๐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,803 in Nicosia versus $1,757 in Athienou.
๐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,908 in Nicosia versus $2,736 in Athienou.
๐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,014 in Nicosia versus $3,715 in Athienou.
๐Living in Nicosia is roughly 3% more expensive than Athienou, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
๐Both cities are pricier than the global median: Nicosia35% above, Athienou31% above.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Nicosia
Athienou
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.07โฌ14.56
$17.05โฌ14.54
0.12%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$70.3โฌ60.0
$58.2โฌ49.61
20.96%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.42โฌ7.18
$8.91โฌ7.60
-5.50%
Cappuccino
$3.76โฌ3.21
$3.62โฌ3.09
3.87%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.54โฌ1.31
$1.50โฌ1.28
2.67%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.81โฌ0.69
$0.98โฌ0.83
-17.35%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.67โฌ3.98
$3.53โฌ3.01
32.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.64โฌ4.81
$4.24โฌ3.61
33.02%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Nicosia
Athienou
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.92โฌ1.64
$1.68โฌ1.43
14.29%
White Bread(500g)
$1.99โฌ1.69
$1.71โฌ1.46
16.37%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.88โฌ2.46
$2.42โฌ2.06
19.01%
Eggs
$4.43โฌ3.78
$3.75โฌ3.20
18.13%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.66โฌ11.65
$15.19โฌ12.96
-10.07%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.45โฌ8.06
$8.71โฌ7.43
8.50%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.94โฌ11.04
$13.35โฌ11.39
-3.07%
Apples(1kg)
$2.93โฌ2.50
$2.84โฌ2.42
3.17%
Banana(1kg)
$1.98โฌ1.69
$1.82โฌ1.55
8.79%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.25โฌ1.92
$1.91โฌ1.63
17.80%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.24โฌ2.77
$2.62โฌ2.23
23.66%
Potato(1kg)
$1.66โฌ1.42
$1.32โฌ1.12
25.76%
Onion(1kg)
$1.68โฌ1.43
$1.13โฌ0.96
48.67%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.87โฌ0.74
$0.64โฌ0.55
35.94%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.01โฌ0.86
$0.89โฌ0.76
13.48%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.92โฌ5.05
$5.93โฌ5.06
-0.17%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.65โฌ7.38
$8.38โฌ7.15
3.22%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.10โฌ1.79
$1.70โฌ1.45
23.53%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.10โฌ2.64
$2.31โฌ1.97
34.20%
๐ Getting Around
Nicosia
Athienou
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.70โฌ2.31
$2.34โฌ2.00
15.38%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$57.0โฌ48.59
$51.9โฌ44.30
9.68%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.29โฌ4.51
$7.39โฌ6.30
-28.42%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.60โฌ1.36
$2.03โฌ1.73
-21.18%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$52.7โฌ44.98
$21.35โฌ18.21
146.98%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.65โฌ1.41
$1.64โฌ1.40
0.61%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.4Kโฌ26.0K
$25.7Kโฌ21.9K
18.41%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.7Kโฌ27.9K
$33.3Kโฌ28.4K
-1.82%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nicosia
Athienou
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$220โฌ188
$191โฌ163
15.49%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.60โฌ19.28
$22.25โฌ18.98
1.57%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$35.81โฌ30.54
$33.76โฌ28.80
6.07%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Nicosia
Athienou
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$75.7โฌ64.6
$71.6โฌ61.1
5.74%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.82โฌ25.44
$29.73โฌ25.36
0.30%
Cinema Ticket
$11.48โฌ9.79
$11.64โฌ9.93
-1.37%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Nicosia
Athienou
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$485โฌ413
$443โฌ378
9.45%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,420โฌ7,183
$7,806โฌ6,659
7.86%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Nicosia
Athienou
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$97.0โฌ82.7
$76.2โฌ65.0
27.35%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$62.0โฌ52.9
$32.36โฌ27.60
91.50%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$93.1โฌ79.4
$89.7โฌ76.5
3.79%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$129โฌ110
$106โฌ90.1
22.10%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Nicosia
Athienou
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$760โฌ648
$774โฌ660
-1.87%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$641โฌ547
$662โฌ564
-3.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,529โฌ1,304
$1,522โฌ1,298
0.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,294โฌ1,104
$1,320โฌ1,126
-2.00%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,276โฌ2,794
$4,163โฌ3,551
-21.30%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,404โฌ2,051
$2,509โฌ2,140
-4.18%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Nicosia
Athienou
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,838โฌ1,568
$1,812โฌ1,545
1.46%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.8
3.74
28.34%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Nicosia: April 22, 2026
Last update for Athienou: April 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $760 in Nicosia and $774 in Athienou. 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: $70 in Nicosia vs $58 in Athienou for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $305 vs $283 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
Nicosia vs Athienou: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Nicosia and Athienou?
Nicosia and Athienou differ by about 3% in total monthly costs ($1,803 vs $1,757 including rent). Athienou is meaningfully more affordable โ a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Nicosia or Athienou?
Nicosia pays 1% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Nicosia and Athienou?
Rent for a central apartment: $760 in Nicosia versus $774 in Athienou. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city is more expensive overall: Nicosia or Athienou?
All in, you'll spend $1,803 per month in Nicosia versus $1,757 in Athienou โ a 3% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How do commuting costs compare in Nicosia and Athienou?
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 Nicosia and Athienou?
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: Nicosia or Athienou?
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.