Exactly a year ago, Karen and David swapped a village in the Cotswolds for one in the Paphos region of western Cyprus – and have no regrets so far.
After purchasing a three-bedroom, three-bath villa in the village of Kathikas – 15 minutes inland from Coral Bay, on a plateau famed for its grape production – they have settled into the slower and more relaxed lifestyle of the island.
“It’s all been pretty easy really,” says Karen, who is retired after 43 years in the fire service. “We believed it was going to be harder than it was.”
Why move to Cyprus?
David is still working, running his jewellery business from his laptop, after opening a limited company in Cyprus. “The tax rates are much better than in the UK.”
There’s a €22,000 personal allowance for pension income, then a flat rate of 5%.
In addition, there are no wealth, gift or inheritance taxes. They will also be able to access the Cypriot healthcare system.
How much does property cost in Paphos, Cyprus?
The couple, who have children from previous marriages, met five years before finding their Cypriot property – after applying for A Place in the Sun TV show. Following filming in December 2024, they bought property two – for £300,000.
How does residency in Cyprus work for UK buyers?
After that, it all happened quite quickly. They used CCS Shipping as a one-stop shop – for finding a lawyer, moving over their furniture, their dog and arranging their visas.
They applied for the Pink Slip (renewable temporary visitor) residency permit – the agent ‘did everything’, says David. “The hardest thing was perhaps opening a bank account – that involved four trips there. The bureaucracy is crazy.”
They needed to show annual income from abroad of at least €28,800 a year as a couple – €24,000 for a single person, plus €4,800 for a spouse.
What is the cost of living in Cyprus?
They enjoy the ‘amazing food’ at local tavernas for around €40 for both of them and have had a lot of guests over from England. “It’s been great quality time, taking them sightseeing,” says Karen, who admits that it has taken a while to get used to not working, and she does miss her mother and daughter who are back in the UK, so she comes back more often than David.
The only thing that has been a bit of a surprise is how cold it gets up here in winter – the log burner gets a lot of use in January and February.
“We are really glad we did it and wish we’d been able to do it a few years ago,” says Karen.
Thinking about buying in Cyprus?
With its warm climate, attractive tax benefits and relaxed lifestyle, Cyprus continues to be a popular choice for UK buyers.
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