🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $466 in Al `arish versus $532 in Cairo.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $729 in Al `arish versus $856 in Cairo.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $993 in Al `arish versus $1,181 in Cairo.
🙂Living in Al `arish costs roughly 12% less than in Cairo, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Al `arish65% lower, Cairo60% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Al `arish
Cairo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.06E£208
$4.00E£204
1.50%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$13.87E£708
$19.64E£1,003
-29.38%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.37E£274
$4.87E£249
10.27%
Cappuccino
$1.45E£74.2
$1.53E£78.2
-5.23%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.42E£21.28
$0.33E£17.07
27.27%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.12E£6.28
$0.14E£7.23
-14.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.30E£66.4
$1.34E£68.5
-2.99%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.93E£98.4
$2.73E£139
-29.30%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Al `arish
Cairo
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.97E£49.79
$0.88E£45.14
10.23%
White Bread(500g)
$0.47E£23.89
$0.60E£30.45
-21.67%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.72E£36.71
$0.70E£35.70
2.86%
Eggs
$1.57E£80.0
$1.46E£74.7
7.53%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$1.96E£100
$3.44E£176
-43.02%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.16E£213
$4.15E£212
0.24%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.30E£424
$8.52E£435
-2.58%
Apples(1kg)
$1.45E£74.2
$1.56E£79.8
-7.05%
Banana(1kg)
$0.60E£30.75
$0.56E£28.83
7.14%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.38E£19.49
$0.48E£24.34
-20.83%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.37E£18.84
$0.42E£21.21
-11.90%
Potato(1kg)
$0.50E£25.67
$0.46E£23.69
8.70%
Onion(1kg)
$0.50E£25.49
$0.43E£21.99
16.28%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.27E£13.72
$0.22E£11.16
22.73%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.17E£8.59
$0.23E£11.68
-26.09%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.89E£96.7
$2.01E£103
-5.97%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.27E£218
$7.51E£384
-43.14%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.47E£75.1
$1.28E£65.3
14.84%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.64E£83.9
$1.70E£86.7
-3.53%
🚌 Getting Around
Al `arish
Cairo
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.16E£8.32
$0.31E£16.02
-48.39%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$5.94E£304
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.31E£15.87
$0.39E£19.68
-20.51%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.23E£11.74
$0.29E£14.64
-20.69%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.96E£99.9
$0.95E£48.29
106.32%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.33E£17.08
$0.31E£15.68
6.45%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.8KE£1.6M
$36.4KE£1.9M
-15.44%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.2KE£1.9M
$30.2KE£1.5M
20.10%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Al `arish
Cairo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$19.68E£1,005
$25.81E£1,318
-23.75%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.27E£371
$8.30E£424
-12.41%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$10.63E£543
$12.52E£639
-15.10%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Al `arish
Cairo
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$22.07E£1,127
$15.66E£800
40.93%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.71E£343
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.87E£351
$3.60E£184
90.83%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Al `arish
Cairo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$97.0E£4,954
$91.7E£4,682
5.81%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,599E£132.7K
$2,007E£102.5K
29.47%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Al `arish
Cairo
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$16.96E£866
$31.34E£1,600
-45.88%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$62.0E£3,166
$43.96E£2,245
41.04%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$83.3E£4,252
$105E£5,349
-20.51%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$50.3E£2,567
$59.8E£3,053
-15.91%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Al `arish
Cairo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$192E£9,793
$202E£10.3K
-5.21%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$101E£5,136
$129E£6,608
-22.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$304E£15.5K
$412E£21.1K
-26.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$178E£9,114
$251E£12.8K
-29.01%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$871E£44.5K
$845E£43.2K
3.08%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$462E£23.6K
$470E£24.0K
-1.68%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Al `arish
Cairo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$188E£9,626
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
23.33
16.67
39.95%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Al `arish: June 9, 2026
Last update for Cairo: June 9, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $192 in Al `arish and $202 in Cairo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $14.00 in Al `arish vs $20.00 in Cairo for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $114 vs $126 per month, with Al `arish cheaper across the board.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Al `arish vs Cairo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Al `arish or Cairo?
Al `arish wins on cost – living expenses run 14% lower than in Cairo. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Al `arish the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Al `arish vs Cairo?
You'd need roughly $698 in Al `arish and $797 in Cairo to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Al `arish vs Cairo?
Rent for a central apartment: $192 in Al `arish versus $202 in Cairo. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Al `arish or Cairo?
Supermarket bills run roughly 10% higher in Cairo. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How much does it cost to live in Al `arish compared to Cairo?
All in, you'll spend $466 per month in Al `arish versus $532 in Cairo – a 14% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $800/month in Al `arish or Cairo?
Either city works on $800 a month, though Al `arish gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Al `arish or Cairo?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Al `arish gentler on the wallet – expenses run 14% less than in Cairo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.