How much do you need to earn to live here, after Cyprus takes its share?
Here's the gross monthly salary that covers rent, food, transport, and utilities once Cyprus's tax system has taken its cut. (2026)
The floor in Nicosia is roughly €1,472/month gross, on a lean budget.
For something that feels comfortable, think €1,867/month gross (€1,646 net after ~12% tax).
| Expense | Budget | Comfortable | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rent (1BR) | €550 Cheapest neighborhood (Lakatamia) | €775 Median neighborhood | €925 Premium neighborhood (Engomi) |
| Groceries | €350 | €420 | €525 |
| Transport | €50 | €50 | €50 |
| Utilities | €160 | €160 | €160 |
| Dining & Entertainment | €200 | €240 | €300 |
| Total Monthly Expenses | €1,310 | €1,645 | €1,960 |
€1,472/month gross
€1,867/month gross
€2,313/month gross
Second-hand 1BR rents across 4 neighborhoods in Nicosia.
Lakatamia
18 min by bus
€550 - €800
Strovolos
12 min by bus
€600 - €900
Old Town
0 min by walk
€650 - €950
Engomi
15 min by car
€750 - €1,100
Old Town
0 min by walk
€650 - €950
Strovolos
12 min by bus
€600 - €900
All 4 neighborhoods, the full expense sheet, and what you could save.
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We add up monthly expenses (rent, groceries, transport, utilities, dining out) for each lifestyle tier, then work backwards to find the gross salary that lands on that number after Cyprus's income tax and social contributions. Rent data reflects second-hand listings, which is what expats actually pay. All figures come from 2026 official government statistics. Full attribution lives on our data sources page.
On a budget lifestyle, you need at least €1,472/month gross salary to cover basic expenses in Nicosia. For a comfortable lifestyle, aim for €1,867/month gross. These figures include rent, food, transport, utilities, and dining out, with taxes calculated for Cyprus.
The average 1-bedroom rent across 4 neighborhoods in Nicosia is approximately €788/month. Rents range from €550 in Lakatamia to €1,100 in Engomi.
Monthly groceries for a single person in Nicosia cost approximately €350. This covers basic home cooking. Dining out and premium food will add to this budget.
Tax rates in Cyprus are progressive. At the budget salary level of €1,472/month, the effective tax rate is approximately 11%. At the comfortable level of €1,867/month, it rises to approximately 12%. This includes income tax and social contributions.