Santorini is the ultimate Greek Island. From its whitewashed towns to its scenic coasts, the place has everything you'd ever want in the Mediterranean. It's no wonder the island has long been a favorite of the rich and famous. Or why Hollywood constantly sets their wanderlust-inducing films in this destination. With its eternally sunny climate and idyllic way of life, who wouldn't want to go to Santorini? Or even live here? If you ever plan on moving to Santorini or you get relocated to the island, don't fret! Know that the process of settling down here isn't as complicated as it seems.
How to Move to Santorini, Greece
The process of moving to Santorini—or any other part of Greece, for that matter—is surprisingly simple. You'd think that relocating anywhere will have you going through multiple hoops, but in truth, it only takes a few steps. Firstly, depending on where you're coming from, get a visa to get to Greece. Once you're inside the country, you then have to apply for a residence permit to legally stay here for more than 90 days (approximately three months). While you're doing all that, find a place to stay and start settling down.
Why Travel to Santorini, Greece?
There are tons of reasons to visit Santorini, Greece. There's the warmth of the Mediterranean, which is a welcome change for those who live in generally cold places. The Aegean Sea can't help but draw people to Santorini either. You can swim, go snorkeling, and even go sailing in these calm, glittering waters. Of course, you can't ignore
the beaches in Santorini too! They're some of the best in the region, perfect for enjoying a relaxing day on the island. Beyond all that, there are the bustling towns, the lively community, the delicious Greek cuisine, and more.
Overview of Santorini
Santorini is part of the Cyclades Group of the
Greek Islands located in the Aegean Sea. Though it's among the most popular destinations in the Mediterranean, the island's population is quite small. Santorini only has over 15,500 residents, most of whom live in the principal towns of Fira and Oia. 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 54°F (12°C). And as you'd expect, Greek is the dominant language spoken in Santorini.
What to Know Before Moving to Greece
Among the many pressing things to know about Greece before moving here is the current state of its economy. For lack of a better term, the Greek economy isn't doing well right now. As a result, the country is suffering from a double-digit unemployment rate. Nevertheless, this shouldn't dissuade you from moving to Santorini if you can still afford it. It's not an exaggeration to say that the island looks and feels like it's a world away from the rest of the country.
When to Visit Santorini, Greece
The best time to visit Santorini depends on what kind of trip you want to take. If you want to bathe in the warm sunlight and experience the Mediterranean in its full paradisiacal glory, you'd do well to go here in summer. With that said, however, these months are also the peak season for the island's tourism. Expect hordes of tourists to crowd the island around that time. There are fewer tourists in Santorini around winter, so this might be a better time for you if you prefer a quieter visit. Just make sure you're prepared for the colder climates ahead.
What is Santorini Best Known For?
Santorini is best known as the ultimate summer destination in the Mediterranean. Everything about it screams holiday, from its lively whitewashed towns to its soft sandy beaches with glimmering seas. For the rest of the world, Santorini serves as the perfect escape. It's a place where one can simply rest, relax, refresh, and rejuvenate.
Source: Wikimedia Commons
Visa in Santorini
The first step to moving to Santorini is getting a visa. Depending on where you're coming from, you may need a visa to just enter Greece, much less getting to the island. As Greece is part of the Schengen area, you'll need a long-term
Schengen Visa. This will let you enter and stay in Greece for at least 90 days (approximately three months). Beyond that, you'll need to apply for a residence permit.
Do You Need a Visa to Go to Santorini, Greece?
As mentioned previously, the need for getting a Schengen Visa to get to Santorini depends on where you're coming from. If you're already a citizen/resident of another country in the Schengen Area, then you don't need a visa. The same goes for those eligible for the
ETIAS Visa Waiver Program. As its name says, the program lets travelers from countries like the US, the UK, the UAE, Japan, Israel, Australia, and more enter the Schengen Area without a visa.
Santorini Visa Requirements
The requirements for applying for a Schengen Visa typically include:
Application Form
Valid passport
Passport photos
Flight itinerary
Proof of funds
Proof of accommodations
Biometric Data
Travel Medical Insurance
It will also help if you have a letter proving your objective of going to Greece. This can either be a letter from your company detailing your relocation to Santorini or your enrollment documents in the Greek university that accepted you.
Source: Wikimedia Commons
Getting Around Santorini
Out of all the Greek Islands, Santorini is arguably among the most advanced in terms of public transport. Getting around Santorini is fairly easy as there are buses, taxis, ferries, and even a cable car on the island. There's no metro or tram system, sure, but you really don't need that when you're here. Despite how limited it is,
Santorini's public transport is efficient enough that you can get to where you need to be in no time.
How to Get Around Santorini Island
How you get around Santorini depends on where you're going. If you're staying in a big town on the island, then a taxi is enough to get you to your destination. Your best bet to go to a different town, however, is riding the bus. You can also take a ferry since most towns in Santorini are by the coast. And if you prefer to travel on your own and at your own pace, rent a motorbike instead.
How to Travel Around Santorini
Once you get on the island, you barely remember that taking a ferry is still an option to get to where you need to be. In fact, ferries are just as common an option for public transport as taking a taxi or riding a bus. What's great about it is that a ferry can take you to other coastal towns in Santorini as well as nearby
rural Greek Islands. What's not to love?
Is Santorini Walkable?
For the most part, it is. The towns themselves are perfect for a nice stroll, even with the steep steps and narrow pathways. And if you're going to a different town, you have a nice hike ahead. It's a great way to see the lesser-known parts of the island, maintain your fitness, and spend less money on public transport. Unfortunately, the popular
transportation apps don't operate in Santorini, so this is yet another reason why you ought to walk around too.
Source: Flickr.com/ Neil Jennings
Where to Live in Santorini
Are the
towns in Santorini all the same? Is it like a “you've seen one, you've seen them all” kind of situation? Not necessarily. To be fair, each town on this island is unique in its own right. Akrotiri, for example, is known as the go-to Mediterranean escape for the rich and famous. Fira is one of Santorini's main towns, you can expect a lot of hustle and bustle here. Oia is another popular town but it's arguably the most picturesque on the island. And Emporio is a relic of Medieval Greece that's definitely worth checking out!
Where to Stay Santorini
The best place to stay in Santorini depends on what your vibe is. If you prefer luxury, stay in Akotiri. If you prefer a quieter lifestyle, there's no better place than Perissa. And if you're into history, Emporio might be more for you than any other town on the island. Whatever it is you're looking for in terms of the kind of Mediterranean life you want to live, there's a specific area for you in Santorini.
Places to Live in Santorini, Greece
Another Santorini town worth mentioning is Firostefani, which is just beyond Fira. Though it's technically an extension of the island's capital, it has its own distinct quality. For one thing, Firostefani is not as busy as Fira, allowing you to have a more peaceful lifestyle here. The same goes for Imerovigli too. Though it has its fair share of luxury, this place remains a small
Greek Island town at heart.
Best Place to Live in Santorini
Truth be told, the best place to live in Santorini is in either of the two main towns: Fira or Oia. As far as hometowns go, these places are the most “complete.” They have all the necessary facilities, offer exciting hotspots, and more. There's no doubt you'll live a comfortable life in either Fira or Oia in Santorini.
Source: Wikimedia Commons
Santorini Living Costs
With how popular Santorini is, it's safe to expect that the costs here are sky-high. At least, if you want to stay in a luxury resort on the island. But what about when you move to Santorini? Will it still cost you a lot to live here? The short answer is yes, it is. The
living costs in Santorini aren't high, necessarily, there's simply a lot you need to pay for. There's rent, food, utility bills, public transport, and so much more. All of these can total to quite a high figure every month.
Is It Expensive to live in Santorini, Greece?
Again, the short answer is yes, it is. There's a lot you need to pay for and though all these costs may seem affordable just on their own, when you add them all up, you'll realize that they take up a huge chunk of your money. That's why it's important to be as frugal as can be when you move to Santorini.
How Much Does it Cost to Live in Santorini?
Let's answer this question by looking at the common monthly rental fees on the island. You can get a nice
luxury apartment in Santorini that'll only cost you around €400.00 to €1,200.00 per month if you stay outside of the town center. If you prefer a place that's right smack in the middle of the big towns, that'll cost you a minimum of €600.00 and a maximum of €2,000.00. By these figures alone, they don't look unusually high compared to other European cities. But remember that there are a lot more costs you need to pay for as well.
Average Cost of Living in Santorini, Greece
Livingcost.org notes that the average monthly cost of living in Santorini is €1,142.69 for single adults and €2,984.59 for a family of four. Do take note, however, that they haven't accounted for the rent for these figures yet. Now that you know common monthly rental fees on the island, you'll better understand that it really is quite expensive to live in Santorini.
Source: Wikimedia Commons
Employment in Santorini
To be 100% honest, there aren't a lot of jobs in Santorini. At least, not as many as you'll find in the big cities. Beyond the big towns with its hotels and resorts, Santorini is still very much a rural area. As such, there aren't a lot of job opportunities here. Add to that the unstable
Greek job market and it's even further to land employment on the island. So how then will you earn a living when you move to Santorini? Your best bet is to work online. Becoming a remote worker will let you enjoy the slow pace of life in Santorini while still earning enough to get by.
Jobs in Santorini, Greece
With all of that said it's not exactly fair to say that there are no jobs in Santorini. You can still
get work, but don't expect the typical desk jobs. Perhaps the most popular is working in tourism since Santorini is a popular destination. From being an English-speaking tour guide to managing a hotel, these positions are available on the island. You can also work in the service industry, especially in the
popular restaurants in Santorini. You might not earn a lot, but it will still help in covering your expenses on the island.
Source: Wikimedia Commons
Education in Santorini
It's fairly easy to move to Santorini on your own, but what about when you have a family? What if you have kids? Can they still continue their schooling in Santorini? The answer is yes, they can. Though the island is best known as a vacation hotspot, it still has its fair share of educational institutions. Don't worry! They're not all local public schools that only teach in the Greek language. There are still some private institutions where foreign students can enroll in.
Is Education Free in Greece?
First things first, is education free in Greece? For public schools, it is. But these aren't the institutions that will suit your child, who likely can't understand Greek. Instead, you're better off enrolling them in private international schools that teach lessons in English, and they cost money!
Santorini Schools
So, which
international schools in Santorini should you enroll your kid? There's the Hellenic Culture Centre, the MEI International Academy, and the LeadAbroad educational program, to name a few. They're built for international students on the island!
Source: Wikimedia Commons
Santorini Healthcare
Healthcare is one of the many things you need to think about when you move to Santorini. Remember that this is a largely rural island. Even the big and bustling towns don't have it all. So how is Greek healthcare in Santorini? Are there hospitals on the island? Fortunately, there are! There's one main
hospital in Santorini, namely the Santorini General Hospital in Fira, as well as smaller, private clinic throughout the island.
How is Healthcare in Greece?
More than just the hospitals in Santorini, how is
Greek healthcare in general? Can you access it as a foreign resident of the country? Yes, you can. Greece has universal healthcare, which provides free basic treatments to all citizens and residents in the country. It even ranks fairly high in the global rankings of healthcare systems, thanks in large part to the available private options in Greece too.
Source: Wikimedia Commons
Santorini Safety
Oftentimes, when a place is a popular tourist destination, it's not exactly the safest either. Since there are many people there, it's bound to have high crime rates. It rings true in Paris, New York City, London, and more. Does it ring true in Santorini too? Fortunately, it doesn't! The
crime rates in Santorini are low. Its general crime rate is only 22.92% while its rate of increasing crimes is a moderate 50.00%. Both are only moderate to low, meaning that the island of Santorini is a generally safe place
Is Santorini Safe?
Yes, it is. If its low crime rates aren't enough to convince you that there's barely anything to worry about in Santorini, perhaps its safety rate will. Santorini's safety rate is a very high 86.54% during the day. This practically allows you to just go wherever you want on your own. And you can do just that as long as your stuff is safe and secure.
How Safe is Santorini at Night?
Surprisingly yes, it still is! Typically, a place's safety rate drops to around 30% or 50% at night. In Santorini, however, the safety rate remains high after dark. It's 86.54% during the day and 75.00% at night, further proving that the Greek Island really is a safe place overall.
Source: Wikimedia Commons
Taxes in Santorini
Don't forget that moving to Santorini will make you a resident of Greece, requiring you to pay taxes to the Greek government. Be it income tax or the typical value-added tax (VAT), these are important contributions that help maintain the vital institutions in the country. As such, you must understand the basics of the
Greek tax system to ensure that you're doing your part right.
Are Taxes High in Greece?
Not really. Taxes in Greece are about as same as those in other parts of Europe. The country even follows a similar ascending system. The higher your annual salary, the higher your tax rate. For example, if you earn up to €10,000.00 per year, your income tax rate is 9%. If you earn any amount between €10,000.00 to €20,000.00 per year, your income tax rate is 22%.
Greece’s Taxes for Foreigners
Under alternative tax regimes, those who earn a foreign-sourced income are subject to an annual flat income tax rate of 7%. If you're a remote worker who has moved to Santorini but remained employed by a non-Greek company, this is likely your income tax rate
Source: Wikimedia Commons
Relocation Tips for Santorini
Here are a few relocation tips worth remembering when you move to Santorini:
Settle down in the bigger towns on the island (i.e. Fira, Oia, etc.)
Open a
local Greek bank account before you get to the country
Join a
local mobile network and get a SIM card for your phone
Immerse yourself in the local community
Get to know the locals and make friends
Know where to buy your food regularly
Learn some
Greek social customs to avoid offending locals
Always have some cash on you.
Source: Wikimedia Commons
Moving to Santorini might seem like a far-fetched dream now, but know that it's not impossible to make it true. Let this relocation guide help you take the necessary steps to move and start a new life on this island.
