Moving to Israel from Cyprus

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What to Expect

Everything you need to know before relocating from Cyprus to Israel — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.

If you moved from Cyprus to Israel, you would find that Israel is 37.5% more expensive than Cyprus overall. A €64,826 salary in Cyprus would need to be roughly ₪283,196 in Israel to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Arabic and Hebrew. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right.

How Far Will Your Money Go?

What to expect for your wallet after moving from Cyprus to Israel.

What does your salary buy?

€64,826 ₪283,196

To maintain the same standard of living in Israel

Calculate with your salary →

Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day

Restaurants

pay 56.4% more

Groceries

pay 13.6% more

Transportation

pay 21.4% more

Housing

pay 16.7% more

Childcare

pay 79.0% more

Entertainment and Sports

pay 53.0% more

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 EUR = 3.38 ILS (June 2026)

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?

How many people actually move from Cyprus to Israel, based on official data.

Moved in 2023
67 ↑ 253% vs 2022

people moved from Cyprus to Israel · OECD (latest data available)

Who's moving to Israel?

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

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Cyprus to Israel.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2023

per 100,000 people per year

CY
0.9
IL
1.6
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

CY
3.9
IL
4.2

Cyprus performs better than Israel across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

CY
$4,538
IL
$4,033
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

CY
35.5
IL
37.1

Israel generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Cyprus leads in suicide rate.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

CY
16.0
IL
15.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

CY
5.4t
IL
5.8t

Cyprus generally does better on environment, though Israel leads in air pollution deaths.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

CY
38.6
IL
29.4
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

CY
32.1%
IL
132.0%

Cyprus generally does better on infrastructure, though Israel leads in electricity per capita.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

CY
6.0%
IL
3.4%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

CY
$50,600
IL
$48,300

Cyprus generally does better on employment & economy, though Israel leads in unemployment rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

CY
79.7 yrs
IL
83.3 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

CY
8.4
IL
3.6

Israel generally does better on family life, though Cyprus leads in literacy rate.

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

Jerusalem Rain: 21.1 in/yr (537 mm)
72° / 57°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Nicosia Jerusalem
Jan–Mar 63°/44°F (17°/7°C) 58°/46°F (15°/8°C)
Apr–Jun 85°/60°F (29°/15°C) 78°/60°F (25°/15°C)
Jul–Sep 97°/71°F (36°/22°C) 85°/67°F (29°/20°C)
Oct–Dec 74°/52°F (23°/11°C) 68°/55°F (20°/13°C)
View all months
Month Nicosia Jerusalem
Jan 60°/42°F (15.7°/5.8°C) 55°/44°F (12.8°/6.9°C)
Feb 61°/43°F (16.3°/6.0°C) 57°/45°F (13.8°/7.1°C)
Mar 68°/46°F (20.1°/7.8°C) 63°/49°F (17.0°/9.2°C)
Apr 76°/52°F (24.3°/10.9°C) 71°/54°F (21.5°/12.1°C)
May 85°/59°F (29.6°/15.2°C) 79°/61°F (25.9°/16.0°C)
Jun 94°/68°F (34.3°/20.0°C) 83°/65°F (28.4°/18.2°C)
Jul 100°/73°F (37.5°/22.7°C) 86°/68°F (30.0°/20.2°C)
Aug 100°/73°F (37.5°/22.7°C) 86°/68°F (29.9°/20.0°C)
Sep 92°/67°F (33.6°/19.5°C) 83°/66°F (28.4°/18.7°C)
Oct 84°/61°F (28.8°/15.9°C) 78°/62°F (25.3°/16.8°C)
Nov 73°/51°F (22.6°/10.6°C) 68°/55°F (19.9°/12.8°C)
Dec 64°/45°F (17.8°/7.3°C) 59°/48°F (15.2°/9.0°C)

Data: Department of Meteorology Department of Meteorology, Israel Meteorological Service Israel Meteorological Service

Visitor Visa Requirements

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

Cyprus passport

Cyprus passport holder visiting Israel

Electronic Travel Authorisation
Cyprus passport holders need an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) to enter Israel.
Israel passport

Israel passport holder visiting Cyprus

Visa Free
Israel 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 Israel than Cyprus?

No — Israel is on average about 29% more expensive than Cyprus. City-level variation matters.

How much money do I need to move to Israel?

Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly ₪70,799 in Israel on a €64,826 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, deposits, visa fees).

Can I work remotely from Israel?

Internet is rarely the blocker — Israel has 29.4 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people. The real questions are legal: digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.

Is Israel safe for expats?

Cyprus performs better than Israel across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Israel is 1.6 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.9 in Cyprus.

How is healthcare in Israel compared to Cyprus?

Israel generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Cyprus leads in suicide rate. There are 37.1 doctors per 10,000 people in Israel, compared to 35.5 in Cyprus. Israel scores 85 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Cyprus: 81).

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

The average high temperature in Jerusalem is 72°F, compared to 80°F in Nicosia. Jerusalem receives around 21.1 in of rainfall per year, while Nicosia gets 13.5 in.

What language do they speak in Israel?

The official languages in Israel are Arabic and Hebrew. In Cyprus, the official languages are Greek and Turkish.

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At a Glance

CY IL
Population 1,295,102 8,914,885
Currency Euro (€) Israeli New Sheqel (₪)
Languages Greek, Turkish Arabic, Hebrew
Driving side Left Right
Calling code +357 +972
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 112 100