Living In Cyprus As A Digital Nomad part 1 – that will be the topic of today’s article.
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The best time to consider your financial situation is when you are moving to a new country.
Introduction
Cyprus has plenty to offer the digital nomad and is a great place for those who work online to live. The island is full of history, with castles and tombs from ancient Greek, Roman, and Egyptian civilizations dotting the landscape; it’s also home to beautiful, sandy beaches along its coastline.
For those looking to establish their own business, Cyprus’ favorable tax policies make it especially attractive. The corporate tax rate is 12.5%, and the laws are relatively simple for starting a new company.
Cyprus also has great Internet connectivity, with modern fiber-optic connections that support high speeds available nearly everywhere on the island. The cost of living in Cyprus is much lower than in many other European countries, and those who do well financially as digital nomads can often live comfortably here for less than they would pay to rent one room in their home country.
Have you been surfing the web to understand why living in Cyprus as a digital nomad is worth it? Well, look no further, as we’ve got you covered on this platform. There are more things you won’t see on different blogs, but we’re going to tell you today.
In this article, you’ll understand some of the best places to live in Cyprus as a digital nomad. Not only is that, but we have come up with the pros and cons of living in Cyprus as a digital nomad. I’m sure; you might have been asking whether Cyprus has a good internet connection, right? Worry less, as we’ve got you covered with some of the best cafes in the country.
What Digital Nomad Need to Know About Cyprus
A small European island, Cyprus is located south of Turkey in the Eastern Mediterranean sea. Its position means it has a milder climate than most surrounding countries.
This makes it an ideal location to live and work from for Americans, particularly those who are retired or at their home country’s retirement age. It also makes it a popular travel destination for Europeans, so it has so many digital nomad tourists.
- Languages spoke: Greek, English
- Currency: Euro
- Religion: Orthodox 86%, other Christian 9% (Greek Orthodox, Armenian Orthodox, and others), Muslim 7%
- Electricity: 220V/50Hz (European plug)
Visa Requirements for Americans
Visa-free entry for Americans is not an official policy of Cyprus. However, it is possible to enter the country with a valid passport and receive a stamp upon arrival that allows you to stay for up to 3 months without applying for a separate visa.
The stamp is typically given in lieu of a specific entry visa at the point of entry for many nationalities, including Americans. This is based on the assumption that you will not overstay your 3 months because after the 3 months have expired, you will need to leave and can only return once again with an entry visa stamp in your passport.
Maximum Stay per Visit: 3 Months
Agreement between EU countries states that any country not in the EU but a separate customs union (such as Turkey) will honor another country’s entry visas.
This means that Americans can visit Cyprus from their home country and then freely enter EU countries without needing to apply for a separate visa. However, this only applies once every 6 months, so you will need to leave Cyprus and enter the EU again within 6 months.
Border Control
There is no border control between Cyprus and any other EU country. This means that you can freely travel to and from Cyprus and the rest of the European Union (except for Croatia, which is still pending membership) without needing to go through border controls. Americans typically do not need a visa or entry stamp to go into an EU country, as long as they remain within the 3 month stay time limit.
Taxes
No income or capital gains taxes (similar to nearby countries like Bulgaria and Romania). Also, there is no inheritance tax. The only taxes Americans will need to pay are purchasing luxury items (such as alcohol and cars).
Health insurance
Not required, but it can be very affordable for retirees who are over age 65 (the lowest monthly premium is $350 for an annual plan that covers health care, dental care, prescriptions, hospitalization, etc.). There’s also the option of getting travel insurance if you’re only visiting for a short time.
Pros and Cons of Living in Cyprus as a Digital Nomad
Digital nomads are usually people who work online and travel around the world, renting apartments for short-term stays in many countries. If you’ve never heard of this before, this article is about that lifestyle. However, if you’re thinking long and hard about whether or not it’s something for you, then that is what I am writing about.
Cyprus is a beautiful place, located in the Mediterranean next to Greece and Turkey. It’s known for being an extremely tourist-friendly country with fantastic weather all year round that makes a living there very comfortable. If you’re planning on moving there, here are the pros and cons of living in Cyprus as a digital nomad.
Pros
In this day and age, digital nomads are becoming increasingly popular. Many people from all over the world quit their jobs to travel around while doing work online. Cyprus is one of the best places in the world for digital nomads due to its warm weather, low cost of living, infrastructure, safety, and beautiful scenery. Here are 5 pros of living in Cyprus as a digital nomad.
1. Low Cost of Living
For anyone coming from an expensive country, the low cost of living in Cyprus is probably one of its most appealing features. Food and accommodation can be found very cheaply. For example, you could rent an apartment on Airbnb for as little as 11€/night or eat at a restaurant for 5€/meal. On average, an apartment in the center of Nicosia would cost 1000€/month.
2. The weather
Many digital nomads want to escape the cold weather during winter and live in a warmer climate instead. Cyprus is perfect with its warm winters, pleasant springs, and hot summers. In early summer, it can get as warm as 35 degrees Celsius, but even during colder months, temperatures are generally quite nice.
3. Infrastructure
The infrastructure in Cyprus is very good for a country of its size and age. Almost all cities and towns have free Wi-Fi available at various public places such as cafes, restaurants, and parks. We don’t want to go too much into detail here, so if you’re interested in this, you can check out the link below.
4. Safety
Cyprus is one of the safest countries in Europe, with crime rates far below average. You don’t have to worry about your safety during the day or night, and there are no areas that visitors should avoid. Moreover, there is no risk of natural or nuclear disasters as Cyprus is not located on a fault line.
5. Beautiful Scenery
Cyprus has some beautiful scenery, especially around the coast with clear blue waters and white sandy beaches. The mountain range around Troodos looks spectacular in any season, and with good weather, it’s a great place to go hiking. Besides, who wouldn’t want to live on a Mediterranean island?
6. Healthcare
For people living in more developed countries, it’s sometimes quite difficult to find good healthcare for a decent price. It can be even harder to travel outside your home country without proper insurance, so being able to access the same services as locals are convenient.
7. Language
Although English is widely spoken in Cyprus, people are still very welcoming if you try and speak some Greek. Learning a new language is also seen as a sign of respect, and we think it’s quite fun to meet people who can’t speak English and have to find other ways of communicating.
Cons
Safety
Living in Cyprus can be safe, but you always have to be aware of your surroundings and watch yourself. The Turkish occupation means that the island has been divided into two parts since 1974, so there are areas where it’s not very safe to walk around at night if you’re by yourself. Of course, this doesn’t mean that you should never walk around alone, but it’s good to be cautious.
Scams and Tourist Traps
I’ve been living in Cyprus for almost a year now, and the number one thing that I hate is how many scams and tourist traps there are. Just like in any other country in the world, you have to watch out for people trying to take advantage of your ignorance about their currency or something else.
The difference between Cyprus and other countries is that it’s on the tourist trail, so there are more of these people on the streets than in some other places.
Low Salaries
While living in Cyprus might be cheaper than living somewhere like London, you’re not going to get paid very well for your work out here if you’re a digital nomad. If you’re extremely skilled and provide a very good service, you could make the same amount of money as if living in another EU country like Germany or Belgium.
Limited Job Opportunities for Digital Nomads
Even though there are a ton of coworking spaces in Cyprus, and this might lead you to believe that it’s a good place for self-employed people, the reality is quite different. There are some remote jobs available from international companies, but not many of them.
Expensive Internet
The most annoying problem with Cyprus as a place to live for digital nomads is definitely the cost of getting online. In many places in Europe, you can get a monthly internet plan that will last until the end of the month (or even longer). Out here, however, it’s rare to find unlimited internet that lasts more than 30 days.
