The cost of living in Cyprus
We know that moving to Cyprus will save us money on many day-to-day living costs, but how much and where in particular can we save? In the all-new Cyprus Property Guides Cost of Living Index we have expanded the range of items to take account of new ways of living, such as digital downloads and more household goods. We also include top tips from those who have made the move already, on where to save money and shop like a Cypriot!
Overall, our survey found prices were around 15% cheaper than in the UK. That varies by the type of, with fresh goods that are imported inevitably being more expensive. Cyprus, with a population of just over one million simply doesn’t have the economies of scale that we find in the UK. Shopping around and only choosing local, seasonal produce will cut your living costs drastically.
If you’re receiving an income from the UK, shop prices are only half the story. To really understand your cost of living in Cyprus, read The Currency Guide to Emigration, free to download.
Local, seasonal produce will be much more economical
In the Supermarket
All major supermarkets like Alpha Mega, Papantoniou sell Tesco and Sainsbury’s products, but with a limited range. Lidl has come to Cyprus too, opening a number of new stores, and has discounted Sainsbury’s products too. You can also buy British products at small, discount supermarkets.
It’s worth noting that supermarkets produce flyers advertising local and British food and drink products at discounted prices. These are distributed to homes via mailboxes, and are helpful before the weekly or monthly shop.
| UK Prices (£) | Cyprus Euros | Cyprus sterling | More/less expensive in Cyprus | |
| Large, wholemeal sliced loaf of bread (800g) | £1.10 | 2.09 | £1.84 | + 68% |
| Pack of butter (250g) | £1.50 | 3.51 | £3.10 | + 107% |
| Milk (I litre) | £0.80 | 1.57 | £1.39 | + 73% |
| 6 eggs, large free range | £1 | 2.04 | £1.80 | + 80% |
| Iceberg lettuce | £0.70 | 2.49 | £2.20 | + 214% |
| Teabags (per 100) | £2.50 | 6.68 | £5.90 | + 136% |
| Fresh pineapple (whole) | £1 | 1.6 | £1.41 | + 41% |
| Fresh tomatoes (1 kilo) | £2.50 | 3.33 | £2.94 | + 18% |
| Fresh chicken for roasting (regular) | £3.40 | 2.72 | £2.40 | – 29% |
| Fresh chicken for roasting (free-range/organic/corn-fed) | £7.50 | 3.55 | £3.13 | – 58% |
| Haagen Dazs vanilla ice cream (500ml) | £4.20 | 6.75 | £5.96 | + 42% |
| fresh white fish, cod type (1 kilo) | £13.50 | 23.78 | £21 | + 55% |
| Jar of mayonnaise (600g) | £2.50 | 4.87 | £4.30 | + 72% |
| Heinz cream of tomato soup (400g) | £0.95 | 2.84 | £2.51 | + 164% |
| Coca-cola zero (2 litre) | £1.95 | 3.04 | £2.68 | + 38% |
| Bottle of whisky (blended) 70cl | £15 | 12.99 | £11.47 | – 24% |
| Dark chocolate bar (Green & Black type, 90/100g) | £2 | 3.78 | £3.34 | + 67% |
| Complete dog food, dry (5 kilo) | £10 | 11.9 | £10.50 | + 5% |
| Laundry detergent (40 washes) | £4.50 | 7.48 | £6.60 | + 47% |
Travel
Hire car companies are well represented in Cyprus – and they are competitively priced. Shop around for the best prices via their online websites. Local car hire companies were very competitive too but these have now disappeared.
Cyprus doesn’t have any trains, but we picked an equivalent bus journey into Nicosia.
| UK Prices (£) | Cyprus Euros | Cyprus sterling | More/less expensive in Cyprus | |
| 1 litre petrol (unleaded) | £1.30 | 1.08 | £0.95 | – 27% |
| Car hire, small car, 1 week | £124 | £40 | – 68% | |
| Return train fare, London to Brighton equivalent (about one hour) | £26 | 14 | £12.36 | – 52% |
| Car tax, electric/hybrid, 1 year | £140 | 0 | £0 | – 100% |
In the home
Latest technology such as games and consoles are high priced because they are imported from Europe or America and the charges are passed on to the consumer. However, there are three main sales periods per year, where you will find these products well discounted.
Internet services are provided as a package – with mobile phone, computer, and television as a deal
| In the home | UK Prices (£) | Cyprus Euros | Cyprus sterling | More/less expensive in Cyprus |
| Paying a domestic cleaner – per hour | £12.50 | 20 | £17.65 | + 41% |
| White Dulux emulsion, or equivalent (2.5 litre) | £14 | 22.59 | £19.94 | + 42% |
| Ikea “Billy” bookcase (80x28x202 cm) | £35 | 83.28 | £73.50 | + 110% |
| Samsung TV, 55” | £549 | 593.81 | £524.10 | – 5% |
| Alexa echo dot | £35 | 66.88 | £59.03 | + 69% |
| Electricity (per kilowatt hour) | £0.13 | 0.22 | £0.19 | + 49% |
| Home broadband, no data limit (per month) | £23 | 16.04 | £14.16 | – 38% |
How’s your haggling? Thankfully Cyprus isn’t a country where you need to, except when it comes to buying a property! Brush up on your tactics with our free guide, How to Negotiate Abroad.
Leisure
In Cyprus, the best things in life are free
| UK Prices (£) | Cyprus Euros | Cyprus sterling | More/less expensive in Cyprus | |
| Cappuccino in local café | £2.80 | 3.27 | 2.89 | 3.08% |
| Bottle of Coke Zero from local shop (500ml) | £1.50 | 3.26 | 2.88 | 91.82% |
| Pain au chocolat in café | £1.90 | 2.18 | 1.92 | 1.27% |
| Big Mac/quarter pounder cheeseburger | £3.09 | 3.59 | 3.17 | 2.54% |
| Bottle of house wine in local mid-range restaurant | £17.95 | 13 | 11.47 | -36.08% |
| Draft beer in bar (500ml) | £2.20 | 5.45 | 4.81 | 118.65% |
| 3 course meal in mid-range restaurant (ex drinks) | £27.00 | 21 | 18.53 | -31.35% |
| Tip for meal (above) | £3.00 | 2.10 | 1.85 | -38.22% |
| Cinema ticket (one) | £11.00 | 10.5 | 9.27 | -15.75% |
| Spotify Premium subscription, per month | £10.00 | 8.31 | 7.33 | -26.65% |
| Amazon Prime, per month | £8.00 | 7.99 | 7.05 | -11.85% |
| Daily Newspaper (equivalent to Times) | £1.80 | 3.2 | 2.82 | 56.91% |
| Women’s Running shoes, mid-range, Nike | £105.00 | 65.45 | 57.77 | -44.98% |
| Paperback fiction book | £9.00 | 10.5 | 9.27 | 2.97% |
| SuperMario Kart for Nintendo Switch | £43.00 | 71.34 | 62.97 | 46.43% |
Healthcare
Medicines are comparatively high in price since they are only obtainable from pharmacies, which are independently controlled. Cyprus is currently phasing in a health care scheme that involves local and foreign resident monthly contributions as an alternative to the presently expensive private healthcare.
| UK Prices (£) | Cyprus Euros | Cyprus sterling | More/less expensive in Cyprus | |
| Dentist – basic check up, no other work | £22.70 | 20 | 17.65 | -22.24% |
| 16 paracetamol tablets (generic) | £0.68 | 4.6 | 4.06 | 497.06% |
| Prescription charge (working person) | £9.00 | -100.00% |
Read our Healthcare Guide to accessing medical attention in 11 countries.
Children
| UK Prices (£) | Cyprus Euros | Cyprus sterling | More/less expensive in Cyprus | |
| Nappies, medium-sized, Pampers-type (each) | £0.10 | 0.22 | 0.19 | 94.17% |
| Calpol (or equivalent), age 6 plus | £3.50 | 5.92 | 5.23 | 49.29% |
| Children’s swim at local pool | £3 | 10 | 8.83 | 194.20% |
Other
| UK Prices (£) | Cyprus Euros | Cyprus sterling | More/less expensive in Cyprus | |
| Women’s jeans – mid- range, Zara-type | £26 | 35.64 | 31.43 | 20.88% |
| Hotel: mid-range, one midweek night for 2 | £72 | 104.64 | 92.28 | 28.16% |
| Finance – cost of a basic bank account, no overdraft facility. | £6 | 7 | 6.17 | 2.88% |
| Men’s haircut, old-fashioned type barber | £12 | 16 | 14.11 | 17.58% |
The Cyprus Buying Guide takes you through each stage of the property buying process, with practical recommendations from our experts who have been through the process themselves. The guide will help you to: