For one person, living is cheaper in Cairo: $647 a month against $1,893 in Mons, rent and utilities included – about $15,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.
Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Mons and in Cairo actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
A single person spends $1,893 per month in Mons vs $647 in Cairo, rent included.
Mons $1,893
Cairo $647
A couple spends around $2,798 per month in Mons vs $1,035 in Cairo, rent included.
Mons $2,798
Cairo $1,035
A family of three spends $3,704 per month in Mons vs $1,423 in Cairo, rent included.
Mons $3,704
Cairo $1,423
😐
Mons costs about 193% more than Cairo, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.
📊
Mons sits 40% above the global median, while Cairo is 52% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Mons
Cairo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.03€15.15
$4.64E£248
267.03%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$82.4€73.3
$28.12E£1,501
192.92%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.05€8.94
$6.03E£322
66.67%
Cappuccino
$2.51€2.23
$1.72E£92.1
45.93%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.74€2.44
$0.36E£19.38
661.11%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.70€1.51
$0.12E£6.41
1316.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.87€3.44
$1.51E£80.4
156.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.30€3.83
$2.32E£124
85.34%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mons
Cairo
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.16€1.03
$0.92E£48.92
26.09%
White Bread(500g)
$2.20€1.96
$0.73E£38.92
201.37%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.20€1.96
$0.74E£39.64
197.30%
Eggs
$4.10€3.64
$1.19E£63.7
244.54%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.83€16.75
$4.33E£231
334.87%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.42€11.05
$5.03E£269
146.92%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.48€17.33
$9.28E£496
109.91%
Apples(1kg)
$2.73€2.43
$1.77E£94.4
54.24%
Banana(1kg)
$2.36€2.10
$0.73E£39.03
223.29%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.60€2.31
$0.55E£29.51
372.73%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.79€2.48
$0.50E£26.91
458.00%
Potato(1kg)
$2.13€1.89
$0.42E£22.42
407.14%
Onion(1kg)
$1.16€1.03
$0.41E£21.81
182.93%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.31€1.17
$0.33E£17.51
296.97%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.07€0.95
$0.21E£11.20
409.52%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$9.66€8.59
$1.98E£106
387.88%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.65€5.02
$7.81E£417
-27.66%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.90€1.69
$1.59E£84.7
19.50%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.81€1.61
$2.09E£112
-13.40%
🚌 Getting Around
Mons
Cairo
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.04€2.71
$0.35E£18.83
768.57%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.67€37.06
$8.69E£464
379.52%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$10.95€9.74
$0.39E£21.02
2707.69%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.85€2.54
$0.22E£11.57
1195.45%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$25.21€22.42
$1.51E£80.5
1569.54%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.83€1.63
$0.43E£22.88
325.58%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.7K€31.7K
$32.7KE£1.7M
9.15%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.5K€29.8K
$27.2KE£1.5M
22.94%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mons
Cairo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$223€198
$27.27E£1,456
718.01%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.52€18.25
$8.58E£458
139.16%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$45.91€40.84
$13.99E£747
228.16%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mons
Cairo
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$26.32€23.41
$29.69E£1,585
-11.35%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.37€16.34
$7.25E£387
153.38%
Cinema Ticket
$12.18€10.84
$4.86E£260
150.62%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mons
Cairo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$552€491
$121E£6,438
357.78%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$21.0K€18.7K
$3,560E£190.1K
489.65%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mons
Cairo
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$106€94.7
$40.28E£2,151
164.18%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.28€41.17
$49.53E£2,645
-6.56%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$108€96.3
$115E£6,137
-5.82%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$147€131
$60.0E£3,206
144.79%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mons
Cairo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$686€610
$222E£11.9K
208.92%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$709€630
$195E£10.4K
263.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,031€917
$550E£29.3K
87.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$996€886
$346E£18.5K
187.66%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,094€3,641
$800E£42.7K
411.91%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,906€2,585
$525E£28.0K
453.58%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mons
Cairo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,796€2,487
$200E£10.7K
1299.67%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.2
16.21
-80.26%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mons: October 10, 2026
Last update for Cairo: October 11, 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.
🏠Accommodation & Living
Mons
$709 37.4%
Cairo
$195 30.2% ↓ 72.5%$514
🛒Groceries & Markets
Mons
$339 17.9%
Cairo
$142 21.9% ↓ 58.2%$197
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mons
$290 15.3%
Cairo
$50 7.7% ↓ 82.8%$240
🍽Eating Out
Mons
$242 12.8%
Cairo
$90 13.9% ↓ 62.8%$152
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Mons
$184 9.7%
Cairo
$119 18.4% ↓ 35.1%$64
🚌Getting Around
Mons
$79 4.2%
Cairo
$12 1.8% ↓ 85.4%$67
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Mons
$51 2.7%
Cairo
$39 6.1% ↓ 22.3%$11
🏠Accommodation & Living
Mons
$996 26.9%
Cairo
$346 24.3% ↓ 65.2%$650
🛒Groceries & Markets
Mons
$803 21.7%
Cairo
$324 22.8% ↓ 59.7%$479
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mons
$310 8.4%
Cairo
$58 4.1% ↓ 81.2%$252
🍽Eating Out
Mons
$904 24.4%
Cairo
$320 22.5% ↓ 64.6%$584
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Mons
$408 11%
Cairo
$265 18.6% ↓ 35.1%$143
🚌Getting Around
Mons
$164 4.4%
Cairo
$24 1.7% ↓ 85.5%$140
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Mons
$120 3.2%
Cairo
$86 6.1% ↓ 28.1%$34
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $686 in Mons versus $222 in Cairo. 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 1300% higher in Mons, 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 $82.0 in Mons versus $28.00 in Cairo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $339 vs $142 – making Cairo the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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
Mons vs Cairo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cairo cheaper than Mons?
Yes – Mons is pricier by about 193%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,839 per month in Mons and $970 in Cairo. 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 Cairo, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do food prices compare in Mons and in Cairo?
Groceries cost about 139% more in Mons, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is eating out cheaper in Mons or in Cairo?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $82.0 in Mons and $28.00 in Cairo. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Mons or in Cairo?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Cairo, where all-in costs run around $647, than in Mons at $1,893. In Cairo it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mons it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Mons or Cairo more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Cairo – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Mons or Cairo?
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 Cairo. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Mons makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.