Housekeeper, nanny and cleaning in Egypt, how to find help at home

What kinds of home help there are

First decide what kind of help you need: the price, the schedule and where to look all depend on it. A family with small children often finds one permanent helper more convenient, while students are fine with a one-off cleaning once a month.

• One-off cleaning. Before moving in, after renovation or a move, before a holiday.
• Regular cleaning visits. Once or several times a week on the same days.
• A housekeeper. Comes almost every day, cleans, does the laundry and sometimes cooks.
• A live-in housekeeper. Lives with you, this kind of help costs noticeably more and needs a separate room.
• A nanny. Looks after the children all day or for a few hours, sometimes combined with light cleaning.

Services and agencies in 2026

In Cairo people book home help through apps and websites. Filkhedma offers regular cleaning and furniture and carpet cleaning. On Homerun you describe the task and providers send their prices, the service works in Cairo, Giza, Hurghada and other cities.

Permanent housekeepers and nannies are usually found through agencies. A good agency signs a written contract and promises a replacement if the person does not suit you. Read the contract before paying: how much the agency charges, and on what terms and how quickly they provide a replacement.

Many families still find helpers through recommendations from neighbours, the bawab and people from their community in chats. This is also how you can find a Russian-speaking nanny. Before hiring someone on a recommendation, ask the people recommending her how long she worked for them and why she left.

How much cleaning costs

Prices depend on the district, the size of the flat and the amount of work and change with inflation, so the figures below are only a guide. Before booking, check how many people will come, how many hours the cleaning will take and whether your own products and equipment are needed. Compare two or three offers and read reviews of the specific provider.

• One-off cleaning of an ordinary flat in Cairo. Based on requests on Homerun in September and October 2026, about 650 to 800 pounds.
• Deep cleaning or a thorough kitchen clean. Based on the same requests, about 1,400 to 2,000 pounds.
• A visiting housekeeper for a month. Agencies in 2026 quote about 4,500 to 8,000 pounds, depending on the number of days per week.
• A live-in housekeeper and an experienced nanny usually cost more, and the price is negotiated individually.

Home help in Hurghada

Hurghada has fewer services than Cairo, and helpers are more often found through neighbours and chats. In some compounds cleaning can be booked through the management office, so ask about it when you move in. In the tourist season demand for cleaning is higher, so arrange things in advance.

If you rent out a flat by the day, agree with the helper on cleaning between guests and on who checks the flat after checkout. Local listings are in the Hurghada section.

Trust and safety

• Ask for contacts of previous employers and call them yourself.
• Look at the identity card and, with the helper’s consent, take a photo of it.
• Stay at home during the first few cleanings.
• Keep documents, money and jewellery locked away.
• Do not hand over the keys until you are sure the person can be trusted.
• If there is a camera in the flat, say so honestly.
• Save her phone number, and leave her your number and the ambulance number 123.
• Leave a child alone with a nanny only after a trial period, when you have already seen how she interacts with the child.

What to agree on in advance

Most conflicts arise because duties were not discussed at the very start. Write down what you agree, at least in WhatsApp. This way both sides know what to expect.

• What the job includes: cleaning, laundry, ironing, cooking, looking after children.
• Days and hours, and what happens if the helper cannot come.
• The amount, when and how you pay, and whether you cover transport.
• Days off and holidays, for example Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha.
• Who buys cleaning products and what to do if something gets broken.
• Whether the helper may come when you are not at home.
• A trial period and how many days of notice each side gives to end the arrangement.

What the law says

The new Labour Law of Egypt (Law No. 14 of 2025) has been in force since 1 September 2025, but it does not cover domestic workers. In September 2026 the Ministry of Labour said it was preparing a separate law on domestic work, but as of October 2026 it has not been adopted.

So for now the terms of work rest on a personal agreement. Write them down, and check news about the law on the website of the Egyptian Ministry of Labour.

How Tullab helps you find a helper

Listings from housekeepers, nannies and cleaning services are in the cleaning and home help section. You can contact the author by phone or in Telegram, so mention your district, schedule and what needs to be done right away. If you choose a kindergarten instead of a nanny, the article schools and kindergartens will help.

Looking for a helper or offering cleaning yourself? Post a listing for free with your district, schedule, experience and how to reach you.