Italy vs Greece

Italy and Greece are two of the countries people most often shortlist together when moving to the EU. Below is an honest side-by-side on the things that shape daily life, with the stronger country marked on each row. On these measures Italy comes out ahead on 3, Greece on 8.

Rent is the clearest split: a one-bed runs about EUR 850 a month in Italy against EUR 550 in Greece, so Greece saves you roughly EUR 300 every month.

Typical net pay is EUR 1,600 a month in Italy and EUR 1,000 in Greece, putting Italy EUR 600 ahead before anything else is counted.

What actually matters is the money left after rent: EUR 750 in Italy against EUR 450 in Greece, which is where Italy pulls ahead.

On paperwork, citizenship takes about 10 years from arrival in Italy and 7 in Greece, a 3-year head start for Greece.

You will get further on English alone in Greece than in Italy, which matters most in the first year, before the local language clicks.

So which should you choose?

The table shows averages, but the right answer depends on what you weigh most. If your priority is among healthcare, public transport, schools, Italy likely edges it. If you care more about cost of living, tax burden, housing pressure, Greece may suit you better. Your income, family, documents and the specific city matter as much as the country, which is exactly what the MoveMap check weighs up.