Cost of Living Comparison Between Nicosia and Best Cost of Living Comparison Between Nicosia and Best

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,838 per month in Nicosia vs $2,269 in Best, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,922 per month in Nicosia vs $3,161 in Best, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,005 per month in Nicosia vs $4,053 in Best, rent included.

Nicosia is about 19% cheaper than Best, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Nicosia and Best sit above the global median – Nicosia by 37%, Best by 69%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Nicosia
Best
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.47 €14.95
$21.00 €17.98
-16.81%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.9 €58.9
$92.3 €79.0
-25.40%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.03 €6.87
$11.77 €10.08
-31.78%
Cappuccino
$3.93 €3.36
$3.50 €2.99
12.29%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51 €1.30
$3.16 €2.71
-52.22%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.87 €0.75
$2.78 €2.38
-68.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.76 €4.08
$5.11 €4.37
-6.85%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.77 €4.94
$5.92 €5.06
-2.53%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Nicosia
Best
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.97 €1.68
$1.14 €0.97
72.81%
White Bread (500g)
$1.98 €1.70
$2.02 €1.73
-1.98%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.85 €2.44
$3.30 €2.83
-13.64%
Eggs
$4.56 €3.91
$4.62 €3.96
-1.30%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.43 €11.50
$13.33 €11.41
0.75%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.49 €8.12
$16.34 €13.99
-41.92%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.67 €10.84
$16.78 €14.36
-24.49%
Apples (1kg)
$2.91 €2.49
$2.16 €1.85
34.72%
Banana (1kg)
$2.07 €1.77
$2.60 €2.23
-20.38%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.20 €1.88
$1.95 €1.67
12.82%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.24 €2.77
$3.82 €3.27
-15.18%
Potato (1kg)
$1.66 €1.42
$2.12 €1.81
-21.70%
Onion (1kg)
$1.67 €1.43
$2.03 €1.74
-17.73%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.85 €0.73
$1.24 €1.06
-31.45%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.04 €0.89
$0.53 €0.45
96.23%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.78 €4.95
$10.31 €8.82
-43.94%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.31 €7.12
$5.99 €5.12
38.73%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.09 €1.79
$1.55 €1.32
34.84%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 €2.66
$2.70 €2.31
15.19%
🚌 Getting Around
Nicosia
Best
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.85 €2.44
$2.56 €2.19
11.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$57.6 €49.30
$72.6 €62.1
-20.64%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.33 €4.56
$3.42 €2.92
55.85%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.55 €1.32
$2.10 €1.80
-26.19%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$51.5 €44.06
$28.85 €24.69
78.41%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.63 €1.40
$2.27 €1.95
-28.19%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.1K €25.8K
$25.6K €21.9K
17.62%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.8K €28.1K
$27.3K €23.3K
20.22%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nicosia
Best
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$223 €190
$168 €144
32.10%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.33 €19.12
$22.43 €19.20
-0.45%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$35.28 €30.20
$46.39 €39.71
-23.95%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Nicosia
Best
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$74.0 €63.3
$29.78 €25.49
148.39%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$30.18 €25.83
$21.45 €18.36
40.70%
Cinema Ticket
$11.61 €9.94
$14.90 €12.75
-22.08%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Nicosia
Best
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$486 €416
$1,157 €991
-58.02%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,442 €7,227
$5,044 €4,317
67.39%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Nicosia
Best
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$96.2 €82.3
$64.2 €55.0
49.74%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$61.9 €53.0
$30.90 €26.45
100.19%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.3 €81.6
$86.3 €73.9
10.38%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$128 €109
$67.7 €57.9
88.94%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Nicosia
Best
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$764 €654
$1,830 €1,567
-58.25%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$649 €555
$1,111 €951
-41.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,564 €1,338
$2,585 €2,213
-39.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,275 €1,091
$1,425 €1,220
-10.55%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,263 €2,793
$5,423 €4,642
-39.84%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,389 €2,045
$4,559 €3,903
-47.59%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Nicosia
Best
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,843 €1,578
$4,325 €3,702
-57.38%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.8
3.5
37.14%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Nicosia: April 27, 2026

Last update for Best: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $764 in Nicosia versus $1,830 in Best. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 135% higher in Best, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $69.0 in Nicosia versus $92.0 in Best. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $304 vs $336 – making Nicosia the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Best: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Best cheaper than Nicosia?
Yes – Best is pricier by about 23%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,758 per month in Nicosia and $3,403 in Best. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Nicosia, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Nicosia vs Best?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,838 in Nicosia and $2,269 in Best. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 26% less in Nicosia. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $3,000 a realistic budget for Nicosia or Best?
A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Nicosia, where all-in costs run around $1,838, than in Best at $2,269. In Nicosia it covers expenses comfortably, while in Best it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Nicosia or Best more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Nicosia – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Nicosia or Best?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Nicosia. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Best makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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