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Cyprus Household Assets Hit €65.1B While Debt Levels Fall

According to the latest quarterly report from the Central Bank of Cyprus, household financial assets in Cyprus reached €65.1 billion at the end of December 2025. The data also show changes in asset allocation and a continued decline in borrowing levels.

Household Asset Composition And Debt Trends

Cash, deposits, and loans accounted for 53% of household financial assets, while bonds represented 3%. Equities made up 26%, with the remaining 17% classified as other financial instruments. Household debt stood at €19.8 billion, equivalent to 54% of GDP, slightly lower than in the previous quarter. Compared with December 2016, the debt-to-GDP ratio has fallen by 64%, indicating a reduction in leverage over time.

Financial Performance Of Non-Financial Corporations

Non-financial corporations held €78.4 billion in financial assets. Their portfolios included 23% in cash and deposits, 6% in loans, 0.6% in bonds, 38% in equities, and 32% in other financial instruments. Total corporate debt reached €39.2 billion, or 107% of GDP. This represents a 99% decline in the debt-to-GDP ratio compared with December 2016, reflecting a sustained adjustment in corporate balance sheets.

Insurance, Investment And Pension Funds

Insurance companies held €6.2 billion in financial assets, while investment organisations managed €7.4 billion and pension funds €4.9 billion. In the insurance sector, equities accounted for 45% of assets and bonds for 28%. Investment organisations allocated 80% of assets to equities, while pension funds held 57% in equities.

These comprehensive insights from the Central Bank of Cyprus shed light on the evolving financial landscape in Cyprus, highlighting the ongoing shift toward asset-driven stability and strategic debt management amid a backdrop of economic recalibration.

Athens And Nicosia Still Offer Some Of Europe’s Most Affordable Apartments, Despite Rising Prices

Housing costs in Nicosia remain well below those in most western European capitals, according to new data from Global Property Guide, highlighting the wide gap in residential property prices across Europe.

Nicosia And Athens Remain Among Europe’s More Affordable Capitals

The latest figures from Global Property Guide, which tracks residential property markets across 88 countries, show that both Nicosia and Athens remain among Europe’s more affordable capital cities, despite years of steady price growth.

In Cyprus, the median asking price for a one-bedroom apartment in Nicosia stands at €145,000. Two-bedroom apartments are priced at €205,000, while three-bedroom homes reach €280,000.

That places Nicosia slightly above Athens in the one-bedroom category, where the Greek capital records a median asking price of €135,000. For two-bedroom and three-bedroom apartments, however, prices are identical in both cities at €205,000 and €280,000, respectively.

Western Europe Commands A Premium

Athens also remains relatively affordable by European standards. Median asking prices for one-bedroom apartments reach €174,000 in Warsaw, €240,000 in Madrid, €310,000 in Milan and €325,000 in Berlin.

The gap is even more pronounced in Western Europe, where one-bedroom apartments cost around €440,000 in both Paris and Lisbon, more than three times the price seen in Athens.

The difference becomes even greater for larger homes. A three-bedroom apartment carries a median asking price of €280,000 in both Athens and Nicosia, compared with €685,000 in Lisbon, €690,000 in Milan, €845,000 in Berlin and €1.08 million in Paris.

For two-bedroom apartments, the contrast is equally striking. While homes are priced at €205,000 in Athens and Nicosia, equivalent properties cost €380,000 in Madrid, €455,000 in Milan, €527,000 in Berlin, €620,000 in Lisbon and €695,000 in Paris.

Europe’s Most Expensive Property Markets

Global Property Guide’s data also highlights the wide variation in residential property prices across Europe.

Zurich is the continent’s most expensive market for a one-bedroom apartment, with a median asking price of €1.151 million. It is followed by Luxembourg (€669,000), Copenhagen (€601,000), Munich (€548,000) and London (€522,000), while Paris and Lisbon are both priced at around €440,000.

The Most Affordable Cities

At the other end of the market, the lowest asking prices are concentrated in south-eastern and eastern Europe. Median asking prices for a one-bedroom apartment stand at €125,000 in Riga, €118,000 in Podgorica, €110,000 in Bucharest, €103,000 in Sarajevo and €79,000 in Chisinau.

According to the report, Skopje is Europe’s most affordable capital for one-bedroom apartments, with a median asking price of just €55,000.

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