I am a Canadian citizen and my wife and 2 kids are both Canadians and Greeks. We are planning to move to Limassol next year for good. With my family EU passport, I will have the same right as an EU citizens and was advise that I will get the Pink Slip in 3 weeks to be able to work and then the yellow slip in around 8 months.
Ideally, I would have preferred to move alone 6 months before my family in order to prepare everything for them but it is not possible because I can't get the Pink Slip to work unless they are with me. This is why I am trying to get as much information as possible in order to reduce the discomfort that my family might face.
I have been in Cyprus over 20 times but the last time was in 2001, things have changed a lot for sure and this is why I will be visiting it again this September not in a tourist mode but will try to see in details the things that are most important for me.
I would like to compare prices with Canada in details based on our style of living and the expenses that we face here, this way I will have a better idea of what income should I expect when arriving to Limassol and be prepared.
Please reply in Euro as I am considering 1 euro = 1 $ (I know it is not the case but once I start working I will earn in Euro and here I earn in $ so it will be the same)
1) Apartment 2 bedrooms: 840$/ month
2) 1.21$/Gaz Liter
3) Car insurance Mazda 3, 2011 80$/month
4) Water taxes: 25$/month
5) City Taxes for house owning: 170$/month
6) School Taxes 60$/Month
7) Electricity 150$/ month
8) Restaurant 2 Adults 2 children 5and 2 years 80$ with 3 local beers
9) Driving license fees: 90$/year
10) Car matriculation: 250$/year
11) Parking in Downtown 20$/day
12) Cell phone 60$/month (Unlimited calling Canada wide + 2GB Data)
13) Internet 90$/month (7Mb/s unlimited usage)
14) TV Cable 80$/month
15) 1L Milk 2$/L
16) Ground Meet 14$/KG
17) Local beer in a bar 7$
18) 1 L of Grants scotch whiskey 37.25$
19) Pack of cigarettes 8.5$
20) Big Mac Meal 11$
21) House insurance 50$/month
22) Gaz tank for BBQ 20$/10L
23) Groceries essentials minimum 120$/week
Also, I am planning for the first year to buy a small flat in the touristic area, and then let it on Airbnb after a year when we buy a house or something else. I was wondering if it is an easy process and the taxes for earnings
Concerning schooling, my son is 5 and my daughter is 2, I would like them to be in a public school at the beginning just to be integrated in the community, plus they will learn the Greek language faster. They already speak English, French and Arabic. I read on a different forum that there is a public school in Apesia village that is a very good school, I can't locate it on google earth, I have located the village but the post said that the school is not far from Heritage school, and based on google the village is too far. I was wondering how many minutes will it take us to reach the school from Limassol marina, or if you have the exact address.
Concerning work, I have contacted several recruiting agencies and HR from companies (Cell phones and Currency exchange) They have looked at my CV and advised me that based on my experiences I should be able to find a decent job very fast but we didn't go in details as it depends on the availability at the time we relocate.
I would like to get a clear answer if possible from multiple person and in details as possible.
I know that most people want to move to Cyprus because of it's weather, and we are one of those people but I am realistic and I know that being a tourist is something, living is something else and reality is different from what's published like any other countries.
Concerning racism/ people, I believe that all people is racist when it comes to their culture and way of living, I respect that and believe that everyone who wants to live in a different country, should be down to earth and respect their culture. I came to Montreal in 2003 and before that I lived in China for 2 years, and before I was in Lebanon. Cypriot behaviour is similar like Lebanese or any other Mediterranean culture, they all share the same values with small differences. This is why it is a little bit annoying to some EU countries where they expect to live in the same way as they are living in their country.
I would like to thank everyone that will make a reply and please be as much realistic as possible.
Hany
Moving to Cyprus Advise/ Comparison price
1) Apartment 2 bedrooms: 840$/ month -APRTEMENTS FROM €200-€400 NO PROBLEM
2) 1.21$/Gaz Liter - UL95 €1.25
3) Car insurance Mazda 3, 2011 80$/month - 1300CC FIESTA 3 €300 FOR THE YR FOR ANY DRIVER
4) Water taxes: 25$/month - WATER IS CHEAP HERE AVERAGE €10-15 PER MONTH
5) City Taxes for house owning: 170$/month - NOT SURE AS I DONT OWN
6) School Taxes 60$/Month - DONT KNOW OF THIS
7) Electricity 150$/ month - €60-90 PER MONTH
8) Restaurant 2 Adults 2 children 5and 2 years 80$ with 3 local beers - ABOUT THE SAME
9) Driving license fees: 90$/year - NONE
10) Car matriculation: 250$/year - I ASSUME THIS TO BE A ROAD TAX - OURSIS NLY €60 PER YR BUT DEPNDANT ON ENGINE SIZE AND CO2
11) Parking in Downtown 20$/day - LOTS OF PARKING HERE ISNFRE OF CHAREG OR MINIMAL AT €2 PER DAY
12) Cell phone 60$/month (Unlimited calling Canada wide + 2GB Data) - SIMILAR
13) Internet 90$/month (7Mb/s unlimited usage) - 16MBPS CYTA - €58
14) TV Cable 80$/month - BETTER OFF WTH AN ANDROID OR A PAID SUB VIA AMG250MRATHER THAN THE LOCAL CABLE - MAG 250 €20
15) 1L Milk 2$/L - 2L €2.60
16) Ground Meet 14$/KG - €5
17) Local beer in a bar 7$ - €3
18) 1 L of Grants scotch whiskey 37.25$ - €15
19) Pack of cigarettes 8.5$ - €5
20) Big Mac Meal 11$ - €7-10
21) House insurance 50$/month - CONTENTS (€15K COVER) €70 - BUILDINGS I DONT KNOW
22) Gaz tank for BBQ 20$/10L - €10-13 PLUS INITIAL DEPOSIT ON BOTTLE OF €10-15
23) Groceries essentials minimum 120$/week - €100
Hope this helps - we are based in the Paphos area and its touristy area.
Thank you very much Toon for the details, I have a better idea now on the essentials.
Tell me something if possible, would it be safe to say that a family of 4 can live with 1500 Euro/Month, a regular life to start with? We have money but in a new country it is better to start with the essentials and then move on after knowing better the country.
2) I know it is hard to find a job but is 1500 Euro/Month is considered a lot of money for an employer? (I have university Degree in Economics, 10 years exp in Telecommunications Corporate level, 6 Years in Import/Export and wholesale)
3) After we move and understand the country and get used to it, I am planning to buy several flat in the touristic area to rent them for tourists through AirBnb and other connections that I have in the middle east with airlines and tour companies that I worked with when I was in Lebanon.
From here it seems to be an easy process if someone can pay cash without taking a bank loan, but I am sure there are other challenges that I am not aware of, do you know them or it is an easy process?
4) Question from my 5years old Son who is only interested in the Fasouri WaterPark: Do you know how much is the entrance fees 
not important
Thanks again for your help
Hany
Oh one more thing, is the cap for withdrawing money from the bank still active? would it be better if we keep the money in a foreign bank?
in answer to your questions
1....much depends on what you expect to be able to do on that level of income - we are all different we are only 2 people = retired and spend maybe 20-30% more than that each month and we do not have a lavish lifestyle - comfortable yes. we dont eat out very often but we do socialise at our bars and taverns 2-3 times per week. You must get used to the local products and avoid top brands as I am sure you already know. Shop where the locals shop. Your budget of €1500 does that include for all things as out lined in your OP.?
2....am not really in a position to answer this question as we havent needed to work for 10yrs... wages here are lower than say UK but are marginally better than Malta. costs of living here is much lower than both, and of better quality for sure.
3....am also not in a position to answer this one too well either = sorry - as we rent and have done so for the last 10 yrs (7 years Malta and 3 years so far here) Renting, althuogh not necessarily the best financial option but at our ages 59/60 it just works better for us as we dont want to be tied down and like the flexibility that it offers. Just be careful when buying that you get your title deeds - dont get fooled by the ads that say "title deeds available" they may be but not necessarily immediately or readily - "with tiltles deeds" is a better option - as many have been caught out by this , and we learned just recently that if you bought and dont have those title deeds thenlagally your are not entitled to live in the property.
4....am not doing well here am I LOL - no i dont am sure a quick mail to them will get you that information
good luck
Banking.... only keep here what you need for day to day = although the banks here have gone through all the pain of 2013.....they are on a much firmer footing now than then = but best to be safe than sorry
Thank you very much Toon, Actually your answers are better than what I have expected, because they are realistic.
I have money and properties, but when I move to a different country I rather stay with a minimum in order to understand better the country.
You know here in Montreal, there is no free activities unless you want to take your kids at - 40 Celsius Degree, and trust when I say that it is not fun.
Our activities in Cyprus will be mostly beach and Historic sites. Imagine I have spent last January 4000$ to go a week to Cuba with my family and we had 7 days of rain and cold.
I have lived in Lebanon which is 19 minutes flight from Cyprus, I know that their way of living is similar to our ways, like most of the Mediterranean countries. I prefer local brands, food and vegetables instead of imported brand as here most of the products are genetically modified without being tested and no Canada is the only country in the world that approved OGM Salmon, and recent studies showed that Bacon is now healthier than Salmon due to the massive Antibiotics that they insert in their food.
I want to work for a couple of years just to catch up and understand the country better and make more contacts, and then I will be self-employed whether in letting apartments for tourists or worst case stay in stocks trading like I am currently doing.
Thanks again for your answers, they were really useful and appreciated
Hany
youre welcome Hany
sorry i couldnt be more help
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