Cost of living in Cairo

🇪🇬 Egypt · A realistic 2026 budget for newcomers — rent, food, transport, and what a month actually costs.

Wondering how far your salary goes in Cairo? Here’s what everyday life costs, in local prices — the numbers that matter when you’re deciding to move or negotiating a package.

What things cost

One-bed apartment, Zamalek or MaadiEGP 18,000–40,000 / month
Cairo Metro single ticketEGP 8–15
Groceries, one personEGP 7,000–14,000 / month
Koshari from a local shopEGP 40–90
Coffee in a Zamalek caféEGP 70–140

Good to know

Population
≈10 million in the city; ≈22 million in Greater Cairo — Africa's largest metropolitan area
Languages
Arabic; Egyptian Arabic is the most widely understood dialect in the Arab world. English is common in business
Currency
Egyptian pound (EGP)
Time zone
GMT+2; GMT+3 in summer — daylight saving was reinstated in 2023
Power plug
Type C/F, 220 V / 50 Hz
Climate
Hot desert — long very hot summers, mild winters, and essentially no rainfall
Driving side
Right
Working week
Sunday to Thursday; Friday and Saturday are the weekend

Some of this may be out of date. Spotted something inaccurate? Help us keep it right for the next newcomer.

A note on budgeting

Rent is usually the swing factor — location and whether bills are included move the number most. Build your estimate from the rent band above, add a monthly living figure, and keep a buffer for one-off setup costs (deposits, a residence permit, a local SIM, first-month transport). Globe Quest turns this into a personalized Cairo checklist so nothing setup-related catches you off guard.

Plan your move to Cairo

A free, AI-personalized plan — the language, culture, and setup steps timed to your move date.