😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $636 in Western Sahara versus $455 in Egypt.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,031 in Western Sahara versus $730 in Egypt.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,425 in Western Sahara versus $1,004 in Egypt.
🌍Living in Western Sahara is roughly 40% more expensive than in Egypt on average.
📊Both countries sit below the global median: Western Sahara 52% lower, Egypt 66% lower.
📏Internal cost variation is higher in Western Sahara: monthly costs span $636 to $636, compared to $317–$705 in Egypt. City choice carries more weight in Western Sahara.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Western Sahara
Egypt
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.96MAD 36.97
$3.89E£197
1.80%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$28.80MAD 269
$19.99E£1,010
44.07%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.55MAD 42.40
$4.89E£247
-6.95%
Cappuccino
$1.62MAD 15.09
$1.42E£71.6
14.08%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49MAD 4.55
$0.33E£16.56
48.48%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35MAD 3.22
$0.14E£6.86
150.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.40MAD 31.71
$1.37E£69.1
148.18%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.73MAD 44.07
$2.99E£151
58.19%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Western Sahara
Egypt
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.83MAD 7.73
$0.85E£42.93
-2.35%
White Bread(500g)
$0.56MAD 5.25
$0.63E£31.69
-11.11%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.83MAD 17.10
$0.66E£33.43
177.27%
Eggs
$1.42MAD 13.24
$1.45E£73.4
-2.07%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.36MAD 106
$3.15E£159
260.63%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.50MAD 32.67
$4.33E£219
-19.17%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.38MAD 87.4
$8.42E£425
11.40%
Apples(1kg)
$1.54MAD 14.41
$1.45E£73.2
6.21%
Banana(1kg)
$1.17MAD 10.93
$0.57E£28.77
105.26%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.66MAD 6.16
$0.48E£24.14
37.50%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.56MAD 5.25
$0.41E£20.52
36.59%
Potato(1kg)
$0.48MAD 4.45
$0.48E£24.29
-
Onion(1kg)
$0.37MAD 3.41
$0.44E£22.46
-15.91%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.98MAD 9.09
$0.24E£12.12
308.33%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.60MAD 5.62
$0.19E£9.65
215.79%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
-
$1.99E£100
-
Wine(Bottle)
-
$6.79E£343
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.30E£65.7
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.46MAD 32.22
$1.87E£94.3
85.03%
🚌 Getting Around
Western Sahara
Egypt
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.56MAD 5.22
$0.29E£14.83
93.10%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.59MAD 108
$6.17E£311
87.84%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.71MAD 6.58
$0.39E£19.52
82.05%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.66MAD 6.11
$0.31E£15.74
112.90%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$1.25E£63.2
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.22MAD 11.40
$0.31E£15.57
293.55%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$40.0KMAD 373.1K
$34.3KE£1.7M
16.56%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.0KMAD 251.8K
$30.9KE£1.6M
-12.61%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Western Sahara
Egypt
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$32.15MAD 300
$21.05E£1,063
52.73%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
-
$7.02E£354
-
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$21.90MAD 204
$11.61E£586
88.63%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Western Sahara
Egypt
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$23.58MAD 220
$14.78E£746
59.54%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$34.79MAD 324
$6.97E£352
399.14%
Cinema Ticket
$3.44MAD 32.11
$2.89E£146
19.03%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Western Sahara
Egypt
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$293MAD 2,730
$86.0E£4,344
240.40%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,424MAD 31.9K
$1,931E£97.5K
77.32%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Western Sahara
Egypt
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$34.90MAD 325
$26.03E£1,315
34.08%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$57.7MAD 538
$43.67E£2,205
32.17%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$75.0MAD 699
$107E£5,417
-30.09%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$80.4MAD 750
$51.4E£2,594
56.57%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Western Sahara
Egypt
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$352MAD 3,287
$163E£8,208
116.86%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$171MAD 1,594
$102E£5,138
67.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$696MAD 6,487
$319E£16.1K
117.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$291MAD 2,713
$189E£9,533
54.13%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$773E£39.0K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$449E£22.7K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Western Sahara
Egypt
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$155E£7,813
-
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: July 13, 2026
Last update for Egypt: July 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠National rent averages: $347 in Western Sahara, $183 in Egypt. Capital cities: $347 in Laayoune vs $207 in Cairo.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 90% higher in Western Sahara.
⭐Dining out costs 81% more in Western Sahara.
⭐Public transport is 500% 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 $511 per month in Egypt and $636 in Western Sahara, there's a 24% 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 Western Sahara 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 Western Sahara?
In Egypt, $1,000 covers most cities easily; in Western Sahara 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 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