Cyprus money and currency guide: EUR, ATMs, and the north

Two currencies on one island: understanding the money situation

Cyprus is unique among Mediterranean destinations in having two different currencies operating simultaneously on the same island — a direct consequence of its political division. South of the UN Buffer Zone, the Republic of Cyprus uses the euro, which it adopted in January 2008. North of the Green Line, in the area administered by Turkey, the Turkish lira is the official currency, though tourism-facing businesses almost universally accept euros and British pounds.

This guide covers both sides and helps you plan your money management for a trip that may include both.

South currency	Euro (EUR)
North currency	Turkish lira (TRY), euros widely accepted
ATMs	Plentiful in south, thinner in the north
Daily budget (mid-range)	€80–140/person
Cards	Widely accepted south, carry cash in villages
Tipping	10% appreciated, not compulsory

Republic of Cyprus: the euro

Currency basics

The Republic of Cyprus has used the euro since January 1, 2008, replacing the Cypriot pound. All transactions in the south are in euros. Prices at hotels, restaurants, shops, and tourist sites are quoted in euros. Bank accounts are in euros.

ATMs

ATMs (cash machines) are plentiful throughout the Republic of Cyprus. You will find them:

• At all three main airports (Larnaca, Paphos, Ercan in the north).
• In every city centre and major resort area.
• In most villages of any size.
• At petrol stations on major roads.

Major local banks include Bank of Cyprus (the largest), Hellenic Bank, and RCB Bank. All have ATMs that accept international Visa and Mastercard. Withdrawal limits and fees vary by your home bank — check your account’s international ATM fee structure before travelling.

Tip: ATMs at airports often offer “dynamic currency conversion” (DCC) — converting your withdrawal to your home currency at a poor exchange rate. Always decline DCC and choose to be charged in euros.

Card payments

Card payments are widely accepted across Cyprus:

• All hotels (including small guesthouses) accept cards.
• Most restaurants in cities and resort areas accept Visa/Mastercard. Some smaller village tavernas are cash-only — carry €20–40 in cash when visiting rural areas.
• Petrol stations: major chains accept cards; some rural stations are cash-only.
• Markets and small shops: cash preferred.
• Supermarkets: cards universally accepted.

Contactless payment (NFC) is standard at most terminals in the south.

What things cost in the Republic of Cyprus (2026 estimates)

Item	Budget range
Coffee (espresso)	€1.50–3.00
Beer (0.5L draught)	€2.50–4.50
Lunch (taverna, 2 courses)	€12–20/person
Meze dinner (per person)	€18–30/person
Taxi (Paphos city, 5 km)	€8–12
Hire car (per day, small)	€20–45 depending on season
Petrol (per litre)	€1.50–1.80
Archaeological site entry	€2.50–4.50
Sunbed pair + umbrella	€10–18

Daily budget guidance:

• Budget traveller (hostel/budget hotel, self-catering + one taverna meal): €50–70/person/day
• Mid-range (3-star hotel, meals out): €80–140/person/day
• Comfortable (4-star hotel, tours, meze): €140–220/person/day
• Luxury (5-star resort, private tours): €300+/person/day

Tipping culture

Tipping in Cyprus is appreciated but not compulsory. Norms:

• Restaurants: 10 percent is generous; rounding up is standard. Service charge is not typically included in bills at casual tavernas.
• Taxis: Round up to the nearest euro or add a few euros for good service.
• Hotel housekeeping: €1–2 per night left on the pillow.
• Tour guides: €5–10 per person for a full-day guided tour.

Northern Cyprus: the Turkish lira

Currency basics

Northern Cyprus officially uses the Turkish lira (TRY) as its currency. The exchange rate fluctuates significantly — check the current rate before visiting. In recent years, high inflation in Turkey has meant the lira devalues regularly.

Important: Do not exchange a large amount of lira in advance. The rate is better inside Northern Cyprus than at bureaux de change elsewhere in Europe, and the lira rate has been volatile.

Euro and GBP acceptance

The practical reality for most tourists: euros and British pounds are accepted at virtually all tourist-facing businesses in Northern Cyprus, including:

• Hotels and guesthouses in Kyrenia and Famagusta
• Restaurants and cafés in tourist areas
• Archaeological site ticket offices
• Souvenir shops

The exchange rate you will receive in lira for your euro or pound payment is at the discretion of the business — it is usually close to the current rate but not identical. For predictability, carry some lira for smaller purchases (markets, village shops, petrol stations).

ATMs in Northern Cyprus

ATMs exist in Kyrenia and Famagusta town centres, but the network is less dense than in the south. Most ATMs accept international Visa and Mastercard, though the machines may not offer the most favourable rate. Carrying enough euros from the south reduces ATM dependency.

Practical advice: Withdraw a modest amount of lira (equivalent of €30–50) from an ATM in Kyrenia on arrival, use euros for hotels and larger restaurants, and lira for markets and small purchases.

What things cost in Northern Cyprus (2026 rough guide)

Prices are expressed in euros for reference; actual prices are in lira:

• Coffee: €1–2 equivalent
• Lunch (local restaurant): €7–12/person equivalent
• Archaeological site entry: €2–5 equivalent
• Kyrenia harbour restaurant dinner: €15–25/person equivalent

Northern Cyprus is generally cheaper than the Republic of Cyprus for comparable quality.

Regional cost differences within the Republic

Prices are not uniform across the south. Limassol runs 15-25% above the island average for restaurants and drinks, driven by its expat and cruise-passenger traffic. Paphos and Larnaca sit close to the average, with meaningfully cheaper options once you move away from the harbour-front strips. Nicosia, with fewer tourists, has the best value for everyday meals and coffee. If you are budgeting a multi-stop trip, our Cyprus itinerary guide breaks down which regions to combine, and the meze guide has specific per-person cost ranges for the island’s signature meal.

Paphos: Private Wine Tour with Tastings and Winery Visits

Planning your cash around the places you will visit

The simplest way to think about money in Cyprus is by the kind of stop you are making. Resort towns, city centres and hotels are card territory. Mountain villages, roadside bakeries, beach kiosks and small family-run tavernas are where a few notes in your pocket save an awkward moment. A day in the Troodos Mountains or a wander through Omodos and the wine villages is the classic example: the scenery is wonderful, the card terminals are not always working, and the best lunch of your trip may be a place that only takes cash.

If you are building a route around the island, it helps to keep a small cash buffer topped up whenever you pass through a bigger town. Paphos, Limassol and Larnaca all have plenty of cash machines, so refill there before heading uphill or out to the quieter coast. The Akamas Peninsula and the villages around Polis and Latchi reward the same habit: take what you need before you leave the main road, because machines thin out quickly once you are off the beaten track.

Beaches, boat trips and day-to-day extras

Beach life runs on small payments: a sunbed pair, an iced coffee, a snack from a kiosk. Many beach bars take cards, but not all, and a weak signal can slow a terminal down. Keep coins and small notes handy so that you are not asking a lifeguard-station café to break a large note. Our best beaches in Cyprus guide will help you pick where to spend the day, and the family beaches guide is worth a look if you are juggling children, towels and a wallet at the same time.

Coffee, snacks and the small stuff

Coffee culture is part of daily life, and a stop for a Cypriot coffee or a frappé is one of the cheapest pleasures on the island. These are the purchases most likely to be cash-only at traditional kafeneia, so it is worth reading about Cypriot coffee culture before you go and keeping small change for the occasion. The same goes for bakeries, fruit stalls and the occasional honey or olive-oil seller at the side of a village road.

Getting around: paying for transport

Transport is where money questions come up most often, because the answer depends on how you travel. If you hire a car, read our renting a car in Cyprus guide and the notes on driving on the left before you arrive; fuel stations on main roads are used to cards, but rural ones may not be. If you prefer not to drive, the public transport guide explains how buses work, and the taxis and transfers guide covers what to expect when paying a driver. Agree on how you will pay before a longer taxi ride, and keep small notes for the fare so there is no scramble for change.

For arrival day, many travellers prefer to settle the fare in advance rather than negotiate at the kerb after a flight. Our Larnaca airport guide and Paphos airport guide explain what is available at each terminal, including where the cash machines are, so you can plan your first euros before you leave the arrivals hall.

Spending sensibly without spoiling the trip

A budget is a tool, not a rule. The island rewards people who spend a little more on the things that matter, such as a long meze dinner, a guided day in the mountains or a good bottle from a local winery, and economise on the things that do not, such as an overpriced harbour-front lunch. The meze guide shows how to eat well without over-ordering, and the wine guide helps you choose what is worth paying for. Eating where locals eat is almost always both cheaper and better.

When the season matters to your wallet, the when to visit Cyprus guide explains how shoulder months compare with high summer, and the how many days guide will help you decide how long a trip you actually need. A shorter, better-planned stay often costs less than a longer, improvised one.

Keeping track of what you spend

A simple habit works well: note what you withdraw, pay larger bills by card, and use cash for small items. That way you are never carrying more than you need, and you can see at a glance whether your daily spending matches the range you planned. If you are travelling as a family, a shared cash envelope for beach days and snacks makes it easy to see where the money goes, and our Cyprus with kids guide has more ideas for keeping the day running smoothly.

Before you fly: a short money checklist

• Tell your bank you are travelling, so a card payment abroad is not blocked.
• Check your card’s foreign transaction terms and your bank’s ATM charges.
• Carry a backup card kept separately from your main wallet.
• Confirm your entry rules in the visa and entry requirements guide, because border crossings are where you will want your papers and your cash in order.
• If you plan to visit the north, read the crossing guide and the Northern Cyprus guide so you know what to expect before you reach the checkpoint.

Money tips for crossing the border

When crossing from south to north (or vice versa) at the checkpoints:

• Insurance desks at the checkpoint sell “Green Card” temporary vehicle insurance for Northern Cyprus. Your Republic of Cyprus hire car policy almost certainly does not cover the north. See renting a car in Cyprus.
• Bring your euros — sufficient for the day or overnight stay.
• No currency declaration requirements for normal tourist amounts.

See our crossing north-south Cyprus guide for the full checkpoint process, including which documents to bring.

What to book

Larnaca: Private Transfer to/from Larnaca Airport (LCA) Private Transfer from Larnaca Airport to Ayia Napa

Frequently asked questions about money in Cyprus

Can I use my UK bank card in Cyprus without fees?

Most UK high-street banks charge 2–3 percent foreign transaction fees plus possible ATM fees. Specialist travel cards (Wise, Revolut, Starling) offer better rates. Check your bank’s specific terms before travelling.

Is Cyprus an expensive holiday destination?

Mid-range — somewhat more expensive than Turkey or Egypt, cheaper than Western Europe. Budget €80–140/person/day for a comfortable holiday with restaurant meals and some activities. Peak summer (July–August) adds 20–40 percent to accommodation costs.

Do I need cash or can I use cards everywhere?

Cards work in most of the Republic of Cyprus, but carry €30–50 in cash for village tavernas, markets, small shops, and emergencies. In Northern Cyprus, carry more cash — card acceptance is less universal.

What is the cheapest way to get money in Cyprus?

Withdraw euros from an ATM at Larnaca Airport (decline DCC) or at your bank’s partner ATM network if one exists in Cyprus. Specialist travel cards (Revolut, Wise) typically offer near-interbank rates with no/low fees.

Can I use US dollars in Cyprus?

USD is not accepted in regular commerce (not in shops, restaurants, or petrol stations). Exchange USD for euros at a bank or bureau de change before arriving, or withdraw euros from an ATM.

How much should I budget per day for a Cyprus trip overall?

For a full-trip estimate rather than just daily spending, combine the daily budget ranges above with your accommodation and car rental costs from our Cyprus itinerary guide and factor in seasonal swings — see the Cyprus weather month by month guide for how much prices shift between August peak and winter low season.