Athens wages lag sharply behind soaring living costs, study shows

A Deutsche Bank "Mapping the World’s Prices 2026" report finds that the average net monthly salary in Athens is about $1,321 (≈ €1,156), a 61.3% rise since 2016, yet it represents only 24% of the U.S. average while the city’s cost of living is 62.4% of the U.S. level. Housing costs have outpaced earnings: a three‑bedroom apartment in central Athens now rents for roughly $1,330 (≈ €1,163), a 144.2% increase over ten years, effectively matching the average salary. After rent, a household’s disposable income falls to about $1,312 (≈ €1,148). Housing purchase prices have risen by around 150% per square metre in the same period, pushing Athens to the bottom of a 50‑city quality‑of‑life ranking.

These trends highlight a severe affordability crisis, with rent growth (20% over a decade) consuming most of wage gains and leaving little room for savings or consumption.