• About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms
  • Unsubscribe
No Result
View All Result
Live and Invest Overseas
FREE REPORT
BEST PLACES TO RETIRE
*No spam: We will NEVER give your email address to anyone else.
  • HOME
  • COUNTRIES
    • Top Destinations
      • Panama
      • Portugal
      • Colombia
      • Northern Cyprus
      • Belize
      • Spain
      • Mexico
      • France
      • Indonesia
      • Vietnam
    • Browse All Countries
    • Best For
      • Retire Overseas Index
      • Health Care
      • Cost of Living
      • Investing in Real Estate
      • Editor’s Picks For Retirement
      • Establishing Residency
      • Starting an Online Business
      • Single Women
      • Playing Golf
  • BUDGETS
    • Super Cheap ($)
      • Cuenca, Ecuador
      • Chiang Mai, Thailand
      • The Philippines
      • Las Tablas, Panama
      • Granada, Nicaragua
    • Cheap ($$)
      • Algarve, Portugal
      • Medellin, Colombia
      • Boquete, Panama
      • Carcassone, France
      • Buenos Aires, Argentina
    • Affordable ($$$)
      • Abruzzo, Italy
      • Barcelona, Spain
      • Las Terrenas, Dominican Republic
      • Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
      • Costa de Oro, Uruguay
    • Luxury On A Budget ($$$$)
      • Ambergris Caye, Belize
      • Paris, France
      • Panama City Beach Area
  • Real Estate
  • ARCHIVES
    • Living & Retiring Overseas
    • Raising A Family Abroad
    • Foreign Residency & Citizenship
    • Offshore Diversification
    • Our Latest On Coronavirus ⚠️
  • Making Money
    • International Real Estate
    • Banking
    • Employment
    • Investing
  • CONFERENCES
  • BOOKSTORE
Live and Invest Overseas
  • HOME
  • COUNTRIES
    • Top Destinations
      • Panama
      • Portugal
      • Colombia
      • Northern Cyprus
      • Belize
      • Spain
      • Mexico
      • France
      • Indonesia
      • Vietnam
    • Browse All Countries
    • Best For
      • Retire Overseas Index
      • Health Care
      • Cost of Living
      • Investing in Real Estate
      • Editor’s Picks For Retirement
      • Establishing Residency
      • Starting an Online Business
      • Single Women
      • Playing Golf
  • BUDGETS
    • Super Cheap ($)
      • Cuenca, Ecuador
      • Chiang Mai, Thailand
      • The Philippines
      • Las Tablas, Panama
      • Granada, Nicaragua
    • Cheap ($$)
      • Algarve, Portugal
      • Medellin, Colombia
      • Boquete, Panama
      • Carcassone, France
      • Buenos Aires, Argentina
    • Affordable ($$$)
      • Abruzzo, Italy
      • Barcelona, Spain
      • Las Terrenas, Dominican Republic
      • Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
      • Costa de Oro, Uruguay
    • Luxury On A Budget ($$$$)
      • Ambergris Caye, Belize
      • Paris, France
      • Panama City Beach Area
  • Real Estate
  • ARCHIVES
    • Living & Retiring Overseas
    • Raising A Family Abroad
    • Foreign Residency & Citizenship
    • Offshore Diversification
    • Our Latest On Coronavirus ⚠️
  • Making Money
    • International Real Estate
    • Banking
    • Employment
    • Investing
  • CONFERENCES
  • BOOKSTORE
No Result
View All Result
Live and Invest Overseas
No Result
View All Result
Home In Focus: Europe

Cyprus: Better Than Your Neighbor’s Retirement To Florida

Mediterranean Stunner—Live Better (And Longer) On The Isle Of Aphrodite On $311 A Week

Kat Kalashian by Kat Kalashian
Jan 26, 2023
in In Focus: Europe
0 0
0
Cyprus: Better Than Your Neighbor’s Retirement To Florida
245
SHARES
3.5k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

At the far eastern edge of the Mediterranean, you’ll find an island that has dazzled mankind for millennia…

The Greeks were among the first expats here 3,500 years ago.

Their poets were so inspired that they claimed it the birthplace of Aphrodite, the Goddess of Love and Beauty.

Later, Alexander The Great fought to conquer this island, as did the mighty Persian, Ottoman, and Roman empires…

Leonardo da Vinci was then drawn to its shores, while Shakespeare brought Othello here a couple centuries later.

The allure of Cyprus has been celebrated since near the beginning of human civilization…

But such a small island can be forgotten for decades at a time.

Today, blessed with year-round warm weather, clear blue waters, and over 400 miles of coastline…

Cyprus finds itself on the precipice of discovery yet again.

The British, Swedish, Norwegians, Germans, and others from across Europe have started flocking here to the warmest island in the Mediterranean.

Prior to the pandemic, the influx of visitors to Cyprus was one of the biggest stories no one was talking about:

Tourism on Cyprus graphYet, despite the boom in interest, Cyprus remains affordable and largely undiscovered by much of the world, including North Americans—but not for long…

On an island frequented by millions of tourists and expats, English has become so commonly spoken that you’d never have to learn Greek or Turkish…

The food in Cyprus is light, fresh, and tasty, and it’s proven to prevent heart disease and Alzheimer’s.

Hibiscus, oleander, and daisies blossom across the island, from the coast to the foot of its mountains, while fig, lemon, and orange trees everywhere offer shade and the occasional free treat.

Blessed with rocky coves and white-sand, Cyprus’ coast has won the “Blue Flag” award for 76 of its beaches and marinas…

Remarkably, for a few months of the year, you can also snow ski down Mount Olympus rising from the center of the island.

If you enjoy the outdoors, this is even more of an island paradise than the beaches would have you believe…

About twice the size of Delaware, Cyprus boasts three national parks, 10 golf courses, and 240 official hiking trails through its mountains and sprawling forests. Expeditions on horses, ATVs, and Jeeps venture out every day in search of hidden lagoons, waterfalls, and caves…

And, to top it off, life (and property) is as affordable as it gets in Europe— you could live very comfortably here on as little as US$1,243 a month.

Better Than Your Neighbor’s Retirement… Florida vs. Cyprus

In 2022, Orlando had an average rent of US$2,249 per month for a two-bedroom apartment (a 19% increase from the previous year).

In Northern Cyprus, rents start at about 200 euros per month for basic accommodation, with nicer apartments in city centers or close to the beach going for about twice that.

That’s about 90% in savings—just for choosing a Mediterranean island over Florida.

And before you think your home here would be a step back in comfort, check out the view from your porch:

A large pool in an apartment complex for expats in Iskele, CyprusThis two-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment has a total living space of over 85 square meters (900 square feet). It rents fully furnished for US$450 a month in a complex with the pool above. The property is a short stroll from the market and just a few miles to the beach.

So, how in the world is everything so affordable here?

The currency exchange rate, certainly, is a major factor—it’s one of the most powerful cost-of-living “loopholes” from which you can benefit.

But there’s more to it than currency…

The Delightful Island Has Long Been Seriously Misunderstood

We traveled to Panama for the first time just before the U.S. pulled out and turned management of the Canal over to Panama…

And we visited Medellín, Colombia, years after Pablo Escobar died but long before the average American was open to the idea of considering this city as a place to spend their time or money.

In each case, we’d arrived on the scene at what proved to be a critical turning point in the country’s history…

At times when these places, previously ignored, overlooked, or shunned, were bound to reinvent themselves and their position on the world stage.

Here in Cyprus, it’s déjà vu.

We’ll start with a quick lesson on ancient history…

The ancient Greeks, the Phoenicians, the Assyrians, the Egyptians, the Persians, the Ptolemies, the Romans, the Byzantines, the Franks, the Venetians, the Ottoman Turks, and the British have all settled, invaded, conquered, and ruled Cyprus.

Warriors who took part in the battle of Troy chose to settle here. They established a system of city-kingdoms on the Greek model that prospered and created great wealth…

Alexander the Great freed the island’s inhabitants from the Persians in 332 B.C. In return, the independent Cypriot kingdoms helped Alex defeat the Phoenicians.

The apostles Paul and Barnabas brought Christianity to the island in 45 A.D., making this the first country in the world to be ruled by a Christian.

In 1191 A.D., during the third crusade, Richard the Lionheart shipwrecked on the island. He liked it so much that he claimed Cyprus for his own…

Not many years later, he decided to sell to the Knights Templar, who bought it for 100,000 golden Byzantine dinars but then asked for a refund when the island’s inhabitants, tired of being ruled by one foreign body after another, I guess, rose up against them.

Much more happened between then and more modern times, but the history that is critical to understanding the current situation dates to 1878.

That’s when the British empire took over the island under a lease from the Ottoman empire…

A lease that set into motion Cyprus’ modern-day status as a divided island that is part of the European Union.

Cyprus became an independent nation in 1960 with a constitution meant to be guaranteed by Britain, Greece, and Turkey.

While the Brits were in control, the Greek and Turkish Cypriots played nicely, but after independence, that changed. By 1974 the constitution was under attack, and the Turks intervened…

The island has been divided ever since.

The how and why of the sequence of events are portrayed differently by both sides—the Greek Cypriots start the story in 1974 blaming the Turkish Cypriots and the invasion of Turkey, and the Turkish Cypriots start earlier blaming the Greek Cypriots.

Jump ahead to the accession into the EU for the island in 2004 and the south, the Republic of Cyprus, was required to recognize all Cypriots on the island as citizens.

That allowed the Turkish Cypriots to finally have a recognized passport which made international travel easier. At the same time, the division line on the island was also opened for easier crossing between the two sides.

Today, the two sides continue to discuss reunification. However, the more time that passes, the more complicated the situation seems to get. Oil has been discovered offshore, and as it does so often, money complicates things…

Meanwhile, the northern side of the island has a freshwater pipeline from mainland Turkey that has eliminated the stress of water shortages. The south still has water shortages at times, and the north has provided it to its neighbor in the past…

Indeed, this sharing of water symbolizes much of the current situation… the border is easy to cross, everyone sees themselves as Cypriots first and foremost, and people on both sides are welcoming, open-minded, and hospitable.

Today’s Cypriots want nothing but stability and a chance to enjoy life here on Aphrodite’s sun-drenched, sand-fringed isle.

As of today, the political divide means incredible value in the north, while the continued development in the south has the island on a strong path of progress…

It all adds up to a window of opportunity that spells prosperity for your investment portfolio and your retirement plan.

Kat Kalashian
Editor, In Focus: Europe

Tags: cyprusinvest in cyprusLive in CyprusNorthern Cyprusreal estate in cyprusRetire in Cyprus
Share99Tweet61
Kat Kalashian

Kat Kalashian

Kat Kalashian has grown up around the world, living in the United States, Ireland, France, and Panama, and has traveled extensively in her few years. Growing up as a young expat she is familiar with the trials and tribulations of an overseas move and the adjustments that must be made in every new destination. Living and learning through experience, she now considers no one place home and feels more comfortable in new environs than in familiar ones. After living in Panama for seven years, where she enjoyed living for a stint in the tropics, she and her husband relocated back to Paris, France, in 2018 where they now live full-time with their American-born cat, Panamanian-born dog, and French-born daughter. Her post as Special Projects Manager of Live and Invest Overseas keeps her busy… whether it’s spearheading a big new product, MCing Live and Invest conferences, or scouting out new locations for coverage, she’s always on the move and eager to discover new things.

Related Posts

Beautiful view of the main street of Larnaca and Phinikoudes beach in Cyprus
In Focus: Europe

Why Larnaca Is The Future Of Cyprus

by Kat Kalashian
March 9, 2023
0

Larnaca is known for its seafront. It’s got the sand, sea, and palm trees… The climate is ideal—warm but not...

Read more
Duomo at sunrise, Milan, Italy

Milan, Italy: A Surprising Outlier In Europe

February 24, 2023
View of Tavira across the river Gilao

The Best Place To Retire In Europe In 2023

February 9, 2023
North Cyprus Kyrenia Castle surrounded by boats

Cyprus Real Estate: The Hidden Treasure Of The Mediterranean

February 6, 2023
Beautiful Coimbra town in Portugal

Portugal: The Best Place To Live Is Also One Of The Safest

December 27, 2022
Illustration of famous monument of the world

Europe vs. Latin America: Where Should You Retire?

December 8, 2022
Street view with beautiful old houses in the center of Deauville town, Famous French resort in Normandy

Deauville, France: The Top Option For A New Life In Normandy

November 17, 2022

Start Your New Life Today, Overseas ...

A world full of fun, adventure, and profit awaits! Sign up for our free daily e-letter, Overseas Opportunity Letter, and we'll send you a FREE report on the 10 Best Places To Retire In Style Overseas Today.

LIOS Resources


  • New To LIOS
  • Ask An Expert
  • Media Center
  • Contact Us
  • FAQs

Quick Links


  • Best Places To Live
  • Best Places To Retire
  • Finding A Job Overseas
  • Real Estate

Sign up for our free daily e-letter, Overseas Opportunity Letter, and get your FREE report: The 10 Best Places To Retire Overseas In 2023

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms
  • Unsubscribe

© 2008-2023 - Live and Invest Overseas - All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Countries
  • Budgets
  • Archives
  • News
  • Events
  • Bookstore
  • Newsletters
  • About Us
  • Members Area
  • Contact Us

© 2008-2023 - Live and Invest Overseas - All Rights Reserved.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Download your FREE report on

The Best Places To Retire In 2023

New Year, New You, New Life Overseas

Sign up for FREE and learn how to live the good life on a modest budget, find bargain property, and more. Plus, check out our free report on the 10 BEST PLACES TO RETIRE.

RETIRE OVERSEAS AND LIVE LIKE ROYALTY