The key numbers · 2026 - Transfer tax on resales: 3.09% of the price
- All-in transaction costs: commonly 7–10% — notary ~0.8–1.5%, lawyer ~1–2%, agent ~2%+VAT, registration ~0.5%
- ENFIA annual property tax: roughly €2–16.20/m² by zone, surcharges on holdings above €400,000
- Athens prices 2025: +6.2% (Bank of Greece residential index)
- Athens asking prices: South ~€4,091/m², North ~€3,323/m² (market data, not official statistics)
- Typical Athens rents: 1-bed ~€670/month, 2-bed ~€1,040 (2026 market estimates)
What buying actually costs
The sticker price is the start. On a resale property you'll pay the 3.09% transfer tax, then the professional stack — notary (mandatory in Greece), an independent lawyer (strongly advised, and required for some transactions), the agent's side of the commission, and land-registry fees. Budget 7–10% on top of the price, all-in:
| Cost | Typical rate | On a €300,000 purchase |
| Transfer tax (resale) | 3.09% | €9,270 |
| Notary | ~0.8–1.5% | €2,400–4,500 |
| Lawyer | ~1–2% | €3,000–6,000 |
| Agent (buyer side) | ~2% + VAT | ~€7,440 |
| Registration | ~0.5% | €1,500 |
Then every year: ENFIA, the annual property tax paid to AADE, usually in monthly instalments — the main charge runs roughly €2 to €16.20 per m² depending on the zone value, with surcharge elements on high-value holdings above €400,000. You'll need an AFM (tax number) and a Greek bank account before any of this — see Tax & Finance.
The market, from official data outward
The Bank of Greece residential index — the official series — put Athens apartment prices up 6.2% in 2025, with Thessaloniki and other cities growing at similar or higher rates. Asking-price data (Spitogatos, via press — market data, not statistics) puts Athens' southern suburbs around €4,091/m² and the northern suburbs around €3,323/m². Central Athens asking rents crossed €10/m² in late 2025. Prime islands run far above all of these numbers; inland and northern mainland far below.
Rent for a year first. A typical Athens 1-bed at ~€670/month is cheap optionality against a €300,000 mistake. Winter reveals what June hides: heating (many Greek homes are under-insulated), ferry cuts, shuttered island towns.
Two rules that catch non-EU buyers
The border-area rule. Under Law 1892/1990, non-EU citizens need Ministry of Defence approval to buy property in designated border areas — parts of northern Greece and eastern Aegean islands, including the Rhodes area. Approval is routinely granted but adds weeks to a purchase. The exact current list of designated areas is flagged in our fact-check log — have your lawyer confirm whether your target area is inside one before you offer.
The Golden Visa short-let ban. Properties bought under the Golden Visa rules since 1 September 2024 (Law 5100/2024) cannot be used for short-term Airbnb-style letting. If your plan was "Golden Visa flat that pays for itself on Airbnb," that plan is dead. Long-term letting remains possible. Details in
Visas & Residency.