Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Nicosia and Cardiff

For one person, living is cheaper in Nicosia: $1,833 a month against $2,454 in Cardiff, rent and utilities included – about $7,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Nicosia
🇨🇾 Cyprus
$1,833
/mo nomad
Cardiff
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
$2,454
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Nicosia and in Cardiff

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Nicosia and in Cardiff actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,833 in Nicosia versus $2,454 in Cardiff.

  • Nicosia $1,833
  • Cardiff $2,454

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,875 in Nicosia versus $3,414 in Cardiff.

  • Nicosia $2,875
  • Cardiff $3,414

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,917 in Nicosia versus $4,373 in Cardiff.

  • Nicosia $3,917
  • Cardiff $4,373

Living in Nicosia costs roughly 25% less than in Cardiff, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Nicosia 36% above, Cardiff 82% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Nicosia
Cardiff
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.00 €15.12
$20.04 £15.04
-15.17%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$67.8 €60.3
$83.4 £62.6
-18.76%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.71 €7.75
$10.74 £8.06
-18.90%
Cappuccino
$3.54 €3.15
$4.45 £3.34
-20.45%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31 €2.06
$2.92 £2.19
-20.89%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.90 €0.80
$2.00 £1.50
-55.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.36 €3.88
$7.80 £5.85
-44.10%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.56 €4.94
$6.32 £4.74
-12.03%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Nicosia
Cardiff
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.87 €1.66
$1.72 £1.29
8.72%
White Bread (500g)
$1.89 €1.68
$1.43 £1.07
32.17%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.83 €2.52
$2.15 £1.61
31.63%
Eggs
$4.78 €4.25
$3.62 £2.72
32.04%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.32 €11.85
$9.47 £7.11
40.65%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.71 €7.74
$8.85 £6.64
-1.58%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.29 €11.82
$16.18 £12.14
-17.86%
Apples (1kg)
$3.30 €2.94
$2.80 £2.10
17.86%
Banana (1kg)
$2.05 €1.82
$1.55 £1.16
32.26%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.57 €2.29
$3.03 £2.28
-15.18%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.56 €3.17
$3.51 £2.63
1.42%
Potato (1kg)
$1.85 €1.65
$1.99 £1.50
-7.04%
Onion (1kg)
$1.51 €1.35
$1.54 £1.15
-1.95%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.97 €0.87
$1.09 £0.82
-11.01%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.13 €1.01
$1.64 £1.23
-31.10%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.74 €5.10
$23.08 £17.31
-75.13%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.65 €6.80
$11.07 £8.31
-30.89%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.67 €1.48
$3.05 £2.29
-45.25%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.80 €2.49
$3.31 £2.48
-15.41%
🚌 Getting Around
Nicosia
Cardiff
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.64 €2.35
$3.21 £2.41
-17.76%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$43.89 €39.04
$79.1 £59.3
-44.49%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$6.36 €5.66
$4.58 £3.44
38.86%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.95 €1.74
$1.66 £1.25
17.47%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$43.87 €39.02
$35.87 £26.91
22.30%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.74 €1.54
$2.06 £1.55
-15.53%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.1K €29.4K
$37.9K £28.4K
-12.63%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.5K €28.9K
$40.9K £30.7K
-20.50%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nicosia
Cardiff
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$207 €185
$335 £252
-38.16%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.18 €17.95
$25.35 £19.02
-20.39%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.19 €29.52
$43.54 £32.67
-23.77%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Nicosia
Cardiff
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$72.8 €64.8
$37.26 £27.95
95.44%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.77 €16.70
$11.37 £8.53
65.08%
Cinema Ticket
$11.23 €9.99
$10.36 £7.77
8.40%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Nicosia
Cardiff
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$519 €461
$1,990 £1,493
-73.94%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,360 €8,326
$32.5K £24.4K
-71.23%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Nicosia
Cardiff
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$104 €92.7
$97.8 £73.4
6.61%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$54.1 €48.14
$48.54 £36.41
11.52%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$99.1 €88.2
$116 £86.9
-14.46%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$117 €104
$99.4 £74.6
17.30%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Nicosia
Cardiff
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$791 €704
$1,168 £876
-32.24%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$684 €608
$1,102 £826
-37.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,678 €1,493
$2,136 £1,602
-21.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,343 €1,195
$1,482 £1,112
-9.35%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,118 €2,773
$5,255 £3,942
-40.67%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,308 €2,053
$3,432 £2,575
-32.75%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Nicosia
Cardiff
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,828 €1,626
$3,179 £2,385
-42.50%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.48
5.11
-12.33%

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

Last update for Nicosia: October 13, 2026

Last update for Cardiff: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Nicosia
$684
Cardiff
$1.1K 61% $418
Groceries & Markets
Nicosia
$304
Cardiff
$306 0.7% $2.1
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nicosia
$261
Cardiff
$404 55% $144
Eating Out
Nicosia
$250
Cardiff
$317 26.7% $67
Clothing & Footwear
Nicosia
$168
Cardiff
$163 3.3% $5.6
Sport & Entertainment
Nicosia
$95
Cardiff
$58 39.2% $37
Getting Around
Nicosia
$71
Cardiff
$105 48.5% $34

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $791 in Nicosia and $1,168 in Cardiff. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Cardiff pays 74% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $68.0 in Nicosia vs $83.0 in Cardiff for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $304 vs $306 per month, with Nicosia cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇨🇾 Nicosia
🇬🇧 Cardiff
🕒 Local time
22:36 10:36 PM
20:36 8:36 PM
2 h behind Nicosia
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
310,355 Capital
346,100
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

GBP, USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 0.889 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

British Pound exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 0.75 GBP (1 GBP = 1.33 USD). 1 EUR = 0.843 GBP (1 GBP = 1.19 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Nicosia Cardiff 3,420 km ≈ 4 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Nicosia
  • Cardiff

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Cardiff: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Nicosia and in Cardiff?
Nicosia and Cardiff differ by about 34% in total monthly costs ($1,833 vs $2,454 including rent). Nicosia is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 74% lower in Cardiff. 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 Nicosia and in Cardiff?
Rent for a central apartment: $791 in Nicosia versus $1,168 in Cardiff. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Nicosia – a meal for two runs $68.0 versus $83.0 in Cardiff. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Nicosia or Cardiff?
All in, you'll spend $1,833 per month in Nicosia versus $2,454 in Cardiff – a 34% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
At $1,833 in Nicosia versus $2,454 in Cardiff, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Nicosia but tight or insufficient in Cardiff. The gap between the two cities makes Nicosia the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Nicosia and Cardiff?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Nicosia or Cardiff safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Nicosia and Cardiff are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Nicosia or Cardiff?
Expats usually find Nicosia gentler on the wallet – expenses run 34% less than in Cardiff. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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