Cost of Living Comparison Between United States and Egypt Cost of Living Comparison Between United States and Egypt

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,626 in United States versus $450 in Egypt.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,830 in United States versus $732 in Egypt.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,033 in United States versus $1,013 in Egypt.

Living in United States is roughly 484% more expensive than in Egypt on average.

United States (90% above) and Egypt (67% below) straddle the global median.

Internal cost variation is higher in United States: monthly costs span $986 to $5,298, compared to $325$729 in Egypt. City choice carries more weight in United States.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
United States
Egypt
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.83 $19.83
$4.04 E£207
390.84%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$78.8 $78.8
$19.42 E£996
305.82%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.19 $12.19
$4.94 E£253
146.76%
Cappuccino
$5.59 $5.59
$1.53 E£78.3
265.36%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78 $2.78
$0.34 E£17.65
717.65%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.18 $2.18
$0.13 E£6.59
1576.92%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.86 $5.86
$1.46 E£74.9
301.37%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.02 $8.02
$2.99 E£153
168.23%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
United States
Egypt
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.07 $1.07
$0.85 E£43.84
25.88%
White Bread (500g)
$3.68 $3.68
$0.70 E£36.14
425.71%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.66 $4.66
$0.65 E£33.31
616.92%
Eggs
$4.20 $4.20
$1.32 E£67.7
218.18%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.78 $12.78
$3.45 E£177
270.43%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.40 $12.40
$4.26 E£219
191.08%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.90 $16.90
$8.99 E£461
87.99%
Apples (1kg)
$5.23 $5.23
$1.57 E£80.3
233.12%
Banana (1kg)
$1.66 $1.66
$0.68 E£34.83
144.12%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.33 $4.33
$0.50 E£25.65
766.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.96 $4.96
$0.41 E£21.19
1109.76%
Potato (1kg)
$2.82 $2.82
$0.38 E£19.33
642.11%
Onion (1kg)
$3.11 $3.11
$0.38 E£19.70
718.42%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.19 $2.19
$0.29 E£14.63
655.17%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.26 $2.26
$0.20 E£10.25
1030.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.35 $10.35
$2.00 E£103
417.50%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.81 $14.81
$7.05 E£362
110.07%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.09 $2.09
$1.45 E£74.4
44.14%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.65 $3.65
$2.11 E£108
72.99%
🚌 Getting Around
United States
Egypt
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.38 $2.38
$0.30 E£15.50
693.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$64.5 $64.5
$8.14 E£418
692.26%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.54 $3.54
$0.38 E£19.25
831.58%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.86 $1.86
$0.28 E£14.24
564.29%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$30.34 $30.34
$1.81 E£93.0
1576.24%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.00 $1.00
$0.43 E£21.86
132.56%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.5K $35.5K
$33.4K E£1.7M
6.46%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.9K $25.9K
$28.4K E£1.5M
-9.03%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
United States
Egypt
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$222 $222
$22.40 E£1,149
891.92%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$61.1 $61.1
$7.19 E£369
750.21%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$74.7 $74.7
$13.44 E£689
455.51%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
United States
Egypt
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.49 $44.49
$17.79 E£913
150.08%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.35 $22.35
$6.66 E£342
235.59%
Cinema Ticket
$15.03 $15.03
$2.90 E£149
418.28%
🧸 Childcare & Education
United States
Egypt
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,431 $1,431
$94.0 E£4,821
1422.98%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$25.9K $25.9K
$2,482 E£127.3K
942.83%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
United States
Egypt
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.6 $53.6
$27.14 E£1,393
97.42%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.46 $43.46
$44.76 E£2,296
-2.90%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$91.5 $91.5
$110 E£5,664
-17.14%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114 $114
$50.5 E£2,589
125.10%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
United States
Egypt
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,633 $1,633
$155 E£7,942
955.04%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,328 $1,328
$94.6 E£4,854
1303.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,606 $2,606
$309 E£15.8K
744.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,206 $2,206
$196 E£10.0K
1026.56%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,323 $3,323
$747 E£38.3K
345.17%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,653 $2,653
$455 E£23.3K
483.41%
💵 Salaries & Financials
United States
Egypt
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,306 $4,306
$151 E£7,764
2745.91%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.21
16.46
-62.27%

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

Last update for United States: September 7, 2026

Last update for Egypt: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $1,604 in United States, $146 in Egypt. Capital cities: $1,360 in Columbia, TN vs $215 in Cairo.

National salary averages: $4,526 in United States, $140 in Egypt. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 999% higher in United States.

Dining out costs 341% more in United States.

Public transport is 800% more expensive in United States.

Salaries are 3133% higher in United States, and purchasing power comes out stronger in United States.

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
United States vs Egypt: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost difference between Egypt and United States?
At $527 per month in Egypt and $3,142 in United States, there's a 496% gap. Keep in mind it varies by city – the difference can be bigger or smaller depending on where you settle within each country.
Which country is cheaper for everyday spending?
Day-to-day life is simply cheaper in Egypt: lower food prices, cheaper commutes, smaller household bills. Over time, those daily savings make a real difference to your monthly budget and ability to put money away.
Which country has higher housing costs?
Rent in United States is consistently higher than in Egypt across the board, especially in major cities. Housing is usually the single biggest driver of the overall cost difference between the two countries.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget in Egypt or in United States?
In Egypt, $1,000 covers most cities easily; in United States it stretches only to regional areas and falls short in the capital – you'll need to make trade-offs on housing or lifestyle.
Should I move to Egypt or to United States?
It depends on what you're after: Egypt wins on affordability; United States may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.

United States vs other spots: cost of living compared

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