Cost of living in Egypt in 2026, budgets for Cairo and Hurghada

The pound exchange rate and inflation in autumn 2026

On 11 October 2026 the National Bank of Egypt was selling dollars at about 52.6 pounds, so in this article we convert at roughly 52.5 pounds per dollar. The rate floats, so check it in your bank app before you travel.

Prices keep rising. According to the statistics agency CAPMAS, annual urban inflation in Egypt was 13.9% in September 2026. So all the figures below are approximate, as of autumn 2026, and they may change within a few months.

How much housing costs

Housing takes the biggest share of the budget. According to the Marsad Omran rent index, in the second quarter of 2026 a new lease on an unfurnished flat in Cairo cost on average about 10,000 pounds a month, and rents rose by about 15% over the first half of the year. In cheap outlying districts prices start at about 3,500 pounds, while in Zamalek they are many times higher.

Furnished flats cost more. In listings for Nasr City, furnished two-bedroom flats mostly cost about 15,000 to 25,000 pounds. In Hurghada, according to a local real estate agency for 2026, a furnished one-bedroom flat in Dahar and Sakkala costs about 5,000 to 9,000 pounds, in El Kawther 8,000 to 14,000, and more on the Mamsha and in Sahl Hasheesh. The landlord usually also asks for a deposit of one or two months. How to choose a flat and check the lease is explained in the article how to rent a flat in Cairo.

Food and groceries

It is cheapest to cook at home and buy fruit and vegetables at the market. In September 2026 vegetables rose the most, by about 15% in a month. Approximate prices in Cairo in autumn 2026, according to the government price portal, Egyptian media and the Numbeo website:

• Chicken about 90 to 100 pounds per kilo.
• Eggs about 120 pounds for a tray of 30.
• Rice about 25 pounds per kilo.
• Beef about 370 to 450 pounds per kilo.
• A ful or taameya sandwich from a street stall up to 20 pounds.
• Lunch at a cheap café about 250 pounds.

Transport, phone and internet

In May 2026 the telecom regulator NTRA allowed operators to raise prices for some services, within a range of 9 to 15%. Benchmarks for autumn 2026:

• The Cairo metro. Since 27 March 2026 a trip costs from 10 pounds (up to 9 stations) to 20 pounds for the longest ride.
• Mobile internet. Vodafone charged about 120 pounds for a 6 GB monthly bundle and about 300 pounds for 18 GB, according to summer 2026 data.
• Home internet. A WE 150 GB monthly package costs about 296 pounds including tax after the price rise.
• Ride-hailing taxis are convenient, but daily trips noticeably increase the budget.

Utilities

Bills for electricity, water and gas depend heavily on the season. Electricity is paid on a tiered tariff, and in summer consumption jumps with air conditioning. In August 2026 household tariffs were raised by 12% on average, while the first tier stayed the same.

According to users of the Numbeo website as of October 2026, basic utilities for a flat of about 85 square metres cost on average about 1,400 pounds a month in Cairo and about 1,300 pounds in Hurghada. How meters and tariffs work is explained in detail in the article utilities in Egypt.

A student budget in Cairo

An example for a student who shares a flat with two or three flatmates in Nasr City, cooks at home and takes the metro. This is our estimate based on autumn 2026 prices. More about the dormitory, food and daily life in the article student life in Cairo.

• Share of the rent: 4,000 to 7,000 pounds.
• Own share of utilities and home internet: 500 to 1,000 pounds.
• Food: 4,000 to 6,000 pounds.
• Transport: 500 to 1,000 pounds.
• Mobile phone: 150 to 300 pounds.
• Textbooks, household items, medicine: 1,000 to 2,000 pounds.
• In total about 10,000 to 17,000 pounds a month, which is about 190 to 330 dollars.

A family budget in Cairo

An example for a family of two adults and two children renting a flat with two or three bedrooms in Nasr City or a similar district. School and kindergarten fees are not included, as they depend heavily on the institution you choose.

• Rent: 15,000 to 30,000 pounds.
• Utilities: 1,500 to 3,000 pounds, more in summer.
• Home internet and two SIM cards: 600 to 1,000 pounds.
• Food and household products: 14,000 to 20,000 pounds.
• Transport: 1,500 to 4,000 pounds.
• Clothes, medicine and other expenses: 3,000 to 6,000 pounds.
• In total about 36,000 to 64,000 pounds a month, which is about 690 to 1,220 dollars.

How much you need in Hurghada

Rent in Hurghada is lower than in Cairo on average, while groceries cost about the same, and some imported products a little more. The city has no metro, people use minibuses and taxis. Our estimate for autumn 2026:

• One person in a furnished one-bedroom flat in an inexpensive district: rent 6,000 to 10,000 pounds, utilities and internet 1,000 to 2,000, food 4,000 to 6,000, transport, phone and other costs 2,000 to 4,000. In total about 13,000 to 22,000 pounds, which is about 250 to 420 dollars.
• A family with two children in a two-bedroom flat: rent 12,000 to 22,000 pounds, utilities, internet and phone 2,000 to 4,000, food 14,000 to 20,000, transport and other costs 5,000 to 8,000. In total about 33,000 to 54,000 pounds, which is about 630 to 1,030 dollars.

How to save and where to look for housing

Sharing saves the most: students split a flat between three or four people, and a room in a shared flat can be found in the rooms and flatshares section. Cook at home, buy vegetables at the market, take the metro and keep an eye on the air conditioner in summer.

It pays to buy furniture and appliances second-hand and sell them before you leave. If you are renting out a room or looking for a flatmate, post a listing for free on Tullab with the district, price and move-in date.