😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $344 in Ismailia versus $315 in Damietta.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $582 in Ismailia versus $548 in Damietta.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $819 in Ismailia versus $782 in Damietta.
😐Living in Ismailia is roughly 9% more expensive than Damietta, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Ismailia74% lower, Damietta77% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ismailia
Damietta
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.58E£186
$3.55E£184
0.85%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$15.66E£813
$13.56E£704
15.49%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.50E£234
$4.03E£209
11.66%
Cappuccino
$0.95E£49.38
$0.74E£38.28
28.38%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.27E£13.84
$0.29E£15.00
-6.90%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.11E£5.62
$0.11E£5.55
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.20E£62.3
$1.17E£60.7
2.56%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96E£102
$3.04E£158
-35.53%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ismailia
Damietta
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.85E£44.28
$0.62E£32.28
37.10%
White Bread(500g)
$0.41E£21.35
$0.29E£14.89
41.38%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.66E£34.11
$0.69E£35.91
-4.35%
Eggs
$1.40E£72.5
$1.43E£74.3
-2.10%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$3.01E£156
$2.09E£109
44.02%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.72E£193
$3.21E£167
15.89%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.78E£404
$8.68E£450
-10.37%
Apples(1kg)
$1.46E£76.0
$1.43E£74.3
2.10%
Banana(1kg)
$0.54E£28.01
$0.54E£28.23
-
Oranges(1kg)
$0.41E£21.36
$0.38E£19.84
7.89%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.29E£14.90
$0.40E£20.54
-27.50%
Potato(1kg)
$0.37E£19.45
$0.38E£19.50
-2.63%
Onion(1kg)
$0.41E£21.39
$0.23E£11.94
78.26%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.19E£9.75
$0.17E£8.93
11.76%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.17E£8.61
$0.21E£10.94
-19.05%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.63E£84.6
$2.02E£105
-19.31%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.85E£303
$5.62E£292
4.09%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.02E£53.1
$1.37E£70.9
-25.55%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.95E£101
$1.92E£99.8
1.56%
🚌 Getting Around
Ismailia
Damietta
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.25E£12.93
$0.10E£5.22
150.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$4.04E£210
$4.26E£221
-5.16%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.33E£17.19
$0.51E£26.66
-35.29%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.45E£23.58
$0.23E£11.80
95.65%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.94E£101
$0.38E£19.95
410.53%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.33E£17.32
$0.28E£14.64
17.86%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.1KE£1.6M
$24.7KE£1.3M
21.76%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$16.1KE£835.7K
$32.2KE£1.7M
-49.95%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ismailia
Damietta
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$11.33E£588
$11.53E£599
-1.73%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.68E£295
$5.56E£288
2.16%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$7.72E£401
$6.77E£352
14.03%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ismailia
Damietta
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$11.67E£606
$18.72E£972
-37.66%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.66E£1,020
$6.55E£340
200.15%
Cinema Ticket
$2.01E£104
$2.91E£151
-30.93%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ismailia
Damietta
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$86.9E£4,509
$36.38E£1,888
138.84%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,214E£63.0K
$978E£50.7K
24.12%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ismailia
Damietta
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$12.65E£657
$16.78E£871
-24.61%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$10.12E£525
$27.09E£1,406
-62.64%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$107E£5,537
$100E£5,197
6.53%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$49.96E£2,593
$19.59E£1,017
155.03%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ismailia
Damietta
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$89.7E£4,653
$34.06E£1,768
163.24%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$39.40E£2,045
$22.14E£1,149
77.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$142E£7,384
$117E£6,091
21.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$88.5E£4,591
$84.6E£4,391
4.54%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$485E£25.2K
$943E£48.9K
-48.53%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$133E£6,897
$671E£34.8K
-80.20%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ismailia
Damietta
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$107E£5,570
$126E£6,522
-14.60%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
17
8
112.50%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ismailia: May 31, 2026
Last update for Damietta: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $89.7 in Ismailia and $34.06 in Damietta. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Damietta pays 17% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $16.00 in Ismailia vs $14.00 in Damietta for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $111 vs $107 per month, with Damietta cheaper across the board.
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
Ismailia vs Damietta: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ismailia or Damietta?
Damietta wins on cost – living expenses run 9% lower than in Ismailia. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Damietta the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Ismailia or Damietta?
On paper, Damietta earns 17% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Ismailia vs Damietta?
Rent for a central apartment: $89.7 in Ismailia versus $34.06 in Damietta. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Ismailia compared to Damietta?
All in, you'll spend $344 per month in Ismailia versus $315 in Damietta – a 9% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Ismailia vs Damietta?
A monthly transit pass in Damietta runs roughly 5% less than in Ismailia. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $800/month in Ismailia or Damietta?
Either city works on $800 a month, though Damietta gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Ismailia or Damietta?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
How safe is Ismailia compared to Damietta?
Safety-wise, Ismailia and Damietta are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Damietta gentler on the wallet – expenses run 9% less than in Ismailia. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.