Working in Cyprus should be a fun, safe and enjoyable experience. The quality of life on the island is excellent and English is spoken throughout Cyprus.

It is important to remember to take enough money with you to allow you to live for the first 2 to 4 weeks. It is very unlikely your employer will pay you in advance therefore ensure you either have a credit card or enough cash available until you receive your first pay packet. You will need to pay for your initial day-to-day living expenses.

Medical Care

The standard of hospitals and medical care in Cyprus is very high and on a par with any modern European country. Most doctors have received their training either in the UK or the USA therefore communication won't be a problem for you.

All EU countries have a reciprocal health scheme arrangement with Cyprus, which means you are entitled to free or reduced cost medical treatment. Before you depart be sure to obtain a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) - this can be obtained either online or by phone. Full information in the UK can be found on the UK Department of Health Website.

Telephone Calls / Communication

When you arrive in Cyprus purchase a local Pay-As-You-Go SIM card to use in your mobile phone. You can find these at all supermarkets, small grocery shops and kiosks. The cost of calls both internally in Cyprus and even to the UK is between 50% - 75% cheaper than in the UK.

If you wish to communicate via the Internet you will find many Internet cafes all over each town with modern broadband connections.

Getting Paid & Bank Accounts

Firstly - you won't need to open a bank account.

Depending on your employer, you will get paid either weekly or monthly. Some will pay in cash and others by cheque. If you get paid by cheque all you need to do is go to any local bank (they are on every street corner), with your passport, sign the cheque on the back and they will instantly cash it for you there and then.

Some of the UK banks such as Barclays & HSBC have branches in Cyprus. If you wish to double check, speak to your bank in the UK and ask if you can access your UK bank account from Cyprus.

Electrical Items

The electrical voltage and even the 3 pin plugs we use in the UK are exactly the same in Cyprus. Therefore any electrical items you have such as phone chargers or hairdryers will work without any adaptors or modifications in Cyprus.

Supermarkets / Food Shopping

Every town has numerous supermarkets, grocery shops and small kiosks, which open 7 days per week catering for all your needs. They are everywhere so you should not have any issues shopping for your day-to-day supplies.

Weather

Cyprus boasts 330 days of sunshine a year, the weather is almost guaranteed! Have a look at the average monthly temperatures the island enjoys.

Language

The first language is Greek, however nearly everybody speaks English. English is the second language and you will find 95% of people speak it extremely well and business is often conducted in English. Road signs are all in English as well as in Greek. In all shops and restaurants you will find items are described both in Greek and English therefore there will be no problems with communication.

Cyprus offers an extensive array of leisure facilities on your days off. Beautiful beaches, water parks, cinemas, clubs, bars, restaurants all affordable and easy to get to. Find out more about how to spend your leisure time in Cyprus.

Currency

As Cyprus is an EU member state, the island converted to the Euro (€) in January 2008. The price comparisons shown below are in Euros (€) and British Pounds (GBP), in order to provide you a clear understanding of typical lifestyle costs and earning levels compared to UK levels. At the time of writing the conversion rate is typically 1 Euro = 0.73 GBP. Check current conversion rates here.

Tax

Cyprus has one of the highest qualities of lifestyles in Europe as well as one of the most generous taxation systems in Europe. You do not pay tax on the first €20,000 you earn in any one tax year, therefore in all probability you will not pay any tax whilst you are working in Cyprus. In other words all your earnings are likely to be TAX FREE!

Living Costs

The quality of life in Cyprus is very high, however at first glance salaries seem very low in relation to the UK. It is important to understand that when compared to the UK, although salaries are much lower, so is the cost of living – your money will go further. Day to day items cost much less in Cyprus than in the UK. Once you accept this fact you will realise that you can live very comfortably on your income and at the same time enjoy a very comfortable and affordable lifestyle - in fact much better than the UK. Below are shown some price comparisons in Euros (€) and British Pounds (GBP).

Item	Price in Cyprus (€)	Price In Cyprus (£)	Price In UK (£)
20 Cigarettes	3.40	2.35	5.50
Simple Meal for 2	17.00	11.80	25.00
1 Pint Beer	2.55	1.78	2.65
1 Litre Milk	1.00	0.69	0.95
1 Large Loaf Bread	1.00	0.69	0.95

Conversions correct at time of writing

As you can see food in particular can be up to half price of the U.K.

Accommodation

Most of our employers provide accommodation as part of the total salary package, however you may prefer to find your own accommodation particularly if you are a couple working for different employers or a group of friends.

Accommodation costs present much better value in Cyprus than the U.K. The quality of rented accommodation is generally far superior to the equivalent property in the U.K. For instance: a studio apartment which can sleep 2 people, will cost in the region of  €300.00 per month (approx. £210.00 GBP). Therefore if you are sharing, your rental will be approximately €150.00 each, which in UK pounds is £105.00 each person per month.

Many apartment blocks often have communal swimming pools and some even offer a weekly maid and laundry service.

Salaries

As stated earlier, on the surface, salaries are lower than the U.K. however as the costs are also lower your money goes much further.

Within the catering and leisure industry the normal working week is 6 days per week, 8 hours per day; however this can vary from one employer to the other. Depending on your own level of experience and age, as well as the type of job, salaries will also vary. Below are average examples of what you can expect to earn. Some salaries may be lower and others higher than the examples shown below.

• Waiter/Waitress: Salary packages range between €1200 - €1400 (including tips) per month
• Cook: Salary packages range between €850 - €1600 per month depending on level and experience
• Spa Therapist: Salary packages range between €1000 - €1500 (including tips) per month

Please note that the above examples are total salary packages. the figures will vary depending on whether accommodation is included or not. Accommodation has a monetary value and this is factored into the salary package. All salaries are tax free as long as you earn less than €19,500 in any one financial year.

Calling Cyprus from the UK

If you have access to a landline with Talk Talk in the UK then calls to Cyprus are free as part of their European service. Alternatively you can call from a landline using a company called Telediscount. This only works from a landline,+ however calls only cost 3p per minute to a Cypriot Landline and 5p per minute to a Cypriot Mobile.
To use this service you call 0844 439 90 90 for a landline and 0844 566 43 43 for a mobile. Just call the number and follow the instructions or visit their website .  Note: Cypriot landline numbers always begin with the number 2, mobiles always begin with the number 99.

Once you arrive in Cyprus you should purchase a SIM card with a local number, which you can use in your own phone. These are very cheap and the call rates are amongst the lowest in Europe. They can be bought in supermarkets and kiosks.

Renting a Property

Typical Rental Costs (Please note these are general price guidelines)

Accommodation Type	Euros (€)	GBP (£)
Hotel Apartment Sleeps up to 2 people	€25.00 – €45.00 per day	£17.50 – £32.00 per day
Studio Apartment Sleeps up to 2 people	€260.00 - €340.00 per month	£180.00 - £235.00 per month
1 or 2 Bedroom Apartment Sleeps 2 – 4 people	€420.00 - €500.00 per month	£290.00 - £350.00 per month