Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Cairo and Schaffhausen

For one person, living is cheaper in Cairo: $635 a month against $3,125 in Schaffhausen, rent and utilities included – about $29,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Cairo
🇪🇬 Egypt
$635
/mo nomad
Schaffhausen
🇨🇭 Switzerland
$3,125
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Cairo and in Schaffhausen

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 Schaffhausen actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $635 per month in Cairo vs $3,125 in Schaffhausen, rent included.

  • Cairo $635
  • Schaffhausen $3,125

A couple spends around $1,010 per month in Cairo vs $5,038 in Schaffhausen, rent included.

  • Cairo $1,010
  • Schaffhausen $5,038

A family of three spends $1,385 per month in Cairo vs $6,951 in Schaffhausen, rent included.

  • Cairo $1,385
  • Schaffhausen $6,951

Cairo is about 80% cheaper than Schaffhausen, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Cairo sits 53% below the global median, while Schaffhausen is 131% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cairo
Schaffhausen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.63 E£247
$29.70 CHF 24.46
-84.41%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$27.66 E£1,477
$123 CHF 101
-77.45%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.83 E£311
$18.03 CHF 14.85
-67.67%
Cappuccino
$1.69 E£90.1
$5.64 CHF 4.65
-70.04%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35 E£18.79
$5.52 CHF 4.55
-93.66%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.13 E£6.86
$4.78 CHF 3.94
-97.28%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.47 E£78.3
$8.22 CHF 6.77
-82.12%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.21 E£118
$7.47 CHF 6.16
-70.41%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cairo
Schaffhausen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.94 E£50.5
$2.16 CHF 1.78
-56.48%
White Bread (500g)
$0.79 E£41.96
$4.06 CHF 3.35
-80.54%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.70 E£37.41
$4.12 CHF 3.40
-83.01%
Eggs
$1.12 E£59.5
$7.94 CHF 6.54
-85.89%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.08 E£218
$28.10 CHF 23.14
-85.48%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.77 E£255
$30.57 CHF 25.18
-84.40%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.81 E£470
$42.49 CHF 34.99
-79.27%
Apples (1kg)
$1.68 E£89.7
$3.85 CHF 3.17
-56.36%
Banana (1kg)
$0.71 E£38.07
$2.04 CHF 1.68
-65.20%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.59 E£31.31
$3.21 CHF 2.65
-81.62%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.51 E£27.06
$5.54 CHF 4.57
-90.79%
Potato (1kg)
$0.37 E£19.81
$2.41 CHF 1.98
-84.65%
Onion (1kg)
$0.44 E£23.47
$2.14 CHF 1.77
-79.44%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.34 E£18.37
$2.37 CHF 1.96
-85.65%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.21 E£11.16
$1.18 CHF 0.97
-82.20%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.99 E£106
$10.75 CHF 8.85
-81.49%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.49 E£400
$12.87 CHF 10.60
-41.80%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.51 E£80.4
$2.91 CHF 2.40
-48.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.08 E£111
$3.84 CHF 3.16
-45.83%
🚌 Getting Around
Cairo
Schaffhausen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.34 E£18.29
$4.04 CHF 3.33
-91.58%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.31 E£444
$96.6 CHF 79.5
-91.39%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.40 E£21.48
$6.02 CHF 4.95
-93.36%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.19 E£9.99
$3.72 CHF 3.07
-94.89%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.50 E£80.0
$61.4 CHF 50.5
-97.56%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.45 E£23.77
$2.30 CHF 1.89
-80.43%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.1K E£1.8M
$43.0K CHF 35.4K
-22.99%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.1K E£1.4M
$39.6K CHF 32.6K
-33.96%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cairo
Schaffhausen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$27.62 E£1,475
$234 CHF 193
-88.20%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.83 E£418
$31.93 CHF 26.30
-75.48%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$14.39 E£769
$62.9 CHF 51.8
-77.10%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cairo
Schaffhausen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$28.62 E£1,528
$107 CHF 88.5
-73.36%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.47 E£399
$47.27 CHF 38.93
-84.20%
Cinema Ticket
$4.56 E£244
$23.65 CHF 19.48
-80.72%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cairo
Schaffhausen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$120 E£6,417
$3,112 CHF 2,563
-96.14%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,476 E£185.6K
$32.1K CHF 26.5K
-89.18%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cairo
Schaffhausen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$39.13 E£2,090
$167 CHF 137
-76.54%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.04 E£2,619
$54.3 CHF 44.73
-9.70%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$111 E£5,934
$190 CHF 156
-41.37%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$57.0 E£3,043
$149 CHF 122
-61.68%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cairo
Schaffhausen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$215 E£11.5K
$1,285 CHF 1,058
-83.25%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$196 E£10.5K
$1,165 CHF 960
-83.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$542 E£28.9K
$2,705 CHF 2,228
-79.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$338 E£18.0K
$2,362 CHF 1,946
-85.69%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$830 E£44.3K
$8,026 CHF 6,610
-89.66%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$512 E£27.3K
$8,459 CHF 6,967
-93.95%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cairo
Schaffhausen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$195 E£10.4K
$7,212 CHF 5,940
-97.30%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
16.21
2.48
553.63%

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

Last update for Cairo: October 18, 2026

Last update for Schaffhausen: October 18, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Cairo
$196
Schaffhausen
$1.2K 495% $969
Groceries & Markets
Cairo
$137
Schaffhausen
$630 360% $493
Clothing & Footwear
Cairo
$115
Schaffhausen
$252 118% $136
Eating Out
Cairo
$88
Schaffhausen
$457 417% $368
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cairo
$50
Schaffhausen
$329 560% $279
Sport & Entertainment
Cairo
$38
Schaffhausen
$155 310% $117
Getting Around
Cairo
$11
Schaffhausen
$137 1146% $126

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $215 in Cairo versus $1,285 in Schaffhausen. 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 3600% higher in Schaffhausen, 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 $123 in Schaffhausen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $137 vs $630 – making Cairo the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇪🇬 Cairo
🇨🇭 Schaffhausen
🕒 Local time
00:24 12:24 AM
23:24 11:24 PM
1 h behind Cairo
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
9,120,350 Capital
35,927
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

CHF, 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).

Swiss Franc exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 0.824 CHF (1 CHF = 1.21 USD). 1 EUR = 0.926 CHF (1 CHF = 1.08 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Cairo Schaffhausen 2,750 km ≈ 4 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Cairo
  • Schaffhausen

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 Schaffhausen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Schaffhausen cheaper than Cairo?
Yes – Schaffhausen is pricier by about 392%, 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 $953 per month in Cairo and $4,687 in Schaffhausen. 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 Schaffhausen?
Groceries cost about 360% more in Schaffhausen, 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 Schaffhausen?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $28.00 in Cairo and $123 in Schaffhausen. 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 Schaffhausen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Cairo, where all-in costs run around $635, than in Schaffhausen at $3,125. In Cairo it covers expenses comfortably, while in Schaffhausen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Cairo or Schaffhausen 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 Schaffhausen?
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, Schaffhausen makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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