Moving to Cyprus from New Zealand

moving to

What to Expect

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

If you moved from New Zealand to Cyprus, you would find that Cyprus is 1.5% cheaper than New Zealand overall. A NZ$125,240 salary in New Zealand would need to be roughly €67,247 in Cyprus to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Greek and Turkish. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Nicosia averages 80°F vs 62°F in Wellington, making it significantly warmer.

How Far Will Your Money Go?

A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between New Zealand and Cyprus.

What does your salary buy?

NZ$125,240 €67,247

To maintain the same standard of living in Cyprus

Calculate with your salary →

How key spending categories compare

Restaurants

pay 1.0% less

Groceries

pay 2.4% less

Transportation

pay 3.7% more

Housing

pay 5.3% more

Childcare

pay 30.9% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 0.9% less

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 NZD = 0.5134 EUR (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?

What the data shows about people moving from New Zealand to Cyprus.

Living there in 2020
91 ↑ 2% vs 2015

people born in New Zealand live in Cyprus · UN DESA

Who's moving to Cyprus?

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

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in Cyprus compared to New Zealand.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2023

per 100,000 people per year

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

per 100,000 people per year

NZ
6.6
CY
3.9

Cyprus performs significantly better than New Zealand across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2024

annual government + private spending per person

NZ
$5,576
CY
$4,538
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

NZ
35.7
CY
35.5

New Zealand generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Cyprus 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

NZ
12.0
CY
16.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

NZ
6.0t
CY
5.4t

New Zealand generally does better on environment, though Cyprus 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

NZ
35.9
CY
38.6
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

NZ
8.1%
CY
32.1%

New Zealand generally does better on infrastructure, though Cyprus leads in broadband per 100 people.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

NZ
3.7%
CY
6.0%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

NZ
$48,800
CY
$50,600

New Zealand generally does better on employment & economy, though Cyprus leads in gdp per capita.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

NZ
82.5 yrs
CY
79.7 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

NZ
3.4
CY
8.4

New Zealand generally does better on family life, though Cyprus leads in education spending.

Data: New Zealand Inland Revenue Department, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Wellington Rain: 37.7 in/yr (957 mm)
62° / 51°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Wellington Nicosia
Jan–Mar 69°/58°F (21°/14°C) 63°/44°F (17°/7°C)
Apr–Jun 59°/49°F (15°/10°C) 85°/60°F (29°/15°C)
Jul–Sep 56°/46°F (13°/8°C) 97°/71°F (36°/22°C)
Oct–Dec 64°/53°F (18°/12°C) 74°/52°F (23°/11°C)
View all months
Month Wellington Nicosia
Jan 70°/58°F (21.2°/14.7°C) 60°/42°F (15.7°/5.8°C)
Feb 70°/59°F (21.3°/14.8°C) 61°/43°F (16.3°/6.0°C)
Mar 68°/56°F (19.8°/13.5°C) 68°/46°F (20.1°/7.8°C)
Apr 63°/53°F (17.4°/11.5°C) 76°/52°F (24.3°/10.9°C)
May 59°/49°F (15.2°/9.7°C) 85°/59°F (29.6°/15.2°C)
Jun 56°/46°F (13.1°/7.9°C) 94°/68°F (34.3°/20.0°C)
Jul 54°/44°F (12.3°/6.9°C) 100°/73°F (37.5°/22.7°C)
Aug 55°/45°F (12.9°/7.4°C) 100°/73°F (37.5°/22.7°C)
Sep 58°/48°F (14.5°/8.8°C) 92°/67°F (33.6°/19.5°C)
Oct 60°/50°F (15.8°/10.0°C) 84°/61°F (28.8°/15.9°C)
Nov 64°/53°F (17.5°/11.4°C) 73°/51°F (22.6°/10.6°C)
Dec 67°/56°F (19.6°/13.5°C) 64°/45°F (17.8°/7.3°C)

Data: New Zealand National Meteorological Service New Zealand National Meteorological Service, Department of Meteorology Department of Meteorology

Visitor Visa Requirements

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

New Zealand passport

New Zealand passport holder visiting Cyprus

Visa Free
New Zealand passport holders can enter Cyprus without a visa.
Cyprus passport

Cyprus passport holder visiting New Zealand

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

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 Cyprus than New Zealand?

On average Cyprus is around 5% pricier than New Zealand, with notable variation by city.

How much money do I need to move to Cyprus?

Budget about €16,812 for 3 months in Cyprus (based on a NZ$125,240 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, rental deposit, visa fees.

Can I work remotely from Cyprus?

Connectivity is usually fine (Cyprus: 38.6 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Cyprus offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?

Is Cyprus safe for expats?

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

How is healthcare in Cyprus compared to New Zealand?

New Zealand generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Cyprus leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 35.5 doctors per 10,000 people in Cyprus, compared to 35.7 in New Zealand. Cyprus scores 81 on the WHO universal health coverage index (New Zealand: 85).

What's the weather like in Cyprus compared to New Zealand?

The average high temperature in Nicosia is 80°F, compared to 62°F in Wellington. Nicosia receives around 13.5 in of rainfall per year, while Wellington gets 37.7 in.

What language do they speak in Cyprus?

The official languages in Cyprus are Greek and Turkish. In New Zealand, the official languages are English, Māori and New Zealand Sign Language.

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At a Glance

NZ CY
Population 5,053,004 1,295,102
Currency New Zealand Dollar (NZ$) Euro (€)
Languages English, Māori, New Zealand Sign Language Greek, Turkish
Driving side Left Left
Calling code +64 +357
Time zones 5 1
Emergency number 111 112