😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,003 in Paphos versus $1,766 in Ayia Napa.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,127 in Paphos versus $2,796 in Ayia Napa.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,251 in Paphos versus $3,826 in Ayia Napa.
🌍Living in Paphos is roughly 13% more expensive than in Ayia Napa, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Paphos50% above, Ayia Napa32% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Paphos
Ayia Napa
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.09€14.97
$17.15€15.02
-0.35%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.9€60.3
$69.6€60.9
-0.98%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.84€7.74
$11.38€9.96
-22.32%
Cappuccino
$3.70€3.24
$3.93€3.44
-5.85%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.22€1.94
$2.35€2.06
-5.53%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.29€1.13
$1.13€0.99
14.16%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.74€3.27
$3.74€3.27
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.36€3.82
$4.38€3.84
-0.46%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Paphos
Ayia Napa
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.72€1.51
$1.73€1.52
-0.58%
White Bread(500g)
$1.77€1.55
$1.69€1.48
4.73%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.46€2.15
$2.42€2.12
1.65%
Eggs
$4.63€4.06
$4.44€3.89
4.28%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.10€14.98
$13.37€11.71
27.90%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.49€8.31
$9.04€7.92
4.98%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.46€12.67
$14.24€12.47
1.54%
Apples(1kg)
$2.82€2.47
$2.73€2.39
3.30%
Banana(1kg)
$1.88€1.64
$2.01€1.76
-6.47%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.36€2.07
$2.38€2.08
-0.84%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.01€3.51
$3.44€3.01
16.57%
Potato(1kg)
$1.38€1.21
$1.54€1.35
-10.39%
Onion(1kg)
$1.18€1.04
$1.33€1.17
-11.28%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.86€0.75
$0.83€0.73
3.61%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.88€0.77
$0.87€0.76
1.15%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.71€5.00
$5.77€5.05
-1.04%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.98€6.12
$6.95€6.09
0.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.82€1.59
$1.90€1.67
-4.21%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.39€2.09
$2.34€2.05
2.14%
🚌 Getting Around
Paphos
Ayia Napa
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.37€2.08
$2.26€1.98
4.87%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$57.4€50.2
$52.6€46.02
9.15%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$8.81€7.71
$5.83€5.11
51.11%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.91€1.68
$2.01€1.76
-4.98%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$21.59€18.91
$25.31€22.17
-14.70%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.66€1.45
$1.62€1.42
2.47%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.5K€22.3K
$27.6K€24.2K
-7.67%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.5K€31.1K
$32.0K€28.0K
10.82%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Paphos
Ayia Napa
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$191€167
$188€165
1.39%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$24.11€21.12
$22.89€20.05
5.33%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.60€35.56
$35.09€30.73
15.70%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Paphos
Ayia Napa
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$71.6€62.7
$70.5€61.8
1.59%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.96€19.23
$30.16€26.41
-27.19%
Cinema Ticket
$11.42€10.00
$11.48€10.06
-0.52%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Paphos
Ayia Napa
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$461€404
$455€399
1.24%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,717€6,758
$8,367€7,328
-7.77%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Paphos
Ayia Napa
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$86.7€75.9
$81.5€71.4
6.38%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.7€48.75
$55.1€48.21
1.13%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$109€95.6
$105€91.9
4.05%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$105€91.6
$108€94.9
-3.44%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Paphos
Ayia Napa
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,034€905
$757€663
36.48%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$842€737
$664€581
26.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,996€1,748
$1,511€1,323
32.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,617€1,416
$1,337€1,171
21.00%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,413€3,865
$3,919€3,432
12.60%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,584€2,263
$2,612€2,287
-1.06%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Paphos
Ayia Napa
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,896€1,661
$1,689€1,479
12.29%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.34
4.31
0.70%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Paphos: July 14, 2026
Last update for Ayia Napa: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,034 in Paphos and $757 in Ayia Napa. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Paphos pays 12% 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: $69.0 in Paphos vs $70.0 in Ayia Napa. Groceries flip the comparison at $309 vs $291, with Ayia Napa cheaper for home cooking.
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
Paphos vs Ayia Napa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Paphos or Ayia Napa?
Ayia Napa wins on cost – living expenses run 13% lower than in Paphos. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Ayia Napa the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Paphos or in Ayia Napa?
Average pay runs 12% higher in Paphos, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Paphos compared to Ayia Napa?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,034 in Paphos versus $757 in Ayia Napa. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Paphos and in Ayia Napa?
Childcare runs $461 in Paphos versus $455 in Ayia Napa. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Are groceries more expensive in Paphos or in Ayia Napa?
Supermarket bills run roughly 6% higher in Paphos. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Paphos or in Ayia Napa?
At $1,766 in Ayia Napa versus $2,003 in Paphos, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Ayia Napa but tight or insufficient in Paphos. The gap between the two cities makes Ayia Napa the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Paphos or Ayia Napa?
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.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Ayia Napa gentler on the wallet – expenses run 13% less than in Paphos. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.