Cyprus has got a lot going for it and a significant number of people from across the globe are choosing to make this island their new home. In this article, we’re sharing the best places to live in Cyprus and how to find your new home. 

Where is Cyprus ?

Although many people think of Cyprus as a Greek island, it is actually situated around 50 miles south of Turkey’s coast and the closest Greek island to Cyprus is Crete. Cyprus is an incredibly popular tourist destination due to the fact that it enjoys up to 340 days of sunshine every year. The currency of Cyprus is Euros and the island’s residents have a great standard of living. Learn where to and how to move there from the UK!

Best places to live in Cyprus

There are many different towns and cities within Cyprus, all of which have different things to offer to those living there. In this section, we’re going to be exploring this beautiful island to find the best places to live in Cyprus. 

Larnaca

If you’ve ever visited Cyprus you will have no doubt have started your holiday by landing at Larnaca Airport before going on to your resort. Situated on the southeast coast of Cyprus, Larnaca has a population of around 51,500 people and welcomes thousands of tourists every year. 

Larnaca offers a great combination of beautiful beaches and metropolitan living for those looking to live and work in Cyprus. Two bedroom apartments in Larnaca can be bought for around 195,000 Euros, however, larger properties may be considerably more expensive. 

Ayia Napa

If you’re a lover of nightlife, Cyprus’s party town may just be the perfect fit. On the south east coast of Cyprus, Ayia Napa has a population of just 4717 people and is known for its golden beaches – and for its clubbing. Ayia welcomes a staggering 700,000 tourists each and every year making it the most popular resort on the island. 

If you fancy making Ayia Napa your home, you can buy a one bedroom apartment for about 125,000 Euros or, in some areas, a four bedroom villa for 260,000 Euros. Due to its vast number of restaurants, bars and clubs, employment in the hospitality sector is plentiful in Ayia Napa. 

Limassol

Limassol is a city on Cyprus’s southern coast with a population of 195,139 people. A cool, metropolitan city, Limassol also benefits from beaches and a stunning harbour with lots of restaurants and bars to choose from. As Limassol is a city – and an extremely popular one at that, property tends to be a little more expensive than in other areas of Cyprus and, in 2024, the average property price is 2,420 Euros per square metre. 

For those who are looking to work in Cyprus, Limassol offers plenty of jobs in the hospitality industry as well as some big companies such as Bridgerpay, Magic Square and eTOLLs EU. 

Paphos

Since Neolithic times, the city of Paphos has been populated by residents of Cyprus and this fantastic destination is also incredibly popular with tourists. Set on the south west coast of Cyprus, Paphos is an idyllic location which enjoys the best of both worlds including world class beaches and a vibrant city centre. 

If you’re thinking of making Paphos your new home, a decent sized three bedrol.9om villa with a private pool will set you back around 495,000 Euros. Some major employers in Paphos include TIME Software, Almademey and BIOMED Medical Systems. 

Nicosia

Cyprus’s capital city of Nicosia, also known as the divided capital, has a population of around 256,000 people and the old city is protected by 16th century walls. Nicosia has been divided since 1963 when violence between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots split the area into separate quarters. 

House prices in Nicosia are around 794 Euros per square metre and local employers include Dynamec, the Cyfield Group and BigChange Cyprus. 

How to move to Cyprus

So, we’ve shown you some of the best places to live in Cyprus but, before you start packing your bags, there are a few things you need to know and we’re going to run through these in this section: 

First things first, the official currency of Cyprus is the Euro (and has been since 2008). The official languages of the wonderful island are Turkish and Greek, however, English is also widely spoken in most towns and cities. 

Am I allowed to move to Cyprus ?

This depends on where you currently live and we’ll explore this here: 

EU / EEA & Swiss citizens

If you are a legal resident of an EU or EEA country or of Switzerland, the good news is that you don’t need a visa or resident permit to move to Cyprus. The catch here is that you must be working or studying in Cyprus or have a Cypriot member of your family living there. If you fulfil this criteria then all you have to do is stay in Cyprus for three months, after which you just have to register your visit / stay with the Cypriot authorities. 

Non EU / EEA citizens

If you don’t live in Switzerland or an EU / EEA country, you will almost certainly need a visa in order to move to Cyprus. You will also need to obtain a residence permit. You must apply for and receive both your visa and your residence permit before moving to Cyprus and you can do this via a Cyprus embassy or immigration office (you should be able to find details of these online).

If you are moving to Cyprus to work, you will also need a work visa. SImilarly, if you’re planning to study in Cyprus you will need a student visa. 

Permanent residence in Cyprus

If you’re hoping to make Cyprus your permanent home, you may be entitled to apply for Permanent Residency which is valid for five years. You may qualify for this if: 

– You have lived in Cyprus for at least five years with a temporary residence permit

– During these five years, you did not leave Cyprus for a period of time longer than three months

– You have bought a property in Cyprus for at least 300,000 Euros (and you can show evidence that you bought this property from funds outside of cyprus

– You have an annual income (outside of Cyprus) of at least 30,000 Euros (add 5000 Euros if you have dependent children aged between 18 and 25 and 8000 Euros if you have dependent parents)

Before making the move to Cyprus, it is your responsibility to ensure that you have the right visas and permits. 

New beginnings

Moving to a new country is an adventure and Cyprus offers lots of opportunities as well as a good standard of living and some of the world’s most stunning beaches and countryside. It can, however, be stressful and it’s incredibly important that you make sure that you obtain all permissions and visas needed before getting on your flight to this beautiful island. 

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