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Loading ...CYPRUS PARADISE ISLAND?
We have seen reports that the attraction of Cyprus in terms of quality of life, living costs and property investment may be much less and significant numbers of ex-pats (mainly Brits) are heading back to the UK
The stated aim of Travel Advice Pages is to provide correct, factual and up-to-date information. Being resident in Cyprus, we feel that we are able to offer an objective opinion on this reported exodus.
In many ways (as in the rest of the world) Cyprus is no longer an ultra cheap place to live. However, on balance it is cheaper in many ways than the UK and is still attractive. Certainly, ex-pats are suffering due to the current exchange rate of sterling against the Cyprus Euro which reduces the value of UK pensions. Against this fact is the option of a 5% tax on pension income reported in a previous article.
However, does a return to the UK offer a desired solution? UK inflation is approaching 5% with a recession imminent. A hapless and moribund Labour Government lurches from one crisis to another headed by a Prime Minister who obviously underwent a charisma bypass at birth! Utilities have reached obscene levels together with petrol and diesel prices and the new road tax system is pricing older family vehicles off the road. Cyprus is in the process of lowering fuel prices at the pumps. The dreaded UK Council Tax continues to rise, linked with nonsensical legislation regarding household garbage disposal. There is no Council Tax in Cyprus. A small Municipal charge is levied at year end for the twice-weekly garbage collection.
In Britain the Police appear to have lost control in the inner city areas with a teenage knife culture rampant. In Cyprus the crime rate is very low. There are minor problems with youngsters in the tourist hot spots of Aya Napa and Kato Pafos. Very little crime is reported in the local newspapers. Law breaking seems limited to riding motorcycles without a helmet, running a red traffic light and using a mobile phone when driving!Having driven or been driven in Lagos, Beijing, Rome and Cairo - the Cypriots have good road manners.
There is no doubt that there is much more freedom on the Island and life is more relaxed. The “Big Brother” attitude has not reached Cyprus. With new shopping malls, well stocked supermarkets and a multitude of good retaurants, life is easy. Helpful and cheerful shop assistants and waiters remind one of how it used to be in the UK. A healthy lifestyle is possible with the abundance of fresh fruit, vegetables and fish.
Much has been reported on the “drought” conditions on the Island. There is a shortage of water but this has little impact on normal life. Rationing exists in Nicosia, Larnaca, Limassol and less in Pafos. The local system of roof water tanks means that on “wet” days these tanks fill and water is also available for washing machines and dishwashers. On “dry” days one still has sufficient water in the tanks for showers and washing dishes by hand etc.
The Government is purchasing water from Greece and building additional de-salination plants to solve the situation in the shorter and longer term. The Island is still beautiful despite the drought with its mountains and beaches and enjoys 300 days of sunshine a year. July and August can be oppressively hot but one can escape the heat in one’s air conditioned accomodation or automobile.
On balance would one exchange all this for a cold, wet, costly and bureaucratic UK?
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