Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Cairo and Tromso

For one person, living is cheaper in Cairo: $647 a month against $3,073 in Tromso, rent and utilities included – about $29,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Cairo
🇪🇬 Egypt
$647
/mo nomad
Tromso
🇳🇴 Norway
$3,073
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Cairo and in Tromso

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

A single person spends $647 per month in Cairo vs $3,073 in Tromso, rent included.

  • Cairo $647
  • Tromso $3,073

A couple spends around $1,035 per month in Cairo vs $4,616 in Tromso, rent included.

  • Cairo $1,035
  • Tromso $4,616

A family of three spends $1,423 per month in Cairo vs $6,158 in Tromso, rent included.

  • Cairo $1,423
  • Tromso $6,158

Cairo is about 79% cheaper than Tromso, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Cairo sits 52% below the global median, while Tromso is 128% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cairo
Tromso
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.64 E£248
$34.24 NOK 322
-86.45%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$28.12 E£1,501
$103 NOK 974
-72.82%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.03 E£322
$15.60 NOK 147
-61.35%
Cappuccino
$1.72 E£92.1
$6.77 NOK 63.7
-74.59%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36 E£19.38
$4.78 NOK 45.00
-92.47%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.12 E£6.41
$3.69 NOK 34.75
-96.75%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.51 E£80.4
$12.57 NOK 118
-87.99%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.32 E£124
$13.64 NOK 128
-82.99%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cairo
Tromso
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.92 E£48.92
$2.49 NOK 23.48
-63.05%
White Bread (500g)
$0.73 E£38.92
$3.26 NOK 30.72
-77.61%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.74 E£39.64
$3.92 NOK 36.91
-81.12%
Eggs
$1.19 E£63.7
$5.18 NOK 48.80
-77.03%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.33 E£231
$11.61 NOK 109
-62.70%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.03 E£269
$14.85 NOK 140
-66.13%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.28 E£496
$40.81 NOK 384
-77.26%
Apples (1kg)
$1.77 E£94.4
$3.96 NOK 37.24
-55.30%
Banana (1kg)
$0.73 E£39.03
$2.92 NOK 27.46
-75.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.55 E£29.51
$5.35 NOK 50.3
-89.72%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.50 E£26.91
$6.07 NOK 57.2
-91.76%
Potato (1kg)
$0.42 E£22.42
$3.53 NOK 33.27
-88.10%
Onion (1kg)
$0.41 E£21.81
$4.89 NOK 46.02
-91.62%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.33 E£17.51
$2.98 NOK 28.07
-88.93%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.21 E£11.20
$2.09 NOK 19.67
-89.95%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.98 E£106
$16.36 NOK 154
-87.90%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.81 E£417
$17.30 NOK 163
-54.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.59 E£84.7
$3.94 NOK 37.07
-59.64%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.09 E£112
$4.66 NOK 43.91
-55.15%
🚌 Getting Around
Cairo
Tromso
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.35 E£18.83
$5.03 NOK 47.39
-93.04%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.69 E£464
$67.0 NOK 631
-87.03%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.39 E£21.02
$15.40 NOK 145
-97.47%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.22 E£11.57
$2.04 NOK 19.21
-89.22%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.51 E£80.5
$56.6 NOK 533
-97.33%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.43 E£22.88
$2.33 NOK 21.93
-81.55%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.7K E£1.7M
$48.3K NOK 454.8K
-32.31%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.2K E£1.5M
$43.5K NOK 409.1K
-37.35%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cairo
Tromso
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$27.27 E£1,456
$253 NOK 2,383
-89.23%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.58 E£458
$49.95 NOK 470
-82.82%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.99 E£747
$82.3 NOK 775
-83.00%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cairo
Tromso
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$29.69 E£1,585
$50.5 NOK 475
-41.20%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.25 E£387
$46.87 NOK 441
-84.53%
Cinema Ticket
$4.86 E£260
$17.44 NOK 164
-72.13%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cairo
Tromso
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$121 E£6,438
$313 NOK 2,949
-61.51%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,560 E£190.1K
$7,407 NOK 69.7K
-51.94%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cairo
Tromso
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$40.28 E£2,151
$65.6 NOK 617
-38.55%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.53 E£2,645
$35.36 NOK 333
40.07%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$115 E£6,137
$145 NOK 1,361
-20.49%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$60.0 E£3,206
$163 NOK 1,538
-63.24%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cairo
Tromso
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$222 E£11.9K
$1,566 NOK 14.7K
-85.82%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$195 E£10.4K
$1,244 NOK 11.7K
-84.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$550 E£29.3K
$2,786 NOK 26.2K
-80.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$346 E£18.5K
$2,027 NOK 19.1K
-82.92%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$800 E£42.7K
$6,960 NOK 65.5K
-88.51%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$525 E£28.0K
$5,271 NOK 49.6K
-90.04%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cairo
Tromso
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$200 E£10.7K
$4,125 NOK 38.8K
-95.16%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
16.21
5.01
223.55%

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

Last update for Cairo: October 11, 2026

Last update for Tromso: October 10, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Cairo
$195
Tromso
$1.2K 538% $1K
Groceries & Markets
Cairo
$142
Tromso
$536 278% $394
Clothing & Footwear
Cairo
$119
Tromso
$184 54.4% $65
Eating Out
Cairo
$90
Tromso
$526 484% $436
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cairo
$50
Tromso
$385 673% $336
Sport & Entertainment
Cairo
$39
Tromso
$85 117% $46
Getting Around
Cairo
$12
Tromso
$113 874% $101

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $222 in Cairo versus $1,566 in Tromso. 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 1965% higher in Tromso, 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 $103 in Tromso. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $142 vs $536 – making Cairo the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇪🇬 Cairo
🇳🇴 Tromso
🕒 Local time
20:36 8:36 PM
19:36 7:36 PM
1 h behind Cairo
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
9,120,350 Capital
78,908
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

NOK, 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).

Norwegian Krone exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 9.41 NOK (1 NOK = 0.106 USD). 1 EUR = 10.58 NOK (100 NOK = 9.45 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Cairo Tromso 4,470 km ≈ 6 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Cairo
  • Tromso

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 Tromso: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Tromso cheaper than Cairo?
Yes – Tromso is pricier by about 375%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in eating out.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $970 per month in Cairo and $4,610 in Tromso. 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 Tromso?
Groceries cost about 278% more in Tromso, 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 Tromso?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $28.00 in Cairo and $103 in Tromso. 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 Tromso?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Cairo, where all-in costs run around $647, than in Tromso at $3,073. In Cairo it covers expenses comfortably, while in Tromso it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Cairo or Tromso 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 Tromso?
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, Tromso makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Cairo vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?