Everyone who visits Cyprus for a week has the same thought: "I could live here." Then the second thought: "Where, exactly?" The island is small, but the towns differ in rhythm, price and how much English you can get away with. The best places to live in Cyprus depend less on the postcard and more on your work, your children, and whether you want to depend on a car.
We only describe the area controlled by the Republic of Cyprus. The northern part is covered in one section at the end.
What do the five districts have in common?
Four things apply almost everywhere. English is widely spoken, and the euro is the currency. Public administrations open early, and many close between 15:00 and 16:00. And you will almost certainly want a car: there is no train or metro, only buses and taxis. Our guide to the cost of living in Cyprus shows what a car adds to the budget. Prices change from district to district and with the distance from an urban centre, according to EURES.
Why choose Limassol?
Limassol, on the south coast, is the town with the biggest international community and a strong business and services scene. It is the natural first stop for people moving for a job in finance, shipping, technology or tourism, and it offers the widest choice of international schools and restaurants. The trade-offs are the rents, which tend to be the highest on the island, and traffic. If you work remotely, it is also the place where you will meet other people doing the same.
Why choose Nicosia?
Nicosia is the capital and the seat of the government, ministries and most administrative offices, and it is inland, away from the sea breeze. The Migration Department's head office is here, and in Nicosia the MEU1 is submitted without an appointment. It suits civil servants, people working for institutions and families who value schools and services over a beach. It is also the only divided capital in the EU, with the buffer zone running through the old town. See Cyprus residence registration.
Why choose Larnaca?
Larnaca has the island's main international airport and a more relaxed pace than Limassol, with a seafront and an old town. It is convenient if you travel often, and an easy base for people who split their time between Cyprus and another country. Remember that tax residence depends on the days you spend in the country, so keep a record of your travel.
Why choose Paphos?
Paphos, on the west coast, attracts retirees and people who want a quieter life, with a historic site, a harbour and a slower tempo. It has a significant English-speaking retiree community. Hospitals and some specialists are less concentrated than in the largest towns, so check which GeSY providers are near you before you buy a house. If you plan to retire in Cyprus, spend a winter there before you decide, since some resort areas are very quiet outside the season.
What about the Famagusta district and Ayia Napa?
The free part of the Famagusta district, on the south-east coast, includes the resort towns of Ayia Napa and Protaras. They are lively in summer and much quieter in winter. The city of Famagusta itself lies in the northern part of the island, not under the control of the Republic. If your work depends on tourism, the seasonal pattern is the thing to understand.
Are the Troodos villages an option?
The mountain villages offer cooler summers, wine routes and a very different way of life. They also mean longer drives to hospitals, schools and shops, and fewer English-language services. Ask local people what winter is like before you commit. They suit people who work remotely, already speak some Greek and have a reliable car.
How do you choose between them?
Ask five questions.
- Where do you work or study? Commutes between towns can be long in rush hour.
- Do you have children? School choices differ; read schools in Cyprus.
- What can you spend on rent? Compare per square metre, not per flat; see renting in Cyprus.
- How close do you need to be to a hospital? Particularly for retirees.
- Do you want year-round life? Some resorts empty in winter.
Rent for a few months before you buy, in two different places if you can.
What about the north of the island?
The northern part of Cyprus is not under the control of the Republic. The EU rules, the national health system, the Republic's tax rules and administrations that we describe do not apply there in practice. Property raises specific legal problems. If you are thinking of living or buying in the north, take advice from a lawyer who knows both sides before any commitment, and check your insurance. This guide stays on the Republic-controlled side.
How do the best places to live in Cyprus compare on practical points?
Some differences between towns are fixed by the administration, not by taste, and they are worth knowing before you choose.
- Registration of your stay. In Nicosia, you submit the MEU1 at the Migration Department, without an appointment, Monday to Friday from 8:00 to 14:30. In the other districts you go to the district Aliens and Immigration Unit of the police, and you should ask what its hours are.
- Schools. The French school (École franco-chypriote) is in Nicosia, with an annex in Limassol. According to EURES, the island has about 170 approved private nurseries and kindergartens, 30 private primary schools and 39 private secondary schools, taught in Greek, English, French and Russian. The cost is €4,500 to €6,500 a year for private schools.
- Rent. EURES gives roughly €6 to €12 per m² per month for a fairly new, unfurnished flat, and says prices vary by region, district and distance from an urban centre. The range is per square metre and excludes bills; we have not found an official table by town, so compare real listings in each place.
- Getting around. There is no train or metro anywhere on the island. Buses and taxis serve the towns, and most residents drive.
- Health. GeSY providers are contracted across the island, but you should check who is near your address before you commit to a lease. The information line is 17000.
The best places to live in Cyprus are therefore the ones where these five practical points work for your own routine, not the ones with the nicest photographs.
What is the best way to decide?
Spend two weeks in the town you like, take buses, go to the supermarket, visit a clinic, and drive at 8 in the morning. A town that works on an ordinary Tuesday in February is a town you can live in.