Cost of Living in Cyprus - Family of Four Budget

💶 Is life in Cyprus more expensive than in Poland?

From conversations with friends in Poland, I get the impression that the cost of living is currently very similar. Cyprus used to be noticeably more expensive, but in recent years the gap has evened out - mainly due to inflation and rising prices in Poland. Of course, everything depends on your lifestyle, where you live and whether your home is owned or rented.

🏠 Home maintenance

We pay about 100 euros once every three months for water, but we use quite a lot. You do not drink tap water in Cyprus, so there is also the cost of bottled water. Electricity is expensive, which is why we installed solar panels. Thanks to them, we now pay 30-50 euros once every two months, and in winter the bill rises to about 100 euros (one-off). Before we had the panels, we were paying 200-250 euros every two months - the difference is enormous. A detailed summary of solar panel savings can be found at this link.

I consider internet relatively expensive - we have 5G unlimited, 100 Mbps for about 30 euros a month. Next year I plan to switch to fibre optic. Rubbish collection is included in the annual property tax, which amounts to a few dozen euros per year.

Cyprus has over 300 days of sunshine per year, so solar panels really pay off - it is one of the best ways to reduce home maintenance costs.

🥘 Food and restaurants

We spend about 150-200 euros per week on groceries in supermarkets, which is 600-800 euros per month. On top of that there are restaurants - lunch for four people costs on average 60-100 euros. The food is good quality, and in local shops you can find plenty of fresh seasonal produce. A sample supermarket shopping basket I described in a separate article.

🚗 Car and transport

We have two cars, but we do not drive much. We spend 50-100 euros per month on fuel per car. Fuel prices are currently similar to Poland. Insurance is about 85 euros per year per car (depending on age and engine capacity).

We have the car serviced twice a year - one is an oil change, the other a full inspection. In total it comes to about 200-250 euros per year per car. By European standards, maintaining a car in Cyprus is rather cheap.

🎒 Children and education

The children attend public school, so there are no big tuition costs. Transport is just fuel, as we drive them ourselves. Extra-curricular activities cost on average 30 euros per month per child. There are no big differences compared to Poland. More about Cyprus as a place for families with children, you can read here.

🌴 How much do you need per month for a comfortable life?

With your own home, without a mortgage, about 1,500-2,000 euros per month allows you to live really comfortably. After adding a mortgage payment, it comes to about 1,800-2,500 euros per month. This is enough for normal life, eating out, a car and basic expenses.

Of course, in tourist areas (e.g. Limassol) everything is more expensive, but in the central and eastern parts of the island, prices are moderate.

Living in Cyprus for a family of four is not cheap, but it is also not more expensive than in Poland. The biggest costs are electricity and food, while public schools and transport are very affordable. Thanks to solar panels, your own home and a calm lifestyle, you can live comfortably here - without stress and with good weather all year round.