๐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,757 in Athienou versus $1,803 in Nicosia.
๐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,736 in Athienou versus $2,908 in Nicosia.
๐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,715 in Athienou versus $4,014 in Nicosia.
๐Living in Athienou costs roughly 3% less than in Nicosia, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
๐Both cities are pricier than the global median: Athienou31% above, Nicosia35% above.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Athienou
Nicosia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.05โฌ14.54
$17.07โฌ14.56
-0.12%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$58.2โฌ49.61
$70.3โฌ60.0
-17.33%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.91โฌ7.60
$8.42โฌ7.18
5.82%
Cappuccino
$3.62โฌ3.09
$3.76โฌ3.21
-3.72%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50โฌ1.28
$1.54โฌ1.31
-2.60%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.98โฌ0.83
$0.81โฌ0.69
20.99%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.53โฌ3.01
$4.67โฌ3.98
-24.41%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.24โฌ3.61
$5.64โฌ4.81
-24.82%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Athienou
Nicosia
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.68โฌ1.43
$1.92โฌ1.64
-12.50%
White Bread(500g)
$1.71โฌ1.46
$1.99โฌ1.69
-14.07%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.42โฌ2.06
$2.88โฌ2.46
-15.97%
Eggs
$3.75โฌ3.20
$4.43โฌ3.78
-15.35%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$15.19โฌ12.96
$13.66โฌ11.65
11.20%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.71โฌ7.43
$9.45โฌ8.06
-7.83%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.35โฌ11.39
$12.94โฌ11.04
3.17%
Apples(1kg)
$2.84โฌ2.42
$2.93โฌ2.50
-3.07%
Banana(1kg)
$1.82โฌ1.55
$1.98โฌ1.69
-8.08%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.91โฌ1.63
$2.25โฌ1.92
-15.11%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.62โฌ2.23
$3.24โฌ2.77
-19.14%
Potato(1kg)
$1.32โฌ1.12
$1.66โฌ1.42
-20.48%
Onion(1kg)
$1.13โฌ0.96
$1.68โฌ1.43
-32.74%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.64โฌ0.55
$0.87โฌ0.74
-26.44%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.89โฌ0.76
$1.01โฌ0.86
-11.88%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.93โฌ5.06
$5.92โฌ5.05
0.17%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.38โฌ7.15
$8.65โฌ7.38
-3.12%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.70โฌ1.45
$2.10โฌ1.79
-19.05%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31โฌ1.97
$3.10โฌ2.64
-25.48%
๐ Getting Around
Athienou
Nicosia
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.34โฌ2.00
$2.70โฌ2.31
-13.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$51.9โฌ44.30
$57.0โฌ48.59
-8.83%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$7.39โฌ6.30
$5.29โฌ4.51
39.70%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.03โฌ1.73
$1.60โฌ1.36
26.87%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$21.35โฌ18.21
$52.7โฌ44.98
-59.51%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.64โฌ1.40
$1.65โฌ1.41
-0.61%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.7Kโฌ21.9K
$30.4Kโฌ26.0K
-15.54%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.3Kโฌ28.4K
$32.7Kโฌ27.9K
1.85%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Athienou
Nicosia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$191โฌ163
$220โฌ188
-13.41%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.25โฌ18.98
$22.60โฌ19.28
-1.55%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.76โฌ28.80
$35.81โฌ30.54
-5.72%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Athienou
Nicosia
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$71.6โฌ61.1
$75.7โฌ64.6
-5.43%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.73โฌ25.36
$29.82โฌ25.44
-0.30%
Cinema Ticket
$11.64โฌ9.93
$11.48โฌ9.79
1.39%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Athienou
Nicosia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$443โฌ378
$485โฌ413
-8.63%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,806โฌ6,659
$8,420โฌ7,183
-7.29%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Athienou
Nicosia
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$76.2โฌ65.0
$97.0โฌ82.7
-21.48%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.36โฌ27.60
$62.0โฌ52.9
-47.78%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$89.7โฌ76.5
$93.1โฌ79.4
-3.65%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106โฌ90.1
$129โฌ110
-18.10%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Athienou
Nicosia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$774โฌ660
$760โฌ648
1.90%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$662โฌ564
$641โฌ547
3.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,522โฌ1,298
$1,529โฌ1,304
-0.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,320โฌ1,126
$1,294โฌ1,104
2.05%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,163โฌ3,551
$3,276โฌ2,794
27.07%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,509โฌ2,140
$2,404โฌ2,051
4.36%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Athienou
Nicosia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,812โฌ1,545
$1,838โฌ1,568
-1.44%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.74
4.8
-22.08%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Athienou: April 20, 2026
Last update for Nicosia: April 22, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $774 in Athienou and $760 in Nicosia. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
๐ฐNicosia pays 1% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
๐Dining out: $58 in Athienou vs $70 in Nicosia for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $283 vs $305 per month, with Athienou cheaper across the board.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Athienou vs Nicosia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Athienou and Nicosia?
Athienou and Nicosia differ by about 3% in total monthly costs ($1,757 vs $1,803 including rent). Athienou is meaningfully more affordable โ a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Nicosia earns 1% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Athienou and Nicosia?
Rent for a central apartment: $774 in Athienou versus $760 in Nicosia. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city is more expensive overall: Athienou or Nicosia?
All in, you'll spend $1,757 per month in Athienou versus $1,803 in Nicosia โ a 3% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How do commuting costs compare in Athienou and Nicosia?
A monthly transit pass in Athienou runs roughly 10% less than in Nicosia. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
At $1,757 in Athienou versus $1,803 in Nicosia, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Athienou but tight or insufficient in Nicosia. The gap between the two cities makes Athienou the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Athienou and Nicosia?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better โ the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Where should expats move: Athienou or Nicosia?
Expats usually find Athienou gentler on the wallet โ expenses run 3% less than in Nicosia. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.