Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Cairo and Marsta

For one person, living is cheaper in Cairo: $647 a month against $1,642 in Marsta, rent and utilities included – about $11,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Cairo
🇪🇬 Egypt
$647
/mo nomad
Marsta
🇸🇪 Sweden
$1,642
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Cairo and in Marsta

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

A single person spends $647 per month in Cairo vs $1,642 in Marsta, rent included.

  • Cairo $647
  • Marsta $1,642

A couple spends around $1,035 per month in Cairo vs $2,549 in Marsta, rent included.

  • Cairo $1,035
  • Marsta $2,549

A family of three spends $1,423 per month in Cairo vs $3,456 in Marsta, rent included.

  • Cairo $1,423
  • Marsta $3,456

Cairo is about 61% cheaper than Marsta, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Cairo sits 52% below the global median, while Marsta is 22% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cairo
Marsta
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.64 E£248
$13.20 SEK 131
-64.85%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$28.12 E£1,501
$65.8 SEK 652
-57.28%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.03 E£322
$10.22 SEK 101
-41.00%
Cappuccino
$1.72 E£92.1
$4.42 SEK 43.82
-61.09%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36 E£19.38
$2.00 SEK 19.85
-82.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.12 E£6.41
$1.75 SEK 17.30
-93.14%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.51 E£80.4
$7.12 SEK 70.6
-78.79%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.32 E£124
$6.78 SEK 67.2
-65.78%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cairo
Marsta
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.92 E£48.92
$1.69 SEK 16.77
-45.56%
White Bread (500g)
$0.73 E£38.92
$3.04 SEK 30.15
-75.99%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.74 E£39.64
$5.64 SEK 55.9
-86.88%
Eggs
$1.19 E£63.7
$3.57 SEK 35.39
-66.67%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.33 E£231
$13.48 SEK 134
-67.88%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.03 E£269
$8.95 SEK 88.7
-43.80%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.28 E£496
$16.90 SEK 167
-45.09%
Apples (1kg)
$1.77 E£94.4
$3.03 SEK 30.05
-41.58%
Banana (1kg)
$0.73 E£39.03
$2.67 SEK 26.49
-72.66%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.55 E£29.51
$1.96 SEK 19.43
-71.94%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.50 E£26.91
$3.72 SEK 36.89
-86.56%
Potato (1kg)
$0.42 E£22.42
$1.41 SEK 13.98
-70.21%
Onion (1kg)
$0.41 E£21.81
$1.48 SEK 14.66
-72.30%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.33 E£17.51
$1.95 SEK 19.31
-83.08%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.21 E£11.20
$1.83 SEK 18.10
-88.52%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.98 E£106
$7.15 SEK 70.9
-72.31%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.81 E£417
$10.10 SEK 100
-22.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.59 E£84.7
$1.87 SEK 18.56
-14.97%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.09 E£112
$2.03 SEK 20.13
2.96%
🚌 Getting Around
Cairo
Marsta
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.35 E£18.83
$3.36 SEK 33.27
-89.58%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.69 E£464
$75.8 SEK 751
-88.53%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.39 E£21.02
$13.16 SEK 130
-97.04%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.22 E£11.57
$2.00 SEK 19.86
-89.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.51 E£80.5
$56.4 SEK 559
-97.32%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.43 E£22.88
$1.74 SEK 17.20
-75.29%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.7K E£1.7M
$32.4K SEK 321.1K
0.90%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.2K E£1.5M
$32.5K SEK 321.9K
-16.19%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cairo
Marsta
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$27.27 E£1,456
$60.2 SEK 597
-54.72%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.58 E£458
$27.96 SEK 277
-69.31%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.99 E£747
$39.22 SEK 389
-64.33%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cairo
Marsta
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$29.69 E£1,585
$37.67 SEK 373
-21.18%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.25 E£387
$26.55 SEK 263
-72.69%
Cinema Ticket
$4.86 E£260
$16.03 SEK 159
-69.68%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cairo
Marsta
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$121 E£6,438
$216 SEK 2,137
-44.09%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,560 E£190.1K
$5,033 SEK 49.9K
-29.27%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cairo
Marsta
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$40.28 E£2,151
$49.36 SEK 489
-18.40%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.53 E£2,645
$30.13 SEK 299
64.39%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$115 E£6,137
$89.4 SEK 885
28.60%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$60.0 E£3,206
$100 SEK 995
-40.21%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cairo
Marsta
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$222 E£11.9K
$802 SEK 7,943
-72.30%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$195 E£10.4K
$610 SEK 6,042
-68.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$550 E£29.3K
$1,347 SEK 13.3K
-59.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$346 E£18.5K
$1,005 SEK 9,954
-65.54%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$800 E£42.7K
$3,974 SEK 39.4K
-79.88%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$525 E£28.0K
$2,757 SEK 27.3K
-80.96%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cairo
Marsta
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$200 E£10.7K
$4,563 SEK 45.2K
-95.62%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
16.21
2.8
478.93%

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

Last update for Cairo: October 11, 2026

Last update for Marsta: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Cairo
$195
Marsta
$610 213% $415
Groceries & Markets
Cairo
$142
Marsta
$348 146% $207
Clothing & Footwear
Cairo
$119
Marsta
$121 1.7% $2
Eating Out
Cairo
$90
Marsta
$254 182% $164
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cairo
$50
Marsta
$127 156% $78
Sport & Entertainment
Cairo
$39
Marsta
$70 76.9% $30
Getting Around
Cairo
$12
Marsta
$112 871% $101

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $222 in Cairo versus $802 in Marsta. 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 2184% higher in Marsta, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $28.00 in Cairo versus $66.0 in Marsta. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $142 vs $348 – making Cairo the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇪🇬 Cairo
🇸🇪 Marsta
🕒 Local time
13:14 1:14 PM
12:14 12:14 PM
1 h behind Cairo
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
9,120,350 Capital
24,068
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

SEK, USD, EUR to EGP – Egyptian Pound Converter

Egyptian Pound exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 53.4 EGP (100 EGP = 1.87 USD). 1 EUR = 60.03 EGP (100 EGP = 1.67 EUR).

Swedish Krona exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 9.91 SEK (1 SEK = 0.101 USD). 1 EUR = 11.14 SEK (100 SEK = 8.98 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Cairo Marsta 3,440 km ≈ 4 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Cairo
  • Marsta

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
Cairo vs Marsta: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Marsta cheaper than Cairo?
Yes – Marsta is pricier by about 154%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $970 per month in Cairo and $2,464 in Marsta. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Cairo, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do food prices compare in Cairo and in Marsta?
Groceries cost about 146% more in Marsta, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is eating out cheaper in Cairo or in Marsta?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $28.00 in Cairo and $66.0 in Marsta. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Cairo or in Marsta?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Cairo, where all-in costs run around $647, than in Marsta at $1,642. In Cairo it covers expenses comfortably, while in Marsta it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Cairo or Marsta more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Cairo – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Cairo or Marsta?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Cairo. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Marsta makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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