😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $532 in Cairo versus $485 in Al `alamayn.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $856 in Cairo versus $770 in Al `alamayn.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,181 in Cairo versus $1,055 in Al `alamayn.
😐Living in Cairo is roughly 10% more expensive than Al `alamayn, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Cairo60% lower, Al `alamayn64% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cairo
Al `alamayn
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.00E£204
$5.82E£297
-31.27%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.64E£1,003
$13.92E£711
41.09%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.87E£249
$4.02E£205
21.14%
Cappuccino
$1.53E£78.2
$0.90E£46.12
70.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.33E£17.07
$0.32E£16.26
3.13%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.14E£7.23
$0.10E£5.30
40.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.34E£68.5
$1.17E£59.5
14.53%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.73E£139
$2.91E£149
-6.19%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cairo
Al `alamayn
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.88E£45.14
$0.99E£50.6
-11.11%
White Bread(500g)
$0.60E£30.45
$0.29E£14.74
106.90%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.70E£35.70
$0.58E£29.49
20.69%
Eggs
$1.46E£74.7
$1.52E£77.7
-3.95%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$3.44E£176
$2.52E£129
36.51%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.15E£212
$4.26E£218
-2.58%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.52E£435
$7.39E£377
15.29%
Apples(1kg)
$1.56E£79.8
$1.34E£68.5
16.42%
Banana(1kg)
$0.56E£28.83
$0.60E£30.75
-6.67%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.48E£24.34
$0.44E£22.54
9.09%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.42E£21.21
$0.25E£12.73
68.00%
Potato(1kg)
$0.46E£23.69
$0.33E£16.61
39.39%
Onion(1kg)
$0.43E£21.99
$0.41E£21.09
4.88%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.22E£11.16
$0.34E£17.35
-35.29%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.23E£11.68
$0.23E£11.76
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.01E£103
$1.95E£99.6
3.08%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.51E£384
$5.50E£281
36.55%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.28E£65.3
$1.31E£67.0
-2.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.70E£86.7
$1.87E£95.7
-9.09%
🚌 Getting Around
Cairo
Al `alamayn
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.31E£16.02
$0.17E£8.54
82.35%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$5.94E£304
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.39E£19.68
$0.42E£21.29
-7.14%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.29E£14.64
$0.31E£15.86
-6.45%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$0.95E£48.29
$1.01E£51.6
-5.94%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.31E£15.68
$0.30E£15.11
3.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.4KE£1.9M
$34.9KE£1.8M
4.31%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.2KE£1.5M
$33.2KE£1.7M
-9.18%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cairo
Al `alamayn
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$25.81E£1,318
$24.25E£1,238
6.43%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.30E£424
$9.66E£494
-14.08%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$12.52E£639
$15.83E£808
-20.91%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cairo
Al `alamayn
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$15.66E£800
$22.19E£1,133
-29.43%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.71E£343
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.60E£184
$2.98E£152
20.81%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cairo
Al `alamayn
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$91.7E£4,682
$32.97E£1,684
178.04%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,007E£102.5K
$1,838E£93.9K
9.19%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cairo
Al `alamayn
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$31.34E£1,600
$17.75E£907
76.56%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.96E£2,245
$42.16E£2,153
4.27%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$105E£5,349
$113E£5,791
-7.63%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$59.8E£3,053
$75.1E£3,835
-20.39%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cairo
Al `alamayn
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$202E£10.3K
$186E£9,495
8.80%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$129E£6,608
$98.1E£5,012
31.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$412E£21.1K
$314E£16.0K
31.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$251E£12.8K
$174E£8,897
44.29%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$845E£43.2K
$752E£38.4K
12.46%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$470E£24.0K
$400E£20.4K
17.50%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cairo
Al `alamayn
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$188E£9,626
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
16.67
20
-16.65%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Cairo: June 9, 2026
Last update for Al `alamayn: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $202 in Cairo and $186 in Al `alamayn. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $20.00 in Cairo vs $14.00 in Al `alamayn for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $126 vs $113 per month, with Al `alamayn 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
Cairo vs Al `alamayn: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Al `alamayn cheaper than Cairo?
Al `alamayn is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Getting Around. The 10% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $797 in Cairo and $728 in Al `alamayn 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.
What is the rent difference between Cairo and Al `alamayn?
Rent for a central apartment: $202 in Cairo versus $186 in Al `alamayn. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Cairo and Al `alamayn?
Supermarket bills run roughly 12% higher in Cairo. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Cairo vs Al `alamayn?
All in, you'll spend $532 per month in Cairo versus $485 in Al `alamayn – a 10% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,000 enough for either Cairo or Al `alamayn?
Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Al `alamayn gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
Is it better to live in Cairo or Al `alamayn?
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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Al `alamayn gentler on the wallet – expenses run 10% less than in Cairo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.