Corfu, Greece: The Real Cost Of Living Revealed
Corfu, Greece, is amazingly green, sheathed in the silvery green leaves of olive trees, Mediterranean cypresses, pine trees, leafy shrubs, and flowering plants. With all the vegetation, the scenery looks more like Lake Tahoe than the dry and dusty scenery of your typical Greek island.
Corfu is flat and low-lying in the south, undulating in the center, and mountainous in the north.
Despite its small size (only 40 miles long and 20 miles wide at its thickest part), Corfu is home to a huge number of jaw-dropping land formations. Because it’s made up of sedimentary rock, it’s constantly being shaped by the elements, creating wind-sculpted cliffs, stalactite-laden caves, craggy bluffs that drop down into the ocean.
Serving as backdrop for all this dramatic scenery is the dazzling aquamarine of the Ionian Sea, arguably some of the most beautiful water on this planet. The island has 135 miles (217 kms) of coastline and 57 beaches—some sandy, others pebbly; some developed, others completely isolated.
Living here, you can take advantage of proximity to the sea regardless of where you settle on the island. Glorious ocean vistas are around every corner, and enjoying the sea every day, whether boating around the island or simply going for a dip, is the way of life.
Corfu has long held a reputation as an idyll, especially about its beaches, which rank among the best in Greece… They vary in style, from empty to developed for tourism, but regardless, all are graced with the piercing blue waters of the Ionian Sea.
At its core, the island remains traditional. Also, you get a sense of the authentic Corfiot way of life at its many charming villages, particularly the inland mountain ones, where life is still carried out the same way it was a couple generations ago. Children still play in the streets… Nuns don their black habits and make their way to church in the early hours of the morning… People gather in the town square after dark to chat with their neighbors… It’s a very safe, simple way of life—the type of place where you can leave your front door unlocked and not worry about a thing.
Expats In Corfu
It doesn’t matter which village you visit in Corfu— you’re almost guaranteed to find a handful of expats living there. They came to the island as tourists, fell in love with the place, and extended their trip indefinitely. It’s a common story, and it’s not hard to understand why.
The cost of living is low, the scenery is stunning, and the climate is great. Corfu offers the opportunity for an all-around easy lifestyle, and it attracts a lot of expats.
Gatherings, activities, and other opportunities to socialize spring up organically as well. The locals are friendly and happy to chat with anyone. Plus, you get to know them simply by living here, interacting through daily life, and seeing the same faces again and again.
Many of the expats you encounter here will be retirees who’ve decided to spend their golden years enjoying an island lifestyle. Life in Corfu is laidback, with a favorable climate, and surrounded by natural beauty.
Cost Of Living In Corfu
In Corfu, you can enjoy a high standard of living for a low cost, despite it being in Europe and a major beach destination.
Most importantly, your lifestyle will determine exactly how much you pay, but about US$1,500 a month should be enough for a couple to live comfortably.
Check the currency conversion at today’s exchange rate.
Things To Do In Corfu
Corfu, being a popular tourist destination, has tons to offer.
1. Spend Time Outdoors
Corfu is first and foremost an ocean-lover’s paradise. The island is surrounded by the Ionian Sea, arguably the most beautiful waters in the world.
With low lying topography on the southern end of the island, the beaches are sandy and at sea level.
The northern half of the island is mountainous, with jagged cliffs dropping down into aquamarine waters and white pebble beaches.
In short, watersports are popular on the island. Scuba divers, snorkelers, and anglers have been attracted to Corfu for decades because of the vibrant marine life.
Aside from the beach, there’s plenty to do on land in Corfu, too. It’s surprisingly verdant for a Greek island, with pine forest, cypresses, and thousands (maybe millions) of olive trees growing around the island. With its varied terrain and lots of shade, it’s a great place for walking, hiking, and horseback riding.
Corfu is also a great place to practice adventure sports, like mountain biking, quadding, and dirt biking.
2. Taste The Local Cuisine
One of the best things about living in Greece fulltime is the chance to enjoy Greek cuisine full-time. It has one of the most studied and celebrated culinary heritages on the planet and emphasizes things like fresh fish, vegetables, and grains.
It’s also one of the world’s healthiest diets, which explains why Greek people some of the longest life expectancies in Europe have.
You can find all types of restaurants in Corfu, ranging from fine dining to roadside gyros wrapped in newspaper… As a result, eating out can be a really inexpensive indulgence, even at the higher end places.
3. Explore Corfu’s Old Town
Corfu’s Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and has narrow cobblestone streets and buildings with Venetian architecture. It’s a picturesque place offering photography loves a great opportunity to capture unique shots. This is also a fantastic place to buy artisanal souvenirs for your friends and family as well as a few items for yourself such as handmade jewelry, ceramics, and even some local delicacies.
When visiting, you must take the time to visit the iconic Liston promenade. This is a Venetian-inspired area lined with elegant cafés, shops, and restaurants.
The Old Town is also home to several historic landmarks including The Old Fortress (Palaio Frourio), The New Fortress (Neo Frourio), The Church of Saint Spyridon, The Palace of St. Michael and St. George, and the Old Venetian Quarter (Campiello)
4. Take A Wine Tour
Wine tasting is a great way to connect to Corfu’s culture and history. The island produces a variety of wines including indigenous grape varieties (Robola, Moschofilero, Kakotrygis, Mandilaria, and Mavrodaphne) and international grape varieties.
Some wine tasting tours in Corfu include food pairings to complement the wines. Things you may be offered include cheese, olives, bread, olive oil, and other traditional Greek delicacies making your wine tasting experience as unique and authentic as possible.
Theotoky Estate is one of the oldest wineries, operated by a family that was among the most powerful in Greece (two different Theotokys have served as prime ministers). You can visit the estate, take in vineyard views, and have a tour and wine tasting for less than 20 euros. They produce a red (made from Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon grapes) and a white (made from Robolla and Kakotrygis).
5. Experience Corfu’s Traditional Music And Dance
Another fantastic way to experience Corfu’s traditions and culture is by attending a traditional music and dance performance. Corfu has a vibrant tradition on music and dance. Various cultures such as Venetian, Italian, and Greek have influenced what you see today.
For example, Kantades are traditional Corfiot folk songs that have been passed down through generations that often tell stories of love, longing, and everyday life.
During a Kantades performance, you’ll hear a small group of singers accompanied by guitars, mandolins, and accordions. These performances are popular in taverns, festivals, and cultural events.
Balos and Sousta are two traditional dances. Balos is a lively dance where dancers hold hands and move in a rhythmic, circular motion. Sousta is a slower dance where couples move in a slow and graceful manner. These dances are common at weddings, festivals, and celebrations.
Corfu hosts festivals and different events throughout the year. These offer a great chance to experience these cultural dances and music live. For example, the Corfu Carnival should be on your calendar if you plan to be in Corfu in February.
So, colorful parades, music, dancing, and masquerade parties take place during this time. The Feast of Saint Spyridon is another great festival to attend. This one takes place in August.
Health Care In Corfu
Corfu General Hospital is the island’s main hospital, providing pulmonary, intensive care, gynecology, pediatric, pathology, cardiology, surgery, orthopedics, and neurology clinics as well as external care medical units. The hospital has mixed reviews from expats. Those who review it negatively cite lack of funding and low-quality attention from nurses and doctors as the main problems.
There are a few private clinics on Corfu. The Therapia Clinic has pathology and surgery departments, radio diagnostic and microbiology laboratories, and a private ambulance service. Alexandros Mastoras General Clinic offers doctors from a range of specialties and modern technology. Both have English-speaking employees and deal with international insurance.
Visa And Residency Information
When you visit Greece, you get 90 days on your tourist visa. This is the usual tourist stay time for all of the Schengen area.
Greece is part of the European Union, so it’s governed by the EU laws. It’s important to note this because many people forget this and travel to other European countries without realizing their time is up.
Once you obtain another type of visa you can stay for as long as you want, up until the expiry date.
For residency visa options, Greece has the Digital Nomad visa, Work Permit visa, Financially Independent Resident visa, and of course, the Golden Visa.
The process is not easy and it can be time consuming.
Weather In Corfu
Corfu enjoys a Mediterranean climate. It has hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters
Spring in Corfu arrives in March and lasts until May. This is beautiful time to visit Corfu. Flowers are in full bloom and the island is surrounded by lush greenery. The temperature during this time ranges from 59°F (15°C) to 68°F (20°C). The temperature during May increases to about 68°F (20°C) to 77°F (25°C).
Summer in Corfu runs from June to August. It’s warm and sunny. Temperatures range from 77°F to 95°F.
July and August are usually the hottest months.
The sea temperature during this season is warm making it ideal for swimming and water sports. This is the peak season for tourists.
Fall runs from September to November. Temperatures range from 68°F to 77°F. September can still be quite dry and sunny in Corfu, but October and November bring an increase in rainfall.
Winter is from December to February, and it can be relatively wet and windy. Temperatures during this season typically range from 50°F to 59°F. Corfu can occasionally experience colder spells. In short, this is the wettest season here.
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