Cost of Living Comparison Between Nicosia and PaphosCost of Living Comparison Between Nicosia and Paphos
Monthly Cost of Living
🙂A single person spends $1,927 per month in Nicosia vs $2,107 in Paphos, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $2,973 per month in Nicosia vs $3,245 in Paphos, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $4,019 per month in Nicosia vs $4,383 in Paphos, rent included.
🙂Nicosia is about 9% cheaper than Paphos, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Nicosia and Paphos sit above the global median – Nicosia by 40%, Paphos by 53%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Nicosia
Paphos
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.54€15.08
$17.59€15.12
-0.28%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.7€59.9
$57.1€49.05
22.12%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.42€8.10
$9.38€8.06
0.43%
Cappuccino
$3.85€3.31
$3.64€3.13
5.77%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96€1.68
$1.94€1.67
1.03%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.92€0.79
$1.23€1.06
-25.20%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.67€4.02
$4.30€3.70
8.60%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.71€4.91
$4.01€3.45
42.39%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Nicosia
Paphos
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.85€1.59
$2.01€1.73
-7.96%
White Bread(500g)
$2.08€1.79
$1.54€1.33
35.06%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.01€2.59
$2.40€2.06
25.42%
Eggs
$5.06€4.35
$5.37€4.61
-5.77%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.83€11.89
$14.03€12.06
-1.43%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.12€7.84
$9.50€8.17
-4.00%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.67€11.75
$12.69€10.91
7.72%
Apples(1kg)
$3.53€3.03
$3.25€2.79
8.62%
Banana(1kg)
$2.20€1.89
$1.87€1.61
17.65%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.58€2.21
$2.20€1.89
17.27%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.69€3.17
$3.76€3.23
-1.86%
Potato(1kg)
$1.94€1.67
$1.45€1.24
33.79%
Onion(1kg)
$1.61€1.38
$1.19€1.02
35.29%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.02€0.88
$0.66€0.57
54.55%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.18€1.01
$1.04€0.90
13.46%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.97€5.13
$5.88€5.06
1.53%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.16€7.02
$6.77€5.82
20.53%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73€1.49
$1.75€1.51
-1.14%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.93€2.52
$2.10€1.81
39.52%
🚌 Getting Around
Nicosia
Paphos
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.87€2.47
$2.35€2.02
22.13%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.50€39.97
$57.8€49.68
-19.52%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.61€5.68
$11.79€10.14
-43.94%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.07€1.78
$2.22€1.91
-6.76%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$46.37€39.86
$23.06€19.82
101.08%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.76€1.51
$1.80€1.54
-2.22%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.5K€28.8K
$34.7K€29.8K
-3.39%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.5K€29.6K
$34.5K€29.7K
-0.18%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nicosia
Paphos
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$216€186
$174€150
24.41%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.14€18.17
$23.20€19.95
-8.88%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.84€29.95
$35.46€30.48
-1.75%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Nicosia
Paphos
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$76.0€65.3
$74.7€64.2
1.70%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.58€16.83
$26.37€22.67
-25.75%
Cinema Ticket
$11.48€9.87
$11.52€9.91
-0.35%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Nicosia
Paphos
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$534€459
$458€393
16.68%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,682€8,323
$6,840€5,881
41.54%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Nicosia
Paphos
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$108€92.5
$85.8€73.7
25.45%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$56.9€48.91
$46.18€39.70
23.21%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$104€89.8
$97.3€83.6
7.35%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120€104
$93.3€80.2
29.09%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Nicosia
Paphos
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$835€718
$1,122€965
-25.61%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$710€610
$1,023€879
-30.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,784€1,534
$2,174€1,869
-17.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,356€1,166
$1,977€1,700
-31.40%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,267€2,808
$4,455€3,830
-26.67%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,376€2,043
$2,641€2,271
-10.06%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Nicosia
Paphos
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,946€1,673
$1,941€1,668
0.27%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.48
3.31
35.35%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Nicosia: August 30, 2026
Last update for Paphos: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $835 in Nicosia versus $1,122 in Paphos. 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 0% higher in Nicosia, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $70.0 in Nicosia versus $57.0 in Paphos. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $317 vs $298 – making Paphos 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 Paphos: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Nicosia and in Paphos compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,927 in Nicosia, $2,107 in Paphos – roughly 9% apart. Paphos costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Nicosia compared to Paphos?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,890 per month in Nicosia and $3,160 in Paphos. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Nicosia and Paphos?
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 is the difference in childcare costs between Nicosia and Paphos?
Kindergarten costs $534 per month in Nicosia and $458 in Paphos. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Interestingly, groceries are about 7% cheaper in Paphos – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Nicosia, where all-in costs run around $1,927, than in Paphos at $2,107. In Nicosia it covers expenses comfortably, while in Paphos it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Where should families live: Nicosia or Paphos?
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.
How do I decide between Nicosia and Paphos?
If budget matters most, go with Nicosia. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Paphos makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.