Athens ranks among the top positions in Europe in terms of its ability to attract high-net-worth individuals from all over the world, with the aim of residing in the country.
In a report presented by Savills, a real estate services and advisory company, cities are evaluated based on a series of criteria, regarding their attractiveness to ultra-high-net-worth individuals (UHNWIs) who live in a country different from the one in which they were born.
Among these factors are how easily these individuals can manage their global business interests and travel seamlessly, the tax environment, as well as lifestyle.
For the first time, Athens is included in this specific ranking of 30 cities in Europe and the Middle East, according to the Spotlight on Wealth Trends 2026 survey.
Although it is in last place, very little separates it from Oslo, Barcelona and Lisbon.
In fact, the survey shows that Athens is gaining ground when it comes to “Entrepreneurship, governance and connectivity.”
This is an index that not only refers to how business-friendly the environment is, but assesses the legal and political framework that provides stability, as well as physical connectivity (major international airports with direct flights to all over the world for easy travel) and digital connectivity.
“Southern Europe has recorded strong performance across all sectors, responding positively to the criteria of climate, schools, healthcare, sense of security, international connectivity and quality of life, which supports the increase in the use of homes throughout the year and not only on a seasonal basis,” the report notes.
The prices of prime properties
Also of interest are the data presented by the survey regarding the prices of prime properties in Athens compared with the other cities.
Specifically, the price in Athens amounts to 1,400 dollars per square foot, a price that translates to approximately 13,500 euros per sq.m. It is noted that the prices of high-specification homes in Athens are higher than the corresponding ones in Madrid, Berlin, Amsterdam, Dubai and Barcelona.