Egypt (EG)
Egypt is one of the world's oldest civilisations — the land of the Pharaohs, the Great Pyramids of Giza, and the mighty Nile River.
Capital: Cairo
Region: Africa
Language: Arabic
Currency: EGP (£)
Cost of living: Very affordable (index 22)
Emergency: 123
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Cost of Living
Real prices in Egypt — 2026 data in EGP.
22
Cost of living index
(100 = NYC reference)
Very affordable compared to major global cities. Your money goes a long way here.
Food & Groceries
Weekly groceries — single person (local mix) EGP 700–1,500
Weekly groceries — single person (imported / premium) EGP 1,500–3,500
Loaf of local bread (eish baladi, 5 pieces — subsidised) EGP 2–5
Chicken (1 kg, fresh) EGP 80–130
Eggs (12) EGP 80–120
Imported wine bottle (licensed shop — Drinkies / Alfa) EGP 300–800
Mineral water (1.5L bottle) EGP 10–20
Dining Out
Koshari (street portion — Egypt's national dish) EGP 20–60
Falafel / ta'meya sandwich (street food) EGP 5–15
Coffee at café (specialty) EGP 70–150
Tea at traditional ahwa (coffeehouse) EGP 10–25
Restaurant meal, casual (one person) EGP 200–600
Fine dining (per person, with wine) EGP 800–2,500
Beer at restaurant or bar EGP 80–200
Pigeon (hamam mashwi, local restaurant — Egyptian delicacy) EGP 80–200
Rent
1-bed apartment, Zamalek or Maadi (expat favourites, monthly) EGP 25,000–60,000
1-bed apartment, New Cairo / 5th Settlement (monthly) EGP 15,000–30,000
2-bed apartment, Maadi (monthly) EGP 30,000–70,000
2-bed apartment, New Cairo compound (monthly) EGP 25,000–55,000
Villa in compound, Sheikh Zayed or New Cairo (monthly) EGP 70,000–150,000
Luxury penthouse, Zamalek (Nile view, monthly) EGP 80,000–200,000
Room in shared flat, Dokki or Mohandessin (monthly) EGP 5,000–12,000
Transport
Cairo Metro single journey (tiered by distance, fares updated March 2026) EGP 10–20
Uber / Careem — 5 km city trip EGP 50–120
Cairo Airport to downtown (Uber) EGP 250–400
Street taxi — short local trip (negotiated) EGP 20–60
Cairo to Alexandria train (first class express) EGP 150–300
Cairo to Hurghada (GoBus) EGP 200–350
Petrol 95 octane (per litre — subsidised, price raised March 2026) EGP 24
Health & Insurance
GP private consultation (private clinic) EGP 500–1,500
Specialist consultation (private hospital) EGP 1,000–3,000
Emergency room visit (private hospital) EGP 1,500–5,000
Blood test panel (private lab) EGP 300–1,500
Chest X-ray EGP 200–600
Private health insurance (annual, individual) EGP 15,000–60,000
Dental check-up and cleaning EGP 500–1,500
Prescription medicines (generic, per pack) EGP 20–200
Utilities
Electricity (EGP, subsidised but tiered, monthly) EGP 200–1,200
Water (monthly) EGP 100–300
Piped gas (cooking, monthly) EGP 50–150
Internet 50–100 Mbps (TE Data / Orange / Vodafone, monthly) EGP 400–800
Mobile plan with 20–50 GB data (monthly) EGP 100–350
Air conditioning (summer electricity surcharge, monthly) EGP 500–2,000
Childcare
International school fees (annual, top-tier) EGP 350,000–800,000
International school fees (annual, affordable) EGP 80,000–200,000
American University in Cairo / AUC (annual fees) EGP 1,000,000–1,500,000
International nursery (monthly) EGP 5,000–20,000
Arabic language course (per term) EGP 2,500–8,000
Private nanny (monthly) EGP 5,000–15,000
Leisure
Gym membership (Oxygen Gym / Gold's Gym, monthly) EGP 1,500–5,000
Gezira Club or Maadi Club (initiation fee) EGP 50,000–200,000 + annual fees
Cinema ticket (Cairo cinemas) EGP 100–250
Entry fee — Pyramids of Giza (adult) EGP 400–600
Nile dinner cruise (per person) EGP 500–1,500
Scuba diving day trip (Hurghada / Sharm el-Sheikh) EGP 2,000–4,000
Domestic flight Cairo–Sharm (EgyptAir, one way) EGP 800–2,500
Full-time live-in housekeeper (monthly) EGP 3,000–8,000
Full-time driver (monthly) EGP 4,000–10,000
Cost of Living
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