CITY / CITYComparación de ciudades verificada
Athensvs.Istanbul.
Athens y Istanbul empatan en los datos principales, con 4 resultados mejores cada una de 8. Cost of living (single, excl. rent): Athens $766/mo, Istanbul $450/mo. Freelancer tax burden: Athens 30,9%, Istanbul 4,4%. Climate comfort: Athens 5/12 mo, Istanbul 6/12 mo.
Verificado
14 criterios comparados · 29 fuentes · los datos de país aparecen marcados como heredados
gr / tr · SettleMetric
01
Las diferencias clave
Las cifras clave cara a cara, con el lado más fuerte señalado. La puntuación global es decorativa; lo que importa es qué datos encajan contigo.
Resultado principal
Empate: 4 de 8 cada uno
Athens
4
Istanbul
4
ELSTAT — Household Budget Survey 2023
Recopilado por SettleMetric
- Datos a fecha de
- 31 dic 2023
- Verificado
- 15 jul 2026
- Método
- ELSTAT HBS 2023: average annual expenditure per person = €8,358.24 = €696.52/month (monetary purchases, excludes imputed owner rent). Subtracted the actual-rent component (~€24.6/person) → €671.9/person excl. rent × 1.1399 = $766. Same low-reading per-capita HBS basis as peers.
- Notas
- Greek monetary household consumption is genuinely depressed (ELSTAT reports it ~20.5% below 2008), so the per-capita figure lands near Czechia despite Greece feeling pricier in tourist zones. Rent shown separately.
TÜİK — Household Consumption Expenditure 2024 (per-capita COICOP), CPI-uplifted
Recopilado por SettleMetric
- Datos a fecha de
- 30 jun 2026
- Verificado
- 15 jul 2026
- Método
- TÜİK 2024 average household consumption 45,344 TRY/mo ÷ 3.1 persons = 14,627 TRY/capita (2024). Housing (26.0%) split ~70% rent (excluded) / ~30% utilities (kept), matching the peer basis. Excl-rent per-capita uplifted to mid-2026 by TÜİK CPI ×1.7534 and converted at 46.65 TRY/USD (TCMB 2026-07-02) → ≈$450.
- Notas
- WARNING — lira volatility: with ~32% annual inflation and a constantly repricing FX rate, this USD figure carries a ±15–20% band and shifts month to month; the TRY has appreciated in real terms since 2024, so Türkiye's USD cost of living has been RISING even as it stays below EU peers. All-household per-capita basis; Istanbul/İzmir run above the national figure.
SettleMetric tax engine over official 2026 rules (Law 5246/2025 income-tax scale + e-EFKA Class 1)
Recopilado por SettleMetric
- Datos a fecha de
- 1 ene 2026
- Verificado
- 15 jul 2026
- Método
- Standard freelancer scheme at €60,000, single (scheme gr-freelancer-standard): EFKA Class 1 = 3,006/yr (deductible); income tax on 56,994 via the 2026 scale (9/20/26/34/39%) = 15,528. Levies 18,534 → 30.9%. NOTE: a relocating new tax resident gets the 50% income-tax exemption (Article 5C, scheme gr-freelancer-newresident-50) for 7 years, cutting this to ≈13.5% — but the 30.9% standard figure is the unconditional, steady-state burden shown as the headline.
Recopilado por SettleMetric
- Datos a fecha de
- 1 ene 2026
- Verificado
- 15 jul 2026
- Método
- Best eligible scheme at €60,000 (~3,193,644 TL) for an IT freelancer serving FOREIGN clients (scheme tr-freelancer-export): the 100% service-export income deduction (raised from 80% for 2026) zeroes the income tax; only the fixed minimum Bağ-Kur social premium (11,808.23 TL/month = 141,699/yr) is due. Burden = 141,699 / 3,193,644 = 4.4%. Serving Turkish clients instead (no export deduction) runs ~31–33% (progressive + Bağ-Kur).
Eurostat — police-recorded intentional homicide (crim_off_cat, ICCS0101, unit P_HTHAB, geo=EL)
Datos abiertos
- Datos a fecha de
- 31 dic 2024
- Verificado
- 15 jul 2026
- Notas
- Police-recorded intentional homicide, 2024 (0.78). Very low by global standards (world average ~5.8) and down over the series (1.29 in 2008 to 0.68–0.88 recently). One of the safer countries in the set.
World Bank / UNODC — intentional homicides per 100,000 (Türkiye, 2023)
Datos abiertos
- Datos a fecha de
- 31 dic 2023
- Verificado
- 15 jul 2026
- Notas
- UNODC series via the World Bank: 3.23 per 100,000 in 2023 (up from 2.62 in 2022; the series has gaps and swings). 2024/2025 not yet published. Türkiye is not covered by Eurostat, so cross-country comparison relies on the UNODC series. Moderate-to-higher than the European peers in the set.
SettleMetric computation over climate-normals (Climates to Travel 1991–2020, Athens/Ellinikon)
Recopilado por SettleMetric
- Datos a fecha de
- 31 dic 2020
- Verificado
- 15 jul 2026
- Método
- Months with mean daily max 15–28°C AND precipitation < 150mm: Mar (16.5), Apr (20.2), May (25.2), Oct (23.8), Nov (18.8) = 5. Excluded: Jan/Feb/Dec (max 13.3–14.7°C); Jun–Sep (max 28.9–33.4°C). All months satisfy the precip test (max 60 mm). Athens's hot summers and cool winters leave the two shoulder seasons as the pleasant stretch.
SettleMetric computation over climate-normals (Istanbul/Florya WMO 17636)
Recopilado por SettleMetric
- Datos a fecha de
- 31 dic 2020
- Verificado
- 15 jul 2026
- Método
- Months with mean daily max 15–28°C AND precipitation < 150mm: Apr (17.1), May (22.2), Jun (26.9), Sep (25.8), Oct (20.8), Nov (15.8) = 6. Jul (29.5) and Aug (29.7) exceed the 28°C ceiling; Jan–Mar and Dec miss the 15°C floor. No month exceeds the rain cap (wettest Dec 87.7 mm) — a comfortable spring and autumn bracketing a hot mid-summer and cool winter.
M-Lab NDT country aggregates for Greece
Datos abiertos
- Datos a fecha de
- 31 dic 2023
- Verificado
- 15 jul 2026
- Método
- Median of the 343 daily country-median download values for GR in 2023 = 37.3 Mbps (268,076 download tests; daily medians ranged 21.3–47.3). M-Lab NDT is single-stream and reads below Ookla-style tests — comparable only within this criterion. 2023 is the latest full year in M-Lab's public stats API.
- Notas
- Greece's fixed broadband is improving as fibre rolls out; the single-stream M-Lab median is used only for cross-country comparability on one consistent method.
M-Lab NDT country aggregates for Türkiye (Asia grouping)
Datos abiertos
- Datos a fecha de
- 31 dic 2023
- Verificado
- 15 jul 2026
- Método
- Median of the 343 daily country-median download values for TR in 2023 = 12.09 Mbps (402,083 download tests; Türkiye is filed under M-Lab's Asia (AS) continent grouping, not EU). M-Lab NDT is single-stream and reads well below marketed figures — Turkish fibre commonly markets 100–1000 Mbps — comparable only within this criterion. 2023 is the latest full year in M-Lab's public stats API.
- Notas
- The single-stream M-Lab median is low (and the lowest in the set) but reflects a consistent cross-country method, not real fibre-line speeds; Turkish fixed broadband is much faster in practice.
EF EPI 2025 — Greece (score 592, rank 20/123, High band)
Estudio
- Datos a fecha de
- 1 nov 2025
- Verificado
- 15 jul 2026
- Notas
- Own band informed by EF EPI 2025 (attribution: EF Education First): Greece scores 592, rank 20/123 — top of the 'High' band, just below the 'Very High' threshold (~600); global average 488. English is widely functional in tourism, services and among younger Greeks, though the score slipped 10 points from the prior edition.
EF EPI 2025 — Türkiye (rank 71/123, score 488, Low band)
Estudio
- Datos a fecha de
- 1 nov 2025
- Verificado
- 15 jul 2026
- Notas
- Own band informed by EF EPI 2025 (attribution: EF Education First): Türkiye rank 71/123, score 488 (Low band, cutoff 450–499), a 9-point decline from the prior edition. English is workable in Istanbul/tourism and parts of the tech sector but thin in public offices and smaller cities; Turkish is the sole official language. The lowest English band in the set.
Recopilado por SettleMetric
- Datos a fecha de
- 15 jul 2026
- Verificado
- 15 jul 2026
- Método
- Midpoint of local comprehensive (inpatient + outpatient) annual premiums for a healthy 35-year-old, €600–1,800 from major Greek insurers (mid-range €100–180/month) → ~€1,200/yr × 1.1399 = $1,368.
- Notas
- Public cover exists via EOPYY (funded through EFKA contributions), but waiting lists and gaps drive a large private market. Local plans run cheaper than international/expat plans ($2,000–4,000+/yr). Greek insurers raised premiums ~14% in 2025 — a rising curated midpoint, not a firm quote.
Recopilado por SettleMetric
- Datos a fecha de
- 15 jul 2026
- Verificado
- 15 jul 2026
- Método
- Comprehensive standalone private health insurance (outpatient + inpatient private-hospital cover) for a healthy 35-year-old runs ~25,000–100,000 TRY/yr depending on the contracted hospital network; a mid-tier plan sits near ~40,000 TRY/yr ≈ $860 at 46.65 TRY/USD. Band ≈ $540–$2,140.
- Notas
- Two-tier context: residents with a work/residence basis are covered by mandatory public insurance (SGK); on top, Turks commonly buy complementary insurance (~5,000–20,000 TRY/yr) working with SGK at private hospitals, or full standalone private cover (this figure). The cheap mandatory foreigner residence-permit policy (~$32–130/yr) is minimal cover, not comparable. Private cover is cheap in USD because of the weak lira; TRY premiums rise 50–80%/yr, so this is a volatile curated midpoint.
Datos abiertos
- Datos a fecha de
- 31 dic 2024
- Verificado
- 15 jul 2026
- Método
- 2024 annual mean PM2.5 averaged across 5 EEA-reporting monitoring stations in the Athens area, from EEA verified data compiled by the EU Air Quality Tracker.
- Notas
- ≈2.8× the WHO 2021 guideline (5 µg/m³); within the current EU annual limit (25) but above the 2030 EU limit (10). Down markedly from ~22 µg/m³ in 2019 (IQAir), consistent with the declining trend. Underlying authority is the EEA (third-party presentation of EEA-verified 2024 data).
IQAir — 2024 World Air Quality Report, Istanbul annual average PM2.5
Estudio
- Datos a fecha de
- 31 dic 2024
- Verificado
- 15 jul 2026
- Notas
- Istanbul's 2024 calendar-year mean PM2.5 was 15.3 µg/m³ (~3× the WHO 2021 guideline of 5), confirmed in the IQAir 2024 World Air Quality Report and IQAir's Nov 2025 note. IQAir is a commercial aggregator (sensor + reference-grade), not an official body; a Turkish Ministry of Environment (sim.csb.gov.tr) station annual mean would be the preferred cross-check but is only in non-machine-readable dashboards. Winter traffic- and heating-season peaks.
02
¿Qué ciudad encaja con tu plan?
Cada perspectiva pondera solo los datos que importan a ese plan y dice a qué lado favorece.
Informática remota / autónomo
Contrato o trabajo por cuenta propia en tecnología, facturando a clientes de fuera.
Muy reñido para este plan
SettleMetric tax engine over official 2026 rules (Law 5246/2025 income-tax scale + e-EFKA Class 1)
Recopilado por SettleMetric
- Datos a fecha de
- 1 ene 2026
- Verificado
- 15 jul 2026
- Método
- Standard freelancer scheme at €60,000, single (scheme gr-freelancer-standard): EFKA Class 1 = 3,006/yr (deductible); income tax on 56,994 via the 2026 scale (9/20/26/34/39%) = 15,528. Levies 18,534 → 30.9%. NOTE: a relocating new tax resident gets the 50% income-tax exemption (Article 5C, scheme gr-freelancer-newresident-50) for 7 years, cutting this to ≈13.5% — but the 30.9% standard figure is the unconditional, steady-state burden shown as the headline.
Recopilado por SettleMetric
- Datos a fecha de
- 1 ene 2026
- Verificado
- 15 jul 2026
- Método
- Best eligible scheme at €60,000 (~3,193,644 TL) for an IT freelancer serving FOREIGN clients (scheme tr-freelancer-export): the 100% service-export income deduction (raised from 80% for 2026) zeroes the income tax; only the fixed minimum Bağ-Kur social premium (11,808.23 TL/month = 141,699/yr) is due. Burden = 141,699 / 3,193,644 = 4.4%. Serving Turkish clients instead (no export deduction) runs ~31–33% (progressive + Bağ-Kur).
M-Lab NDT country aggregates for Greece
Datos abiertos
- Datos a fecha de
- 31 dic 2023
- Verificado
- 15 jul 2026
- Método
- Median of the 343 daily country-median download values for GR in 2023 = 37.3 Mbps (268,076 download tests; daily medians ranged 21.3–47.3). M-Lab NDT is single-stream and reads below Ookla-style tests — comparable only within this criterion. 2023 is the latest full year in M-Lab's public stats API.
- Notas
- Greece's fixed broadband is improving as fibre rolls out; the single-stream M-Lab median is used only for cross-country comparability on one consistent method.
M-Lab NDT country aggregates for Türkiye (Asia grouping)
Datos abiertos
- Datos a fecha de
- 31 dic 2023
- Verificado
- 15 jul 2026
- Método
- Median of the 343 daily country-median download values for TR in 2023 = 12.09 Mbps (402,083 download tests; Türkiye is filed under M-Lab's Asia (AS) continent grouping, not EU). M-Lab NDT is single-stream and reads well below marketed figures — Turkish fibre commonly markets 100–1000 Mbps — comparable only within this criterion. 2023 is the latest full year in M-Lab's public stats API.
- Notas
- The single-stream M-Lab median is low (and the lowest in the set) but reflects a consistent cross-country method, not real fibre-line speeds; Turkish fixed broadband is much faster in practice.
EF EPI 2025 — Greece (score 592, rank 20/123, High band)
Estudio
- Datos a fecha de
- 1 nov 2025
- Verificado
- 15 jul 2026
- Notas
- Own band informed by EF EPI 2025 (attribution: EF Education First): Greece scores 592, rank 20/123 — top of the 'High' band, just below the 'Very High' threshold (~600); global average 488. English is widely functional in tourism, services and among younger Greeks, though the score slipped 10 points from the prior edition.
EF EPI 2025 — Türkiye (rank 71/123, score 488, Low band)
Estudio
- Datos a fecha de
- 1 nov 2025
- Verificado
- 15 jul 2026
- Notas
- Own band informed by EF EPI 2025 (attribution: EF Education First): Türkiye rank 71/123, score 488 (Low band, cutoff 450–499), a 9-point decline from the prior edition. English is workable in Istanbul/tourism and parts of the tech sector but thin in public offices and smaller cities; Turkish is the sole official language. The lowest English band in the set.
ELSTAT — Household Budget Survey 2023
Recopilado por SettleMetric
- Datos a fecha de
- 31 dic 2023
- Verificado
- 15 jul 2026
- Método
- ELSTAT HBS 2023: average annual expenditure per person = €8,358.24 = €696.52/month (monetary purchases, excludes imputed owner rent). Subtracted the actual-rent component (~€24.6/person) → €671.9/person excl. rent × 1.1399 = $766. Same low-reading per-capita HBS basis as peers.
- Notas
- Greek monetary household consumption is genuinely depressed (ELSTAT reports it ~20.5% below 2008), so the per-capita figure lands near Czechia despite Greece feeling pricier in tourist zones. Rent shown separately.
TÜİK — Household Consumption Expenditure 2024 (per-capita COICOP), CPI-uplifted
Recopilado por SettleMetric
- Datos a fecha de
- 30 jun 2026
- Verificado
- 15 jul 2026
- Método
- TÜİK 2024 average household consumption 45,344 TRY/mo ÷ 3.1 persons = 14,627 TRY/capita (2024). Housing (26.0%) split ~70% rent (excluded) / ~30% utilities (kept), matching the peer basis. Excl-rent per-capita uplifted to mid-2026 by TÜİK CPI ×1.7534 and converted at 46.65 TRY/USD (TCMB 2026-07-02) → ≈$450.
- Notas
- WARNING — lira volatility: with ~32% annual inflation and a constantly repricing FX rate, this USD figure carries a ±15–20% band and shifts month to month; the TRY has appreciated in real terms since 2024, so Türkiye's USD cost of living has been RISING even as it stays below EU peers. All-household per-capita basis; Istanbul/İzmir run above the national figure.
Greek carrier networks (ELTA, ACS, BoxNow) — composite
Recopilado por SettleMetric
- Datos a fecha de
- 15 jul 2026
- Verificado
- 15 jul 2026
- Método
- Dense mainland-city coverage: national couriers (ELTA post, ACS, Geniki Taxydromiki, Speedex) plus one of SE Europe's largest parcel-locker networks (BoxNow) and Skroutz Last Mile; cash-on-delivery ('αντικαταβολή') is mainstream. Athens/Thessaloniki are excellent, but ELTA's financial troubles and ferry-dependent island last-mile keep the national rating at 'good' rather than 'excellent'.
Turkish carrier ecosystem — PTT + Yurtiçi/Aras/MNG/Sürat/Sendeo/HepsiJET/Trendyol Express
Recopilado por SettleMetric
- Datos a fecha de
- 15 jul 2026
- Verificado
- 15 jul 2026
- Método
- Dense, competitive domestic courier market on the back of a huge e-commerce sector (Trendyol, Hepsiburada): PTT Kargo plus Yurtiçi, Aras, MNG, Sürat, Sendeo, HepsiJET and Trendyol Express give nationwide next-day/2-day coverage; same/next-day is normal in the big metros. Cash-on-delivery ('kapıda ödeme') is ubiquitous. Parcel-locker density is growing but below the locker-saturated benchmark, so rated 'good' rather than 'excellent'.
Familia
Mudarse con pareja e hijos en edad escolar.
Athens encaja mejor: 4 de 5
Recopilado por SettleMetric
- Datos a fecha de
- 15 jul 2026
- Verificado
- 15 jul 2026
- Método
- Count of IB World Schools in the Athens/Attica metro (accreditor: International Baccalaureate): ACS Athens, International School of Athens, St. Catherine's British School, Campion School, Pierce–The American College of Greece, Costeas-Geitonas, Geitonas School, Doukas School, Platon School, Athens College, DES Schools, Lampiri School, International Metropolitan School, International School of Piraeus = 14. Flagship schools independently confirmed via their own sites.
- Notas
- Verified FLOOR, IB-accreditation basis only (the true count is higher — it excludes the German School of Athens (Abitur) and the Lycée Franco-Hellénique (AEFE), plus Cambridge centres). Greece has 22 IB World Schools nationally. ±2 on the IB count.
IB (ibo.org) Find an IB World School registry + International Schools Database (Istanbul IB filter)
Recopilado por SettleMetric
- Datos a fecha de
- 15 jul 2026
- Verificado
- 15 jul 2026
- Método
- Verified floor of 12 IB World Schools in Istanbul (accreditor: International Baccalaureate): Istanbul International Community School (also CIS), The British International School Istanbul (Nord Anglia), MEF International, ENKA Schools, Üsküdar American Academy (SEV), AKA School, NÛN Schools, Eyüboğlu Schools, Gökkuşağı Schools, Alkev, Tas Private Elementary, Aljazari International School. Flagship schools confirmed via their own sites.
- Notas
- Conservative IB-only FLOOR. Türkiye has 116 IB World Schools nationally, Istanbul holds the largest share. Cambridge/CIS/COBIS/MSA schools not offering IB are excluded, so the true count is higher.
Eurostat — police-recorded intentional homicide (crim_off_cat, ICCS0101, unit P_HTHAB, geo=EL)
Datos abiertos
- Datos a fecha de
- 31 dic 2024
- Verificado
- 15 jul 2026
- Notas
- Police-recorded intentional homicide, 2024 (0.78). Very low by global standards (world average ~5.8) and down over the series (1.29 in 2008 to 0.68–0.88 recently). One of the safer countries in the set.
World Bank / UNODC — intentional homicides per 100,000 (Türkiye, 2023)
Datos abiertos
- Datos a fecha de
- 31 dic 2023
- Verificado
- 15 jul 2026
- Notas
- UNODC series via the World Bank: 3.23 per 100,000 in 2023 (up from 2.62 in 2022; the series has gaps and swings). 2024/2025 not yet published. Türkiye is not covered by Eurostat, so cross-country comparison relies on the UNODC series. Moderate-to-higher than the European peers in the set.
Recopilado por SettleMetric
- Datos a fecha de
- 15 jul 2026
- Verificado
- 15 jul 2026
- Método
- Midpoint of local comprehensive (inpatient + outpatient) annual premiums for a healthy 35-year-old, €600–1,800 from major Greek insurers (mid-range €100–180/month) → ~€1,200/yr × 1.1399 = $1,368.
- Notas
- Public cover exists via EOPYY (funded through EFKA contributions), but waiting lists and gaps drive a large private market. Local plans run cheaper than international/expat plans ($2,000–4,000+/yr). Greek insurers raised premiums ~14% in 2025 — a rising curated midpoint, not a firm quote.
Recopilado por SettleMetric
- Datos a fecha de
- 15 jul 2026
- Verificado
- 15 jul 2026
- Método
- Comprehensive standalone private health insurance (outpatient + inpatient private-hospital cover) for a healthy 35-year-old runs ~25,000–100,000 TRY/yr depending on the contracted hospital network; a mid-tier plan sits near ~40,000 TRY/yr ≈ $860 at 46.65 TRY/USD. Band ≈ $540–$2,140.
- Notas
- Two-tier context: residents with a work/residence basis are covered by mandatory public insurance (SGK); on top, Turks commonly buy complementary insurance (~5,000–20,000 TRY/yr) working with SGK at private hospitals, or full standalone private cover (this figure). The cheap mandatory foreigner residence-permit policy (~$32–130/yr) is minimal cover, not comparable. Private cover is cheap in USD because of the weak lira; TRY premiums rise 50–80%/yr, so this is a volatile curated midpoint.
Datos abiertos
- Datos a fecha de
- 31 dic 2024
- Verificado
- 15 jul 2026
- Método
- 2024 annual mean PM2.5 averaged across 5 EEA-reporting monitoring stations in the Athens area, from EEA verified data compiled by the EU Air Quality Tracker.
- Notas
- ≈2.8× the WHO 2021 guideline (5 µg/m³); within the current EU annual limit (25) but above the 2030 EU limit (10). Down markedly from ~22 µg/m³ in 2019 (IQAir), consistent with the declining trend. Underlying authority is the EEA (third-party presentation of EEA-verified 2024 data).
IQAir — 2024 World Air Quality Report, Istanbul annual average PM2.5
Estudio
- Datos a fecha de
- 31 dic 2024
- Verificado
- 15 jul 2026
- Notas
- Istanbul's 2024 calendar-year mean PM2.5 was 15.3 µg/m³ (~3× the WHO 2021 guideline of 5), confirmed in the IQAir 2024 World Air Quality Report and IQAir's Nov 2025 note. IQAir is a commercial aggregator (sensor + reference-grade), not an official body; a Turkish Ministry of Environment (sim.csb.gov.tr) station annual mean would be the preferred cross-check but is only in non-machine-readable dashboards. Winter traffic- and heating-season peaks.
EF EPI 2025 — Greece (score 592, rank 20/123, High band)
Estudio
- Datos a fecha de
- 1 nov 2025
- Verificado
- 15 jul 2026
- Notas
- Own band informed by EF EPI 2025 (attribution: EF Education First): Greece scores 592, rank 20/123 — top of the 'High' band, just below the 'Very High' threshold (~600); global average 488. English is widely functional in tourism, services and among younger Greeks, though the score slipped 10 points from the prior edition.
EF EPI 2025 — Türkiye (rank 71/123, score 488, Low band)
Estudio
- Datos a fecha de
- 1 nov 2025
- Verificado
- 15 jul 2026
- Notas
- Own band informed by EF EPI 2025 (attribution: EF Education First): Türkiye rank 71/123, score 488 (Low band, cutoff 450–499), a 9-point decline from the prior edition. English is workable in Istanbul/tourism and parts of the tech sector but thin in public offices and smaller cities; Turkish is the sole official language. The lowest English band in the set.
Dinero y cripto
Optimizar impuestos, banca y normas sobre cripto.
Istanbul encaja mejor: 1 de 3
Fuente oficial
- Datos a fecha de
- 10 abr 2025
- Verificado
- 15 jul 2026
- Notas
- EU MiCA applies and was transposed by Law 5193/2025 (10 April 2025), with CASP licensing and EU passporting, supervised by HCMC and the Bank of Greece. Individual crypto capital gains are taxed at a flat 15% (from 1 Jan 2025), with a €500 annual tax-free threshold and 5-year loss carry-forward. Fully legal and now clearly regulated/taxed rather than a grey area.
Fuente oficial
- Datos a fecha de
- 2 jul 2024
- Verificado
- 15 jul 2026
- Notas
- Trading, holding and exchanging crypto are legal and very popular, but PAYING with crypto is BANNED (CBRT regulation in force 30 April 2021). Law No. 7518 (in force from 2 July 2024) put crypto-asset service providers under the Capital Markets Board (SPK): mandatory licensing, custody duties and minimum capital; offshore platforms targeting residents and crypto ATMs had to wind down. Classified 'legal-regulated' — trading legal and now formally supervised, payments prohibited.
Fuente oficial
- Datos a fecha de
- 31 dic 2025
- Verificado
- 15 jul 2026
- Método
- Composite: EUR (eurozone), full EU free movement of capital; the 2015 crisis-era capital controls were fully lifted on 1 September 2019, so funds move abroad without restriction. Offsetting this: Greece has the STRICTEST cash-payment cap in the EU (€500 for consumer transactions; breaches fined at double the amount) plus routine AML/CASP reporting. The open capital account alone reads 'low', but the €500 everyday-cash restriction pulls the composite up to 'moderate'.
- Notas
- A 2025–26 proposal to cut the cap to €200 was withdrawn; the €500 limit remains.
Revenue Administration (GİB) — cash-payment documentation (tevsik) limit; CBRT crypto-payment ban
Fuente oficial
- Datos a fecha de
- 1 ene 2026
- Verificado
- 15 jul 2026
- Método
- Composite: the lira is freely convertible and residents may hold foreign-currency deposits/accounts and move money abroad — no hard individual capital controls. But the state exerts more control than EU peers: payments above 30,000 TRY (~$640) must be routed through banks/cards (tevsik rule); crypto payments are banned; the authorities intervene actively in the FX market and use reserve/macroprudential measures; and import de-minimis is low with high duties. Freely convertible but with a low cash-through-bank threshold and several controls → 'moderate' (stricter end).
- Notas
- High inflation erodes money in practice but is not a legal control. Day-to-day banking, FX purchase and transfers are unrestricted for an individual; the frictions are the low cash-routing threshold, the crypto-payment ban and occasional FX intervention.
SettleMetric tax engine over official 2026 rules (Law 5246/2025 income-tax scale + e-EFKA Class 1)
Recopilado por SettleMetric
- Datos a fecha de
- 1 ene 2026
- Verificado
- 15 jul 2026
- Método
- Standard freelancer scheme at €60,000, single (scheme gr-freelancer-standard): EFKA Class 1 = 3,006/yr (deductible); income tax on 56,994 via the 2026 scale (9/20/26/34/39%) = 15,528. Levies 18,534 → 30.9%. NOTE: a relocating new tax resident gets the 50% income-tax exemption (Article 5C, scheme gr-freelancer-newresident-50) for 7 years, cutting this to ≈13.5% — but the 30.9% standard figure is the unconditional, steady-state burden shown as the headline.
Recopilado por SettleMetric
- Datos a fecha de
- 1 ene 2026
- Verificado
- 15 jul 2026
- Método
- Best eligible scheme at €60,000 (~3,193,644 TL) for an IT freelancer serving FOREIGN clients (scheme tr-freelancer-export): the 100% service-export income deduction (raised from 80% for 2026) zeroes the income tax; only the fixed minimum Bağ-Kur social premium (11,808.23 TL/month = 141,699/yr) is due. Burden = 141,699 / 3,193,644 = 4.4%. Serving Turkish clients instead (no export deduction) runs ~31–33% (progressive + Bağ-Kur).
Vida tranquila
Priorizar la seguridad, el aire y una vida diaria sencilla.
Muy reñido para este plan
Eurostat — police-recorded intentional homicide (crim_off_cat, ICCS0101, unit P_HTHAB, geo=EL)
Datos abiertos
- Datos a fecha de
- 31 dic 2024
- Verificado
- 15 jul 2026
- Notas
- Police-recorded intentional homicide, 2024 (0.78). Very low by global standards (world average ~5.8) and down over the series (1.29 in 2008 to 0.68–0.88 recently). One of the safer countries in the set.
World Bank / UNODC — intentional homicides per 100,000 (Türkiye, 2023)
Datos abiertos
- Datos a fecha de
- 31 dic 2023
- Verificado
- 15 jul 2026
- Notas
- UNODC series via the World Bank: 3.23 per 100,000 in 2023 (up from 2.62 in 2022; the series has gaps and swings). 2024/2025 not yet published. Türkiye is not covered by Eurostat, so cross-country comparison relies on the UNODC series. Moderate-to-higher than the European peers in the set.
Datos abiertos
- Datos a fecha de
- 31 dic 2024
- Verificado
- 15 jul 2026
- Método
- 2024 annual mean PM2.5 averaged across 5 EEA-reporting monitoring stations in the Athens area, from EEA verified data compiled by the EU Air Quality Tracker.
- Notas
- ≈2.8× the WHO 2021 guideline (5 µg/m³); within the current EU annual limit (25) but above the 2030 EU limit (10). Down markedly from ~22 µg/m³ in 2019 (IQAir), consistent with the declining trend. Underlying authority is the EEA (third-party presentation of EEA-verified 2024 data).
IQAir — 2024 World Air Quality Report, Istanbul annual average PM2.5
Estudio
- Datos a fecha de
- 31 dic 2024
- Verificado
- 15 jul 2026
- Notas
- Istanbul's 2024 calendar-year mean PM2.5 was 15.3 µg/m³ (~3× the WHO 2021 guideline of 5), confirmed in the IQAir 2024 World Air Quality Report and IQAir's Nov 2025 note. IQAir is a commercial aggregator (sensor + reference-grade), not an official body; a Turkish Ministry of Environment (sim.csb.gov.tr) station annual mean would be the preferred cross-check but is only in non-machine-readable dashboards. Winter traffic- and heating-season peaks.
ELSTAT — Household Budget Survey 2023
Recopilado por SettleMetric
- Datos a fecha de
- 31 dic 2023
- Verificado
- 15 jul 2026
- Método
- ELSTAT HBS 2023: average annual expenditure per person = €8,358.24 = €696.52/month (monetary purchases, excludes imputed owner rent). Subtracted the actual-rent component (~€24.6/person) → €671.9/person excl. rent × 1.1399 = $766. Same low-reading per-capita HBS basis as peers.
- Notas
- Greek monetary household consumption is genuinely depressed (ELSTAT reports it ~20.5% below 2008), so the per-capita figure lands near Czechia despite Greece feeling pricier in tourist zones. Rent shown separately.
TÜİK — Household Consumption Expenditure 2024 (per-capita COICOP), CPI-uplifted
Recopilado por SettleMetric
- Datos a fecha de
- 30 jun 2026
- Verificado
- 15 jul 2026
- Método
- TÜİK 2024 average household consumption 45,344 TRY/mo ÷ 3.1 persons = 14,627 TRY/capita (2024). Housing (26.0%) split ~70% rent (excluded) / ~30% utilities (kept), matching the peer basis. Excl-rent per-capita uplifted to mid-2026 by TÜİK CPI ×1.7534 and converted at 46.65 TRY/USD (TCMB 2026-07-02) → ≈$450.
- Notas
- WARNING — lira volatility: with ~32% annual inflation and a constantly repricing FX rate, this USD figure carries a ±15–20% band and shifts month to month; the TRY has appreciated in real terms since 2024, so Türkiye's USD cost of living has been RISING even as it stays below EU peers. All-household per-capita basis; Istanbul/İzmir run above the national figure.
SettleMetric computation over climate-normals (Climates to Travel 1991–2020, Athens/Ellinikon)
Recopilado por SettleMetric
- Datos a fecha de
- 31 dic 2020
- Verificado
- 15 jul 2026
- Método
- Months with mean daily max 15–28°C AND precipitation < 150mm: Mar (16.5), Apr (20.2), May (25.2), Oct (23.8), Nov (18.8) = 5. Excluded: Jan/Feb/Dec (max 13.3–14.7°C); Jun–Sep (max 28.9–33.4°C). All months satisfy the precip test (max 60 mm). Athens's hot summers and cool winters leave the two shoulder seasons as the pleasant stretch.
SettleMetric computation over climate-normals (Istanbul/Florya WMO 17636)
Recopilado por SettleMetric
- Datos a fecha de
- 31 dic 2020
- Verificado
- 15 jul 2026
- Método
- Months with mean daily max 15–28°C AND precipitation < 150mm: Apr (17.1), May (22.2), Jun (26.9), Sep (25.8), Oct (20.8), Nov (15.8) = 6. Jul (29.5) and Aug (29.7) exceed the 28°C ceiling; Jan–Mar and Dec miss the 15°C floor. No month exceeds the rain cap (wettest Dec 87.7 mm) — a comfortable spring and autumn bracketing a hot mid-summer and cool winter.
03
La comparación completa
Abre cualquier dato para ver qué mide, cómo de reciente es y el rastro completo de fuentes de ambas ciudades.
01
Impuestos
01+−Freelancer tax burden% effective burden at €60k/year self-employed profileAthens30,9Istanbulmejor4,4
Qué mide esto
Effective total burden (income tax + mandatory social and health contributions) for a solo IT freelancer with €60,000/year revenue and 10% deductible expenses, using the most favourable eligible scheme in the country's tax-schemes data. Computed by the SettleMetric tax engine; recorded as a curated value with the winning scheme id in method.
Athens
SettleMetric tax engine over official 2026 rules (Law 5246/2025 income-tax scale + e-EFKA Class 1)
Recopilado por SettleMetric
- Datos a fecha de
- 1 ene 2026
- Verificado
- 15 jul 2026
- Método
- Standard freelancer scheme at €60,000, single (scheme gr-freelancer-standard): EFKA Class 1 = 3,006/yr (deductible); income tax on 56,994 via the 2026 scale (9/20/26/34/39%) = 15,528. Levies 18,534 → 30.9%. NOTE: a relocating new tax resident gets the 50% income-tax exemption (Article 5C, scheme gr-freelancer-newresident-50) for 7 years, cutting this to ≈13.5% — but the 30.9% standard figure is the unconditional, steady-state burden shown as the headline.
Istanbul
Recopilado por SettleMetric
- Datos a fecha de
- 1 ene 2026
- Verificado
- 15 jul 2026
- Método
- Best eligible scheme at €60,000 (~3,193,644 TL) for an IT freelancer serving FOREIGN clients (scheme tr-freelancer-export): the 100% service-export income deduction (raised from 80% for 2026) zeroes the income tax; only the fixed minimum Bağ-Kur social premium (11,808.23 TL/month = 141,699/yr) is due. Burden = 141,699 / 3,193,644 = 4.4%. Serving Turkish clients instead (no export deduction) runs ~31–33% (progressive + Bağ-Kur).
02
Legalización
01+−Remote-work legalization easeAthensDedicated nomad visaIstanbulDedicated nomad visa
Qué mide esto
Best available legalization route for a location-independent earner with a median (non-EU, non-US) passport, classified from this country's legalization-paths data: dedicated digital-nomad visa; general freelance/self-employment permit; realistic long-stay path (e.g. renewable temporary residence); only short visa-free/tourist stays; effectively none.
Athens
Hellenic Republic MFA — Digital Nomad Visa (Law 4825/2021)
Fuente oficial
- Datos a fecha de
- 1 ene 2026
- Verificado
- 15 jul 2026
- Notas
- Greece runs a dedicated digital-nomad visa (Law 4825/2021): a 12-month visa then a 2-year residence permit for non-EU remote workers earning ≥ €3,500/month net from abroad. Paired with the 50% new-resident income-tax exemption it is one of the EU's most marketed relocation deals for mid-income freelancers, though the income bar is higher than in Albania or Bulgaria. EU citizens simply register.
Istanbul
GoTürkiye (official) — Digital Nomad Visa program
Fuente oficial
- Datos a fecha de
- 1 ene 2026
- Verificado
- 15 jul 2026
- Notas
- Türkiye runs a dedicated digital-nomad route on the government GoTürkiye platform (Digital Nomad Identification Certificate → visa → short-term residence), for degree-holding remote workers aged 21–55 earning ≥ $3,000/month from abroad. A short-term residence permit (ikamet) is the general fallback. Combined with the 100% service-export tax deduction it is a strong, low-tax remote-work base.
03
Coste de vida
01+−Cost of living (single, excl. rent)USD/month, single person, excluding rentAthens766Istanbulmejor450
Qué mide esto
Monthly cost of a defined single-person basket (food, transport, utilities, mobile+internet, modest leisure) excluding rent, curated from national statistics office price data and large local retailers' published prices, converted to USD at the ECB rate recorded in fx-rates. The method field of each value itemizes the basket inputs.
Athens
ELSTAT — Household Budget Survey 2023
Recopilado por SettleMetric
- Datos a fecha de
- 31 dic 2023
- Verificado
- 15 jul 2026
- Método
- ELSTAT HBS 2023: average annual expenditure per person = €8,358.24 = €696.52/month (monetary purchases, excludes imputed owner rent). Subtracted the actual-rent component (~€24.6/person) → €671.9/person excl. rent × 1.1399 = $766. Same low-reading per-capita HBS basis as peers.
- Notas
- Greek monetary household consumption is genuinely depressed (ELSTAT reports it ~20.5% below 2008), so the per-capita figure lands near Czechia despite Greece feeling pricier in tourist zones. Rent shown separately.
Istanbul
TÜİK — Household Consumption Expenditure 2024 (per-capita COICOP), CPI-uplifted
Recopilado por SettleMetric
- Datos a fecha de
- 30 jun 2026
- Verificado
- 15 jul 2026
- Método
- TÜİK 2024 average household consumption 45,344 TRY/mo ÷ 3.1 persons = 14,627 TRY/capita (2024). Housing (26.0%) split ~70% rent (excluded) / ~30% utilities (kept), matching the peer basis. Excl-rent per-capita uplifted to mid-2026 by TÜİK CPI ×1.7534 and converted at 46.65 TRY/USD (TCMB 2026-07-02) → ≈$450.
- Notas
- WARNING — lira volatility: with ~32% annual inflation and a constantly repricing FX rate, this USD figure carries a ±15–20% band and shifts month to month; the TRY has appreciated in real terms since 2024, so Türkiye's USD cost of living has been RISING even as it stays below EU peers. All-household per-capita basis; Istanbul/İzmir run above the national figure.
Gasto mensual por categoría (sin alquiler)
ELSTAT — Household Budget Survey 2023, Table 1 (COICOP shares)
Recopilado por SettleMetric
- Datos a fecha de
- 31 dic 2023
- Verificado
- 15 jul 2026
- Método
- ELSTAT HBS 2023 Table 1 per-household monthly amounts, with €59.5 rent removed from the Housing line, each divided by household size 2.42 and converted at 1.1399. Items sum to ≈$766. Housing here is utilities/energy/water/maintenance only (rent excluded); Greek energy costs are relatively high, keeping that line large.
TÜİK Household Consumption Expenditure 2024 (per-capita COICOP), CPI-uplifted
Recopilado por SettleMetric
- Datos a fecha de
- 30 jun 2026
- Verificado
- 15 jul 2026
- Método
- TÜİK 2024 per-capita monthly spend by COICOP division ÷ 3.1 per capita, ×1.7534 CPI uplift to mid-2026, ÷46.65 TRY/USD; housing shown as utilities only (~30% of the housing division, rent excluded). Sums to ≈$450. Türkiye has an unusually high transport share (21.6%), driven by fuel and vehicle costs.
04
Vivienda
Alquiler por tipo de vivienda
Alquiler de oferta: precio en el centro, con el de fuera del centro entre paréntesis ($/mes).
Spitogatos Price Index — Athens asking rents (Q1 2026), central vs suburban €/m²
Recopilado por SettleMetric
- Datos a fecha de
- 31 mar 2026
- Verificado
- 15 jul 2026
- Método
- Spitogatos asking €/m²/month × standardized sizes (studio 30, 1br 40, 2br 60, 3br 85 m²) × 1.1399 USD/EUR. Center = central Athens (Kentro) ~€11.5/m²; outside = suburban West/East Athens ~€9.3/m² (Spitogatos Q1 2026 index). E.g. 1br center = 11.5×40×1.1399 = $524.
- Notas
- DERIVED (€/m² × standardized size), not observed per-listing medians. Athens rents rose sharply post-2021 under short-term-rental (Airbnb) pressure. 'Center' is the central-district average (~€11.5/m²); prime pockets run higher — Kolonaki €14–18/m², the Riviera (Glyfada/Vouliagmeni) €14–20+/m².
Recopilado por SettleMetric
- Datos a fecha de
- 30 jun 2026
- Verificado
- 15 jul 2026
- Método
- Asking TRY/m²/month from endeksa district indices (early 2026): central/prime (Kadıköy 651, Beşiktaş 592, Bakırköy 591, Sarıyer 590, Şişli 452) → center anchor 600 TRY/m²; outer (Esenyurt 228…Bağcılar 297) → outside anchor 300 TRY/m². Cells = TRY/m² × sizes (studio 30, 1br 40, 2br 60, 3br 85 m²) ÷ 47.0098 TRY/USD (TCMB, 14 Jul 2026).
- Notas
- FLAG — USD values are HIGHLY VOLATILE: Turkish rents are quoted only in TRY and the lira depreciates fast (~47 TRY/USD in Jul 2026 vs ~34 a year earlier), so the same rent looks cheaper in USD each month. DERIVED matrix; a flat TRY/m² per location understates small units (studio/1br conservative). Istanbul has an enormous ~3× intra-city spread. endeksa blocks automated fetching — district figures via secondary reporting of endeksa's indices; re-confirm before relying on specifics.
05
Seguridad
01+−Homicide rateintentional homicides per 100,000/yearAthensmejor0,8Istanbul3,2
Qué mide esto
Intentional homicide victims per 100,000 population, latest available year. Country level: UNODC national series. City level: official municipal/police statistics where published; otherwise null (country value shown as country-level).
Athens
Eurostat — police-recorded intentional homicide (crim_off_cat, ICCS0101, unit P_HTHAB, geo=EL)
Datos abiertos
- Datos a fecha de
- 31 dic 2024
- Verificado
- 15 jul 2026
- Notas
- Police-recorded intentional homicide, 2024 (0.78). Very low by global standards (world average ~5.8) and down over the series (1.29 in 2008 to 0.68–0.88 recently). One of the safer countries in the set.
Istanbul
World Bank / UNODC — intentional homicides per 100,000 (Türkiye, 2023)
Datos abiertos
- Datos a fecha de
- 31 dic 2023
- Verificado
- 15 jul 2026
- Notas
- UNODC series via the World Bank: 3.23 per 100,000 in 2023 (up from 2.62 in 2022; the series has gaps and swings). 2024/2025 not yet published. Türkiye is not covered by Eurostat, so cross-country comparison relies on the UNODC series. Moderate-to-higher than the European peers in the set.
06
Clima
01+−Climate comfortpleasant months/yearAthens5Istanbulmejor6
Qué mide esto
Number of months whose 1991–2020 climate normals satisfy: mean daily maximum between 15°C and 28°C and monthly precipitation under 150mm. Computed from the city's climate-normals indicator; the raw normals are stored alongside so users can judge by their own taste.
Athens
SettleMetric computation over climate-normals (Climates to Travel 1991–2020, Athens/Ellinikon)
Recopilado por SettleMetric
- Datos a fecha de
- 31 dic 2020
- Verificado
- 15 jul 2026
- Método
- Months with mean daily max 15–28°C AND precipitation < 150mm: Mar (16.5), Apr (20.2), May (25.2), Oct (23.8), Nov (18.8) = 5. Excluded: Jan/Feb/Dec (max 13.3–14.7°C); Jun–Sep (max 28.9–33.4°C). All months satisfy the precip test (max 60 mm). Athens's hot summers and cool winters leave the two shoulder seasons as the pleasant stretch.
Istanbul
SettleMetric computation over climate-normals (Istanbul/Florya WMO 17636)
Recopilado por SettleMetric
- Datos a fecha de
- 31 dic 2020
- Verificado
- 15 jul 2026
- Método
- Months with mean daily max 15–28°C AND precipitation < 150mm: Apr (17.1), May (22.2), Jun (26.9), Sep (25.8), Oct (20.8), Nov (15.8) = 6. Jul (29.5) and Aug (29.7) exceed the 28°C ceiling; Jan–Mar and Dec miss the 15°C floor. No month exceeds the rain cap (wettest Dec 87.7 mm) — a comfortable spring and autumn bracketing a hot mid-summer and cool winter.
02+−Air quality (PM2.5)µg/m³, annual mean PM2.5Athensmejor14,2Istanbul15,3
Qué mide esto
Annual mean fine-particulate (PM2.5) concentration for the city, latest available year. Anchors follow the WHO 2021 guideline (5 µg/m³ → 10) through the EU limit value territory (25 µg/m³ → 2). Preferred source: European Environment Agency city-level air quality data; outside Europe: WHO Ambient Air Quality Database or the national monitoring network.
Athens
Datos abiertos
- Datos a fecha de
- 31 dic 2024
- Verificado
- 15 jul 2026
- Método
- 2024 annual mean PM2.5 averaged across 5 EEA-reporting monitoring stations in the Athens area, from EEA verified data compiled by the EU Air Quality Tracker.
- Notas
- ≈2.8× the WHO 2021 guideline (5 µg/m³); within the current EU annual limit (25) but above the 2030 EU limit (10). Down markedly from ~22 µg/m³ in 2019 (IQAir), consistent with the declining trend. Underlying authority is the EEA (third-party presentation of EEA-verified 2024 data).
Istanbul
IQAir — 2024 World Air Quality Report, Istanbul annual average PM2.5
Estudio
- Datos a fecha de
- 31 dic 2024
- Verificado
- 15 jul 2026
- Notas
- Istanbul's 2024 calendar-year mean PM2.5 was 15.3 µg/m³ (~3× the WHO 2021 guideline of 5), confirmed in the IQAir 2024 World Air Quality Report and IQAir's Nov 2025 note. IQAir is a commercial aggregator (sensor + reference-grade), not an official body; a Turkish Ministry of Environment (sim.csb.gov.tr) station annual mean would be the preferred cross-check but is only in non-machine-readable dashboards. Winter traffic- and heating-season peaks.
07
Sanidad
01+−Private healthcare costUSD/year, comprehensive private insurance premium, healthy 35-year-oldAthens1368Istanbulmejor860
Qué mide esto
Median of at least three publicly quoted annual premiums for comprehensive private medical insurance (outpatient + inpatient, ~$100k coverage, small deductible) for a healthy 35-year-old resident foreigner, from local and international insurers. Method field lists the insurers quoted.
Athens
Recopilado por SettleMetric
- Datos a fecha de
- 15 jul 2026
- Verificado
- 15 jul 2026
- Método
- Midpoint of local comprehensive (inpatient + outpatient) annual premiums for a healthy 35-year-old, €600–1,800 from major Greek insurers (mid-range €100–180/month) → ~€1,200/yr × 1.1399 = $1,368.
- Notas
- Public cover exists via EOPYY (funded through EFKA contributions), but waiting lists and gaps drive a large private market. Local plans run cheaper than international/expat plans ($2,000–4,000+/yr). Greek insurers raised premiums ~14% in 2025 — a rising curated midpoint, not a firm quote.
Istanbul
Recopilado por SettleMetric
- Datos a fecha de
- 15 jul 2026
- Verificado
- 15 jul 2026
- Método
- Comprehensive standalone private health insurance (outpatient + inpatient private-hospital cover) for a healthy 35-year-old runs ~25,000–100,000 TRY/yr depending on the contracted hospital network; a mid-tier plan sits near ~40,000 TRY/yr ≈ $860 at 46.65 TRY/USD. Band ≈ $540–$2,140.
- Notas
- Two-tier context: residents with a work/residence basis are covered by mandatory public insurance (SGK); on top, Turks commonly buy complementary insurance (~5,000–20,000 TRY/yr) working with SGK at private hospitals, or full standalone private cover (this figure). The cheap mandatory foreigner residence-permit policy (~$32–130/yr) is minimal cover, not comparable. Private cover is cheap in USD because of the weak lira; TRY premiums rise 50–80%/yr, so this is a volatile curated midpoint.
08
Dinero y cripto
01+−Crypto regulationAthensLegal regulatedIstanbulLegal regulated
Qué mide esto
Own classification of the legal status of holding, trading and cashing out cryptocurrency for individuals: legal-friendly (legal with clear, favourable rules or explicit tax exemptions), legal-regulated (legal under standard licensing/AML and taxation), restricted (partial bans: payments or banking access prohibited), banned (holding/trading prohibited). Classified from national regulators' and central banks' official positions.
Athens
Fuente oficial
- Datos a fecha de
- 10 abr 2025
- Verificado
- 15 jul 2026
- Notas
- EU MiCA applies and was transposed by Law 5193/2025 (10 April 2025), with CASP licensing and EU passporting, supervised by HCMC and the Bank of Greece. Individual crypto capital gains are taxed at a flat 15% (from 1 Jan 2025), with a €500 annual tax-free threshold and 5-year loss carry-forward. Fully legal and now clearly regulated/taxed rather than a grey area.
Istanbul
Fuente oficial
- Datos a fecha de
- 2 jul 2024
- Verificado
- 15 jul 2026
- Notas
- Trading, holding and exchanging crypto are legal and very popular, but PAYING with crypto is BANNED (CBRT regulation in force 30 April 2021). Law No. 7518 (in force from 2 July 2024) put crypto-asset service providers under the Capital Markets Board (SPK): mandatory licensing, custody duties and minimum capital; offshore platforms targeting residents and crypto ATMs had to wind down. Classified 'legal-regulated' — trading legal and now formally supervised, payments prohibited.
02+−Financial control levelAthensModerateIstanbulModerate
Qué mide esto
Own composite of state control over personal money flows: currency/capital controls (IMF AREAER), restrictions on foreign accounts and transfers, mandatory income declaration scope for residents, cash payment limits, banking access for foreigners. Low = free movement of personal funds and easy non-resident banking; very-high = strict capital controls and pervasive reporting. Method field on each value lists the inputs used.
Athens
Fuente oficial
- Datos a fecha de
- 31 dic 2025
- Verificado
- 15 jul 2026
- Método
- Composite: EUR (eurozone), full EU free movement of capital; the 2015 crisis-era capital controls were fully lifted on 1 September 2019, so funds move abroad without restriction. Offsetting this: Greece has the STRICTEST cash-payment cap in the EU (€500 for consumer transactions; breaches fined at double the amount) plus routine AML/CASP reporting. The open capital account alone reads 'low', but the €500 everyday-cash restriction pulls the composite up to 'moderate'.
- Notas
- A 2025–26 proposal to cut the cap to €200 was withdrawn; the €500 limit remains.
Istanbul
Revenue Administration (GİB) — cash-payment documentation (tevsik) limit; CBRT crypto-payment ban
Fuente oficial
- Datos a fecha de
- 1 ene 2026
- Verificado
- 15 jul 2026
- Método
- Composite: the lira is freely convertible and residents may hold foreign-currency deposits/accounts and move money abroad — no hard individual capital controls. But the state exerts more control than EU peers: payments above 30,000 TRY (~$640) must be routed through banks/cards (tevsik rule); crypto payments are banned; the authorities intervene actively in the FX market and use reserve/macroprudential measures; and import de-minimis is low with high duties. Freely convertible but with a low cash-through-bank threshold and several controls → 'moderate' (stricter end).
- Notas
- High inflation erodes money in practice but is not a legal control. Day-to-day banking, FX purchase and transfers are unrestricted for an individual; the frictions are the low cash-routing threshold, the crypto-payment ban and occasional FX intervention.
09
Infraestructura
01+−Domestic delivery qualityAthensGoodIstanbulGood
Qué mide esto
Quality of in-country parcel delivery. excellent = nationwide next-day widely available, dense parcel-locker network, real-time tracking standard; good = 1–3 day delivery, lockers in major cities; basic = reliable but slow (3–7 days), mostly to-door or post-office pickup; poor = unreliable delivery, street addresses often unusable, informal workarounds common. Classified from official service/coverage data of the national postal operator and the two largest private carriers; inputs itemized in each value's method field.
Athens
Greek carrier networks (ELTA, ACS, BoxNow) — composite
Recopilado por SettleMetric
- Datos a fecha de
- 15 jul 2026
- Verificado
- 15 jul 2026
- Método
- Dense mainland-city coverage: national couriers (ELTA post, ACS, Geniki Taxydromiki, Speedex) plus one of SE Europe's largest parcel-locker networks (BoxNow) and Skroutz Last Mile; cash-on-delivery ('αντικαταβολή') is mainstream. Athens/Thessaloniki are excellent, but ELTA's financial troubles and ferry-dependent island last-mile keep the national rating at 'good' rather than 'excellent'.
Istanbul
Turkish carrier ecosystem — PTT + Yurtiçi/Aras/MNG/Sürat/Sendeo/HepsiJET/Trendyol Express
Recopilado por SettleMetric
- Datos a fecha de
- 15 jul 2026
- Verificado
- 15 jul 2026
- Método
- Dense, competitive domestic courier market on the back of a huge e-commerce sector (Trendyol, Hepsiburada): PTT Kargo plus Yurtiçi, Aras, MNG, Sürat, Sendeo, HepsiJET and Trendyol Express give nationwide next-day/2-day coverage; same/next-day is normal in the big metros. Cash-on-delivery ('kapıda ödeme') is ubiquitous. Parcel-locker density is growing but below the locker-saturated benchmark, so rated 'good' rather than 'excellent'.
02+−International delivery easeAthensmejorSeamlessIstanbulSignificant friction
Qué mide esto
Ease of receiving goods from abroad. seamless = major international carriers deliver door-to-door, meaningful duty-free de-minimis threshold, customs clearance predictable in days; minor-friction = carriers present but low de-minimis, extra paperwork or routine delays; significant-friction = frequent customs holds, high brokerage fees, some marketplaces refuse to ship; unreliable = parcels regularly lost or blocked, informal import channels dominate. De-minimis thresholds and clearance rules from the national customs authority (official source, cite the regulation); carrier presence from carriers' official pages.
Athens
EU single market / customs union membership (Greece) + integrator coverage
Recopilado por SettleMetric
- Datos a fecha de
- 15 jul 2026
- Verificado
- 15 jul 2026
- Método
- Qualitative rating from EU membership: as an EU/Schengen customs-union member, intra-EU parcels move without customs or border VAT, so the bulk of European e-commerce is frictionless, and all major integrators (DHL, FedEx, UPS, ACS/Aramex) operate → 'seamless'. Minor caveats (not enough to downgrade): Greece is geographically peripheral (a day or two longer than core-EU hubs), non-EU imports clear customs normally, and island delivery adds domestic delay.
- Notas
- Intra-EU frictionless; the geographic periphery and islands add some transit time but not customs friction.
Istanbul
Fuente oficial
- Datos a fecha de
- 1 ene 2026
- Verificado
- 15 jul 2026
- Notas
- Cross-border inbound shipping faces heavy friction. The duty-free de-minimis was cut from €150 to €30 (in force 21 Aug 2024) and effectively ~€27 with shipping (Dec 2024); parcels are hit with a single flat customs charge of 30% of value for EU-origin goods and 60% for non-EU (plus special consumption tax where relevant). Non-EU customs clearance plus these high duties make ordering from abroad slow and expensive → 'significant-friction'. Domestic and outbound are unaffected.
03+−Internet speedMbps, median fixed downloadAthensmejor37,3Istanbul12,1
Qué mide esto
Median fixed-broadband download speed over the trailing 6 months from M-Lab NDT open data (CC0), aggregated at country or city level. Not comparable with Ookla figures (different test methodology) — do not mix sources within this criterion.
Athens
M-Lab NDT country aggregates for Greece
Datos abiertos
- Datos a fecha de
- 31 dic 2023
- Verificado
- 15 jul 2026
- Método
- Median of the 343 daily country-median download values for GR in 2023 = 37.3 Mbps (268,076 download tests; daily medians ranged 21.3–47.3). M-Lab NDT is single-stream and reads below Ookla-style tests — comparable only within this criterion. 2023 is the latest full year in M-Lab's public stats API.
- Notas
- Greece's fixed broadband is improving as fibre rolls out; the single-stream M-Lab median is used only for cross-country comparability on one consistent method.
Istanbul
M-Lab NDT country aggregates for Türkiye (Asia grouping)
Datos abiertos
- Datos a fecha de
- 31 dic 2023
- Verificado
- 15 jul 2026
- Método
- Median of the 343 daily country-median download values for TR in 2023 = 12.09 Mbps (402,083 download tests; Türkiye is filed under M-Lab's Asia (AS) continent grouping, not EU). M-Lab NDT is single-stream and reads well below marketed figures — Turkish fibre commonly markets 100–1000 Mbps — comparable only within this criterion. 2023 is the latest full year in M-Lab's public stats API.
- Notas
- The single-stream M-Lab median is low (and the lowest in the set) but reflects a consistent cross-country method, not real fibre-line speeds; Turkish fixed broadband is much faster in practice.
10
Idioma
01+−English proficiencyAthensmejorHighIstanbulLow
Qué mide esto
Own banding of how far English gets a resident in daily life (government offices, healthcare, housing, services). Informed by EF EPI band (research source, cited with attribution, not republished) plus official language status and service-sector realities. Values are our bands, not EF scores.
Athens
EF EPI 2025 — Greece (score 592, rank 20/123, High band)
Estudio
- Datos a fecha de
- 1 nov 2025
- Verificado
- 15 jul 2026
- Notas
- Own band informed by EF EPI 2025 (attribution: EF Education First): Greece scores 592, rank 20/123 — top of the 'High' band, just below the 'Very High' threshold (~600); global average 488. English is widely functional in tourism, services and among younger Greeks, though the score slipped 10 points from the prior edition.
Istanbul
EF EPI 2025 — Türkiye (rank 71/123, score 488, Low band)
Estudio
- Datos a fecha de
- 1 nov 2025
- Verificado
- 15 jul 2026
- Notas
- Own band informed by EF EPI 2025 (attribution: EF Education First): Türkiye rank 71/123, score 488 (Low band, cutoff 450–499), a 9-point decline from the prior edition. English is workable in Istanbul/tourism and parts of the tech sector but thin in public offices and smaller cities; Turkish is the sole official language. The lowest English band in the set.
11
Educación
01+−International schoolsaccredited international schools, countAthensmejor14Istanbul12
Qué mide esto
Count of international schools in the metro area accredited by or member of IB, CIS, COBIS, or an equivalent national-curriculum-abroad body (verified against the accreditor's public registry, not aggregator sites).
Athens
Recopilado por SettleMetric
- Datos a fecha de
- 15 jul 2026
- Verificado
- 15 jul 2026
- Método
- Count of IB World Schools in the Athens/Attica metro (accreditor: International Baccalaureate): ACS Athens, International School of Athens, St. Catherine's British School, Campion School, Pierce–The American College of Greece, Costeas-Geitonas, Geitonas School, Doukas School, Platon School, Athens College, DES Schools, Lampiri School, International Metropolitan School, International School of Piraeus = 14. Flagship schools independently confirmed via their own sites.
- Notas
- Verified FLOOR, IB-accreditation basis only (the true count is higher — it excludes the German School of Athens (Abitur) and the Lycée Franco-Hellénique (AEFE), plus Cambridge centres). Greece has 22 IB World Schools nationally. ±2 on the IB count.
Istanbul
IB (ibo.org) Find an IB World School registry + International Schools Database (Istanbul IB filter)
Recopilado por SettleMetric
- Datos a fecha de
- 15 jul 2026
- Verificado
- 15 jul 2026
- Método
- Verified floor of 12 IB World Schools in Istanbul (accreditor: International Baccalaureate): Istanbul International Community School (also CIS), The British International School Istanbul (Nord Anglia), MEF International, ENKA Schools, Üsküdar American Academy (SEV), AKA School, NÛN Schools, Eyüboğlu Schools, Gökkuşağı Schools, Alkev, Tas Private Elementary, Aljazari International School. Flagship schools confirmed via their own sites.
- Notas
- Conservative IB-only FLOOR. Türkiye has 116 IB World Schools nationally, Istanbul holds the largest share. Cambridge/CIS/COBIS/MSA schools not offering IB are excluded, so the true count is higher.