Working in Nicosia Cyprus, Republic of
The capital and largest city on Cyprus, Nicosia has a population of about 310,000 and is located north-east of centre on the island. Nicosia is a divided city with the northern and southern areas of the city split by a green line.
Nicosia is the main business hub of Cyprus and is home to the country’s seat of government. The city has a very warm subtropical semi-arid climate, noted for long, hot and dry summers and where rainfall usually falls during the winter months.
- Airport
- Railway Station
- Transportation
- Cost of Living
- Accommodation
- Shopping
- Emergency
- Insurance and Healthcare
Location
Tourism Video
Airport
Nicosia International Airport
Located about 8km from central Nicosia, the terminal was closed for commercial purposes several decades ago. The main international gateway to Cyprus currently is Larnaca International Airport.
Railway Station
Details not available
Transportation
Public transport in Cyprus is primarily catered for by bus, with the service being modern and reliable. The bus network covers the city’s central areas and also reaches its outer suburbs. Many taxi companies also operate in Nicosia, while the most common form of travel from Nicosia to other parts of Cyprus is by road.
Cost of Living
The cost of living for expats in Nicosia is average by western standards for expats, although rental costs in particular are easily managed. According to online cost of living database Numbeo (http://www.numbeo.com/), prices for typical items on current exchange rates (June 2013) are as follows:
| Food | |
| Cheap meal (inexpensive restaurant) | $17.00 |
| Three-course meal for two at mid-range restaurant | $70.90 |
| Domestic beer (500mL) | $4.30 |
| Coke (330mL) | $1.60 |
| Milk (1 litre) | $2.10 |
| Loaf of bread | $2.80 |
| Eggs | $4.60 |
| Transport | |
| One way ticket (local transport) | $1.40 |
| Monthly pass | $42.60 |
| Petrol (1 litre) | $2.00 |
| Rent (monthly) | |
| One bedroom apartment (central area) | $650 approx |
| Three bedroom apartment (central area) | $990 approx |
| Accommodation | |
| Hostel bed (one night) | $25 |
| Five star hotel room (one night) | $210 |
| Average monthly salary (after tax) | $1700 |
Accommodation
Hotels in Nicosia can vary, but there are a lot of options in its central area for low and high end spenders that are more focused on the business traveler. The city does have a few hostels to choose from for backpackers as well. A few to consider include: Centrum Hotel, Europa Hotel and Nicosia Youth Hostel.
Shopping
Nicosia’s longest standing shopping region is along Ledra Street and its surrounding roads. Here, shoppers will find a variety of stores, including jewelers, clothing shops, cafes and restaurants. For bigger, more widely known, stores shoppers should venture to Makariou Avenue where brands like Marks and Spencer and Zara are found.
Emergency
Emergency telephone numbers
Police, fire & medical emergency 199 / 112
Australian High Commission, Nicosia
7th Floor, Block A
Alpha Business Centre
27 Pindarou Street
1060 Nicosia CYPRUS
Telephone: (+357) 2275 3001
Facsimile: (+357) 2276 6486
Email: nicosia.ahc@dfat.gov.au
Website: www.cyprus.embassy.gov.au/ncos/home.html
Insurance and Healthcare
Cyprus’s health care is broken up into compulsory public and private systems. For registered individuals the public system is available for free or at a reduced cost. The system is funded by a general taxation system setup by the Cyprus government.
Expats in Cyprus can also take out private care, with several services available for those willing to pay extra. Costs for private health treatment in Cyprus are comparable to those in Australia. Despite a good standard of health facilities in Cyprus, DFAT recommends all Australians travelling to the country take out comprehensive travel insurance to cover any overseas costs.