Cyprus: “Should I relocate here?” My suggestions

What’s it like to live in Cyprus? Have you read my article listing the main advantages and disadvantages of this beautiful paradise of an island? If you are considering relocating, you may want to check it out first. This new article focuses on my suggestions for you if you are convinced that Cyprus may indeed be a great choice. Are you getting ready to pack your suitcases already? Wait! You might want to consider these real-life recommendations first based on my experience of relocating back to Cyprus in 2022.

Starting a new life here in Cyprus will appeal to many people. Why wouldn’t it? One of the best climates on planet Earth, beach life throughout the year, and mouthwatering Mediterranean cuisine all make the island enticing. Besides, if you are a highly specialized employee (key personnel), you will also enjoy the country’s 50% tax benefit! And just a few days before I wrote this, the parliament ratified a new law that you can apply for Cyprus citizenship within 4-5 years of residing on the island. Now that is super motivating for any highly skilled worker!

But before you go over the moon and purchase your one-way ticket, consider these tips:

1. Get hired, then relocate – not vice versa
2. Ready to drive?
3. Choose your town wisely
4. Carefully consider your budget
5. Island life is not for everybody
6. Ready to sacrifice some conveniences?
7. Consider healthcare
8. Difficult to rely on the local police
9. Parents! Think about school/ kindergarten

Get hired, then relocate – not vice versa

Moving your life to the island without a job is an extremely bad idea. You will have a tough time finding it and limited time to complete that mission overall. Getting hired is a job in itself. It may take multiple months (sometimes up to a year) to receive that long-expected job offer. Can you afford the already-expensive life in Cyprus while you send out your CVs, attend interviews, and wait for responses? Most likely not. Therefore, securing a job here before relocating is almost essential.

Plus, many international and some local companies here will usually select from a pool of highly specialized candidates across the world. Few would focus on hiring locally. Relocation is frequently offered as a benefit. You will see it in a lot of job descriptions. Would you rather not have peace of mind knowing that you are starting your new island life with a job secured? Get to hunting!

Ready to drive?

If you are hoping to rely on the public transportation system when you get here – big mistake! Purchasing your own transport (car or bike) will be an absolute must. Buses have become slightly more punctual than before 2014 when I first departed, but they are still unreliable when compared to public transportation in large, bustling cities. And the only other mode of transport here except by bus is by ridiculously expensive taxi. So, prepare to drive to save money, be free, and get to places on time!

The good news is that we have plenty of car rental companies for your first few weeks or months of adaptation here. We also have a ride-sharing service. You may need a rental if you don’t choose from the available cars on the lot. If you have a special preference for a vehicle that is being transported via ship, it could get to the island in many months. Therefore, either be easy with your choice and select a simple ride, or be patient and prepare to rent a car for a while.

I dedicate a separate paragraph for how it is to drive in Cyprus. It’s normally a mess, especially if you are not used to it like me. But I would not say it is as bad as in New Delhi or Istanbul. There are 2 types of local driving: first, extremely laid back with no recognition of the road rules, and second, racing like in the Fast and the Furious with no recognition of the road rules. Fender benders are common, especially in parking lots where people think they have more space to turn around than they do. Add a robust amount of Moscow-style impulsive drivers into the mix, who now no longer have strict policing like they did back at home and feel much more liberal, and you get something close to complete mayhem.

Choose your town wisely

Granted, I am biased. I grew up in Limassol and returned to Cyprus to live nowhere else but in this town. It happens so that it has also become the most attractive town on the island, at least that is what the hiked-up rents will confirm. Limassol currently has the biggest IT community due to the biggest IT companies being established right here. Naturally, most people would want to relocate to Limassol if the circumstances would permit. But if your circumstances don’t, you will most likely have to choose from the remaining towns on the map. The good news is that they are usually cheaper to rent property in, albeit less bustling and appealing. And, well, if you can consider that a benefit, they are not that far from Limassol either.

So, let me break it down, town by town. I’ll assume that you will be reasonable and go for a beach town if you are relocating to an island. The other beach towns are Larnaca, Paphos, and Ayia Napa/ Protaras. Larnaca has the biggest and Paphos has the second biggest airport on the island. If you are a travel addict, these may be great choices for you! Each town has its unique attractions. In my opinion, however, both towns lack beaches as nice as Limassol’s and frequently have a rather local, commonly boring vibe to them. Paphos is a little more underdeveloped, yet it is rather affordable. Ayia Napa and Protaras, 2 small towns adjacent to each other, do not lack vibrancy. They are definitely thriving with energy, yet packed with tourists and party-goers mostly. These are the places to be if you want to party 24 hours a day, especially Ayia Napa. Do you really want to live in a permanent tourist fiesta though?

If you are not going for a beach town, you always have the capital city – Nicosia. This is where the central government offices are as well as the central immigration department. The town recently ranked first for human capital and lifestyle among small European Cities of the future. It is smack in the center of the island, and despite that it’s the capital, to me it does not have the same appeal, buzz, and vigor as Limassol. Naturally, you’ll find most of the embassies here, the only IKEA on the island, and a more developed infrastructure than other beach towns. Yet the facts that it is split into two parts due to the Turkish invasion and that it does not offer the Cyprus sea air are turn-offs. I would not pick it over any other beach town myself. But hey, when it comes to picking a town, you may have no choice. If you have kids that need school, you will end up having to relocate to a town where you find spots for your kids in school.

Carefully consider your budget

This is an extremely important point not to be taken lightly. If you really want to preserve your quality of life, better compare Cyprus by town of preference to your current place of residence on Numbeo. It usually provides reliable info. From a personal perspective, Cyprus is not cheap at all, and the prices for everything have increased and continue increasing since 2021. And I am not talking about a fair increase that reflects an improvement in housing plus the quality of goods and services. The prices have been driven up strictly by an uncontrollable market demand. You overpay for things that nearly always underrepresent the value of paid money.

Let’s start with rent. Of course, it depends on which town you choose. Rent in Limassol is extra hiked up. You will be paying 2X, and sometimes 3X, more than what the property would have been rented for a few years back. A decent 2-bedroom apartment starts from €2,000 per month and a decent 3-bedroom house starts from €3,000 per month. If that isn’t enough, you will frequently be asked to pay 2-3 deposits and 1 rent up-front, sometimes even for the whole year upfront if you are really unlucky. Naturally, the best plan of action is to start looking for a place beforehand as decent properties get rented out fast. Bazaraki is your trusty local resource.

Settled the rent? Great! Shocking costs will not end here sadly. Now, you will experience the costs of groceries, eating out, car maintenance, childcare, and utilities. Groceries cost just as much as in Luxembourg! Dedicate from €600/month for groceries if you are alone or with a partner and from €1,100/month if you have kids. A bill at a decent, non-glamorous restaurant will be from €40 if you are with a partner and from €60 if you go as a family with kids. Car maintenance, including service, road tax, and insurance, will set you back at least €1,000/year. But then allocate at least €250/month for petrol, as you will be using your car a lot. Good kindergartens will charge you around €400-€500 per child monthly. Good schools will range from €5,000 to €15,000 per child yearly. Internet will cost around €30 per month, water €70-€100 per 2 months, and electricity (the worst) €400-€700 per 2 months. Alone or with a partner, you will need at least €3,500 per month to live rather modestly. As a family, your cost of living in Cyprus will be no less than €6,000 just to survive, and more if you have over 2 kids. Both costs assume you are renting in Limassol.

Island life is not for everybody

As I mentioned in my first blog post, island life isn’t all sunshine and rainbows. It’s good to understand what it is like to be on a piece of land surrounded by the sea. Are you ready for summers of intense heat? I heard some opinions that this is too much to handle! Are you ready for the limited travel options? Well, perhaps you can at least supplement your craving for globetrotting by traveling to nearby locations. Are you ready to have explored the whole island in a few months? The feeling of having been everywhere you could go can be daunting. And of course, once you know Cyprus in and out, it can get boring for some people.

If, on the other hand, you find the idea of island life straight out of paradise, you will love Cyprus. Its unique, comfortable beaches, its climate, and its laid-back lifestyle will mesmerize you.

Ready to sacrifice some conveniences?

This is mostly for those of you who are considering relocating from cities of high convenience. For example, London, Paris, Moscow, or Berlin. The laid-back lifestyle of Cyprus has its disadvantages. Everything here is slow. Few people care about punctuality. Services are not widely available. National holidays or weekends are days when just a few supermarkets may be open. Plus, there are a limited few real professionals who do a decent job, whether it be plumbing, cleaning, electrical, or mechanical work.

Bureaucracy is another hassle. While many EU governments have adapted the online system of requests, Cyprus is still planning on it. Heading to a government office usually means preparing to make your way through bureaucratic chaos. Granted, that it was much worse when I left Cyprus in 2014, but still. Lastly, prepare to encounter a lack of certain services (or service quality), a lack of goods (yet Amazon delivers), and a lack of formidable events (like concerts of your favorite musicians).

Consider healthcare

I cannot say that Cyprus has improved in this vital industry. Sadly, me and my family had only subpar (and frequently very negative) experiences with doctors on the island. I can count the good experiences on my fingers. It is still a huge thing to travel to other countries for medical treatments. After all, without health, there is nothing else. And this constitutes to be a rather menacing disadvantage. Therefore, keep in mind that you may need to take such trips to receive quality healthcare.

The good news is that if you are employed and your company is paying social insurance for you (they are obliged to), you have access to the public healthcare system called GESY. This gives you the ability to enlist a GP, other specialist doctors suggested by your GP depending on your condition, and a selection of pharmaceuticals for a solid discount (sometimes up to 80%). Your family members will also be covered by the GESY even if you are the only one working.

Difficult to rely on the local police

For an island that is relatively safe for family life, protection from the police is a disappointment. It is either the police departments are understaffed or simply ignorant. Much of this can be seen in the liberal way of driving on the roads. Few people care to follow road rules, and that’s mainly because there is usually no police to enforce them. Sure, you will sometimes find a random police car doing speed control on the highways. Another time, you may unusually find yourself pulled over for an alcohol check (which frankly doesn’t stop drinking and driving here much). Traffic cameras are a new thing here on the island and they are placed in just a few well-known locations around towns. Despite this, most drivers will either use the app Waze or Telegram chats to be alerted of random police speed or alcohol checks, which makes you wonder how effective policing is.

Even though the level of crime is rather low, it has significantly increased during the last few years with the rise in immigration. Nowadays, you can hear of car theft, home break-ins, and physical attacks breaking out. Unfortunately, having your possessions stolen in Cyprus many times means saying goodbye to them forever. I will never forget how my family was robbed as a child and, upon calling the police, we were treated with racism and told that we had purposefully left the windows open at night. Here’s to hoping the police have improved since then.

Parents! Think about school/ kindergarten

Landing a spot in a desirable school or kindergarten poses more of a challenge nowadays. The queues are rather long, which leads to some families relocating to a town just because there is availability of school spots. A different battle is for the establishment quality. Sadly, Cyprus has its share of educational institutions (namely kindergartens) without an actual official license. And of course, if you want quality, pay up! I suggest to start looking into schools before your arrival on the island. Once you are here, you can go for a few tours and decide for yourself.

Another word of advice is to ask around. Collect some feedback from existing families on the island to understand their experiences. Some long-established schools here were great back in the day, but their status deteriorated over time. While this is a very private and individual matter for you to consider, I could recommend schools like The Island Private School, The Heritage Private School, and, possibly, PASCAL.

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Would you like to learn more about relocating to Cyprus? Is there anything particular missing from the list above? Do you agree or disagree? How was your personal experience? Please don’t hesitate to comment below and start a discussion so we can keep this blog post up-to-date. Your shares and likes are greatly appreciated too!