Limassol: Cyprus's most international city, at Cyprus's highest prices

The expat scene: Limassol has long been a magnet for Russian speakers, and after 2022 it took in Ukrainians, Israeli investors and tech and fintech firms leaving Russia, Ukraine and Belarus. The mayor put the Ukrainian arrivals alone at more than 10,000 in 2023. That mix is why the city feels international, and also why rents climbed fast enough that local families complain of being priced out.

Healthcare: Limassol General Hospital is the public hospital, and private hospitals operate in the center too. Foreign residents can use GeSY, Cyprus's national health system, but whether you qualify depends on your residence status. Confirm it before you count on it. If you come over on the pink slip, a private health policy is a condition of the permit anyway. U.S. Medicare won't pay for care here. The emergency number is 112.

Schools: English-language options include The Heritage Private School and Foley's School, both British curriculum, The Island Private School, which teaches the IB, and American Academy Limassol, which despite its name follows a British and Cambridge program. Plan on British exams or the IB rather than an American diploma.

Remote work: Home internet runs about $35 a month, and with the tech companies that moved here, you won't be the only one on a laptop.

LGBTQ expats: Cyprus decriminalized same-sex relations in 1998 and has allowed same-sex civil unions since December 2015. There's no same-sex marriage, adoption is limited to opposite-sex couples, and job discrimination based on sexual orientation is illegal. The State Department says LGB people sometimes face social discrimination and few are open, though it has no reports of violence against LGB travelers. Expect a more discreet scene than in a big U.S. city; Pride marches have been held in Nicosia. One rule to know: Cyprus won't grant a work or study residence permit to a U.S. citizen who tests positive for HIV.

Black Americans: We couldn't find reporting specific to Black Americans in Limassol. In March 2023, the Council of Europe's anti-racism commission found hate speech still widespread in Cypriot public discourse and mostly unchallenged. The international crowd here helps, but talk to Black expats already living on the island and spend a few weeks in Limassol before you commit.

Limited mobility: Cyprus law requires public buildings and tourist facilities built after 1999 to be accessible, but older buildings often aren't, and the State Department flags narrow or missing sidewalks and few accessible toilets and elevators. The bright spot is the sea: Olympia beach, next to Molos park, has a rail-mounted seat that takes wheelchair users from the sand into the water. Ask landlords about elevators and step-free entrances before you sign.

Retirement: Limassol works for retirees who want a city on the water and can carry the island's highest rents. January highs average near 60F, but July and August highs average near 92F, so air conditioning isn't optional. If you're living on income from home, look at the pink slip, which needs steady money from outside Cyprus and rules out a local job. See our Cyprus pink slip guide, the full guide to moving to Cyprus, and our retirement visa hub.