Updated April 2026 · 7 min read · By Maria Georgiou
The median gross monthly salary in Nicosia in early 2026 is €2,180 — up 4.7% year on year and the highest of any Cyprus city. But the headline number hides a far more interesting story: the gap between the best- and worst-paying sectors in the capital has widened to over €4,200 a month.
Key Takeaways
- Nicosia’s 2026 median gross monthly salary: €2,180 (CyStat Q1 2026, full-time employees).
- Highest-paying sector: ICT & software (€4,950 median); lowest: retail/hospitality (€1,290).
- Public sector premium: government roles in Nicosia pay 18% above the private-sector median.
- Forex, legal and pharmaceutical roles cluster in the top decile (€5,200+).
- Year-on-year wage growth is fastest in compliance (+11.2%) and cybersecurity (+9.8%).
How Nicosia salaries compare to the rest of Cyprus
Nicosia is Cyprus’s administrative and corporate capital, home to the central government, the Central Bank of Cyprus, the Big Four accountancy firms, and the headquarters of most major Cypriot banks and law firms. That concentration of professional services pulls the city’s wage floor higher than Limassol (skewed by tourism and shipping), Larnaca, Paphos or Famagusta.
According to CyStat’s Q1 2026 Labour Force Survey, Nicosia full-time employees earn a median gross monthly salary of €2,180, compared to €2,040 in Limassol and €1,790 in Paphos. Mean salary (skewed by high earners) is €2,640.
Salaries by sector — Nicosia 2026
The table below shows median gross monthly salaries for full-time employees in Nicosia across the 14 sectors that account for over 90% of the city’s employment. Figures are €/month before tax and social insurance.
| Sector | Entry-level | Median | Senior |
|---|---|---|---|
| ICT & Software | €2,300 | €4,950 | €8,400 |
| Forex & Investment Firms | €2,100 | €4,800 | €9,200 |
| Legal Services | €1,650 | €3,850 | €7,500+ |
| Pharmaceuticals | €1,900 | €3,700 | €6,400 |
| Banking & Finance | €1,750 | €3,200 | €6,800 |
| Accounting & Audit | €1,400 | €2,950 | €5,800 |
| Public Sector / Government | €1,350 | €2,580 | €4,900 |
| Healthcare (GeSY) | €1,300 | €2,400 | €5,600 |
| Construction & Engineering | €1,200 | €2,300 | €4,500 |
| Education | €1,250 | €2,180 | €3,900 |
| Real Estate | €1,100 | €2,050 | €4,200 |
| Logistics & Transport | €1,150 | €1,920 | €3,400 |
| Hospitality & Food Service | €940 | €1,420 | €2,800 |
| Retail | €920 | €1,290 | €2,400 |
Source: CyStat Q1 2026 Labour Force Survey, Eurostat 2025 wage data, Jobs Nicosia recruiter survey of 18 Nicosia-based hiring managers (Feb–Mar 2026). Figures are gross monthly, full-time, before tax.
Where the highest-paid jobs in Nicosia actually are
Drill into the top decile and three clusters dominate. First, the forex and CIF (Cyprus Investment Firm) sector centred on the area between Strovolos and Latsia: roughly 1,200 active vacancies in compliance, dealing, IT, and legal counsel paying €4,800–€9,200 for senior roles. Second, the Big Four accountancy firms (PwC, Deloitte, KPMG, EY) with their flagship Nicosia offices, where audit managers and tax partners can clear €7,000+. Third, international law firms on Themistokli Dervi and Diagorou — corporate and M&A senior associates are billed out at €350+/hour and earn proportionately.
Wage growth: who’s actually getting raises
Year-on-year nominal wage growth across Nicosia averaged 4.7% in 2025 — slightly above the eurozone’s 4.1%. But the distribution is uneven. Compliance (+11.2%) and cybersecurity (+9.8%) lead, driven by Cyprus’s expanded MiCA and AML regimes. Public sector pay rose 6.3% on the back of the 2025 collective agreement. Hospitality and retail grew just 2.9% — below inflation.
Stat to Quote
A senior compliance officer at a Nicosia CIF earns more in 2026 than a partner at a mid-tier law firm did in 2020.
Take-home pay: what €2,180 gross actually means
For a single Nicosia employee on the median €2,180 gross monthly salary (€26,160 annual), 2026 take-home pay after Cyprus income tax (zero up to €19,500), GeSY contributions (2.65%), and social insurance (8.8%) works out to roughly €1,810/month. That puts the median Nicosia worker comfortably above the city’s estimated single-person living cost of €1,500/month (rent excluded).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average salary in Nicosia in 2026?
The median gross monthly salary for full-time employees in Nicosia is €2,180 in Q1 2026, according to CyStat. Mean salary (skewed by high earners in finance, law and ICT) is €2,640.
Which sector pays the highest in Nicosia?
ICT and software development pay the highest median salary at €4,950/month, narrowly ahead of forex and investment firms at €4,800. Senior roles in both sectors regularly clear €8,000–€9,000/month.
How does Nicosia compare to Limassol for salaries?
Nicosia’s median gross salary (€2,180) is about 7% higher than Limassol’s (€2,040). Limassol leads only in shipping, where average salaries reach €3,800. Nicosia leads in every other professional sector.
Are salaries in Nicosia rising in 2026?
Yes — average year-on-year wage growth was 4.7% in 2025, with compliance (+11.2%), cybersecurity (+9.8%) and public sector (+6.3%) leading. Hospitality and retail lagged at +2.9%.
How much tax do you pay on €2,180/month in Cyprus?
On a €26,160 annual salary, you pay zero income tax (the threshold is €19,500), 2.65% GeSY healthcare contribution and 8.8% social insurance. Take-home is roughly €1,810/month.
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