Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Sharm El Sheikh and Alexandria

For one person, living costs are similar in Sharm El Sheikh and in Alexandria: $447 and $452 a month, rent and utilities included.

Sharm El Sheikh
🇪🇬 Egypt
$447
/mo nomad
Alexandria
🇪🇬 Egypt
$452
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Sharm El Sheikh and in Alexandria

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Sharm El Sheikh and in Alexandria actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $447 per month in Sharm El Sheikh vs $452 in Alexandria, rent included.

  • Sharm El Sheikh $447
  • Alexandria $452

A couple spends around $702 per month in Sharm El Sheikh vs $750 in Alexandria, rent included.

  • Sharm El Sheikh $702
  • Alexandria $750

A family of three spends $957 per month in Sharm El Sheikh vs $1,048 in Alexandria, rent included.

  • Sharm El Sheikh $957
  • Alexandria $1,048

Sharm El Sheikh is about 1% cheaper than Alexandria, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

Both Sharm El Sheikh and Alexandria are more affordable than the global median – Sharm El Sheikh 67% lower, Alexandria 67% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sharm El Sheikh
Alexandria
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
-
$4.22 E£225
-
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$22.42 E£1,197
$18.66 E£996
20.15%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.51 E£241
$4.74 E£253
-4.85%
Cappuccino
$2.24 E£120
$1.26 E£67.3
77.78%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.32 E£17.02
$0.30 E£15.96
6.67%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.54 E£28.65
$0.12 E£6.31
350.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.74 E£200
$1.33 E£70.9
181.20%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.66 E£249
$2.74 E£146
70.07%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sharm El Sheikh
Alexandria
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.81 E£43.12
$0.84 E£44.97
-3.57%
White Bread (500g)
-
$0.71 E£37.73
-
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.48 E£25.58
$0.58 E£30.74
-17.24%
Eggs
$1.19 E£63.7
$1.10 E£59.0
8.18%
Local Cheese (1kg)
-
$3.66 E£195
-
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.81 E£203
$4.19 E£224
-9.07%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
-
$9.17 E£490
-
Apples (1kg)
$1.51 E£80.4
$1.46 E£77.7
3.42%
Banana (1kg)
$0.45 E£23.78
$0.78 E£41.63
-42.31%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.45 E£23.90
$0.51 E£27.48
-11.76%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.27 E£14.37
$0.34 E£18.27
-20.59%
Potato (1kg)
-
$0.24 E£12.77
-
Onion (1kg)
-
$0.30 E£15.98
-
Lettuce (1 head)
-
$0.27 E£14.47
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
-
$0.22 E£11.93
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.11 E£113
$1.86 E£99.6
13.44%
Wine (Bottle)
-
$5.62 E£300
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.49 E£79.7
$1.16 E£61.9
28.45%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.15 E£115
-
🚌 Getting Around
Sharm El Sheikh
Alexandria
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.08 E£4.37
$0.22 E£11.66
-63.64%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$10.95 E£585
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
-
$0.57 E£30.48
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$0.49 E£26.19
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$1.11 E£59.1
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.45 E£24.21
$0.45 E£24.16
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.2K E£1.7M
$32.8K E£1.8M
-4.75%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.2K E£1.1M
$25.2K E£1.3M
-15.63%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sharm El Sheikh
Alexandria
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
-
$14.02 E£749
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.12 E£594
$6.60 E£353
68.48%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.50 E£1,468
$12.75 E£681
115.69%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sharm El Sheikh
Alexandria
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$12.39 E£662
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$7.31 E£390
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$2.73 E£146
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sharm El Sheikh
Alexandria
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
-
$85.2 E£4,549
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$2,035 E£108.6K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sharm El Sheikh
Alexandria
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
-
$32.61 E£1,741
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$45.28 E£2,418
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
-
$125 E£6,687
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$54.9 E£2,933
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sharm El Sheikh
Alexandria
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$349 E£18.6K
$131 E£7,020
165.58%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$282 E£15.1K
$69.3 E£3,702
306.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$596 E£31.8K
$279 E£14.9K
113.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$537 E£28.7K
$142 E£7,603
277.50%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$931 E£49.7K
$679 E£36.2K
37.12%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$673 E£36.0K
$431 E£23.0K
56.34%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sharm El Sheikh
Alexandria
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$149 E£7,935
$137 E£7,313
8.51%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
26.5
21.33
24.24%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Sharm El Sheikh: October 17, 2026

Last update for Alexandria: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Sharm El Sheikh
$282
Alexandria
$69 75.4% $213
Eating Out
Sharm El Sheikh
$72 *
Alexandria
$77 7% $5
Groceries & Markets
Sharm El Sheikh
$55 *
Alexandria
$124 127% $69
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sharm El Sheikh
$39 *
Alexandria
$33 13.6% $5.3
Getting Around
Sharm El Sheikh
$0.3 *
Alexandria
$15 4397% $15
Sport & Entertainment
Sharm El Sheikh
- *
Alexandria
$18
Clothing & Footwear
Sharm El Sheikh
- *
Alexandria
$116

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $349 in Sharm El Sheikh versus $131 in Alexandria. 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 9% higher in Sharm El Sheikh, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $22.00 in Sharm El Sheikh versus $19.00 in Alexandria. Groceries tell a different story – $55.0 in Sharm El Sheikh vs $124 in Alexandria – so Sharm El Sheikh wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇪🇬 Sharm El Sheikh
🇪🇬 Alexandria
🕒 Local time
15:36 3:36 PM
15:36 3:36 PM
Same time as Sharm El Sheikh
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
38,478
4,546,231
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to EGP – Egyptian Pound Converter

Egyptian Pound exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 53.4 EGP (100 EGP = 1.87 USD). 1 EUR = 60.03 EGP (100 EGP = 1.67 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Sharm El Sheikh Alexandria 560 km ≈ 1 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Sharm El Sheikh
  • Alexandria

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
Sharm El Sheikh vs Alexandria: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Sharm El Sheikh or Alexandria?
Alexandria costs about 1% more than Sharm El Sheikh, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from clothing. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Sharm El Sheikh and in Alexandria?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $671 per month in Sharm El Sheikh and $678 in Alexandria. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Sharm El Sheikh or Alexandria?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Sharm El Sheikh, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Sharm El Sheikh compared to Alexandria?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $447 in Sharm El Sheikh and $452 in Alexandria. That's a gap of about 1%.
Are groceries more expensive in Sharm El Sheikh or in Alexandria?
Groceries cost about 127% more in Alexandria, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $1,200/month in Sharm El Sheikh or in Alexandria?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $447 in Sharm El Sheikh and $452 in Alexandria, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for families?
Families tend to lean toward Sharm El Sheikh – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
How safe is Sharm El Sheikh compared to Alexandria?
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.
Should I move to Sharm El Sheikh or to Alexandria?
If budget matters most, go with Sharm El Sheikh. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Alexandria makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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