What if you were born in Cyprus?

If you had grown up in Cyprus instead of Pakistan, here is what your money, your home and your day in Nicosia could look like.

Try it with my numbers

Sea caves at Cape Greco. Photo: kallerna, CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)

Three alternate lives in Cyprus

Each person keeps the same place on the income ladder they have in Pakistan. Amounts are per month, after tax, in EUR and in rupees at today’s rate.

Single, starting out

Earns Rs 60,000 a month in Pakistan, on your own.

Take-home in Cyprus: EUR 1,970Rs 606,000
Rent (city centre): EUR 570
Transport (public transport): EUR 134
Food: EUR 285
Saved: EUR 296

Family of four

Earns Rs 120,000 a month in Pakistan, as a family of four.

Take-home in Cyprus: EUR 4,530Rs 1,390,000
Rent (suburbs): EUR 1,150
Transport (public transport): EUR 308
Food: EUR 770
Saved: EUR 679

High-earning couple

Earns Rs 300,000 a month in Pakistan, as a couple.

Take-home in Cyprus: EUR 7,340Rs 2,260,000
Rent (city centre): EUR 1,800
Transport (car): EUR 687
Food: EUR 899
Saved: EUR 2,060

Try it with my own income

A day in Nicosia

The family of four above, with one parent working as an engineer.

Morning
You wake up in Nicosia, a city of mild winters around 11°C and hot summers near 30°C.
Commute
Public transport is limited here, so you share rides or use taxis and buses for a longer commute.
Work
As an engineer: You spend the morning on site and the afternoon on drawings and calls with suppliers.
Language
You speak Greek at home, and English works almost everywhere.
Lunch
Lunch might be halloumi: a firm cheese that is grilled or fried without melting.
Evening
You get home with EUR 679 saved each month. Walking home late feels completely normal here.
Weekend
Weekends are for the coast and the mountains.

Cyprus compared with Pakistan

	Cyprus	Pakistan
Prices of everyday things	2.9× Pakistan	1×
Average life expectancy	82 years	68 years
Air pollution (PM2.5)	16 µg/m³	58 µg/m³
Unemployment	4.9%	5.4%
Average temperature, main city	20°C	26°C
Languages	Greek, Turkish	Urdu, English, regional languages
Currency	EUR	PKR

Sources: World Bank (price levels, household spending, life expectancy, PM2.5, unemployment), NASA POWER (climate), Dareecha’s daily exchange rates.

Thinking of really moving? See Pakistan vs Cyprus, living in Cyprus and the visa checker.

Questions

How much would I earn if I was born in Cyprus?

It depends on where you are on the ladder. A family earning Rs 120,000 a month in Pakistan, above the national average, would take home around EUR 4,530 a month at the same level in Cyprus (about Rs 1,390,000 at today's rate). Try your own numbers in the simulator.

Is Cyprus more expensive than Pakistan?

Yes. Everyday goods and services cost about 2.9 times as much as in Pakistan (World Bank price levels), but incomes there are higher too, so what matters is how far your pay goes.

What language would I speak in Cyprus?

Mainly Greek, Turkish. English is widely spoken.

Can I actually move to Cyprus?

This page imagines being born there. For a real move, compare costs, safety and jobs on the Pakistan vs Cyprus page, and check visa rules in the visa checker.