living costs

[kimonas]

There are currently 9 jobs advertised on the EURES website in the business/finance sector - the average salary listed is c 1300 Euros per month (minimum 750 and maximum 4000 per month - but that post required a PhD and fluency in Arabic and also was based offshore). Generally salaries in Cyprus are low, the vast majority in all sectors being below 1500 euros.

Nicosia in the last divided capital in the world, the military separation of the centre having created an urban sprawl and a road system that struggles to cope with the traffic. Make sure you get an apartment close to your workplace as parking and traffic in the city is a huge problem. During certain times of the day there is hardly any traffic at all but the working hours of most private companies, the schools and the civil service conspire to create multiple rush hours every day when the roads are virtually impassable. If you hate traffic, Nicosia will be a living nightmare.

Cars are expensive, even small and second hand cars compared to UK prices, but are essential as public transport is minimal (hence the traffic problem). I've noticed in the last couple of days that they have started to construct 2+ diamond carpool lanes on the major routes into Nicosia which will doubtless confuse the population even more as the average driving skills in the capital are very poor indeed. I commute to work - have been here 5 years and have not counted a single day when I have not witnessed either and/or car smashes, minor scrapes/ tailgate shunts, overturned vehicles etc.

Nicosia is doubtless the best place on the island for authentic Cypriot and international cuisine has countless restuarants and clubs - but as some forum members have poinnted out, some venues are decidedly frosty to strangers - but once you've made friends, life in Nicosia is fabulous. It is, however, unbearably hot during the summer when temperatures regularly soar above 40. Make sure your apartment has a breezy balcony (airconditioning can be useful but it is expensive).

Good luck!

[Big_B]

Thanks very much for all that info - i'm a bit suprised that the salaries seem so low. The traffic does sound like a nightmare and after coming from Joburg I'm really not keen to waste hours of my life sitting in my car.

Thanks again for all the great info.