Moving to Cyprus from Zambia

moving to

What to Expect

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

If you moved from Zambia to Cyprus, you would find that Cyprus is 2.0 times more expensive than Zambia overall. A ZMW1,500,000 salary in Zambia would need to be roughly €138,000 in Cyprus to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Greek and Turkish.

Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓

How Far Will Your Money Go?

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

What does your salary buy?

ZMW1,500,000 → €138,000

To maintain the same standard of living in Cyprus

Calculate with your salary →

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

Restaurants

pay 2.7 times more

Groceries

pay 11.3% more

Transportation

pay 66.3% more

Housing

pay 3.2 times more

Childcare

pay 20.2% more

Entertainment and Sports

pay 74.6% more

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 ZMW = 0.0449 EUR (October 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.

Get free moving quotes to Cyprus

We've teamed up with a vetted network of international movers to help MyLifeElsewhere readers plan their move with confidence. Tell us about your move and get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes in under 2 minutes.

  • ✅ Up to 5 quotes from screened movers
  • ✅ Licensed and insured providers only
  • ✅ 100% free — you choose who contacts you

Who Else Is Making This Move?

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

Living there in 2020
135 ↑ 3% vs 2015

people born in Zambia 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

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

Is it safe?

Homicide rate World Bank, 2023

per 100,000 people per year

ZM
5.2
CY
0.8
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

ZM
17.1
CY
3.9

Cyprus performs significantly better than Zambia across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

ZM
$244
CY
$4,538
Doctors per 10,000 people World Bank, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

ZM
3.2
CY
35.6

Cyprus generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Zambia 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

ZM
50.0
CY
16.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

ZM
0.5t
CY
5.4t

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

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people World Bank, 2024

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

ZM
0.8
CY
37.6
Water stress level World Bank, 2022

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

ZM
2.8%
CY
30.5%

Cyprus generally does better on infrastructure, though Zambia leads in water stress level.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate World Bank, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

ZM
5.9%
CY
4.9%
GDP per capita World Bank, 2025

a broad measure of economic output per person

ZM
$1,318
CY
$41,783

Cyprus generally does better on employment & economy, though Zambia leads in top income tax rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy World Bank, 2024

average years of life at birth

ZM
66.5 yrs
CY
81.8 yrs
Infant mortality World Bank, 2024

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

ZM
34.6
CY
4.1

Cyprus performs significantly better than Zambia across all family life metrics.

Sources: World Bank (2015–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019–2021), World Health Organization (2024), Zambia Revenue Authority (2016), Inland Revenue Department of the Republic of Cyprus (2016), The World Factbook (2021). How we calculate this

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Lusaka Rain: 31.4 in/yr (798 mm)
80° / 59°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Lusaka Nicosia
Jan–Mar 80°/62°F (27°/17°C) 63°/44°F (17°/7°C)
Apr–Jun 77°/55°F (25°/13°C) 85°/60°F (29°/15°C)
Jul–Sep 79°/55°F (26°/13°C) 97°/71°F (36°/22°C)
Oct–Dec 85°/64°F (29°/18°C) 74°/52°F (23°/11°C)
View all months
Month Lusaka Nicosia
Jan 80°/63°F (26.6°/17.1°C) 60°/42°F (15.7°/5.8°C)
Feb 80°/62°F (26.5°/16.8°C) 61°/43°F (16.3°/6.0°C)
Mar 81°/62°F (27.0°/16.6°C) 68°/46°F (20.1°/7.8°C)
Apr 80°/59°F (26.5°/15.1°C) 76°/52°F (24.3°/10.9°C)
May 78°/55°F (25.3°/12.7°C) 85°/59°F (29.6°/15.2°C)
Jun 74°/51°F (23.4°/10.6°C) 94°/68°F (34.3°/20.0°C)
Jul 73°/50°F (23.0°/10.2°C) 100°/73°F (37.5°/22.7°C)
Aug 79°/54°F (25.9°/12.3°C) 100°/73°F (37.5°/22.7°C)
Sep 85°/60°F (29.4°/15.3°C) 92°/67°F (33.6°/19.5°C)
Oct 87°/64°F (30.8°/17.5°C) 84°/61°F (28.8°/15.9°C)
Nov 86°/64°F (29.9°/17.9°C) 73°/51°F (22.6°/10.6°C)
Dec 81°/63°F (27.2°/17.3°C) 64°/45°F (17.8°/7.3°C)

Data: Zambia Meteorological Department (ZMD) Zambia Meteorological Department (ZMD), Department of Meteorology Department of Meteorology

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Zambia 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.

Zambia passport

Zambia passport holder visiting Cyprus

Visa Required
Zambia passport holders need a visa to enter Cyprus.
Cyprus passport

Cyprus passport holder visiting Zambia

Visa Free
Cyprus passport holders can enter Zambia 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 Cyprus than Zambia?

No — Cyprus is on average about 105% more expensive than Zambia. City-level variation matters.

How much money do I need to move to Cyprus?

Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly €34,500 in Cyprus on a ZMW1,500,000 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees).

Can I work remotely from Cyprus?

Internet is rarely the blocker — Cyprus has 37.6 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 Cyprus safe for expats?

Cyprus performs significantly better than Zambia across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Cyprus is 0.8 per 100,000 people, compared to 5.2 in Zambia.

How is healthcare in Cyprus compared to Zambia?

Cyprus generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Zambia leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 35.6 doctors per 10,000 people in Cyprus, compared to 3.2 in Zambia. Cyprus scores 81 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Zambia: 56).

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

The average high temperature in Nicosia is 80°F, compared to 80°F in Lusaka. Nicosia receives around 13.5 in of rainfall per year, while Lusaka gets 31.4 in.

What language do they speak in Cyprus?

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

Share this

At a Glance

ZM CY
Population 21,913,874 1,370,754
Currency Zambian Kwacha (ZMW) Euro (€)
Languages English Greek, Turkish
Driving side Left Left
Calling code +260 +357
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number — 112