Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Alexandria and Sharm El Sheikh

For one person, living costs are similar in Alexandria and in Sharm El Sheikh: $452 and $447 a month, rent and utilities included.

Alexandria
🇪🇬 Egypt
$452
/mo nomad
Sharm El Sheikh
🇪🇬 Egypt
$447
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Alexandria and in Sharm El Sheikh

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Alexandria and in Sharm El Sheikh actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $452 per month in Alexandria vs $447 in Sharm El Sheikh, rent included.

  • Alexandria $452
  • Sharm El Sheikh $447

A couple spends around $750 per month in Alexandria vs $702 in Sharm El Sheikh, rent included.

  • Alexandria $750
  • Sharm El Sheikh $702

A family of three spends $1,048 per month in Alexandria vs $957 in Sharm El Sheikh, rent included.

  • Alexandria $1,048
  • Sharm El Sheikh $957

Alexandria costs about 1% more than Sharm El Sheikh, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

Both Alexandria and Sharm El Sheikh are more affordable than the global median – Alexandria 67% lower, Sharm El Sheikh 67% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Alexandria
Sharm El Sheikh
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.22 E£225
-
-
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.66 E£996
$22.42 E£1,197
-16.77%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.74 E£253
$4.51 E£241
5.10%
Cappuccino
$1.26 E£67.3
$2.24 E£120
-43.75%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.30 E£15.96
$0.32 E£17.02
-6.25%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.12 E£6.31
$0.54 E£28.65
-77.78%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.33 E£70.9
$3.74 E£200
-64.44%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.74 E£146
$4.66 E£249
-41.20%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Alexandria
Sharm El Sheikh
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.84 E£44.97
$0.81 E£43.12
3.70%
White Bread (500g)
$0.71 E£37.73
-
-
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.58 E£30.74
$0.48 E£25.58
20.83%
Eggs
$1.10 E£59.0
$1.19 E£63.7
-7.56%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$3.66 E£195
-
-
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.19 E£224
$3.81 E£203
9.97%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.17 E£490
-
-
Apples (1kg)
$1.46 E£77.7
$1.51 E£80.4
-3.31%
Banana (1kg)
$0.78 E£41.63
$0.45 E£23.78
73.33%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.51 E£27.48
$0.45 E£23.90
13.33%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.34 E£18.27
$0.27 E£14.37
25.93%
Potato (1kg)
$0.24 E£12.77
-
-
Onion (1kg)
$0.30 E£15.98
-
-
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.27 E£14.47
-
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.22 E£11.93
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.86 E£99.6
$2.11 E£113
-11.85%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.62 E£300
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.16 E£61.9
$1.49 E£79.7
-22.15%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.15 E£115
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Alexandria
Sharm El Sheikh
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.22 E£11.66
$0.08 E£4.37
175.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$10.95 E£585
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.57 E£30.48
-
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.49 E£26.19
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.11 E£59.1
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.45 E£24.16
$0.45 E£24.21
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.8K E£1.8M
$31.2K E£1.7M
4.99%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.2K E£1.3M
$21.2K E£1.1M
18.52%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Alexandria
Sharm El Sheikh
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$14.02 E£749
-
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.60 E£353
$11.12 E£594
-40.65%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$12.75 E£681
$27.50 E£1,468
-53.64%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Alexandria
Sharm El Sheikh
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$12.39 E£662
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.31 E£390
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$2.73 E£146
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Alexandria
Sharm El Sheikh
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$85.2 E£4,549
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,035 E£108.6K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Alexandria
Sharm El Sheikh
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$32.61 E£1,741
-
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.28 E£2,418
-
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$125 E£6,687
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$54.9 E£2,933
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Alexandria
Sharm El Sheikh
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$131 E£7,020
$349 E£18.6K
-62.35%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$69.3 E£3,702
$282 E£15.1K
-75.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$279 E£14.9K
$596 E£31.8K
-53.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$142 E£7,603
$537 E£28.7K
-73.51%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$679 E£36.2K
$931 E£49.7K
-27.07%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$431 E£23.0K
$673 E£36.0K
-36.04%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Alexandria
Sharm El Sheikh
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$137 E£7,313
$149 E£7,935
-7.84%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
21.33
26.5
-19.51%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Alexandria: October 19, 2026

Last update for Sharm El Sheikh: October 17, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Alexandria
$124
Sharm El Sheikh
$55 * 55.9% $69
Clothing & Footwear
Alexandria
$116
Sharm El Sheikh
- * 100%
Eating Out
Alexandria
$77
Sharm El Sheikh
$72 * 6.5% $5
Accommodation & Living
Alexandria
$69
Sharm El Sheikh
$282 307% $213
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Alexandria
$33
Sharm El Sheikh
$39 * 15.7% $5.3
Sport & Entertainment
Alexandria
$18
Sharm El Sheikh
- * 100%
Getting Around
Alexandria
$15
Sharm El Sheikh
$0.3 * 97.8% $15

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $131 in Alexandria versus $349 in Sharm El Sheikh. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 9% higher in Sharm El Sheikh, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Alexandria versus $22.00 in Sharm El Sheikh. Groceries tell a different story – $124 in Alexandria vs $55.0 in Sharm El Sheikh – so Sharm El Sheikh wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇪🇬 Alexandria
🇪🇬 Sharm El Sheikh
🕒 Local time
13:53 1:53 PM
13:53 1:53 PM
Same time as Alexandria
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
4,546,231
38,478
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to EGP – Egyptian Pound Converter

Egyptian Pound exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 53.4 EGP (100 EGP = 1.87 USD). 1 EUR = 60.03 EGP (100 EGP = 1.67 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Alexandria Sharm El Sheikh 560 km ≈ 1 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Alexandria
  • Sharm El Sheikh

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Alexandria vs Sharm El Sheikh: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Alexandria or Sharm El Sheikh?
Alexandria costs about 1% more than Sharm El Sheikh, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from clothing. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Alexandria and in Sharm El Sheikh?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $678 per month in Alexandria and $671 in Sharm El Sheikh. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Alexandria or Sharm El Sheikh?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Sharm El Sheikh, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Alexandria compared to Sharm El Sheikh?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $452 in Alexandria and $447 in Sharm El Sheikh. That's a gap of about 1%.
Are groceries more expensive in Alexandria or in Sharm El Sheikh?
Groceries cost about 127% more in Alexandria, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $1,200/month in Alexandria or in Sharm El Sheikh?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $452 in Alexandria and $447 in Sharm El Sheikh, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for families?
Families tend to lean toward Sharm El Sheikh – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
How safe is Alexandria compared to Sharm El Sheikh?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Alexandria or to Sharm El Sheikh?
If budget matters most, go with Sharm El Sheikh. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Alexandria makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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