r/crete • u/37728291827227616148 • Mar 14 '24
Housing/Στέγαση If you had to choose between living in Heraklion & Chania to raise a family which would it be?
I'm a young adult considering moving to Crete for work (Construction, Electrical) but I'm curious to see what the locals think. I understand Heraklion is more urban and Chania has the nice beaches but like is the money and work avalible drastically different between the two?
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u/Ruvio00 Mar 14 '24
Chania to Rethymno area has a lot more ex pat residents than Heraklion so if you'd rather speak English or German, that might be a good idea.
Personally if I was to raise a family here I'd choose Chania, but Heraklion wouldn't be a bad choice.
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u/petsagouris Mar 14 '24
If you are moving for work, then both places are great. Are you setup with a crew already? Maybe you plan on doing things on your own ?
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u/37728291827227616148 Mar 14 '24
Regretfully I have no crew but I'd like to find one. Do you think both cities have an equal amount of work? The NATO base + ports looked interesting too.
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u/Dazvsemir Mar 15 '24
there is extreme need for trade workers in Crete because of the expansion of tourism. However, wages are still low relative to northerh european countries. And again, because of tourism, it is very difficult to find proper accomodation at reasonable prices.
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u/nerdyphoenix Mar 15 '24
Depending on what you do for a living, you most likely will find a lot more employment opportunities in Heraklion. It's also a lot more lively all year round. Chania and Rethymno tend to be more quiet during fall and winter and some places even close off season.
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u/Hot_Speech900 Mar 14 '24
Choosing between the two cities can be challenging, as both have their merits. Heraklion, being more industrial, likely offers more opportunities. Conversely, Chania is renowned for its proximity to everything and is considered one of Greece's most picturesque cities.
Having grown up in Chania, I felt I lacked for nothing until adolescence. Chania tends to be more family-oriented, provided you can make a living there. However, it has become increasingly difficult to find rentals and parking spaces.
Ultimately, the decision isn't solely about beautiful beaches but the overall quality of life. My mother spent a significant amount of time in Heraklion too, and it's clear that the swimming spots near Heraklion pale in comparison to those around Chania.
The only thing I might say Chania lacks is a ski resort, but then again, I admit I'm biased.
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u/Professional_Wolf804 Mar 15 '24
If you want to raise a family with a good quality of life, Chania is your city. Unless you all love cement.
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u/sfr777_ Mar 14 '24
There is only one answer: Rethymno ( or Apokoronas Region between Chania and Rethymno )
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u/Over-Percentage-1929 Mar 14 '24
Iraklio has way more job opportunities than Chania, especially for construction work.
Also, you don't have to live inside the city proper, the municipality contains the surrounding communities in a 20min driving distance .