly, no! Going to the places where celebrities frequent will cost you an arm and a leg, but actually moving to Mykonos and settling down here isn't all that expensive. Don't forget that at its core, Mykonos is still a largely provincial part of Greece, even if it's one of the more famous Greek Islands.
Cost of Living in Mykonos, Greece
A good way to gauge just how expensive it is to live in Mykonos is to take a look at its common monthly rental fees. You can actually rent a
luxury apartment in Mykonos for as low as €500.00. That's practically unheard of in other equally prominent European destinations! Depending on the location of your real estate, the most expensive might be just €2,000.00 per month, which is still not that high when compared to other popular destinations.
Is It Expensive to Live in Mykonos?
As established earlier, it's not that expensive to live in Mykonos. It's really only expensive when you go to the high-class resorts and upscale clubs that the rich and famous frequent on the island.
How Much Does It Cost to Live in Mykonos, Greece?
To further prove how affordable it is to live in Mykonos, take a look at the real estate prices here. You'd think that
buying property in Greece would be expensive, especially in Mykonos. But in truth, the price per square meter on the island ranges from a minimum of €4,000.00 to a maximum of €5,000.00. Those figures are relatively low considering that in other cities, the price per square meter would already cost tens of thousands of Euros.
Source: Wikimedia Commons
Employment in Mykonos
Truth be told,
Greece's job market and economy aren't at their most stable right now. In fact, the country currently has a 10.9% unemployment rate. It's not the highest in the world, sure, but the fact that it's a double-digit percentage is still a cause for concern. How then can you move to Mykonos and make a living here? Well, it's better if you're already well-off to begin with. Those who have homes in Mykonos can enjoy staying here for long periods because they can already afford to. It's either that or you remote worker who can still get great wifi on the island.
Jobs in Mykonos, Greece
Does the country's unstable job market and economy mean you can't
get a job in Greece? Much less in Mykonos? Not necessarily. As the Greek Island remains a popular tourist destination, you can still find work related to the tourism and hospitality industry. You can also work as part of the service staff in the various establishments on the island. But perhaps the best thing is to start your own business in Mykonos, one that'll draw in both locals and tourists alike.
Source: Wikimedia Commons
Education in Mykonos
If you want to move to Mykonos on your own, go right ahead! But if you want to move to this island with your family, specifically with your kids, you might want to think again. This isn't to say that Mykonos is a bad place for the little ones, it's just that there aren't a lot of options for them to continue their schooling. Don't forget that this island is mostly rural. It's a popular vacation spot, sure, but not as “complete” of a city as, say, Athens. There are still a few
schools in Mykonos, but they're so local that your expat kids might not keep up. Your best bet is to homeschool them and/or teach them some Greek.
Schools in Mykonos
With all of that said, there are still a couple of notable schools in Mykonos. Ekpedeftiria Sychroni Paideia is pretty prestigious, especially since it's a private institution. The High School of Mykonos is also worth noting as the go-to public school on the island. This is a place where your little ones need to be fluent in Greek to keep up with their lessons.
Source: Wikimedia Commons
Healthcare in Mykonos
Despite its notorious reputation as a party island, Mykonos surprisingly has efficient healthcare. For one thing,
Greek healthcare is a mix of nationally-funded and social insurance systems. It's not necessarily free but your contributions help pay for your medical needs. As such, you’re also encouraged to get private healthcare, preferably from international providers like Allianz Care and Cignal Global. This then allows both citizens and residents alike to gain access to all sorts of hospitals and treatments, many of which you'll also find on the island.
Hospitals in Mykonos
It's vital to take note of the prominent hospitals in Mykonos. There's the Mykonos Health Center, for example, which is the most well-known healthcare institution on the island. As foreigners, this is where you'll want to get treated. The SEA Medical Health Clinic Mykonos is another good one, beloved for its relative affordability. And of course, there's Mykonian Hygeia Medical Centre, a private clinic that specializes in outpatient care.
Source: Wikimedia Commons
Mykonos Safety
Truth be told, Mykonos is far from the safest place in the world. You'd think it would be, considering that it's not a huge metropolis and it's a relatively rural destination. But the truth couldn't be farther from that! The
crime rates in Mykonos are high. Its general crime rate is 77.78% while its rate of increasing crimes is 72.22%. So does this mean that the Greek Island is dangerous? Not necessarily. There are still many towns in Mykonos where you can enjoy a safe and crime-free life.
How Safe is Mykonos, Greece?
Let's reiterate: just because the crime rates in Mykonos are high, it doesn't mean that it's a dangerous place.
According to Numbeo, the island's safety rate during the day is 58.33%, which is moderately high. Is it high? No. But it's not low either! This means that you can still remain safe overall during the day in Mykonos.
Is Mykonos Safe at Night?
What about at night? Can you stay safe at night? Well, let's just say this: you're better off not going out at night. And this is pretty ironic too considering that the island is famous for its nightlife scene. In the more popular towns, sure, but overall? Mykonos's safety rate drops to a very low 22.22% come nightfall. It's not exactly a good sign for you to still go out, especially if you're all on your own.
Source: Wikimedia Commons
Mykonos Taxes
Moving to Mykonos means you'll have to adhere to the
Greek tax system too. Do you at least know the basics of it?
Immigrant Invest states that taxes in Greece are about as high as any other part of Europe. Similarly, the country's tax system follows the ascending system when imposing income tax rates. Simply put, the higher your annual income, the higher your tax rate.
Is Mykonos Tax-Free?
No, it's not. Even tourists who go here still have to pay VAT and other taxes. What more residents of the island too?
Is Greece a Tax Haven?
Not necessarily. As stated earlier, the taxes in Greece are as high as in any other part of Europe. So no, taxes aren't so low in this country that you'd consider it as a tax haven.
Source: Wikimedia Commons
Relocation Tips for Mykonos
To end this relocation guide, here are a few helpful tips that will ensure a more seamless move to Mykonos.
Learn to speak and understand Greek.
Set up a
local Greek bank account ASAP!
Join a
local mobile network and get a SIM card for your phone.
Learn all about
Greek social customs before you get to Greece.
Make friends and build a strong network.
Choose a hometown that'll suit your lifestyle best.
Memorize the schedule of ferries traveling to Athens
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Moving to Mykonos is no easy feat. There’s a lot you’ll need to know and do before you can settle down on this beautiful Greek Island. Fortunately, this relocation guide can help you every step of the way!
