Published on and written by Cyril Jarnias
Moving to Egypt is attracting more and more expatriates: pleasant climate, exceptional heritage, the Red Sea within reach… and above all, a cost of living among the lowest in the world. For someone coming from the United Kingdom, the United States, or Western Europe, prices often seem unreal. But behind the “cheap” label, there are significant disparities depending on the city, neighborhood, lifestyle, and the currency in which you are paid.
Based on recent data, this article details the main expense items for expatriates in Egypt: housing, food, transportation, health, education, visas, and salaries. It offers a specific focus on Cairo, where the majority of the foreign community resides.
Overview: A very cheap country… if you earn in hard currency
To give an idea of the scale, several international comparisons show just how inexpensive Egypt is for an expatriate paid in euros, dollars, or pounds sterling. The cost of living there is approximately 86.3% lower than in the United Kingdom and 65% lower than in the United States. Some rankings simply place it as the least expensive country on the planet, with a cost of living index around 21 (global average is much higher).
For a family of four, average monthly expenses, including housing, can reach 1,700 dollars.
The key factor is the gap between local incomes and expatriate salaries. GDP per capita is around 3,900 dollars annually, and the average Egyptian earns a net salary of about 7,000 EGP per month, barely more than a hundred dollars at the recent exchange rate. The typical expatriate, however, earns an average of 371 dollars (9,200 EGP) per month, with a high end close to 1,660 dollars (41,100 EGP).
For a remote worker paid in strong foreign currency, Egypt offers a favorable cost of living. Conversely, for a local employee paid in Egyptian pounds (EGP), purchasing power is severely eroded by high inflation, successive currency devaluations, and rising housing costs, making ends meet difficult.
Housing: A key expense item, highly variable by city and neighborhood
Rent constitutes the biggest budget line for most expatriates. Egypt remains very affordable compared to the West, but Cairo, a metropolis of 20 million inhabitants classified as “Beta+” by the GaWC network, concentrates the highest prices in the country.
Understanding the Cairo rental market
Cairo’s rental market is dual: on one side, old leases (“old rent”) that are extremely cheap, gradually disappearing due to reforms; and on the other, market-rate leases which serve as the reference for newcomers. It is obviously the latter that concern expatriates.
Recent data shows continuous increases. Between early 2025 and early 2026, “market” rents rose another 10 to 15%, especially in upscale neighborhoods like Zamalek or Sheikh Zayed. Over five years, we’re talking about 30 to 60% increases, with much sharper jumps in buildings emerging from the old regulated regimes (some rents have multiplied by 10 to 20 after the gradual repeal of the old rent law).
For the coming period, projections indicate an annual price increase of 8 to 12%. Egypt therefore remains an affordable destination for newcomers paid in hard currency, but a price catch-up effect is clearly underway in the most sought-after neighborhoods.
Rents in Cairo: Realistic ranges
For the expatriate segment, the following figures provide a good working base, using a reference rate of approximately 1 USD for 50 EGP at the end of 2025.
| Type of Housing | Average Monthly Rent in Cairo | Realistic Range |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | 32,000 EGP (~640 USD) | 20,000 – 45,000 EGP |
| 1 bedroom | 35,000 EGP (~700 USD) | 22,000 – 55,000 EGP |
| 2 bedrooms | 45,000 EGP (~900 USD) | 30,000 – 80,000 EGP |
| 3 bedrooms | 55,000 EGP and more | up to +90,000 EGP |
The price per square meter rented generally fluctuates between 350 and 900 EGP per month, with a core market around 500–650 EGP/m² in good neighborhoods.
Furnished apartments, highly sought after by expatriates, cost significantly more: a +20 to 30% premium, often an additional 5,000 to 15,000 EGP per month compared to an unfurnished property, depending on the level of equipment.
Neighborhoods and rents: Where do expatriates live in Cairo?
Not all expatriates live in the same neighborhoods, but a few areas clearly concentrate foreign demand, with rents to match.
| Neighborhood / New City | Sector Profile | Example Rents (approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| Zamalek | Chic central island, embassies, cafes, very popular with expatriates | 2 beds: 55,000–70,000 EGP; 1 bed: 18,000–25,000 EGP |
| Garden City | Very central, historic buildings, diplomatic atmosphere | Similar levels to Zamalek |
| Maadi (Degla, Sarayat) | Green, community-oriented neighborhood, expat families | 1 bed: 12,000–16,000 EGP; 3 beds: 25,000–35,000 EGP (and much more in some compounds) |
| New Cairo / Fifth Settlement | Modern compounds, international schools, shopping malls | 1 bed: 10,000–15,000 EGP; 3 beds: 22,000–30,000 EGP; 2 beds in a high-end compound like Katameya Heights: 50,000–80,000 EGP |
| Heliopolis | Old residential area, close to the airport | 1 bed: 9,000–12,000 EGP; 3 beds: 18,000–25,000 EGP |
| Nasr City | More affordable, dense, students and middle class | 1 bed: 6,000–8,000 EGP; large apartments: ~15,000–18,000 EGP |
| Sheikh Zayed, 6 October | New cities to the west, family compounds, rents rising sharply | Ranges close to New Cairo, with peaks in luxury residences |
We see that for an expatriate paid in dollars/euros, it is possible to rent a decent 2 or 3-room apartment for between 10,000 and 20,000 EGP per month in a “livable” neighborhood, often for less than 400 dollars. On the other hand, if one aims for ultra-secure compounds with pools, clubhouses, international schools, and home services, the bill quickly climbs to 50,000 EGP and more.
Other cities: Housing cheaper than in Cairo
Leaving the capital allows for a significant reduction in the housing budget. In Alexandria, the country’s second city, rents are on average 20 to 30% lower for similar properties. On the Red Sea, in cities like Hurghada or Sharm El Sheikh, “standard” rentals are often even more affordable outside the high tourist season.
| City / Region | Studio | 1 Bedroom | 2 Bedrooms |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alexandria | 12,000 – 30,000 EGP | 18,000 – 40,000 EGP | 20,000 – 55,000 EGP (premium: +55,000 EGP) |
| Hurghada / Sharm El Sheikh | 8,000 – 20,000 EGP | ~9,500 – 15,800 EGP (300–500 USD) | 14,000 – 40,000 EGP |
For expatriates willing to move away from megalopolises and live by the sea, these cities can offer an excellent quality-price ratio, especially for digital nomads or retirees.
Buying a property: For investors and long-term expatriates
Egypt also attracts real estate investors, with announced rental yields between 7 and 10% per year nationally, higher than the typical 4–7% in other MENA countries. In the Cairo region, the average price is around 1,029 dollars per square meter, or about 25,000 EGP/m² at the time of data collection. A standard three-bedroom apartment therefore costs around 200,000 dollars.
Percentage of a property’s value represented by legal fees when purchasing in Egypt.
For an expatriate who wishes to buy, one must also consider restrictions: inability to buy agricultural land or purely commercial properties without going through a local company, and the absolute necessity of being accompanied by an independent lawyer to secure property titles.
Utilities: Electricity, internet, maintenance
If rent is a major expense, monthly utilities remain modest compared to Western standards. For an apartment of about 80–90 m², the combined monthly bill for electricity, water, and waste collection generally ranges between 500 and 1,900 EGP, or twenty to a few tens of dollars.
Consumption obviously rises in summer when air conditioning runs at full capacity. For an average household, accounts frequently mention electricity bills between 600 and 800 EGP during the hottest months, and rather 100–300 EGP in winter. Gas, for cooking and sometimes water heating, remains very inexpensive.
Fixed-line internet (about 60 Mbps) costs between 300 and 1,000 EGP per month depending on the operator and city. Mobile plans with data (10 GB and more) vary between 200 and 600 EGP. While these prices are not prohibitive for remote work, actual speeds can be lower than European standards, with an average of about 4 Mbps in Cairo, indicating variable service quality.
In apartment buildings, the famous bowwab (concierge / doorman) is often the jack-of-all-trades who manages bills, routine maintenance, coordination of repairs, and sometimes even garbage collection. A small monthly or regular tip for this service is common and remains moderate in the overall budget.
Food: Very affordable, unless you live “the Western way”
Food is one of the major budgetary advantages of Egypt. One who cooks at home, buys fruits and vegetables at the market, and avoids purely imported products can keep their food costs at extremely low levels.
An estimate of the “minimum food basket” is around 200 EGP per day per person, barely more than 6,000 EGP per month if eating local and homemade. For a reasonable single expatriate, a grocery budget of 3,000 to 5,000 EGP monthly is largely sufficient to eat well.
Some national prices give an idea:
| Product (market / supermarket) | Typical Price |
|---|---|
| Milk (1 liter) | ~45 EGP |
| White bread (one loaf) | ~27 EGP |
| Rice (1 kg) | ~16 EGP |
| Eggs (12) | ~70–80 EGP |
| Chicken (fillets, 1 kg) | ~100–120 EGP (can go up to 250 EGP depending on period and location) |
| Local cheese (1 kg) | ~80–100 EGP |
| Mineral water (1.5 L) | ~10 EGP |
| Local beer (0.5L bottle) | ~60–75 EGP |
| Mid-range bottle of wine | 300–450 EGP |
However, as soon as one turns extensively to imported brands (cereals, snacks, European cheese, branded alcohol, foreign organic products), the bill increases quickly. The sharp devaluation of the pound, combined with inflation on imported goods, makes this type of consumption much more expensive in EGP.
Regarding restaurants, the differences are spectacular compared to Europe:
– A simple meal in a small local restaurant often costs between 120 and 400 EGP.
– An international fast-food chain like McDonald’s is around 180–250 EGP for a meal.
– A full dinner for two in a “mid-range” restaurant generally costs 500 to 2,000 EGP depending on the standard.
For an expatriate paid in hard currency, dining out for 2 or 3 people for the equivalent of 20 to 40 dollars remains extremely attractive. But for a local employee paid 7,000 EGP per month, a simple “Western-style” dinner at an international chain is already a luxury.
Transportation: Ultra cheap public transport, affordable ride-hailing
In the “transportation” category, Egypt remains unbeatable if one accepts using buses or the metro. Cairo has an extensive metro network (about 74 stations), supplemented by public buses, private minibuses, and air-conditioned buses from the transport authority. A metro ticket costs between 8 and 20 EGP depending on distance; classic buses cost barely more.
This is the sufficient monthly budget in Egyptian pounds (EGP) for commuting via public transport, with subscriptions in the lower range.
Taxis and ride-hailing services are also very affordable:
– Taxi starting fare: 10 to 25 EGP, then about 13 to 32 EGP per kilometer.
– A short Uber or Careem trip in the city often costs 40 to 70 EGP.
– A full tank of gas remains moderate in absolute value, even though prices are rising: a liter of gasoline is around 11.5 to 14 EGP.
Monthly expenses in EGP for an expatriate using Uber twice a day for home-work commutes.
For those considering importing their car, the bill is entirely different. Variable customs duties depending on engine size (30 to 100%), 14% VAT, various additional taxes, and shipping costs make such an operation a heavy investment. Egyptian expatriates do benefit from a specific scheme allowing them to avoid duties in exchange for a five-year blocked foreign currency deposit, but for the average non-Egyptian, buying a vehicle locally is often simpler than importing, despite high prices for new models.
Health: Free public but limited, private affordable but needs insurance
For healthcare, Egypt has a dual system. The public sector, run by the Ministry of Health, offers very cheap services, even free for citizens, but quality remains uneven, especially outside major cities. Lack of staff, outdated equipment, questionable hygiene, long wait times: these are reasons why expatriates (and a good part of the local middle class) turn to private clinics and hospitals.
Over 60% of hospitals in Egypt belong to the private sector.
Costs remain, for a foreigner paid in hard currency, very reasonable:
| Type of private care | Typical cost range |
|---|---|
| General practitioner consultation | 15–40 USD |
| Specialist consultation | 30–80 USD |
| Dental cleaning | 25–50 USD |
| MRI or CT scan | 150–400 USD |
| Simple overnight hospitalization | 100–300 USD |
| Emergency care without major surgery | 50–200 USD |
These rates, weighted against local salary levels, remain prohibitive for many Egyptians. It is estimated that about 75% of medical procedures are paid out-of-pocket in the country, hence the importance for expatriates to have international or private health insurance. Many companies (AXA, Cigna, Bupa, Allianz, William Russell, among others) offer specific plans for Egypt, with coverage levels ranging from a few hundred to over 1,000 dollars per year depending on the extent of coverage (hospitalization, routine care, maternity, dental, medical evacuation, etc.).
Major employers often include private insurance in expatriation packages. For the self-employed, digital nomads, or retirees, it is highly recommended to take out international health insurance before departure, as costs related to a major health problem (cancer, major surgery, repatriation) can far exceed a standard budget.
Education: International school, the real “big ticket” item for families
If you move to Egypt with children, the education item can quickly become your main monthly expense, ahead of housing. Public education, theoretically free, is in Arabic and suffers from quality issues. Most expatriates therefore turn to private and international schools, which are numerous in Cairo and major cities.
In Cairo, tuition fees at international schools vary considerably. This variation depends on several key factors: the reputation of the institution, the type of program offered (such as American, British, IB, French, German, or Canadian programs), the quality of facilities, and the student’s grade level. This diversity is reflected in the capital’s offering, which includes over 80 international schools of different profiles.
In practice, the following ranges are common:
| Type of institution | Typical fee levels |
|---|---|
| Mid-range international school | 50,000 – 150,000 EGP per year |
| “High-end” international school | 150,000 – 300,000+ EGP per year |
| Very prestigious schools (BISC, Modern English School Cairo, major American schools…) | 300,000 – 550,000 EGP per year, sometimes more |
Some benchmark American or British schools, for example, charge fees exceeding 500,000 EGP per year for high school, plus one-time registration fees, school transport fees, uniforms, books, activities, international exams, etc. It is not uncommon for a family with two children in a top-tier international school to exceed a million pounds in annual budget just for education.
More modest structures offer international programs (IGCSE, American Diploma, IB, etc.) with more contained fees, around 100,000 EGP per year. Some French or German-speaking schools, subsidized or linked to international networks, also offer a good price-quality ratio, although spots are limited.
For young children, private kindergartens generally cost between 2,000 and 7,000 EGP per month. Again, large disparities exist depending on the standard and location (an international kindergarten in New Cairo has nothing to do with a neighborhood facility in Alexandria or Assiut).
Visas and residence: A cost to factor in for long-term stays
The “immigration” item is often forgotten in projected budgets, but in Egypt, visa and residence permit fees have increased sharply in recent years, especially for long-term residents.
Tourist visas remain cheap: a single-entry visa costs 25 dollars (possibly obtained on arrival at major airports), and a multi-entry visa is around 60–62 dollars. For certain short beach stays in Sinai (Sharm El Sheikh, Dahab…), a free “Sinai Stamp” allows 15 days without a paid visa.
Fees for residence permit applications and renewals have been significantly increased, from about 50-70 dollars to 150 dollars, and must be paid in foreign currency via an official bank transfer. Only refugees and asylum seekers are exempt from this increase.
For foreigners in an irregular situation, a regularization scheme introduced a 1,000 dollar fine for compliance, then additional penalties of 25 dollars every three months of overstay, including for children.
Minimum amount in dollars to invest or donate to obtain Egyptian citizenship through a special program.
These options obviously only concern a very wealthy fraction of expatriates, but they show that the issue of staying in Egypt is not budgetarily neutral once you move beyond the simple tourist visa.
Leisure, clothing, and daily life: Cheap, except for brands
Apart from the “major items” of housing, education, and health, daily life remains very affordable.
A cinema ticket in a large multiplex often costs 120 to 210 EGP. A monthly gym membership ranges between 400 and 2,000 EGP depending on the neighborhood and equipment level. Beach or diving leisure activities on the Red Sea are cheap compared to European standards: a boat diving trip can cost around 30 euros, all-inclusive.
The maximum price in Egyptian pounds (EGP) for mid-range Nike or Adidas sneakers, illustrating the high cost of international brand clothing.
Hygiene and cleaning products remain moderately expensive in absolute value (shampoo around 100 EGP, laundry detergent about 200 EGP, etc.), as does an hourly cleaning service (about 190 EGP).
Expatriate salaries and real purchasing power
The whole challenge, for an expatriate considering moving, is therefore to balance these costs against expected income.
In the Egyptian context, average figures for expatriates seem low: a salary of 9,200 EGP (about 371 dollars) is cited as “typical,” with a common ceiling around 41,100 EGP (1,660 dollars). These are often salaries indexed to the local market (teachers, mid-level managers, technicians), sometimes supplemented with benefits in kind (company housing, school coverage, car, health insurance).
For an employee paid locally, even an expatriate, the budget can be very tight. For example, renting a simple one-bedroom apartment in a desirable Cairo neighborhood can absorb the bulk of an average salary. Families with children in private international schools therefore generally rely on comprehensive expatriation packages (including housing and tuition) or complementary income in hard currency.
Conversely, a remote worker paid the US minimum wage ($7.25/hour) ends up, full-time, with over 1,000 dollars per month, which allows them to live very comfortably in most Egyptian cities, especially outside the most expensive neighborhoods. We see here one of the major trends of recent years: Egypt as a low-cost base for digital nomads, developers, content creators, and international freelancers.
Advantages and limitations of a “cheap” country
From afar, Egypt ticks many boxes for an expatriate concerned about their budget: extremely low cost of living, affordable housing outside luxury enclaves, inexpensive food, ridiculously cheap public transportation, pleasant climate, and immense cultural offerings.
But some pitfalls should not be underestimated.
First, macroeconomic volatility. High inflation (the jump from 5.9% to 18.7% in less than a year in 2022 is one example), successive currency devaluations, tax increases, and reduction of energy subsidies make prices very fluid in Egyptian pounds. For an expatriate paid in local currency, this instability can erode purchasing power from one year to the next.
There are two distinct economic realities. On one side, a ‘local’ market with its own prices. On the other, sectors like high-end real estate, private healthcare, international education, and certain services have become ‘dollarized,’ targeting a high-income clientele or tourists. The cost of a ‘Western-style’ life in these enclaves is therefore significantly higher and must be distinguished from the general cost of living.
Finally, considering overall quality of life. Air and noise pollution in Cairo, very dense traffic, strong inequalities, economic tensions, administrative constraints… all are realities not reflected in a cost table but which affect daily experience.
How to build a realistic expatriate budget for Egypt?
For a life project in Egypt, a good exercise is to simulate your monthly expenses according to your profile.
Examples of estimated monthly budgets for different resident profiles in Cairo, in Egyptian pounds (EGP).
Estimated budget: 20,000–25,000 EGP per month (housing included). Lives in a 1-bedroom apartment outside the most expensive neighborhoods, often eats local food, and gets around by metro and occasional ride-hailing.
Estimated budget: 30,000–45,000 EGP per month. Lives in a desirable neighborhood (Maadi, Heliopolis), goes out regularly, takes some domestic trips, and has private health insurance.
Estimated budget: over 100,000 EGP per month. Lives in a 3 or 4-room apartment in a compound (New Cairo, Sheikh Zayed), with two children enrolled in a reputable international school.
The key, beyond the numbers, is to define the level of “localization” of your lifestyle. The more you adopt local consumption habits (markets, public transport, local leisure, affordable Egyptian or international schools, non-premium neighborhoods), the more the cost of living drops. The more you seek to reproduce a high-end Western comfort level in expatriate enclaves, the closer the budget gets to that of major European cities… while still remaining, most of the time, lower.
In summary
The cost of living in Egypt for expatriates is one of the most attractive in the world, provided you understand the structure of expenses and price disparities according to lifestyle. For an income in hard currency, Egypt offers a material comfort difficult to access elsewhere for an equivalent budget. For a local salary, even for an expatriate, the country still offers low prices on food, transportation, and some leisure activities, but the pressure on quality housing, international schools, and private healthcare remains real.
Before moving to Egypt, honestly assess your income, your comfort expectations, and your educational and medical needs. The key is to build a detailed budget in Egyptian pounds (EGP) rather than in dollars or euros. This approach is essential to turn your project into a sustainably positive experience.
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Cyril Jarnias is an independent expert in international wealth management with over 20 years of experience. As an expatriate himself, he is dedicated to helping individuals and business leaders build, protect, and pass on their wealth with complete peace of mind.
On his website, cyriljarnias.com, he shares his expertise on international real estate, offshore company formation, and expatriation.
Thanks to his expertise, he offers sound advice to optimize his clients' wealth management. Cyril Jarnias is also recognized for his appearances in many prestigious media outlets such as BFM Business, les Français de l’étranger, Le Figaro, Les Echos, and Mieux vivre votre argent, where he shares his knowledge and know-how in wealth management.
