Golgotha is for a tenant to find a house at a reasonable price and in good condition, with prices being at high levels, and in essence an average salary going to the payment of rent. Rent prices continue to rise, absorbing an ever-increasing part of the monthly income of households, especially if they are low-paid. However, with an average salary, the household is required to cover its first needs, including its rent or the loan instalment to buy a house, while then it will have to pay its home bills, which also reach exorbitant amounts, especially if it is electricity bills and food items. According to the data collected by Fileleftheros, it appears that the cost of rent in some cases far exceeds the average salary in Cyprus.
Data from the Statistical Service show that 36.5% of employees (Cypriots and non-Cypriots) have gross wages of less than €1,500, 39.7% of employees have a gross salary between €1,500 and €2,999, 12.7% of employees have a gross salary between €3,000 and €4,499, 6% have a gross salary of €4,500 to €5,999.
According to the data provided by the Numbeo platform with a reference month in April, the estimated monthly cost for a family of four in Nicosia is €3,030 excluding rent and the average monthly net salary (after taxes) is €1,542. It is also noted that the rent in Nicosia is, on average, 41.5% lower than in Limassol. The data provided by the platform for Nicosia is that for a one-bedroom apartment in the city center the average rent is €693 and outside the city center €593. For a three-bedroom apartment in the city center the average rent is €1,450 and outside the center €1,120.
For Limassol, the Numbeo platform reports that the estimated monthly cost for a family of four is €3,329.4 excluding rent. It is also estimated that the average monthly net salary (after taxes) in Limassol is €2,370. In terms of rents, for a one-bedroom apartment in the city center it is €1,340 and outside the city center the average rent is €1,157. For a three-bedroom apartment in the city center the average rent is €2,350 and outside the center €1,760.
In Larnaca, according to the Numbeo platform, the estimated monthly cost for a family of four is €2,805, excluding rent. It is noted that the rent in Larnaca is on average 3.5% higher than in Nicosia and the average monthly net salary (after taxes) is €1,650. The average rent for a one-bedroom apartment in the city centre is €800 and outside the city centre €620. For a three-bedroom apartment in the city center the average rent is estimated at €1,475 and outside the center €1,105.
In Paphos the estimated monthly cost for a family of four is €2,937 excluding rent and is on average 36.6% higher than in Nicosia. The average monthly net salary (after tax) in Paphos is estimated at €1,659. According to the platform's data, for a one-bedroom apartment in the city center the average rent is estimated at €1,000 and outside the center €883. For a three-bedroom apartment in the city center the average rent is estimated at €1,833 and outside the city center €1,566.
Rent growth of 2.9% year-on-year in the Eurozone
Eurostat data reveal that in 2025 there was an increase, but a small increase of 3.4%. Within the EU, the average rate of change in real house rents ranged from 1% in Finland to 17.6% in Croatia. Annual rent growth was high in Greece (10%), Hungary (9.8%), Bulgaria (9.6%) and Romania (8.2%). Let's see what is happening in other countries as well. In the Czech Republic the annual increase in 2025 was 6.1%, Latvia 5.7%, Lithuania 5.6%, Portugal 5.3%, Slovakia and the Netherlands 5.1%, Estonia 4.9%, Ireland 4.5%, Poland 4.3%, Austria 4.3%, Italy 3.8%, Belgium 3.7%. The average rent increase in the Eurozone is 2.9% on an annual basis.
