Living in Cairo
What it really costs to live in Cairo, what you can earn, the visas that get you in, and the taxes you'll pay — for Egypt, updated 2026. As Egypt's capital, Cairo commands the country's highest rents — but also its deepest job market. Cairo lies in Northern Africa. The main language is Arabic. The currency is the Egyptian pound. Egypt borders Israel, Libya, Palestine, Sudan.
Cost of Living in Cairo
Full Monthly Breakdown for Cairo
How Cairo Compares to Other Egypt Cities
Cairo is not the only option in Egypt. Here is how its single-person monthly cost (€450) stacks up against the other cities we track — Alexandria is the cheapest, Cairo the priciest.
| City | Single / month | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| Alexandria | €370/mo | -18% vs Cairo |
| Giza | €400/mo | -11% vs Cairo |
What You Can Earn in Egypt
Typical gross annual salaries in Egypt by sector (entry · median · senior). Cairo pay usually sits around the national median.
| Sector | Entry | Median | Senior |
|---|---|---|---|
| it | €4 000 | €8 000 | €15 000 |
| retail | €1 500 | €2 500 | €3 500 |
| finance | €4 500 | €6 000 | €8 500 |
| education | €2 500 | €3 500 | €5 000 |
| healthcare | €3 000 | €5 000 | €10 000 |
| engineering | €4 000 | €6 000 | €8 000 |
| hospitality | €2 000 | €3 000 | €4 000 |
| construction | €2 000 | €3 000 | €4 500 |
Living in Cairo: Safety, Health & Climate
Cairo shares Egypt's wider quality-of-life profile. Cairo has a dry climate. Here is what daily life looks like on the things that matter most when you relocate.
Visa Routes to Egypt
Affording Cairo is only half the question — you also need a visa that lets you stay in Egypt. The main routes:
- A job offer is normally required for the main work route.
- Permanent residence after about 5 years.
- Citizenship after ~2 years — dual nationality allowed.
- Investment route from about €50 000 (USD).
Taxes in Egypt
Top marginal rate 22.5%, VAT 14%. Special regime — Requires legal source verification
Settling into Cairo
- Foreigners can open a local bank account in Egypt.
- Budget around €950 for first-month setup in Cairo.
- Regulated professions needing credential recognition: Medicine, Law, Engineering, Pharmacy, Dentistry, Psychology.
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How much does it cost to live in Cairo?
A single person in central Cairo should budget about €450/month, roughly €382 outside the centre. A family of four needs around €800/month.
Can I get a visa to live in Egypt?
Yes — the main route usually needs a job offer, with permanent residence reachable in about 5 years. See the full Egypt visa comparison for the route that fits you.
Sources: salaries, taxes, safety, healthcare and visa data from World Bank, OECD, the Global Peace Index and official government portals. Cost-of-living figures are community-sourced benchmarks — a guide, not a quote. Last reviewed 2026-05.
Related: Egypt Guide · Visa Comparison · All Countries