How Much Does a Room in a Shared Apartment Really Cost in Greece?
If you are looking for a room in a shared apartment, you are probably starting with one very simple question:
“How much will it actually cost me per month?”
And this is where things get interesting. Because the real cost of renting a room in a shared apartment is not just the rent.
It is a bit like splitting the bill at a Greek taverna with a big group: at first everyone says “it won’t be much”, and then suddenly the water, bread, “who ordered tzatziki?” and extra fries appear — and everyone starts staring at the receipt like it contains ancient prophecy.
In the case of housing, the “tzatziki” is called: electricity, water, internet, building fees, heating, deposit, moving costs, cleaning supplies, small repairs and everyday household expenses.
In this guide, we will break down how much a room in a shared apartment really costs in Greece, what you need to calculate before saying “I’ll take it”, and how to avoid unpleasant financial surprises.
Quick answer
In Greece, a room in a shared apartment can start from around €220–€300 in more budget-friendly cases, while the real total monthly cost including bills often lands somewhere around €350–€550 per month, depending on the city, area, apartment condition and included amenities.
Why has flatsharing become so popular in Greece?
The short answer is simple: housing has become expensive.
According to Eurostat, in 2024 Greece had the highest housing cost overburden rate in the European Union. Specifically, 28.9% of the population lived in households spending more than 40% of their disposable income on housing, compared with an EU average of 8.2%.
At the same time, ELSTAT has recorded significant increases in the “Housing” category, driven by higher rents, housing-related services, electricity, natural gas, heating oil and solid fuels.
In simple terms: living alone has become financially difficult for many people. Flatsharing is no longer only a student solution or a temporary “until I get back on my feet” option. It is now a normal housing choice for students, young professionals, people moving to another city, remote workers and anyone who wants to reduce monthly costs without living in a shoebox.
If you are currently in that phase, you can browse available rooms in shared apartments or look for a flatmate through Flatshare.gr.
The real cost is not just the rent
When you see a listing that says “room €300/month”, that does not necessarily mean you will only pay €300.
The real monthly cost usually looks like this:
Real cost = room rent + bills + building fees + internet + heating/cooling + shared household expenses
And at the beginning, you may also have one-off costs:
Starting cost = first month’s rent + deposit + moving costs + basic items for the room
So before you get excited because you found a “room for €280”, ask:
€280 including what?
Bills? Internet? Building fees? Heating?
Or €280 and then the financial escape room begins?
How much does a room in a shared apartment cost?
Based on publicly available listings on Greek platforms, prices for a room in a shared apartment vary a lot depending on the city, area, whether the room is furnished, whether bills are included and whether the apartment is close to metro, university or the city centre.
In room listings in Athens and other Greek cities, prices often range from around €200 to €400 and above, while furnished or all-inclusive rooms in good locations can exceed €450–€550.
A realistic starting estimate for Greece looks like this:
| Type of room | Estimated monthly cost |
|---|---|
| Budget room, older apartment, less central area | €220 – €300 |
| Standard room in a good area or near transport | €300 – €420 |
| Furnished / all-inclusive / very good location | €420 – €550+ |
The bigger question is not only:
“How much does the room cost?”
It is:
“What is included in that price?”
For example, a room at €350 that includes internet and building fees may be a better deal than a room at €300 where everything is paid separately.
Tip: Before comparing listings, create a small table with the total monthly cost. Do not compare rent with rent only.
The main expenses you need to calculate
1. Room rent
Rent is the most stable expense. If the room costs €350, that is the base of your budget.
But check whether the price includes:
- only the room,
- room plus bills,
- room plus internet,
- all-inclusive room,
- a room where bills are shared “approximately”.
“Approximately” is fine when we are talking about how much oregano to put on fries. When it comes to money, you want a clear agreement.
2. Electricity
Electricity is one of the most variable expenses because it depends on:
- air conditioning,
- water heater,
- cooking,
- washing machine,
- heating,
- whether someone works from home,
- whether someone turns on the air conditioner “for a bit” and remembers it in September.
Electricity prices change depending on provider and tariff, so in Greece there is an official way to compare electricity and natural gas prices through gov.gr / RAAEY.
For a home with 2–3 flatmates, a reasonable share of electricity may range from around €25 to €70 per person per month, but it can increase during winter or summer.
3. Water
Water is usually a smaller expense than electricity, but it is not zero.
In many shared apartments, it may cost around €5–€15 per person per month, depending on consumption and city.
If someone in the house showers like they are filming a slow-motion shampoo commercial, it is good to have an agreement on how water bills are shared.
4. Internet
Internet is essential, especially if you are a student, remote worker or simply a human being who wants to watch a series without the episode loading like it is 2012.
Usually, in a shared apartment, internet is split between flatmates. If the total package costs €25–€35, then per person it may come to:
| People in the apartment | Internet cost per person |
|---|---|
| 2 people | €12 – €18 |
| 3 people | €8 – €12 |
| 4 people | €6 – €9 |
5. Building fees
Building fees are the expense many people forget until the paper appears at the entrance of the apartment building and everyone looks at it like NASA just sent an invoice.
They may include:
- building cleaning,
- elevator,
- lighting in common areas,
- maintenance,
- garden,
- heating, if the building has central heating.
In a simple apartment building, they may cost €10 to €40 per person.
If there is central heating or the building is older, the amount can go higher.
6. Heating and cooling
Heating costs vary a lot from home to home.
A home may use:
- natural gas,
- heating oil,
- air conditioners,
- electric heaters,
- poor insulation,
- old windows,
- a north-facing room that feels like a documentary about Antarctica in January.
Before closing a room, ask:
“How is the apartment heated, and how much did you roughly pay last winter?”
That question can save you a lot of money.
7. Deposit
The deposit is usually equal to one month’s rent, although this can vary depending on the agreement.
| Room rent | Possible deposit |
|---|---|
| €280 | €280 |
| €350 | €350 |
| €450 | €450 |
The deposit is not a monthly expense, but you need to have it available at the beginning.
If you do not include it in your calculation, you may find the perfect room and then realise your budget just said: “good luck, my friend.”
Example of a real budget for a room in a shared apartment
Let’s say you find a room for €330 per month.
| Expense | Monthly amount |
|---|---|
| Room rent | €330 |
| Electricity | €45 |
| Water | €8 |
| Internet | €10 |
| Building fees | €20 |
| Cleaning supplies / small shared expenses | €10 |
| Total | €423 / month |
So a room that looks like “€330” may actually cost around €420 per month.
And at the beginning, you may need:
| Starting expense | Amount |
|---|---|
| First month’s rent | €330 |
| Deposit | €330 |
| Moving / transport of belongings | €50 – €150 |
| Small items for the room | €50 – €200 |
| Starting total | €760 – €1,010 |
The lesson here is simple:
Do not look only at the monthly rent. Look at the starting cost too.
Flatsharing vs studio apartment: which is better?
Many people wonder:
“Should I rent a room or look for a small studio?”
The answer depends on the city and area, but flatsharing often makes more financial sense because you split fixed costs.
If a small studio costs €500–€650 and then you add all bills on top by yourself, the total cost may reach or exceed €650–€800.
On the other hand, a room in a shared apartment may cost €350–€550 in total, depending on the case.
A studio gives you more privacy. Flatsharing usually gives you lower costs and less financial pressure.
The right way to compare is not only by rent, but by the total cost of living.
The 7 questions you should ask before renting a room
Before saying “yes”, ask these questions:
- Are bills included in the price?
- How much do electricity, water, internet and building fees usually cost per month?
- Is there a deposit? If yes, how much?
- How are bills split? Equally or based on usage?
- Who is on the rental agreement?
- Can I see previous bills to get an idea of the real cost?
- Is there a written agreement for basic expenses and house rules?
In Greece, AADE provides an online application where rental information statements for real estate can be submitted, viewed and accepted.
Even if the flatshare feels friendly and informal, the financial side should be clear.
Good bills make good flatmates. And fewer arguments about who left the water heater on.
What does “all-inclusive room” mean?
In some listings, you will see the phrase all-inclusive.
Usually, this means the price includes:
- rent,
- electricity,
- water,
- internet,
- building fees,
- maybe heating or basic expenses.
It sounds perfect, but you still need to be careful.
Ask:
- Is there an electricity usage limit?
- Is heating included?
- If a very high bill arrives, is there an extra charge?
- Is the internet already active?
- Is the price fixed or can it change?
All-inclusive is very convenient when the agreement is clear.
Otherwise, it can become all-inclusive stress.
How to understand if a room is worth the money
A room is not good just because it is cheap.
It is good if the balance between price – location – quality – flatmates makes sense.
Location
A room that costs €50 more but is next to the metro, university or work may be a better deal than a cheaper one that requires two buses, prayer and a fully charged power bank.
If daily transport matters to you, look for rooms near metro stations or rooms near universities.
Bills
A room at €300 with €120 in bills is more expensive than a room at €350 with reasonable expenses.
Heating
A cheap room in a freezing apartment can become expensive when you start paying electricity like a small factory.
Flatmates
A good flatmate is worth money.
A bad flatmate can make even the nicest apartment feel like a social experiment.
Transparency
If the other person does not know — or does not want to tell you — how much the bills usually cost, be careful.
That is a red flag basket situation.
How much money should you have before moving in?
A good rule of thumb is to have at least:
2.5 to 3 months of real monthly costs available
If your real monthly cost is around €420, it is safer to have:
€1,050 – €1,260
Why?
Because at the beginning you will pay the deposit, possibly moving costs, maybe things for the room, maybe you are waiting for an old deposit to be returned, and maybe something unexpected appears.
And there is always that “I only need one lamp” moment that somehow becomes bedding, extension cords, curtains, pillows and a plant you promise will survive this time.
When is a room “suspiciously cheap”?
A cheap room is not automatically bad. It may be a great opportunity. But it needs checking.
Be careful if:
- they ask for money before you see the apartment,
- there are no clear photos,
- they do not give an exact location or area,
- they do not explain what is included in the price,
- they do not know how much the bills usually cost,
- the description sounds too perfect,
- there is pressure like “send money now because 12 other people want it”.
When flatsharing, you are looking for a home — not a financial thriller.
Conclusion: how much does a room in a shared apartment really cost?
In Greece, a room in a shared apartment may start from around €220–€300 in more budget-friendly cases, but the more realistic total cost, including bills and shared expenses, often lands around €350–€550 per month.
The important thing is not to compare only “rent with rent”.
Compare:
- total monthly cost,
- starting cost,
- area,
- public transport,
- apartment condition,
- heating,
- bills,
- house rules,
- and of course, the people you will live with.
Because the right room is not simply the cheapest one.
It is the one you can comfortably afford, live in peacefully and not need a family meeting every time the electricity bill arrives.
If you are looking for a room in a shared apartment, start with a clear budget, ask the right questions and compare listings based not only on price, but on the total cost of living.
Ready to find the right room?
Browse rooms in shared apartments on Flatshare and start with a clear idea of the real cost.
Frequently asked questions about flatsharing costs
How much does a room in a shared apartment cost in Greece?
Usually, a room in a shared apartment can cost from around €220 to €550+ per month, depending on the city, area, apartment condition, whether it is furnished and whether bills are included.
Are bills included in the room price?
Not always. In some listings, bills are included, while in others they are paid separately. Before renting a room, ask whether the price includes electricity, water, internet, building fees and heating.
How much money do I need at the beginning for flatsharing?
Usually, you need the first month’s rent, the deposit and some money for moving or basic items for the room. A safer estimate is to have around 2.5 to 3 months of real monthly costs available.
Is flatsharing cheaper than renting a studio?
Flatsharing is often cheaper because fixed expenses such as electricity, water, internet and building fees are shared. A studio offers more privacy, but usually has a higher total monthly cost.
What should I ask before renting a room?
Ask what is included in the price, how much the bills usually cost, whether there is a deposit, how expenses are split, who is on the rental agreement and whether there are house rules.