For one person, living is cheaper in Egypt: $471 a month against $2,727 in the United States, rent and utilities included – about $27,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.
How much you'll spend in Egypt and in the United States
Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Egypt and in the United States actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
Monthly costs for one person with rent: $483 in Egypt versus $2,727 in the United States.
Egypt $483
United States $2,727
Estimated couple costs with rent: $785 in Egypt versus $4,009 in the United States.
Egypt $785
United States $4,009
Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,088 in Egypt versus $5,291 in the United States.
Egypt $1,088
United States $5,291
📏
Internal cost variation is higher in the United States: monthly costs span $977 to $5,215, compared to $316–$728 in Egypt. City choice carries more weight in the United States.
🌍
Living in Egypt costs about 82% less than in the United States on average.
📊
Egypt (64% below) and the United States (102% above) straddle the global median.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Egypt
United States
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.64E£194
$19.73$19.73
-81.55%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.52E£989
$81.0$81.0
-77.13%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.56E£243
$11.98$11.98
-61.94%
Cappuccino
$1.47E£78.7
$5.59$5.59
-73.70%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.34E£18.21
$2.78$2.78
-87.77%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.13E£7.14
$2.10$2.10
-93.81%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.45E£77.5
$5.98$5.98
-75.75%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.83E£151
$7.92$7.92
-64.27%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Egypt
United States
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.83E£44.48
$1.03$1.03
-19.42%
White Bread(500g)
$0.70E£37.54
$3.75$3.75
-81.33%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.67E£35.62
$4.46$4.46
-84.98%
Eggs
$1.26E£67.4
$4.34$4.34
-70.97%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$3.32E£178
$12.75$12.75
-73.96%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.17E£223
$12.27$12.27
-66.01%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.35E£446
$17.29$17.29
-51.71%
Apples(1kg)
$1.54E£82.3
$5.31$5.31
-71.00%
Banana(1kg)
$0.69E£36.99
$1.67$1.67
-58.68%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.47E£24.90
$4.32$4.32
-89.12%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.41E£21.84
$5.03$5.03
-91.85%
Potato(1kg)
$0.37E£19.86
$2.81$2.81
-86.83%
Onion(1kg)
$0.37E£19.74
$3.05$3.05
-87.87%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.28E£14.86
$2.22$2.22
-87.39%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.21E£11.13
$2.35$2.35
-91.06%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.80E£96.0
$10.92$10.92
-83.52%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.33E£338
$14.87$14.87
-57.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.28E£68.6
$2.10$2.10
-39.05%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.94E£104
$3.62$3.62
-46.41%
🚌 Getting Around
Egypt
United States
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.27E£14.22
$2.46$2.46
-89.02%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$8.15E£435
$65.7$65.7
-87.60%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.39E£20.74
$3.58$3.58
-89.11%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.29E£15.57
$1.90$1.90
-84.74%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.80E£96.2
$29.51$29.51
-93.90%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.42E£22.29
$1.02$1.02
-58.82%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.4KE£1.7M
$28.3K$28.3K
10.98%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.9KE£1.4M
$26.0K$26.0K
-0.42%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Egypt
United States
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$21.25E£1,135
$221$221
-90.38%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.10E£379
$61.3$61.3
-88.41%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.16E£703
$73.3$73.3
-82.04%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Egypt
United States
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$17.95E£958
$44.89$44.89
-60.01%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.44E£344
$22.65$22.65
-71.57%
Cinema Ticket
$3.23E£173
$15.16$15.16
-78.69%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Egypt
United States
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$99.0E£5,285
$1,471$1,471
-93.27%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,501E£133.6K
$25.0K$25.0K
-90.00%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Egypt
United States
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$26.17E£1,397
$53.5$53.5
-51.12%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.61E£2,329
$43.76$43.76
-0.34%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$106E£5,676
$92.0$92.0
15.49%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$49.22E£2,629
$114$114
-56.90%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Egypt
United States
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$144E£7,709
$1,654$1,654
-91.27%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$94.6E£5,051
$1,332$1,332
-92.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$291E£15.5K
$2,669$2,669
-89.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$187E£9,992
$2,207$2,207
-91.52%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$728E£38.9K
$3,054$3,054
-76.18%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$448E£23.9K
$2,522$2,522
-82.23%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Egypt
United States
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$142E£7,576
$4,391$4,391
-96.77%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
17.11
6.55
161.22%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Egypt: October 18, 2026
Last update for the United States: October 18, 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.
🛒Groceries & Markets
Egypt
$123 26.1%
United States
$413 15.1% ↑ 235%$289
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Egypt
$101 21.5%
United States
$137 5% ↑ 34.7%$35
🏠Accommodation & Living
Egypt
$95 20.1%
United States
$1.3K 48.9% ↑ 1308%$1.2K
🍽Eating Out
Egypt
$75 16%
United States
$326 12% ↑ 333%$251
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Egypt
$42 8.8%
United States
$355 13% ↑ 756%$314
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Egypt
$24 5.2%
United States
$75 2.8% ↑ 208%$51
🚌Getting Around
Egypt
$11 2.4%
United States
$89 3.3% ↑ 701%$78
🛒Groceries & Markets
Egypt
$283 26.6%
United States
$946 17.9% ↑ 234%$663
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Egypt
$225 21.2%
United States
$304 5.7% ↑ 34.7%$78
🏠Accommodation & Living
Egypt
$187 17.6%
United States
$2.2K 41.7% ↑ 1080%$2K
🍽Eating Out
Egypt
$242 22.7%
United States
$1.1K 20.1% ↑ 339%$821
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Egypt
$49 4.6%
United States
$417 7.9% ↑ 757%$368
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Egypt
$55 5.2%
United States
$173 3.3% ↑ 213%$118
🚌Getting Around
Egypt
$23 2.1%
United States
$182 3.4% ↑ 704%$159
Cost Breakdown
🏠National rent averages: $140 in Egypt, $1,612 in the United States. Capital cities: $222 in Cairo vs $2,743 in Washington, DC.
💰National salary averages: $138 in Egypt, $4,548 in the United States. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 1051% higher in the United States.
⭐Dining out costs 341% more in the United States.
⭐Public transport is 800% more expensive in the United States.
⭐Salaries are 3196% higher in the United States, and purchasing power comes out stronger in the United States.
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
Egypt vs United States: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost difference between Egypt and the United States?
At $483 per month in Egypt and $2,727 in the United States, there's a 465% gap. Keep in mind it varies by city – the difference can be bigger or smaller depending on where you settle within each country.
Which country is cheaper for everyday spending?
Day-to-day life is cheaper in Egypt: lower grocery prices, cheaper commutes, and more affordable meals out. Over time, those daily savings make a real difference to your monthly budget and ability to put money away.
Which country has higher housing costs?
Rent for a central one-bedroom averages $1,612 in the United States and $140 in Egypt. Rents vary a lot between cities, so the gap depends on where you settle.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget in Egypt or in the United States?
In Egypt, $1,000 covers most cities easily; in the United States it stretches only to regional areas and falls short in the capital – you'll need to make trade-offs on housing or lifestyle.
Should I move to Egypt or to the United States?
It depends on what you're after: Egypt wins on affordability; the United States may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.