LIVING EXPENSES

davestarr52 · Posted: Fri May 29, 2009 8:55 am Post subject: LIVING EXPENSES

My wife and I are planning to live long-term in Crete and we are asking if there are any guidelines regarding the cost of living in Crete compared to the UK. Includes Food, Drink, Taxes & Services (Gas, Electricity, Water, Telephone/Internet). Any information would be very useful. Thanks Dave Starr.

chanchi · Newbie Joined: Apr 22, 2008 Posts: 14 Location: Greece

Hi

I expect mainland Greece is similar priced, so .....beer, cigerettes and petrol are cheaper, electric about the same maybe slightly cheaper than UK, food, electrical appliances more expensive than UK, no council tax but a local tax is included in the electric/water bill.

If you have a cesspool which most places do (mainland where I am, small village) then approx 20-25 euros a month....telephone and internet approx 40-50 euros per month (includes unlimited calls Greece and europe)

We moved recently and put as much on the removal van as we could as the electrical stuff so expensive here.

If you would like any more info please p.m me, I have a freind in Crete who could probably answer your questions better.

Good Luck Smile

davestarr52 · Posted: Mon Sep 07, 2009 9:01 am Post subject: Re: LIVING EXPENSES

Thanks for the advice and the financial info. All set for Crete on 31st October.
Cheers

Gelis · Newbie Joined: Sep 03, 2009 Posts: 3

Hi Dave

Just to "update" a bit on chanchi's post, as we're actually in Crete, and it is slightly different from the mainland. We've found the following: petrol now nearly as much as the UK 1.195 euros at the moment, and the further from a refinery you go, the more expensive it gets. We're in the far east of the island, so it has to come here by road from Heraklion. I'm spending approximately the same on general "shopping" in euros as I was 3 years ago in the UK in pounds - for weekly shopping including food, household stuff, toiletries, wine & beer. Household stuff and toiletries are expensive, as is any imported "British" type food. Local food is generally reasonably priced. Haven't a clue about cigarettes, as neither of us smokes.

Household bills: electricity + council tax here comes out at around half what we were paying in the UK for electricity + gas. We pay approximately 45 euros a month for phone & internet (including free calls) - we pay basic charges for the phone line, and have a call/internet package with Forthnet. Water charges vary depending on whether or not you are on town/village water supply, but I imagine that what chanchi says about that will be near enough. We have agricultural water, so that is a different situation.

Good luck with the move - certainly bring as much as you can of the electricals, as they are pricy here. However, don't go out and buy anything new before you come, as sending stuff back under warranty will negate any saving!

davestarr52 · Posted: Tue Sep 08, 2009 2:13 pm Post subject: Re: LIVING EXPENSES

Excellent info. Many Thanks. We are going to move to a villa in Kefalas - superb area on 31st October.
Cheers Dave S

piglet · Posted: Tue Sep 08, 2009 2:17 pm Post subject: Re: LIVING EXPENSES

Hi Gelis...welcome to Expat Focus.

A big thanks for your cost of living expenses...very much appreciated ..its always difficult to ascertain this...but nice when a "local" gives a first hand account.

Kind Regards
Piglet

Gelis · Newbie Joined: Sep 03, 2009 Posts: 3

You are welcome - "real" cost of living has changed greatly since we moved here, because of the pound/euro exchange rate, and rubbish bank interest rates on our savings, so hope those coming now can be prepared for costings on day to day stuff to be similar to the UK. As I said, utilities still cheaper here, as long as you are sensible, and I'd certainly rather be broke here than in the UK!