😐A single person spends $534 per month in Hurghada vs $473 in Sheikh Zayed, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,008 per month in Hurghada vs $769 in Sheikh Zayed, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $1,482 per month in Hurghada vs $1,065 in Sheikh Zayed, rent included.
😐Hurghada costs about 13% more than Sheikh Zayed, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Hurghada and Sheikh Zayed are more affordable than the global median – Hurghada60% lower, Sheikh Zayed65% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Hurghada
Sheikh Zayed
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.00E£208
$3.51E£182
13.96%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$39.52E£2,051
$15.93E£827
148.09%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.07E£315
$3.99E£207
52.13%
Cappuccino
$1.61E£83.5
$1.50E£78.1
7.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35E£18.09
$0.31E£16.28
12.90%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.13E£6.61
$0.12E£6.38
8.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.00E£104
$1.22E£63.1
63.93%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.67E£139
$2.95E£153
-9.49%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Hurghada
Sheikh Zayed
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.02E£53.1
$0.82E£42.31
24.39%
White Bread(500g)
$0.56E£29.17
$0.74E£38.22
-24.32%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.02E£53.1
$0.70E£36.12
45.71%
Eggs
$2.14E£111
$1.40E£72.5
52.86%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$3.41E£177
$3.97E£206
-14.11%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.56E£341
$4.33E£225
51.50%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.04E£521
$9.62E£499
4.37%
Apples(1kg)
$1.31E£68.1
$1.49E£77.1
-12.08%
Banana(1kg)
$0.43E£22.27
$0.47E£24.45
-8.51%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.39E£20.23
$0.40E£20.62
-2.50%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.58E£30.02
$0.37E£19.18
56.76%
Potato(1kg)
$0.46E£23.73
$0.38E£19.61
21.05%
Onion(1kg)
$0.58E£29.95
$0.38E£19.88
52.63%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.28E£14.43
$0.24E£12.47
16.67%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.18E£9.42
$0.14E£7.26
28.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.96E£102
$1.70E£88.2
15.29%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.21E£374
$5.92E£307
21.79%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.25E£64.9
$1.39E£72.3
-10.07%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.82E£94.7
$2.60E£135
-30.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Hurghada
Sheikh Zayed
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.09E£4.65
$0.25E£13.03
-64.00%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.38E£19.93
$0.53E£27.27
-28.30%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.19E£9.76
$0.43E£22.24
-55.81%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.01E£104
$2.03E£105
-0.99%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.35E£18.42
$0.31E£15.90
12.90%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.3KE£897.8K
$35.4KE£1.8M
-51.13%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.2KE£1.7M
$33.6KE£1.7M
-1.09%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hurghada
Sheikh Zayed
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$25.73E£1,335
$11.24E£583
128.91%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.66E£450
$5.64E£293
53.55%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$12.40E£644
$10.13E£526
22.41%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Hurghada
Sheikh Zayed
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$26.99E£1,401
$39.73E£2,062
-32.07%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.07E£367
$9.74E£505
-27.41%
Cinema Ticket
$3.54E£184
$3.02E£157
17.22%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Hurghada
Sheikh Zayed
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$97.1E£5,038
$88.3E£4,581
9.99%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$599E£31.1K
$1,875E£97.3K
-68.08%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Hurghada
Sheikh Zayed
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$11.12E£577
$27.13E£1,408
-59.01%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$19.84E£1,030
$47.83E£2,483
-58.52%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$110E£5,704
$110E£5,693
0.21%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$51.0E£2,645
$50.7E£2,630
0.57%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Hurghada
Sheikh Zayed
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$261E£13.5K
$189E£9,795
38.21%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$129E£6,694
$99.5E£5,164
29.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$261E£13.5K
$433E£22.5K
-39.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$445E£23.1K
$176E£9,108
153.61%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$556E£28.9K
$1,073E£55.7K
-48.13%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$619E£32.1K
$577E£30.0K
7.24%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Hurghada
Sheikh Zayed
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$155E£8,028
$132E£6,844
17.29%
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 Sheikh Zayed: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $261 in Hurghada versus $189 in Sheikh Zayed. 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 17% 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 Sheikh Zayed. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $145 vs $129 – making Sheikh Zayed 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 Sheikh Zayed: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sheikh Zayed cheaper than Hurghada?
Yes – Hurghada is pricier by about 13%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. 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 $709 in Sheikh Zayed. 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 Sheikh Zayed, 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 vs Sheikh Zayed?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $534 in Hurghada and $473 in Sheikh Zayed. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $97.1 per month in Hurghada and $88.3 in Sheikh Zayed. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,200 enough for either Hurghada or Sheikh Zayed?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $534 in Hurghada and $473 in Sheikh Zayed, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Is Hurghada or Sheikh Zayed more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Sheikh Zayed – 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 Sheikh Zayed?
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 Sheikh Zayed. 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.