😐A single person spends $534 per month in Hurghada vs $348 in Ismailia, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $997 per month in Hurghada vs $598 in Ismailia, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $1,461 per month in Hurghada vs $847 in Ismailia, rent included.
😐Hurghada costs about 53% more than Ismailia, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Hurghada and Ismailia are more affordable than the global median – Hurghada60% lower, Ismailia74% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Hurghada
Ismailia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.83E£196
$3.50E£179
9.43%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$40.00E£2,042
$15.57E£795
156.90%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.98E£305
$4.49E£229
33.18%
Cappuccino
$1.64E£83.8
$1.01E£51.6
62.38%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.38E£19.25
$0.29E£14.81
31.03%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.16E£7.91
$0.09E£4.83
77.78%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.01E£103
$1.20E£61.5
67.50%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.63E£134
$1.99E£102
32.16%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Hurghada
Ismailia
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.96E£49.08
$0.82E£41.71
17.07%
White Bread(500g)
$0.61E£31.02
$0.39E£19.89
56.41%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.02E£51.9
$0.61E£31.35
67.21%
Eggs
$2.19E£112
$1.40E£71.6
56.43%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$3.42E£174
$3.00E£153
14.00%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.30E£322
$3.61E£184
74.52%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.06E£513
$8.14E£415
23.59%
Apples(1kg)
$1.31E£67.1
$1.43E£73.0
-8.39%
Banana(1kg)
$0.43E£21.93
$0.58E£29.74
-25.86%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.39E£19.90
$0.39E£19.80
-
Tomato(1kg)
$0.57E£29.02
$0.29E£14.68
96.55%
Potato(1kg)
$0.46E£23.69
$0.38E£19.36
21.05%
Onion(1kg)
$0.57E£29.21
$0.39E£19.88
46.15%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.30E£15.45
$0.21E£10.78
42.86%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.22E£11.09
$0.17E£8.84
29.41%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.95E£99.3
$1.64E£83.7
18.90%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.29E£372
$6.01E£307
21.30%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.27E£64.9
$1.02E£51.9
24.51%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.84E£93.9
$2.02E£103
-8.91%
🚌 Getting Around
Hurghada
Ismailia
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.11E£5.80
$0.27E£13.81
-59.26%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$4.01E£205
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.41E£21.09
$0.31E£15.63
32.26%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.19E£9.66
$0.43E£21.92
-55.81%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.02E£103
$2.02E£103
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.35E£18.02
$0.33E£17.03
6.06%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.3KE£880.6K
$30.0KE£1.5M
-42.48%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.8KE£1.7M
$16.0KE£815.9K
105.15%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hurghada
Ismailia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$25.84E£1,319
$11.32E£578
128.27%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.32E£425
$5.73E£292
45.20%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$12.62E£644
$7.68E£392
64.32%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Hurghada
Ismailia
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$27.37E£1,397
$12.00E£613
128.08%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.01E£358
$19.86E£1,014
-64.70%
Cinema Ticket
$3.51E£179
$2.01E£103
74.63%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Hurghada
Ismailia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$100E£5,113
$89.2E£4,553
12.29%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$578E£29.5K
$1,243E£63.5K
-53.48%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Hurghada
Ismailia
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$11.25E£574
$12.72E£649
-11.56%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$19.72E£1,007
$9.69E£495
103.51%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$108E£5,522
$107E£5,451
1.31%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$50.7E£2,587
$50.6E£2,581
0.26%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Hurghada
Ismailia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$258E£13.1K
$89.2E£4,553
188.75%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$128E£6,552
$40.26E£2,055
218.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$257E£13.1K
$146E£7,430
76.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$448E£22.9K
$87.8E£4,480
410.90%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$566E£28.9K
$505E£25.8K
12.11%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$627E£32.0K
$138E£7,034
355.24%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Hurghada
Ismailia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$162E£8,278
$109E£5,567
48.69%
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: July 13, 2026
Last update for Ismailia: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $258 in Hurghada versus $89.2 in Ismailia. 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 49% higher in Hurghada, 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 $40.00 in Hurghada versus $16.00 in Ismailia. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $145 vs $111 – making Ismailia 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 Ismailia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ismailia cheaper than Hurghada?
Yes – Hurghada is pricier by about 53%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $801 per month in Hurghada and $522 in Ismailia. 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 Ismailia, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Hurghada and in Ismailia?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $534 in Hurghada and $348 in Ismailia. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $100 per month in Hurghada and $89.2 in Ismailia. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $800 enough for either Hurghada or Ismailia?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $534 in Hurghada and $348 in Ismailia, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Is Hurghada or Ismailia more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Ismailia – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Hurghada or Ismailia?
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 Ismailia. 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.