With its sizzling summer temperatures, abundant sunshine, beautiful beaches, and rich culture, Cyprus is a highly desirable country for expats and digital nomads.
Located in the eastern Mediterranean sea, Cyprus is geographically in Asia but is part of the European Union. This makes it an easily accessible place for Europeans to come to live and work.
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So if you’re considering moving to this gorgeous Mediterranean country, check out our list of the best places to live in Cyprus.
Limassol
The coastal city of Limassol is easily one of the best cities in Cyprus for expats, thanks to its bustling, cosmopolitan atmosphere and business opportunities.
There are plenty of job opportunities here, which is why you’ll find a large expat community enjoying the perfect balance between city and beach life.
Limassol is often referred to as the entertainment capital. However, the district is highly diverse, so whether you’re coming to party, work, or enjoy the quiet life, you’ll find what you’re looking for here.
The city center is your spot if you want to be in the center of the action. You’ll find many restaurants, cafes, nightclubs, and English-style pubs here. For those looking for something quieter, you’ll enjoy a peaceful life in one of the many small seaside villages, such as Erimi.
There are also plenty of historical and cultural sites to visit, such as the ancient city of Kourion, which is close to the gorgeous Kourion Beach.
Limassol’s downside is that the cost of living is considerably higher than other expat hotspots in Cyprus, such as Paphos. A one-bedroom apartment ranges from €750 to €950 for a monthly rental.
Paphos
The Paphos district is one of the best places to live in Cyprus for expats, thanks to its ease of living and beautiful scenery. The coastal city is located southwest of Cyprus. It is full of beautiful bays and harbors, lush countryside, and picturesque towns and villages.
Paphos is also known for its excellent infrastructure and amenities, including high-quality healthcare and efficient transport connections to the rest of the country.
For example, Paphos has an international airport just a 15-minute drive from the town center. For domestic travel, the highway links Paphos to the rest of Cyprus.
Despite its modern side, Paphos is full of culture and history. It is famed as the birthplace of Aphrodite, the Greek goddess, and has an abundance of Roman mosaics.
Another advantage of choosing Paphos for living and working in Cyprus is the affordable housing. The average monthly rental for a one-bedroom apartment is around €500.
As a result, Paphos is extremely popular with tourists and expats alike, so you will find a large international community here.
And while the harbor area may get busy during the summer, many small, quiet villages are around. Here life is slower; thus, they are popular with long-term expats.
Nicosia
As the capital city, Nicosia is naturally another of the best places to live in Cyprus. In addition, it is the financial center, so Nicosia offers some of the country’s best job and business opportunities.
Moreover, out of all the cities in Cyprus, Nicosia has the lowest tax rate for foreign workers. Therefore, you won’t be surprised to find a large expat community and plenty of English-speaking locals.
So much so that 90% of the city’s population speaks English; thus, you can effortlessly get by without speaking Greek.
The biggest downside to Nicosia is its location. It is not directly on the beach, which gives it more of a big city vibe, reasonably different from the coastal expat hotspots in the country.
Unfortunately, the city also gets extremely hot in the summer, lacking that much-needed coastal breeze.
However, while you may not be able to pop to the beach after work every day, you’ll find plenty of lovely coastal spots within an hour’s drive. The city also has plenty of green spaces, such as the Athalassa National Forest Park and 20 kilometers of hiking trails.
Another plus is that the cost of living is pretty affordable here. Nicosia is cheaper than Limassol, with monthly rental prices for 1 bedroom apartments costing between €500 and €600.
Finally, as the capital city, Nicosia has the best transport and connection system to the rest of the country and the world.
Larnaca
Larnaca is another of the biggest and best cities to live in Cyprus, thanks to its seaside location and slow pace of life.
Larnaca is much more relaxed than the bigger cities and thus is ideal for remote workers who dream of working by the beach or older people looking for a peaceful retirement.
There is a diverse international community here, from Greeks to Russians to Brits to Germans. Therefore, English is widely spoken in the central parts of town. What’s more, each area is different.
For example, Makenzie pomade has a younger, more digital nomad vibe. In contrast, Oroklini, on the outskirts of Larnaca, is popular with British retirees.
Regarding the cost of living, Larnaca is cheap compared to Limassol but more expensive than Paphos. The monthly rental of a 1 bedroom apartment will range from €500 to €750.
The entire city is picturesque, such as the Finikoudes beach and boardwalk and the medieval Greek church of Saint Lazarus. Larnaca is also easily accessible as it has an international airport just 15 minutes from the town center.
Ayia Napa
Ayia Napa is undoubtedly the most popular tourist destination in the country. Still, it is also one of the best places to live in Cyprus. As you would expect, life here is busy and vibrant.
Thus, it is popular among young digital nomads and those coming to work the summer season in one of the many bars, nightclubs, and resorts.
Ayia Napa has a staggering 14 beaches, so it is the perfect base for those who spend their free time swimming and sunbathing. One of the most popular is Nissi Bay, where the beach is formed inside a natural bay.
There are also tons of thrilling water sports to try here, such as water-skiing, windsurfing, and speed boating.
If you don’t mind the crowds and the loud, party atmosphere, Ayia Napa can be a fun place to live, whether for a season, a year, or longer. The advantage of living in such a famous tourist destination is that you’ll get by speaking English with no problem.
Another plus is that rental prices can be pretty cheap when renting outside of summer or long-term.
Protaras
If you want to be close to Ayia Napa but not in the middle of all the hustle and bustle, Protaras could be a good option. Protaras is 5 miles away from Ayia Napa, located on the pristine coastline of Cyprus’s Fig Tree Bay.
Protaras is a resort town that has developed rapidly in recent years, making it one of the newest popular tourist spots. Even so, it is still much more lowkey than Ayia Napa and has a more family-friendly and retiree vibe.
Life in Protaras can be pretty good, with many beautiful beaches, plenty of restaurants, and frequent buses into Ayia Napa. The cost of living is similar to Ayia Napa, with higher prices in the summer and low rates in the winter.
Final Thoughts On The Best Places To Live In Cyprus
As you can see, Cyprus has many expat-friendly, safe, and beautiful cities where English is widely spoken, and there are large international communities to integrate with.
So whether you prefer to live in a bustling metropolitan, party town, or peaceful seaside village, you’ll find the ideal place to settle down among these best spots to live in Cyprus.
Want to learn more about what it’s like to be living in Cyprus? Discover the pros and cons of living in Cyprus.
Planning on moving to Cyprus soon? Learn how to buy a SIM card in Cyprus.
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