😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $636 in Western Sahara versus $453 in Egypt.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,031 in Western Sahara versus $729 in Egypt.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,426 in Western Sahara versus $1,005 in Egypt.
😐Living in Western Sahara is roughly 40% more expensive than Egypt on average.
📊Both countries sit below the global median: Western Sahara53% lower, Egypt66% lower.
📏Internal cost variation is higher in Western Sahara: monthly costs span $636 to $636, compared to $315–$684 in Egypt. City choice carries more weight in Western Sahara.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Western Sahara
Egypt
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.90MAD 35.83
$4.03E£209
-3.23%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$28.73MAD 264
$19.90E£1,031
44.37%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.52MAD 41.55
$5.08E£263
-11.02%
Cappuccino
$1.68MAD 15.40
$1.45E£75.0
15.86%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49MAD 4.47
$0.35E£18.26
40.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.32MAD 2.93
$0.14E£7.20
128.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.53MAD 32.49
$1.42E£73.4
148.59%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.51MAD 41.42
$2.90E£150
55.52%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Western Sahara
Egypt
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.84MAD 7.71
$0.91E£47.07
-7.69%
White Bread(500g)
$0.60MAD 5.49
$0.62E£32.26
-3.23%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.81MAD 16.59
$0.67E£34.55
170.15%
Eggs
$1.43MAD 13.13
$1.51E£78.0
-5.30%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.38MAD 105
$3.13E£162
263.58%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.56MAD 32.68
$4.34E£225
-17.97%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.17MAD 84.3
$8.74E£453
4.92%
Apples(1kg)
$1.49MAD 13.67
$1.53E£79.1
-2.61%
Banana(1kg)
$1.13MAD 10.38
$0.56E£29.24
101.79%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.67MAD 6.20
$0.44E£22.79
52.27%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.56MAD 5.18
$0.40E£20.98
40.00%
Potato(1kg)
$0.47MAD 4.33
$0.44E£22.79
6.82%
Onion(1kg)
$0.34MAD 3.12
$0.44E£23.01
-22.73%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.97MAD 8.93
$0.24E£12.43
304.17%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.59MAD 5.45
$0.21E£11.06
180.95%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
-
$1.92E£99.2
-
Wine(Bottle)
-
$6.82E£353
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.27E£66.0
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.53MAD 32.47
$1.85E£96.0
90.81%
🚌 Getting Around
Western Sahara
Egypt
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.59MAD 5.46
$0.27E£13.79
118.52%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.43MAD 105
$5.94E£307
92.42%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.73MAD 6.69
$0.38E£19.70
92.11%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.70MAD 6.40
$0.29E£14.82
141.38%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$1.30E£67.2
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.29MAD 11.89
$0.31E£15.93
316.13%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$40.2KMAD 369.6K
$34.3KE£1.8M
17.20%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.4KMAD 242.2K
$31.6KE£1.6M
-16.64%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Western Sahara
Egypt
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$32.89MAD 302
$21.84E£1,131
50.60%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
-
$7.09E£367
-
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.49MAD 207
$11.91E£617
88.83%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Western Sahara
Egypt
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$23.60MAD 217
$14.50E£751
62.76%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$34.93MAD 321
$6.81E£353
412.92%
Cinema Ticket
$3.38MAD 31.10
$2.93E£152
15.36%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Western Sahara
Egypt
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$294MAD 2,701
$87.8E£4,546
234.86%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,410MAD 31.3K
$1,934E£100.2K
76.33%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Western Sahara
Egypt
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$34.24MAD 315
$26.08E£1,351
31.29%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.3MAD 536
$43.77E£2,267
33.29%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$73.9MAD 680
$109E£5,627
-31.93%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$80.4MAD 739
$51.8E£2,684
55.23%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Western Sahara
Egypt
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$350MAD 3,216
$163E£8,434
114.96%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$174MAD 1,603
$101E£5,237
72.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$684MAD 6,289
$320E£16.6K
113.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$289MAD 2,653
$188E£9,729
53.70%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$741E£38.4K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$453E£23.5K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Western Sahara
Egypt
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$148E£7,642
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
0
16.38
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Western Sahara: June 1, 2026
Last update for Egypt: May 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠National rent averages: $354 in Western Sahara, $183 in Egypt. Capital cities: $354 in Laayoune vs $205 in Cairo.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 93% higher in Western Sahara.
⭐Dining out costs 81% more in Western Sahara.
⭐Public transport is 450% more expensive in Western Sahara.
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
Western Sahara vs Egypt: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost difference between Egypt and Western Sahara?
At $500 per month in Egypt and $636 in Western Sahara, there's a 27% 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?
Egypt is simply cheaper day-to-day: 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 Western Sahara beats 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 Western Sahara?
In Egypt, $1,000 covers most cities easily. In Western Sahara, it works in regional areas but falls short in the capital – you'll need to make trade-offs on housing or lifestyle.
Should I move to Egypt or Western Sahara?
It depends on what you're after. Egypt wins on affordability; Western Sahara may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.
Western Sahara vs other spots: cost of living compared