Cost of Studying in Greece — 2026 BD Breakdown

Greece quietly has the lowest combined tuition + living cost of any major EU study destination. A non-EU student at a public university in Thessaloniki spends €9,000–€12,000/year — including everything. That's BDT 12–16 lakh/year for a fully English-taught Master's, a Schengen visa, and a 2-year post-study work permit. Below is the realistic, item-by-item budget in BDT. 100% free guidance from Teesta Tech — the best educational consultancy in Chittagong.

1. The Real Cost of Greece in 2026

Greece's reputation for being cheap is, for once, accurate. Non-EU tuition at public universities was capped by the 2024 reform at €1,500–€3,000/year for most English-taught Master's programmes. Living costs in Greek cities are 30–45% lower than Spain or Portugal, and 50–60% lower than Paris or Amsterdam.

🇬🇷 Public vs Private — know the difference: Public universities (NKUA, AUTh, NTUA, University of Crete) charge €1,500–€3,000/year for non-EU English-taught programmes. Private/international institutions (DEREE, CITY College, ALBA) charge €7,000–€15,000/year — closer to US standard, but still cheaper than UK private equivalents.

2. Tuition Fees by Institution Type

Institution Type	Tuition (Bachelor's)	Tuition (Master's)
Public universities (NKUA, AUTh, NTUA)	€1,500/year (Greek-taught) – €3,000 (English)	€1,500–€3,500/year
NTUA Engineering English programmes	—	€3,500–€4,500/year
Athens University of Economics & Business	€3,000–€4,000/year	€4,000–€8,000/year
DEREE / American College of Greece	€10,500–€12,500/year	€8,500–€14,000 total
CITY College (University of York campus)	£9,250/year (UK rate)	£11,500 total
ALBA Graduate Business School	—	€11,500–€18,000/year
Doctoral programmes (PhD)	—	€1,500/year

Why is Greek public tuition so low?

Greece's public universities are state-funded. The 2024 reform that opened English-taught programmes to non-EU students kept fees deliberately low to attract international applicants and reverse decades of brain drain. The Greek government wants international students — and they price like it.

3. Living Cost by City

Choice of city drives 60% of your total budget. Athens is the most expensive but offers the largest job market. Thessaloniki balances quality of life and cost. Smaller university towns like Patras and Heraklion are the cheapest in Europe.

City	Rent (1-bed/shared)	Total Monthly Budget	BDT/Month
Athens (centre)	€350–€550	€750–€1,000	97K–1.3 lakh
Athens (suburbs)	€280–€400	€650–€850	84K–1.1 lakh
Thessaloniki	€250–€400	€550–€800	72K–1.0 lakh
Patras	€200–€350	€500–€700	65K–91K
Heraklion (Crete)	€250–€400	€550–€750	72K–97K
Ioannina	€180–€300	€450–€650	58K–84K

💡 Student housing tip: Greek public universities have limited student dormitories (mostly reserved for Greek nationals). Most international students rent privately or share apartments with other internationals. Facebook groups like "Erasmus Athens" and "International Students Thessaloniki" are the main rental marketplaces.

What does €600/month actually buy you in Thessaloniki?

Shared room in student flat: €230–€320
Groceries (mostly cooking at home): €150–€180
Public transport (OASTH student pass): €22/month
Phone + internet: €20–€30
Health insurance: €10–€18/month
Eating out + leisure (Greece is very cheap for this): €80–€120

4. Visa & Application Costs

Item	Cost (EUR)	BDT
Greek national visa fee (Type D)	€90	12,000
Document apostille (Bangladesh Foreign Ministry)	—	5K–15K
Document translation (Greek/English certified)	€60–€120	8K–16K
Police clearance certificate (PCC)	—	1,500
Travel to/from Delhi for embassy appointment	—	25K–40K
Show money in bank (€7,200–€8,400)	€7,200–€8,400	9.4–11 lakh
Health insurance (annual, mandatory)	€100–€200	13K–26K
Residence permit fee (after arrival)	€150	20K
Total visa-related (excluding show money)	€400–€560	52K–73K + travel

5. Hidden Costs Bangladeshi Students Often Miss

Travel to Delhi for embassy: Bangladesh doesn't have a Greek embassy. Flight + hotel + visa for India trip costs BDT 25K–40K
Indian transit visa: Required for the Delhi trip — BDT 4K–8K
Apostille of documents: All academic certificates must be apostilled by Bangladesh's Foreign Ministry — BDT 5K–15K depending on document count
Airfare Dhaka → Athens (one-way): BDT 80K–1.4 lakh (Qatar, Emirates, Turkish via transit)
Initial setup (first month): Deposit (1–2 months rent), kitchen basics, bedding — BDT 60K–1 lakh
Residence permit application: Within 30 days of arrival — €150 (BDT 20K)
Winter clothing: If you're going to Thessaloniki or northern Greece — BDT 15K–30K (Greek south is mild)

6. Total Annual Budget — Realistic Scenarios

Scenario A: AUTh Master's in Thessaloniki (Public University)

Tuition: €2,500
Living (€650 × 12): €7,800
Insurance: €150
Visa & setup: €500
Total: ~€10,950 = BDT 14.2 lakh

Scenario B: NKUA Master's in Athens (Public University)

Tuition: €3,000
Living (€850 × 12): €10,200
Insurance: €150
Visa & setup: €500
Total: ~€13,850 = BDT 18 lakh

Scenario C: NTUA Engineering Master's (Public, Athens)

Tuition: €4,000
Living (€850 × 12): €10,200
Insurance: €150
Visa & setup: €500
Total: ~€14,850 = BDT 19.3 lakh

Scenario D: DEREE Bachelor's in Athens (Private US-style)

Tuition: €11,500
Living (€850 × 12): €10,200
Insurance: €200
Visa & setup: €500
Total: ~€22,400 = BDT 29 lakh

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7. Part-Time Earnings — How Much Can You Recover?

Greek law permits international students to work 20 hours/week during term and full-time during vacations. Minimum wage is €5.46/hour gross (€830/month full-time).

Term-time earnings (20 hrs/week × 32 weeks): ~€3,490
Summer/vacation work (40 hrs/week × 10 weeks): ~€2,180
Realistic annual earnings: €5,000–€7,500 = BDT 6.5–9.7 lakh

Common student jobs: summer tourism (high-paying, May–September on Greek islands), restaurants and cafés in Athens/Thessaloniki, English tutoring, delivery apps (efood, BOX), and remote freelancing in tech/design. Greek summer season can be a goldmine — many students earn €1,500–€2,500/month working at island resorts.

8. Scholarships and Funding

IKY (Greek State Scholarships Foundation): Tuition waivers and monthly stipends for top international applicants at public universities
University-specific scholarships: AUTh, NTUA, and NKUA all run merit scholarships covering 25–100% of tuition for top international applicants
Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters: Multiple programmes are based in Greek universities — full €1,400/month stipend + tuition
DEREE Trustee Scholarship: Up to 50% tuition reduction for top international applicants
Bilateral scholarships: The Bangladesh Ministry of Education periodically announces Greek government scholarships

9. Frequently Asked Questions

Is Greece really the cheapest EU country to study in?

For non-EU students at public universities, yes — Greek public tuition (€1,500–€3,000/year) is comparable to or lower than Germany (where tuition is free but living costs are higher) and well below Spain, Portugal, France, or Italy. Combined with the lowest EU living costs, Greece is the most affordable EU destination overall for Bangladeshi students.

How much show money do I need for the visa?

€7,200–€8,400 (approximately BDT 9.4–11 lakh) in your bank account at the time of application. This must be your own funds or your sponsor's, supported by 3–6 months of bank statements.

Can I really live on €600/month in Thessaloniki?

Yes, with a shared apartment and home cooking. Solo apartment + dining out lifestyle pushes the budget to €800–€900/month. Most international students start with shared accommodation through Facebook groups or university notice boards.

Will I pay tuition every semester?

Greek public universities typically charge tuition per semester (split into two payments per year). Private institutions like DEREE may bill per credit or per semester. Check your specific institution's payment schedule.

What's the cheapest way to study in Greece?

Apply to a public university in Thessaloniki or a smaller city (Patras, Ioannina, Heraklion). Aim for AUTh, University of Patras, or University of Crete. Share housing. Apply for IKY or university merit scholarships. Realistic total: BDT 10–13 lakh/year — among the cheapest EU options.

Can Teesta Tech prepare a personalised Greece cost estimate from Chittagong?

Yes — within 24 hours of receiving your target programme. As the top study abroad agency in Chittagong, we prepare item-by-item BDT cost plans, scholarship shortlists, and Greek embassy timelines for Bangladeshi students. Free of charge — visit Moti Tower in Chawkbazar or WhatsApp us.