By Chrysostomos Tsoufis

Perm, Russia. A town in the middle of nowhere known only by its former name. Molotov.

Pristina, Kosovo. The heart of Kosovo’s economy.

Banja Luka, Bosnia. A city that still hasn’t recovered from the devastating war of 1992-1995.

What could these 3 cities have in common?

Their residents have more purchasing power than Athenians, at least according to Numbeo, a leading website that collects and compares statistics related to a place’s standard of living.

In fact, the three aforementioned cities share the same common characteristic, the superior purchasing power of their residents, with 128 more across Europe as out of 149 cities, Athens is in 18th place from the end with an index of 60.9 points.

This means that an Athenian earning an average wage can buy 60.9% of what a New Yorker earning an average wage can buy.

After taxes, the money left in the pocket of an Athenian earning the average salary is 986 euros, and Athens ranks 110th among the 150 cities compared.

With these meager resources, Athenians are forced to face a very high cost of living.

In food, for example, Athens is:

  • 44th out of 150 cities in the cost of buying 1 kilo of banana
  • 36th out of 149 cities in the cost of a pint of beer
  • 15th out of 150 in the market for a 12-pack of eggs
  • 25th out of 150 in the 1kg cheese market
  • 20th out of 150 in the 1 liter milk market
  • 50th to buy 1 kg of rice

The monthly subscription to gym it costs 45.9 euros and Athens is the 25th most expensive.

The 1.88 euros/liter in unleaded petrol ranks Athens in 23rd place.

It is in the same position regarding its cost landline.

The disappointing picture is completed by real estate market. Athens ranks 22nd in terms of the price of an apartment compared to average income and 35th in terms of the percentage of the amount of a average loan compared to the average salary.