Moving to Greece from Cyprus

moving to

What to Expect

Considering a move from Cyprus to Greece? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.

If you moved from Cyprus to Greece, you would find that Greece is 9.3% cheaper than Cyprus overall. A €65,577 salary in Cyprus would need to be roughly €56,179 in Greece to maintain the same lifestyle. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right.

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How Far Will Your Money Go?

A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Cyprus and Greece.

What does your salary buy?

€65,577 €56,179

To maintain the same standard of living in Greece

Calculate with your salary →

How key spending categories compare

Restaurants

pay 10.6% less

Groceries

pay 12.9% less

Transportation

pay 0.8% less

Housing

pay 16.9% less

Childcare

pay 14.8% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 2.4% less

See full cost of living breakdown

Data: MyLifeElsewhere's crowdsourced cost of living database, with prices submitted and updated by users worldwide. Exchange rates are refreshed regularly from public sources.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

What the data shows about people moving from Cyprus to Greece.

Living there in 2020
22,039 ↑ 2% vs 2015

people born in Cyprus live in Greece · UN DESA

Who's moving to Greece?

Top countries of origin for Greece's foreign-born residents.

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in Greece compared to Cyprus.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2023

per 100,000 people per year

CY
0.9
GR
1.1
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

CY
3.9
GR
7.3

Cyprus performs better than Greece across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

CY
$4,538
GR
$3,454
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

affects wait times and access to care

CY
35.5
GR
63.7

Cyprus generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Greece leads in healthcare spending per person.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

CY
16.0
GR
23.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

CY
5.4t
GR
5.0t

Cyprus generally does better on environment, though Greece leads in co₂ emissions per capita.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

CY
38.6
GR
43.0
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

CY
32.1%
GR
20.7%

Greece generally does better on infrastructure, though Cyprus leads in internet access.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

CY
6.0%
GR
11.0%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

CY
$50,600
GR
$36,300

Cyprus performs better than Greece across all employment & economy metrics.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

CY
79.7 yrs
GR
81.5 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

CY
8.4
GR
3.5

Cyprus generally does better on family life, though Greece leads in life expectancy.

Data: Inland Revenue Department of the Republic of Cyprus, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Nicosia Rain: 13.5 in/yr (342 mm)
80° / 57°F

Avg. annual high / low

Athens Rain: 16.3 in/yr (414 mm)
72° / 54°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Nicosia Athens
Jan–Mar 63°/44°F (17°/7°C) 57°/42°F (14°/6°C)
Apr–Jun 85°/60°F (29°/15°C) 78°/57°F (26°/14°C)
Jul–Sep 97°/71°F (36°/22°C) 90°/67°F (32°/20°C)
Oct–Dec 74°/52°F (23°/11°C) 65°/50°F (18°/10°C)
View all months
Month Nicosia Athens
Jan 60°/42°F (15.7°/5.8°C) 54°/41°F (12.5°/5.2°C)
Feb 61°/43°F (16.3°/6.0°C) 56°/42°F (13.5°/5.4°C)
Mar 68°/46°F (20.1°/7.8°C) 60°/44°F (15.7°/6.7°C)
Apr 76°/52°F (24.3°/10.9°C) 68°/49°F (20.2°/9.6°C)
May 85°/59°F (29.6°/15.2°C) 79°/57°F (26.0°/13.9°C)
Jun 94°/68°F (34.3°/20.0°C) 88°/65°F (31.1°/18.2°C)
Jul 100°/73°F (37.5°/22.7°C) 92°/69°F (33.5°/20.8°C)
Aug 100°/73°F (37.5°/22.7°C) 92°/69°F (33.2°/20.7°C)
Sep 92°/67°F (33.6°/19.5°C) 85°/63°F (29.2°/17.3°C)
Oct 84°/61°F (28.8°/15.9°C) 74°/56°F (23.3°/13.4°C)
Nov 73°/51°F (22.6°/10.6°C) 65°/50°F (18.1°/9.8°C)
Dec 64°/45°F (17.8°/7.3°C) 57°/44°F (14.1°/6.8°C)

Data: Department of Meteorology Department of Meteorology, Hellenic National Meteorological Service Hellenic National Meteorological Service

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Cyprus and Greece. To live, work, or study long-term in Greece, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Greece's immigration authority.

Cyprus passport

Cyprus passport holder visiting Greece

Visa Free
Cyprus passport holders can enter Greece without a visa.
Greece passport

Greece passport holder visiting Cyprus

Visa Free
Greece passport holders can enter Cyprus without a visa.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it cheaper to live in Greece than Cyprus?

On average Greece is about 14% less expensive than Cyprus, with major cities narrowing the gap.

How much money do I need to move to Greece?

Budget about €14,045 for 3 months in Greece (based on a €65,577 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.

Can I work remotely from Greece?

Connectivity is usually fine (Greece: 43.0 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Greece offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?

Is Greece safe for expats?

Cyprus performs better than Greece across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Greece is 1.1 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.9 in Cyprus.

How is healthcare in Greece compared to Cyprus?

Cyprus generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Greece leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 63.7 doctors per 10,000 people in Greece, compared to 35.5 in Cyprus. Greece scores 77 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Cyprus: 81).

What's the weather like in Greece compared to Cyprus?

The average high temperature in Athens is 72°F, compared to 80°F in Nicosia. Athens receives around 16.3 in of rainfall per year, while Nicosia gets 13.5 in.

What language do they speak in Greece?

The official language in Greece is Greek. In Cyprus, the official languages are Greek and Turkish.

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At a Glance

CY GR
Population 1,295,102 10,533,871
Currency Euro (€) Euro (€)
Languages Greek, Turkish Greek
Driving side Left Right
Calling code +357 +30
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 112 112