How to Rent an Apartment in Cairo as a Student or Expat

Which Cairo district to choose

Russian-speaking students and expats tend to settle in a handful of districts. Choose by your commute as much as by rent, because Cairo traffic can eat hours of your day.

• Nasr City. A big, busy district near the Al-Azhar campus with plenty of shops and transport, but noisy and crowded.
• The 10th district. Part of Nasr City with many people from Central Asia and Russia, so familiar groceries and flatmates are easy to find.
• Rehab. A gated, well kept town in the east, quiet and green with everything inside, but far from downtown.
• Madinaty. A large modern compound not far from Rehab, calm and spacious, but harder to reach without a car.
• Maadi. A leafy southern district by the Nile, long popular with foreigners and usually pricier.

Furnished or unfurnished

Students and people staying a year or two usually take a furnished flat. An unfurnished one can be cheaper on a long lease, but you buy the fridge, stove, washer and air conditioners yourself. Look for second-hand items in the furniture section.

On moving day, photograph every room and appliance and send the photos to the landlord. That avoids arguments about old damage later.

Deposit and rental contract

Landlords usually ask for the first month in advance plus a deposit. Its size and the terms for getting it back vary, so agree beforehand on what can be deducted and when the rest is returned.

Ask for a written contract, even a simple one: both parties with passport details, address, term, monthly rent, deposit, who pays utilities and internet, and the notice needed before moving out. Registration rules for foreigners can change, so check them with your university or the authorities.

What to check before paying

View the flat in daylight and, if possible, again in the evening to hear the street and check the water pressure.

• Water. Pressure in the taps and shower, a working water heater, no leaks or smells.
• Gas. Piped gas or a cylinder, and who replaces it.
• Internet. Is there a router and a line, and whose name the contract is in.
• Air conditioning. Switch on every unit and make sure it really cools.
• Electricity. How the meter is paid and whether previous tenants left debts.
• Neighbours and building. Lift, stairs, a clean entrance, who lives next door.
• Landlord documents. Proof that the flat belongs to the owner or that the agent is allowed to rent it out.

A room or a flat with flatmates

To save money, many students share a flat with friends or rent a room. Such offers are listed under rooms and flatshares.

Before moving in, agree on how rent and bills are split, who talks to the landlord, guests and cleaning. Write it down, even in a group chat. While you search, you can stay in a short-term rental.

How to avoid rental scams

• Pay nothing until you or a friend on a video call have seen the flat from inside.
• Never send a «booking fee» to a stranger who rushes you and says many people want the flat.
• Compare the rent with similar listings nearby, since a deal that looks too good is a warning sign.
• Get a signed receipt for every payment with the amount, date and purpose.
• Take the keys on the day you pay, not «in a few days».

Searching for a flat on Tullab

Fresh offers are collected under apartments in Cairo, and you can reach each author by phone or Telegram. Mention the district, term and number of people in your first message.

If nothing fits, post a request under wanted to rent with the district, budget, move-in date and furniture needs. You can post an ad for free in two minutes.