Although Greece has been an exemplar in recovering from the economic, health and migration crises of the last decade, there has been a strong rivalry with Germany since World War II that was exacerbated by the difference of opinion in the management of the 2015 financial crisis. The great paradox, however, is that no culture in the immediate past has been as inspired by and directed towards the Hellenic as the German one.

However, the differences in the way of life of the two countries are abysmal. Greece is marked by a Mediterranean character that is totally different from the Germanic character of Germany. From the cuisine and climate to art, music and culture. There is no similarity between the two countries. Moving to Greece from Germany would be a radical change of life.

Greece is home to around 10.64 million people and 11.3% of the population are foreigners. This contrasts with the population of Germany, which is around 83.2 million, with 25% immigrants.

In terms of character, Greeks are a friendly and welcoming people. They have a positive and relaxed attitude towards all conflicts they encounter and are very tolerant towards religion, sexuality, political orientation... even corrupt politicians, of which there are many in Greece!

They are also talkative and warm in general, with a harmonious and peaceful lifestyle and a stress-free approach to life. When you go to a restaurant, it's almost as if you were a guest in someone's home. Greeks love to party, smoke, drink coffee and play backgammon while sitting in bars for hours on end. There are few places in the world with such a relaxed atmosphere and pace of life as Greece.

In contrast, Germans are known for their serious and formal character. They place great value on punctuality and honesty! So they would be tougher on corruption in any field.

The cost of living in Greece is estimated to be 20-30% lower than in most European countries, including Germany. It can even be cheaper in rural areas. Of course, the capital Athens and other large tourist cities such as Santorini and Crete are more expensive.

For example, if we compare the cost of renting a house, a two-bedroom flat in the city centre in Greece might cost €600, while in Germany it would cost more than €1,500.

Everyday things like a hairdressing session can be up to 38% cheaper in Greece - you would pay €13 for a haircut, while a German hairdresser would charge €21. Public transport fares and food are also cheaper in Greece. You can take a month's bus ride for €30 or have a full meal in a restaurant for €14.

The requirements for an international moving to Greece are more demanding. Depending on the country you come from, you will need one type of visa or another. But Europeans who want to live and work in Greece can do so freely, but only for a maximum of 90 days.

If you wish to stay in Greece for a longer period, you will have to register with the relevant Greek administration (foreigners' office or the police) and apply for a registration certificate. For this you will need to bring your passport (valid, of course) and a certificate proving your income. A proof of employment from a company, a proof of self-employment, a certificate of education or proof that you have the necessary resources to live in the country without the help of others. This registration certificate is valid indefinitely and is usually issued immediately.

Before you book your Greece moving, here is a quick list of the positive and negative aspects of living in this Mediterranean country:

Pros

• Greeks are very attentive, cheerful and helpful people
• Integration will be very easy
• Landscapes are beautiful and it is a country full of ancient monuments
• The Mediterranean climate is excellent
• So is the diet, full of fresh local produce
• Cost of living is very low but the quality of life is high!

Cons

• Still trying to recover, the economic situation is unstable
• Not easy to find a well-paid job
• Greeks drive very badly, not respecting the rules of the road, so traffic is chaotic
• Excessive bureaucracy, which is also a chaos
• High level of corruption

The Greek national health system is managed by Idryma Kinonikon Asfalisseon (IKA). The public health service is free for Greek citizens and regular migrant workers, although it is not among the best rated because of long waiting times. Many people therefore take out supplementary private health insurance.

To access the public health service in Greece you must be in full-time employment for at least three months and then apply for it, which is not always 'straightforward', so although emergency services are free at any of the hospitals, it's difficult to find a doctor to prescribe complicated medication if you don't have your medical records with you. Bringing your European Health Insurance Card with you will make life easier for the first six months, whether or not you find a job in Athens. There is also very competent insurance for expatriates. 

In Germany the healthcare system is admired for the reputation of the hospitals and clinics, but the differences between private and statutory insurance generate a lot of criticism, and it is even compulsory for citizens to have health insurance. Even people who are not natives of the country, but who will spend some time there, must buy travel insurance. This obligation is decisive in the approval of visas and permits. Without the document valid in Germany, you will be denied a visa.

Private health insurance in Germany can only be taken out by people who receive a gross annual amount of more than 60,750 euros. The "public" (state) system is financed by a fund that accumulates contributions made by employers and employees.

As you have already read in the list of cons for living in Greece, although the economy is recovering, finding a job is very difficult. Those who have jobs are lucky even though wages are low. Many Greeks earn between €600 and €800 a month, but manage to get by because they live with their parents or share a house. It is also true that Greece is the European country with the longest working hours, with an average of 671 hours more per year, compared to Germany, which is the country with the shortest working hours (and the most productive) in the European Union. Only civil servants are still well paid and underworked.

Still, there are some job opportunities in certain sectors that are looking for qualified personnel. Traditionally, the Greek economy was based on agriculture, until the 1960s, when a major effort was made to industrialise the country in order to be admitted to the European Community. The Greek economy is currently divided as follows:

• Services sector: employs 65.2% of the employed population and contributes 73.1% to GDP. Tourism and the decisive weight of the merchant fleet, which is the largest in the world, stand out in this sector.
• Industry: employs 22.4% of the employed population and contributes 23.4% of GDP and accounts for more than 50% of the country's exports.
• Agriculture and fisheries: The primary sector accounts for 3.5% of GDP. Agriculture-based products employ 12.4% of the labour force and account for a higher share of exports than in any other EU country, around 25%. Greece is the third largest producer of olive oil in the world.

Or, given the steady increase in tourism, you can set up your own business in this sector. If you need to relocate business to Greece - you can choose our platform Moovick for business. 

If you plan to stay in Greece in search of work, you must first obtain your social security number, AMKA, and then, within 90 days, obtain your registration certificate or residence certificate from the nearest police station or Immigration office.

The Greek tax structure is mainly composed, as far as direct taxes are concerned, of personal income tax and corporate income tax.

Personal income tax is levied on income earned by residents in Greece, as well as on income earned in Greece by non-residents. It is a tax characterised by its progressive nature. It consists of four brackets, with tax rates ranging from 15% to 40%. The second applies to all companies registered in Greece. Foreign companies are taxed on their net income earned in Greece. 

The main indirect tax is Value Added Tax, the general rate of which is 18%, with reduced rates of 8% and 4%. Other taxes are: Capital Gains Tax, Inheritance and Gift Tax, Boat Tax and Vehicle Registration Tax.

Despite the disadvantages of living in the country, there are many reasons to move from Germany to Greece, starting with the food! Everyone knows that the Mediterranean is a great place to eat, with a wide variety of tasty fruits and fresh vegetables. In Greece you can eat healthier and more balanced food without losing taste and at a cheaper price than in Germany.

And you can fill your shopping trolley at any time, as many places are open 24 hours a day. Unlike other supermarkets and shops in Europe, which close their doors at 10 or 11 o'clock at night.

Another of the main reasons to moving is the climate. The climate is really pleasant. Many hours of sunshine are combined with a temperate climate. Although the climate is mild and mostly sunny, winters can be cold and wet, while in summer the heat is mitigated by cool breezes from the sea, as well as in spring and autumn.

In Greece you can enjoy the summer like never before, as well as its warm temperatures and sunny days, it has some of the best beaches on the entire European continent. Unspoilt beaches with white sand and crystal clear water in places you would never have imagined.

But perhaps the most important thing is to experience living in a country that is the cradle of one of the oldest and most important cultures and that has gone through so many historical eras. Here you can find immense Greek temples alongside Byzantine churches or buildings constructed under the Ottoman occupation.

To all the reasons we have given you above that make Greece a country with a good quality of life, we can add that its education system is free, both schools and universities.

And like education, you know that many other basic services are public and free. So, even if average salaries are a bit low, you need little to live and you can live very well! 

Without a doubt, Greece is a paradise for retirees. Retirement is known as the 'golden age' because it should be the period when pensioners enjoy a relaxed life of leisure. And it is precisely the Greek islands that are enchanting and offer everything for those seeking a relaxed lifestyle.

With an average monthly pension of around €1,200, a German can live comfortably in Greece and enjoy a few luxuries. In addition, a few years ago the Greek government stipulated that foreign pensioners would pay no taxes for 10 years. This measure benefits from the inflow of capital and revitalises the Greek villages, which are plagued by rural exodus, as well as the islands where the presence of tourists during the winter is very low.

Best advice: Take it easy on Greek bureaucracy. Bureaucracy remains, and always has been, a major problem in Greece. You may need 10 documents, signatures and stamps to get simple things done. So before, for example, moving to Athens (Greece) prepare a small folder with all your ID numbers, an invoice proving your residency and a photocopy of your proof of income from the tax office. Always carry several copies of everything with you because the administrative systems of the different places are not computerised.

Chaotic bureaucracy will be a problem, for example, when renting or buying a property. Make sure the contract is legal, as the Greeks are notorious for their tax evasion. Rental contracts are for a minimum of 3 years and the landlord is obliged to renew it if there are no major reasons to return the flat.

You should know that here it is normal for the tenant to take care of repairs and that the houses do not have home insurance because it is not necessary to rent them. So remember to ask about the state of the plumbing, electricity and other parts of the house and make sure that the contract also states that the house is fit for habitation. 

Also make sure that the landlord is going to declare the rent to the tax authorities. There is a lot of help, and for the tax return (which is compulsory after 187 days living in Greece) it is necessary.

It would also be a good idea to open a bank account. You can do this even before you migrate, by going to a branch of a Greek bank in your city. The only requirement is that you must be over 18 years of age. Unlike other nations, Greece offers expatriates current, debit and savings cards.

In Greece, a car with a foreign number plate can only be driven by nationals who can prove that it is a vehicle belonging to a company established abroad. In fact, the authorities are very vigilant to detect vehicles with illegal foreign number plates in the fight against tax evasion, as many citizens use this trick to avoid paying road taxes.

To register your car in Greece you will have to follow the usual procedure in most European countries. Present the documentation:

• Roadworthiness certificate
• Certificate of registration
• Proof of ownership of the vehicle
• Proof of payment of VAT (value added tax)
• Proof of insurance
• Certificate of conformity for new vehicles

For lovers of history, art and culture, living in Greece is like living in a paradise on earth. Difficulty in finding work, long working hours, low wages, constantly increasing taxes and social security contributions might make you think that moving to Greece is madness, in fact, life in Greece is not as bad as you might think.

It is certainly not as easy as in the pre-crisis period, but if you already find a job from your home country or if you intend to movers to Greece as a small business owner, the country might hold some satisfactions in store.

Those who dare to move and move furniture to Greece will be greeted by some of the friendliest people in the world, a relatively low cost of living, warm weather almost all year round, incredible history and heritage, and some of the best food in the entire Mediterranean region.

If your dream is a stress-free life immersed in the atmosphere of this country that was the cradle of Europe, Greece is the destination that could be right for you.