For one person, living is cheaper in Cairo: $647 a month against $1,669 in Caen, rent and utilities included – about $12,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.
Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Caen and in Cairo actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,669 in Caen versus $647 in Cairo.
Caen $1,669
Cairo $647
Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,558 in Caen versus $1,035 in Cairo.
Caen $2,558
Cairo $1,035
Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,447 in Caen versus $1,423 in Cairo.
Caen $3,447
Cairo $1,423
🌍
Living in Caen is roughly 158% more expensive than in Cairo, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.
📊
The two cities straddle the global median: Caen is 24% above, Cairo is 52% below.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Caen
Cairo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.49€14.67
$4.64E£248
255.39%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$55.1€49.04
$28.12E£1,501
96.09%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.17€11.72
$6.03E£322
118.41%
Cappuccino
$2.82€2.51
$1.72E£92.1
63.95%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.10€2.76
$0.36E£19.38
761.11%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.14€1.90
$0.12E£6.41
1683.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$8.56€7.61
$1.51E£80.4
466.89%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.73€5.10
$2.32E£124
146.98%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Caen
Cairo
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.32€1.18
$0.92E£48.92
43.48%
White Bread(500g)
$1.78€1.58
$0.73E£38.92
143.84%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.94€1.72
$0.74E£39.64
162.16%
Eggs
$3.75€3.33
$1.19E£63.7
215.13%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.04€8.93
$4.33E£231
131.87%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.49€10.22
$5.03E£269
128.43%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.98€14.21
$9.28E£496
72.20%
Apples(1kg)
$2.97€2.64
$1.77E£94.4
67.80%
Banana(1kg)
$3.08€2.74
$0.73E£39.03
321.92%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.44€1.28
$0.55E£29.51
161.82%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.25€3.78
$0.50E£26.91
750.00%
Potato(1kg)
$1.78€1.58
$0.42E£22.42
323.81%
Onion(1kg)
$1.95€1.74
$0.41E£21.81
375.61%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.63€1.45
$0.33E£17.51
393.94%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.13€0.11
$0.21E£11.20
-38.10%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$12.58€11.19
$1.98E£106
535.35%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.67€5.04
$7.81E£417
-27.40%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.42€1.26
$1.59E£84.7
-10.69%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.59€1.42
$2.09E£112
-23.92%
🚌 Getting Around
Caen
Cairo
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.75€1.56
$0.35E£18.83
400.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$48.77€43.38
$8.69E£464
461.22%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.30€2.04
$0.39E£21.02
489.74%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.11€0.99
$0.22E£11.57
404.55%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$32.86€29.23
$1.51E£80.5
2076.16%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.15€1.91
$0.43E£22.88
400.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.6K€30.8K
$32.7KE£1.7M
5.75%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.1K€28.6K
$27.2KE£1.5M
18.03%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Caen
Cairo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$138€123
$27.27E£1,456
405.72%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$32.99€29.34
$8.58E£458
284.50%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.71€28.20
$13.99E£747
126.66%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Caen
Cairo
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$32.67€29.06
$29.69E£1,585
10.04%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.06€19.62
$7.25E£387
204.28%
Cinema Ticket
$8.98€7.98
$4.86E£260
84.77%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Caen
Cairo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$903€803
$121E£6,438
649.07%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$3,560E£190.1K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Caen
Cairo
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$107€95.5
$40.28E£2,151
166.46%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.27€34.04
$49.53E£2,645
-22.73%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102€90.3
$115E£6,137
-11.67%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$148€132
$60.0E£3,206
146.64%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Caen
Cairo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$769€684
$222E£11.9K
246.48%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$605€539
$195E£10.4K
210.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,501€1,335
$550E£29.3K
173.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,041€926
$346E£18.5K
200.78%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,428€3,939
$800E£42.7K
453.75%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,484€2,210
$525E£28.0K
373.24%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Caen
Cairo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,373€2,111
$200E£10.7K
1087.96%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.79
16.21
-76.62%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Caen: October 11, 2026
Last update for Cairo: October 11, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
🏠Accommodation & Living
Caen
$606 36.3%
Cairo
$195 30.2% ↓ 67.8%$411
🛒Groceries & Markets
Caen
$289 17.3%
Cairo
$142 21.9% ↓ 50.9%$147
🍽Eating Out
Caen
$281 16.8%
Cairo
$90 13.9% ↓ 67.9%$191
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Caen
$203 12.1%
Cairo
$50 7.7% ↓ 75.4%$153
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Caen
$178 10.7%
Cairo
$119 18.4% ↓ 33%$59
🚌Getting Around
Caen
$64 3.8%
Cairo
$12 1.8% ↓ 81.8%$52
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Caen
$51 3%
Cairo
$39 6.1% ↓ 22.2%$11
🏠Accommodation & Living
Caen
$1K 30.2%
Cairo
$346 24.3% ↓ 66.8%$695
🛒Groceries & Markets
Caen
$692 20.1%
Cairo
$324 22.8% ↓ 53.2%$369
🍽Eating Out
Caen
$829 24.1%
Cairo
$320 22.5% ↓ 61.4%$509
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Caen
$236 6.8%
Cairo
$58 4.1% ↓ 75.2%$177
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Caen
$395 11.5%
Cairo
$265 18.6% ↓ 33%$130
🚌Getting Around
Caen
$131 3.8%
Cairo
$24 1.7% ↓ 81.7%$107
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Caen
$123 3.6%
Cairo
$86 6.1% ↓ 30.2%$37
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $769 in Caen and $222 in Cairo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Caen pays 1088% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $55.0 in Caen vs $28.00 in Cairo for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $289 vs $142 per month, with Cairo cheaper across the board.
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
Caen vs Cairo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Caen and in Cairo?
Caen and Cairo differ by about 158% in total monthly costs ($1,669 vs $647 including rent). Cairo is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Caen or Cairo?
Average pay runs 1088% higher in Caen, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Caen and in Cairo?
Rent for a central apartment: $769 in Caen versus $222 in Cairo. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Caen and in Cairo?
A monthly transit pass in Cairo runs roughly 461% less than in Caen. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Caen and Cairo?
Childcare runs $903 in Caen versus $121 in Cairo. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $647 in Cairo versus $1,669 in Caen, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Cairo but tight or insufficient in Caen. The gap between the two cities makes Cairo the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Caen and 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.
Is Caen or Cairo safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Caen and Cairo are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Caen or Cairo?
Expats usually find Cairo gentler on the wallet – expenses run 158% less than in Caen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.