😐A single person spends $534 per month in Hurghada vs $438 in El Mahalla El Kubra, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,008 per month in Hurghada vs $689 in El Mahalla El Kubra, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $1,482 per month in Hurghada vs $939 in El Mahalla El Kubra, rent included.
😐Hurghada costs about 22% more than El Mahalla El Kubra, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Hurghada and El Mahalla El Kubra are more affordable than the global median – Hurghada60% lower, El Mahalla El Kubra67% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Hurghada
El Mahalla El Kubra
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.00E£208
$3.55E£184
12.68%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$39.52E£2,051
$13.58E£705
191.02%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.07E£315
$3.98E£207
52.51%
Cappuccino
$1.61E£83.5
$0.96E£49.99
67.71%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35E£18.09
$0.31E£16.31
12.90%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.13E£6.61
$0.13E£6.50
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.00E£104
$1.16E£60.2
72.41%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.67E£139
$3.02E£157
-11.59%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Hurghada
El Mahalla El Kubra
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.02E£53.1
$0.79E£41.06
29.11%
White Bread(500g)
$0.56E£29.17
$0.29E£15.03
93.10%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.02E£53.1
$0.58E£30.30
75.86%
Eggs
$2.14E£111
$1.45E£75.2
47.59%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$3.41E£177
$2.50E£130
36.40%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.56E£341
$4.34E£225
51.15%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.04E£521
$7.32E£380
37.16%
Apples(1kg)
$1.31E£68.1
$1.29E£67.1
1.55%
Banana(1kg)
$0.43E£22.27
$0.58E£29.98
-25.86%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.39E£20.23
$0.42E£21.84
-7.14%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.58E£30.02
$0.27E£14.04
114.81%
Potato(1kg)
$0.46E£23.73
$0.35E£18.34
31.43%
Onion(1kg)
$0.58E£29.95
$0.40E£20.82
45.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.28E£14.43
$0.22E£11.38
27.27%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.18E£9.42
$0.20E£10.55
-10.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.96E£102
$1.90E£98.7
3.16%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.21E£374
$5.70E£296
26.49%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.25E£64.9
$1.41E£73.2
-11.35%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.82E£94.7
$2.57E£133
-29.18%
🚌 Getting Around
Hurghada
El Mahalla El Kubra
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.09E£4.65
$0.19E£9.74
-52.63%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.38E£19.93
$0.41E£21.50
-7.32%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.19E£9.76
$0.11E£5.86
72.73%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.01E£104
$0.95E£49.37
111.58%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.35E£18.42
$0.32E£16.72
9.37%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.3KE£897.8K
$36.1KE£1.9M
-52.14%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.2KE£1.7M
$32.5KE£1.7M
2.21%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hurghada
El Mahalla El Kubra
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$25.73E£1,335
$11.10E£576
131.80%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.66E£450
$5.58E£290
55.20%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$12.40E£644
$9.92E£515
25.00%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Hurghada
El Mahalla El Kubra
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$26.99E£1,401
$22.42E£1,164
20.38%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.07E£367
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.54E£184
$2.90E£151
22.07%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Hurghada
El Mahalla El Kubra
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$97.1E£5,038
$33.25E£1,726
191.97%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$599E£31.1K
$1,840E£95.5K
-67.46%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Hurghada
El Mahalla El Kubra
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$11.12E£577
$18.08E£938
-38.50%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$19.84E£1,030
$43.33E£2,249
-54.21%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$110E£5,704
$108E£5,594
1.97%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$51.0E£2,645
$49.98E£2,594
1.96%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Hurghada
El Mahalla El Kubra
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$261E£13.5K
$193E£10.0K
34.95%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$129E£6,694
$101E£5,224
28.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$261E£13.5K
$306E£15.9K
-14.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$445E£23.1K
$180E£9,349
147.09%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$556E£28.9K
$785E£40.7K
-29.07%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$619E£32.1K
$397E£20.6K
55.79%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Hurghada
El Mahalla El Kubra
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$155E£8,028
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
16.67
17
-1.94%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Hurghada: May 31, 2026
Last update for El Mahalla El Kubra: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $261 in Hurghada versus $193 in El Mahalla El Kubra. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $40.00 in Hurghada versus $14.00 in El Mahalla El Kubra. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $145 vs $112 – making El Mahalla El Kubra the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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
Hurghada vs El Mahalla El Kubra: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Hurghada and El Mahalla El Kubra compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $534 in Hurghada, $438 in El Mahalla El Kubra – roughly 22% apart. Hurghada costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Hurghada compared to El Mahalla El Kubra?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $801 per month in Hurghada and $658 in El Mahalla El Kubra. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Hurghada and El Mahalla El Kubra?
Rent is clearly cheaper in El Mahalla El Kubra, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Hurghada or El Mahalla El Kubra?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $534 in Hurghada and $438 in El Mahalla El Kubra. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Hurghada and El Mahalla El Kubra?
Kindergarten costs $97.1 per month in Hurghada and $33.25 in El Mahalla El Kubra. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
How far does $1,200 go in Hurghada vs El Mahalla El Kubra?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $534 in Hurghada and $438 in El Mahalla El Kubra, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Where should families live: Hurghada or El Mahalla El Kubra?
Families tend to lean toward El Mahalla El Kubra – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Is Hurghada or El Mahalla El Kubra safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Hurghada and El Mahalla El Kubra?
If budget matters most, go with El Mahalla El Kubra. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Hurghada makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.