Cheap eats in Cyprus without missing out

Eating cheaply in Cyprus is doable, but it helps to know where it’s dear and where it isn’t. As there’s no official source for dish prices, I rely on Eurostat’s indices and on what is published, such as Larnaca market’s opening hours. The areas and what each produces are in where to eat in Cyprus.

What the prices say

Eurostat compares each country’s price level with the EU average, set at 100. In 2024, Cyprus’s restaurants and hotels category stood at 89.0, around 11 % below the European average. For food, Cyprus stood at 104.8. In other words, eating out is reasonable by EU standards, but the supermarket isn’t where Cyprus saves you money. How to cut costs on the rest of the trip, from flights to buses, is in Cyprus on a budget. The UK isn’t part of this series any more, so I can’t give you a direct comparison with home.

The market

In Larnaca, the municipal market stands on the site of the old one, in a new building, mixing traditional stalls with artisans. According to the tourism board, the long days, 7:00 to 18:00, fall on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, while on Wednesday and Saturday it shuts at two. On Saturdays there’s also an open-air farmers’ market. It’s the place to buy fruit, vegetables and products like halloumi cheese, with its seal on the label.

Once your dates are set, check which hotels are still free in Larnaca before prices climb.

Self-catering

Even though food isn’t cheap, cooking on some days still costs less than eating out at every meal. If that appeals, a flat with a kitchen helps, and you’ll find them in apartments in Cyprus. If you’d rather have a hotel, Larnaca holds a good share of the two-stars on the register, as covered in cheap hotels in Cyprus. A picnic bought at the market also makes a good plan for a beach or mountain day.

Your hotel’s board basis

At resorts away from town, all-inclusive saves on taxis and odd meals, but they don’t all cover the same things. In Protaras, for example, the Golden Coast hotel includes only local drinks, while the Crystal Springs hotel adds imported brands and à la carte dinners. It’s worth comparing before you book, which I do board by board in all-inclusive hotels in Cyprus.

If you would rather have a local show you round, book a guided tour in Larnaca and choose by the reviews.

Where I wouldn’t cut back

There are two things I wouldn’t skimp on, halloumi with the PDO seal, enjoyed on the island, and a bottle of Commandaria wine, which carries a UNESCO inscription. Outside Larnaca I couldn’t find official opening hours for municipal markets, so I don’t give them. Self-catering works best where you have a fridge and a hob, and a cool bag for market shopping in the summer heat is money well spent.

My tips

A simple breakfast and lunch from the market, and one good dinner out, ideally in a village rather than on the seafront. For a cheap meal on the go, a pitta with sheftalia and souvlaki is as Cypriot as it gets, and there’s no need to add anything, since service is included, as I explain in tipping in Cyprus. If you’d rather spend nothing at all, try free things to do in Cyprus. What’s worth trying at least once is in Cypriot food. If you’re heading out to Lefkara or the Neolithic settlement of Choirokoitia, I’d take some food from Larnaca market with me.

A car frees you from timetables: search car hire in Larnaca on DiscoverCars and compare companies.

Once your dates are set, check which hotels are still free in Larnaca before prices climb.