Where do expats live in Paphos?

The biggest British community is in Peyia and Coral Bay, north of town. Tala, Chloraka and Kissonerga also have large expat populations, while Kato Paphos and Universal attract newcomers who want to live in town. Our Paphos areas guide compares them all.

What is the difference between Paphos and Kato Paphos?

Kato Paphos is the coastal part of Paphos town, with the harbour, archaeological park and most hotels. Ktima, or Upper Paphos, is the older town centre on the ridge about 3 km inland, with the market, offices and shops. Both are in Paphos Municipality.

What is the population of Paphos?

Paphos Municipality had 37,991 residents in the 2021 census. The wider Paphos urban area, including nearby villages such as Geroskipou, Chloraka, Konia and Emba, had 71,553, and Paphos district had 101,106.

Is it expensive to live in Paphos?

It is cheaper than Limassol and most of southern England, but no longer cheap. A couple renting a 2-bed in town typically spends €1,700–3,100 a month in total, and Numbeo puts a single person's costs at about €820 a month before rent. Try our cost of living calculator for your own numbers.

How much does it cost to rent in Paphos?

In 2026 a one-bed apartment in Paphos town typically costs €650–950 a month and a two-bed €800–1,200. Kato Paphos and Universal are at the top of the range; older blocks in Ktima are cheaper. See our renting in Paphos guide.

Do you need a car to live in Paphos?

Not if you live in central Ktima or Kato Paphos and mostly stay in town. For the outer quarters and the villages, yes. Buses cover the main routes but thin out in the evening.

Is Paphos cheaper than Limassol?

Yes, generally. Rents in Paphos are well below Limassol for similar apartments. Our Paphos vs Limassol comparison sets out the differences.

What are the disadvantages of living in Paphos?

The main ones are summer heat (August highs around 30°C, often more), a car-dependent district outside the centre, thin evening bus services, slow bureaucracy and rising rents: Investropa puts Paphos apartment rents up about 6% in the past year. Salaries are also low if you plan to work locally: Numbeo puts the average net monthly salary in Paphos at about €1,660.

Restored limestone buildings and cafés on a pedestrian street in Paphos old town, Ktima

Area guide

Living in Paphos Town: Ktima, Kato Paphos and Everything Between

Paphos Municipality has 37,991 residents (2021 census) and splits into the old upper town, Ktima, and the seafront, Kato Paphos. Living in town gives you walkable streets, the hospital, government offices and the airport 20 minutes away. A two-bed apartment typically costs €800–1,200 a month.

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Living in Paphos in 30 seconds

Two towns in one: Ktima, the old upper town with the market and offices, and Kato Paphos, the seafront with the harbour and restaurants, about 3 km apart.

Size: 37,991 people live in Paphos Municipality (2021 census) and 71,553 in the wider urban area.

Rent: about €800–1,200 a month for a 2-bed and €650–950 for a 1-bed. Ktima is cheapest, Kato Paphos dearest.

Budget: a couple renting a 2-bed in town spends roughly €1,700–3,100 a month all in (worked example below). Numbeo puts a single person's costs at about €820 a month before rent.

Why town: the hospital, government offices, schools and the airport (20 minutes) are all close, and central streets are walkable.

The downsides: hot Augusts, thin evening buses outside the centre and apartments rather than gardens.

Paphos town at a glance

Scorecard

Family-friendly4/5
Walkability4/5
Sea access3/5
Amenities & nightlife5/5
Value for money3/5
Peace & quiet2/5

Key facts

Local authority: Paphos Municipality
Population (2021 census): 37,991 in the municipality (32,892 in 2011); 71,553 in the wider urban area
Elevation: Sea level (Kato Paphos) to about 75 m (Ktima)
Quarters: Agios Theodoros, Agios Pavlos, Kato Paphos, Anavargos, Moutallos
Typical 2-bed rent: €800⁠–⁠1,200
Car needed?: Not in the centre; yes for the outer quarters

Drive times

Paphos harbour5 min
Paphos Airport20 min
Limassol55 min
Nearest international school (Aspire, Tombs of the Kings Ave)5 min
Paphos General Hospital5 min

Best forPeople who want services, shops and the hospital close byCouples and singles who want to walk to cafés and the marketWorking households and remote workersAnyone who wants to learn Greek and live among Cypriots (Ktima)

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Paphos town on the map

Paphos town covers Ktima (the old town on the ridge), Kato Paphos on the coast, and the residential quarters between and around them, including Universal, Anavargos and Moutallos.

Fresh produce stalls under the stone arches of the Paphos municipal market in Ktima

Two towns in one: Ktima and Kato Paphos

Paphos is really two towns joined by Apostolou Pavlou Avenue. Ktima (Upper Paphos) sits on a ridge about 3 km inland. It is the working town: the covered municipal market, Kennedy Square, the District Administration, the main bank branches, and streets of older stone houses and small shops. Most residents are Cypriot, and it is the best part of town for picking up Greek.

Kato Paphos (Lower Paphos) is the coast: the harbour and fort, the archaeological park with its Roman mosaics, beaches, hotels and the restaurant strip. Our Kato Paphos guide covers it in detail.

Between and around them are residential quarters where much of the town actually lives: Universal and the newer streets towards Geroskipou, Anavargos near the hospital and the International School of Paphos, and Moutallos, an older hillside quarter. The whole municipality counted 37,991 people in 2021, up 15% on 2011. The wider urban area, including Geroskipou, Chloraka, Konia, Emba, Tala and Mesogi, had 71,553.

Paphos town rents and property prices in 2026

A two-bedroom apartment in Paphos town typically rents for €800–1,200 a month on a long let, and a one-bed for €650–950. Older blocks in Ktima sit at the bottom of that range, and newer complexes towards the sea at the top. Numbeo's crowd-sourced data (September 2026) puts a city-centre one-bed at about €980 a month on average.

Prices vary a lot between quarters:

Quarter	Typical 2-bed rent	What you get
Ktima (old town)	€750–1,100	Older blocks, walk to market and offices
Universal	€900–1,300	Newer apartments, close to the sea
Kato Paphos	€1,100–1,500	Seafront, walkable, holiday-let competition
Anavargos and Moutallos	€800–1,150	Residential, near the hospital and ISOP

Flat rooftops and palm trees of Paphos town with the sea on the horizon — Rooftops of Paphos town, looking towards the sea

On the sale side, a snapshot of INDEX.cy listings on 27 September 2026 put the middle half of asking prices in the residential quarters of Paphos town (Agios Theodoros, Anavargos and Moutallos) for two-bedroom apartments at about €320,000–410,000 (median about €352,000) and three-bedroom houses at about €430,000–595,000.

House prices in Paphos are still rising: the Central Bank of Cyprus index shows Paphos prices up 9.6% year on year in Q2 2026, with apartments up 18.5%, the fastest of any district. Asking prices on portals run well above what buyers actually pay. PwC's analysis of Land Registry data put the average 2025 Paphos transaction at about €230,000 for an apartment and €466,000 for a house.

Typical long-term rents across Paphos town (2026)

Asking rents for 12-month contracts across the municipality. Sea views and newer complexes with pools sit at the top of each range.

1-bed apartment

€650–950

2-bed apartmentKato Paphos: €1,100–1,500

€800–1,200

3-bed apartment or house

€1,200–1,800

Total per month

€2,650 – €3,950

Typical asking rents for unfurnished or part-furnished 12-month lets, compiled 27 Sep 2026 from the INDEX.cy Paphos rental guides (April and June 2026), Investropa (September 2026) and live listings on INDEX.cy and BuySellCyprus. Agency listings for new, furnished or sea-view homes often ask well above these ranges. Areas with few listings (Kissonerga, Mesogi, Tsada) are estimated from neighbouring areas.

What a month costs a couple in Paphos town

A worked example for two adults renting a 2-bed apartment in Paphos town with one car. For comparison, Numbeo's September 2026 data puts a family of four at about €2,930 a month before rent.

2-bed apartment rentFrom the rent table above

€800–1,200

Communal fees (apartment complex)Pool and garden complexes at the top; often passed to the tenant

€50–250

ElectricitySummer air-con and winter heating push you to the top

€100–250

Water

€15–40

Broadband and two mobilesNumbeo averages: broadband €31, mobile plan €21

€70–90

Groceries for two€250–400 per person

€500–800

Running one car30–60 litres of fuel, insurance, licence and MOT

€89–135

Eating out2–6 mid-range dinners for two at about €50

€100–300

Total per month

€1,724 – €3,065

Worked example, September 2026. Rent from the table above. Utilities, telecoms, fuel (€1.53 a litre), bus pass and restaurant prices from Numbeo's Paphos page (updated 24 Sep 2026). Groceries and electricity ranges from Cyprus Mail (April 2026). Car insurance (about €300 a year), car licence (about €200 a year) and MOT (€35) from DevelopersCyprus (June 2026). Water and communal fees from local utility guides. Excludes health insurance, school fees and one-off costs such as the deposit. Change the assumptions in our [Paphos cost of living calculator](/tools/paphos-cost-calculator).

What living in Paphos is like day to day

Paphos town gives you routine without a long drive: a coffee in Ktima, the market for fruit and vegetables, the seafront promenade in the evening. In Ktima and Kato Paphos you can do much of this on foot. In the outer quarters you will drive, but the trips are 5 to 10 minutes.

People strolling under palm trees on the Paphos seafront promenade at dusk — The seafront promenade is the evening routine for many residents

The seasons matter. Average daytime highs are about 17°C in January and 30°C in August, and almost all of the rain falls between November and March. Summer brings tourists to the coast, while Ktima stays mostly local all year. Our guide to Paphos weather in summer covers the hot months in detail.

Admin is easier in town. The District Administration, the immigration unit, the tax office and bank head branches are in or near Ktima. You will visit several of them in your first months, for example for a yellow slip or residence permit and to open a bank account.

Social life is easy to find. Paphos has walking and hiking groups, choirs, sports clubs, quiz nights, church congregations in English and a full events calendar through the year. See our guides to making friends in Paphos and events in Paphos, and read what winter in Paphos is really like before you decide.

Paphos town: pros and cons

What works

Hospital, government offices, banks and big supermarkets within minutes

Parts of Ktima and Kato Paphos are genuinely walkable

Year-round life that does not depend on tourism (especially Ktima)

About 20 minutes to Paphos Airport

The widest choice of rentals in the district

What to watch

Mostly apartments: gardens and pools cost extra

Summer heat and traffic, especially near the coast

Some older Ktima buildings are poorly insulated and damp in winter

Parking is tight in the old town

Fewer sea views than the hillside villages

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From experience

What residents tend to say

Many people who move to Paphos end up spending more time in Ktima than they expected. It is where the market, the town-hall paperwork and the local cafés are, and it feels like a Cypriot town rather than a resort. The usual adjustment is to August heat in a town-centre flat, so look for an apartment with good cross-ventilation and air-conditioning that works properly.

— Jason

Lights of Paphos town at blue hour, looking down from Ktima to Kato Paphos and the sea — Looking from Ktima down to Kato Paphos at dusk

Who Paphos town suits (and who it doesn't)

Paphos town suits couples and singles who want to walk to cafés and shops, retirees who want the hospital and services close, and working households who don't want a daily commute. It also suits people who want to learn Greek and live among Cypriots, especially in Ktima.

For families, the outer quarters work best. Anavargos and Universal put you close to the International School of Paphos and the hospital; see our Universal guide and best areas for families.

It does not suit anyone who wants a big garden, a village square or hillside views for the money. For those, look at Tala, Konia or Peyia. Our where to live in Paphos guide compares all the areas side by side.

Schools, healthcare and getting around

Schools. The International School of Paphos (ISOP, ages 2½–18, English National Curriculum to A level) is in Anavargos, about 10 minutes from the centre, and Aspire Private British School (ages 4–18) is on Tombs of the Kings Avenue at the Chloraka end, about 5 minutes. Paphos town also has more than a dozen Greek-language public primary schools. See international schools in Paphos for fees and admissions.

Healthcare. Paphos General Hospital, the district's public hospital, is in Anavargos. Private hospitals and clinics are in Ktima and the surrounding streets. See our GeSY healthcare guide.

Supermarkets. The covered municipal market is in Ktima. Sklavenitis has stores on Ellados Avenue, and Lidl, AlphaMega and the Neon Mall are in Anavargos. Kings Avenue Mall is on the Kato Paphos side of town.

Buses. Karavella station in Ktima is the hub for town and village routes, including 613 to Paphos Airport, 608 to the General Hospital and 610 down to Kato Paphos harbour. A single fare is €2 and a day ticket €6.50.

Driving. Paphos Airport is about 20 minutes from the centre and Limassol about 55 minutes on the A6. Nicosia is about 2 hours.

Life in Paphos town

Frequently asked questions

For most people moving from the UK, yes. Paphos has a mild climate, a large English-speaking community, an international airport 20 minutes from town, and lower living costs than Limassol. The downsides are summer heat, a car-dependent district outside the centre and limited public transport.

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Sources checked for this page

1.Cyprus Statistical Service (CYSTAT) — Census of Population 2021, population by quarter (Pafos)Government
2.Cyprus Statistical Service (CYSTAT) — Population Census 2011Government
3.Wikipedia — PaphosProfessional
4.INDEX.cy — Long-term rental in Paphos guide (6 Jun 2026)Professional
5.INDEX.cy — Apartments for rent in Paphos guide (7 Apr 2026)Professional
6.Investropa — Updated rents in Paphos (updated 21 Sep 2026)Experience
7.Numbeo — Cost of living in Paphos (last updated 24 Sep 2026; family and single costs, salaries, utilities, fuel, bus pass)Experience
8.INDEX.cy — Apartments for sale in Paphos (asking-price snapshot, 27 Sep 2026)Professional
9.INDEX.cy — Houses for sale in Paphos (asking-price snapshot, 27 Sep 2026)Professional
10.PwC Cyprus — Real estate market FY2025 (DLS transaction data)Professional
11.Department of Lands and Surveys — Contracts of sale 2025–2026Government
12.Cyprus Statistical Service (CYSTAT) — Census of Population 2021, population by communityGovernment
13.Drive times: OSRM routing (OpenStreetMap data), off-peak estimates checked 27 Sep 2026, rounded to 5 minutesProfessional
14.Central Bank of Cyprus — Residential Property Price Index, Q2 2026Government
15.Cyprus Mail — Cost of living in Cyprus in 2026 (10 Apr 2026; groceries and electricity ranges)Professional
16.DevelopersCyprus — Cost of living in Cyprus (updated 6 Jun 2026; car insurance, car licence, MOT)Professional
17.Nisea — Relocating to Cyprus: utility setup guide (water bills, communal charges)Professional

Written by

Jason

Founder, Paphos Advisor

British founder who moved his family from the UK to Paphos in 2025. I write down what I learned doing it properly — the tax, the residency and the living-here detail — and introduce people to the specialists I’d use myself.

How I research and fact-check

Keep reading

Area guide

Where to Live in Paphos: The Best Locations Compared

Eleven Paphos areas compared side by side: 2026 rents, drive times, community, schools and who each suits, with a full guide to every one.

Area guide

Living in Kato Paphos: The Harbour District, Honestly Reviewed

The harbour, the promenade and the only car-free life in the district. What Kato Paphos costs to rent in 2026, and what summer and winter are really like.

Area guide

Living in Universal, Paphos: Central, Modern and Residential

Newer apartments and family homes between Ktima and the sea, walking distance to a beach and minutes from everything. Where Universal is, what it costs and who it suits.

Comparison

Paphos vs Limassol: Which Is Better to Live In?

Limassol has the jobs, schools and buzz; Paphos has lower rents, its own airport and a big British community. A side-by-side comparison for people moving from the UK.

Guide

Long-Term Rentals in Paphos: The 2026 Renting Guide

What long-term rentals in Paphos cost by area, how deposits and contracts work, your rights as a tenant and the 2026 rule changes.

Guide

Settling In Cyprus: Your First 90 Days in Paphos

The practical setup after you land in Paphos: residence permit, tax number, bank, electricity, water, broadband, GESY and your UK licence, in the order that works.

Living in Paphos Town: Ktima, Kato Paphos and Everything Between

Paphos town at a glance

Paphos town on the map

Two towns in one: Ktima and Kato Paphos

Paphos town rents and property prices in 2026

Typical long-term rents across Paphos town (2026)

What a month costs a couple in Paphos town

What living in Paphos is like day to day

Paphos town: pros and cons

Who Paphos town suits (and who it doesn't)

Schools, healthcare and getting around

Life in Paphos town

Frequently asked questions

Is Paphos a good place to live?

Where do expats live in Paphos?

What is the difference between Paphos and Kato Paphos?

What is the population of Paphos?

Is it expensive to live in Paphos?

How much does it cost to rent in Paphos?

Do you need a car to live in Paphos?

Is Paphos cheaper than Limassol?

What are the disadvantages of living in Paphos?

Town, coast or village?

Sources checked for this page

Keep reading

Paphos town at a glance

Paphos town on the map

Two towns in one: Ktima and Kato Paphos

Paphos town rents and property prices in 2026

Typical long-term rents across Paphos town (2026)

What a month costs a couple in Paphos town

What living in Paphos is like day to day

Paphos town: pros and cons

Who Paphos town suits (and who it doesn't)

Schools, healthcare and getting around

Life in Paphos town

Frequently asked questions

Is Paphos a good place to live?

Where do expats live in Paphos?

What is the difference between Paphos and Kato Paphos?

What is the population of Paphos?

Is it expensive to live in Paphos?

How much does it cost to rent in Paphos?

Do you need a car to live in Paphos?

Is Paphos cheaper than Limassol?

What are the disadvantages of living in Paphos?

Town, coast or village?