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Day-to-Day Life as an Expat
Cyprus is consistently rated one of the safest countries in Europe. Crime is extremely low — pickpocketing, which plagues many Southern European cities, is rare. Driving is on the left (British legacy), and the road network is good on motorways but rough on mountain roads. Summer heat (35–40°C in July/August) is intense; air conditioning is a necessity, not a luxury.
- Language: Greek is official, but English is universally understood and used in business, government, and daily commerce — unlike most non-English-speaking EU countries
- Safety: Cyprus consistently ranks in the top 5 safest EU countries; petty crime is rare; violent crime extremely uncommon
- Driving: On the left (inherited from British rule until 1960); EU driving licence valid; non-EU licences exchangeable within 6 months of residency
- Car culture: Essential outside city centres — no trains, infrequent buses in suburbs; buying a used car is recommended for stays over 6 months
- Supermarkets: Alphamega (premium), Sklavenitis, Lidl (best value), Carrefour, Metro, Chrysaliniotissa market in Nicosia for fresh produce
- Tap water: Safe to drink in cities; many locals prefer bottled; desalination plants supplement supply
- Electricity: 240V, 50Hz; British 3-pin sockets — important for UK expats: no adapter needed
- Time: EET (UTC+2) winter / EEST (UTC+3) summer — same timezone as Greece, Israel, Romania