Capital city, Egypt
Cost of living in Cairo
How much a month costs in Cairo
For one person, including rent. A comfortable month costs about $765–1,240 (E£40,000–65,000).
Prices in Cairo
Typical 2026 ranges in EGP, rounded. US$ at the 03 Oct 2026 exchange rate.
| Item | EGP | US$ |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | ||
| 1-bedroom apartment, center (month) | E£15,000–35,000 | $287–669 |
| 1-bedroom apartment, outside center (month) | E£8,000–18,000 | $153–344 |
| Hostel dorm bed (night) | E£250–600 | $4.8–11.5 |
| Mid-range hotel room (night) | E£1,800–4,500 | $34–86 |
| Food and drink | ||
| Local meal or street food | E£50–150 | $1.0–2.9 |
| Mid-range restaurant, per person | E£300–700 | $5.7–13.4 |
| Cappuccino | E£70–140 | $1.3–2.7 |
| Local beer, 0.5 l in a bar | E£100–200 | $1.9–3.8 |
| Getting around | ||
| Public transport, one ride | E£8–20 | $0.15–0.38 |
| Ride-hailing or taxi, about 5 km | E£70–150 | $1.3–2.9 |
| Work and life | ||
| Coworking day pass | E£300–600 | $5.7–11.5 |
| Gym membership (month) | E£800–2,500 | $15–48 |
| Mobile data, 20–50 GB (month) | E£150–400 | $2.9–7.7 |
Value for money: 64/100
A value score of 64/100 means Cairo gives more quality of life per dollar than 63% of the 1,319 places we cover. Quality here scores 43/100. It's the 10th most affordable of 11 places we cover in Egypt.
| Quality factor | Score |
|---|---|
| Safety | |
| Air quality | |
| Internet | |
| Healthcare | |
| Weather | |
| Friendly locals | |
| English |
Cost of living across Egypt
One person, comfortable lifestyle, including rent.
| Place | Comfortable month | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Siwa Oasis | $459–765 | 96/100 |
| Aswan | $478–803 | 94/100 |
| Luxor | $536–861 | 87/100 |
| Dahab | $536–861 | 94/100 |
| Giza | $536–956 | — |
| Alexandria | $612–995 | 82/100 |
| Hurghada | $612–1,050 | 88/100 |
| Sharm El Sheikh | $669–1,150 | 83/100 |
| Marsa Alam | $669–1,150 | 84/100 |
| Cairo | $765–1,240 | 64/100 |
| El Gouna | $956–1,630 | 64/100 |
Cheaper alternatives to Cairo
Similar safety, lower cost, in Africa.
| Place | Country | Comfortable month |
|---|---|---|
| Aswan | Egypt | $478–803 |
| Dahab | Egypt | $536–861 |
| Addis Ababa | Ethiopia | $553–921 |
| Hurghada | Egypt | $612–1,050 |
| Luxor | Egypt | $536–861 |
Quick answers
How much money do you need per month in Cairo?
About $383–574 on a lean budget, $765–1,240 for a comfortable month and $1,910–3,250 for a luxury one, rent included.
How much is rent in Cairo?
A furnished 1-bedroom apartment costs E£15,000–35,000 ($287–669) a month in the center and E£8,000–18,000 ($153–344) outside it.
How much does food cost in Cairo?
A local meal is E£50–150 ($1.0–2.9); a mid-range restaurant is E£300–700 ($5.7–13.4) per person.
Is Egypt expensive?
Prices in Egypt are about 15% of US price levels (World Bank PPP).
More about Cairo
Going to Cairo solo?
SoloSquare is where travelers, nomads and locals in Cairo meet up for small plans: coffee, dinners, walks and day trips. Join one, or start your own in a minute.
Sources
- ExchangeRate-API open rates
- World Bank: PPP conversion factor
- Egypt Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities
- Cairo International Airport
- UK FCDO travel advice: Egypt
Prices are SoloSquare estimates for 2026, reviewed against official and operator prices where available. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.