Cairo Cost of Living 2026
Egypt · Big city — far cheaper than the US average. Updated September 2026 Not just the exchange rate: how cheap it feels on your own income, and where a price turns into a rip-off.
Cairo price table & rip-off thresholds
| Item | Base price | Normal range | Rip-off? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local mealper person | E£150$3.06 | E£105 – E£240 | E£288+ |
| Street food1 item | E£68$1.39 | E£41 – E£122 | E£147+ |
| Restaurant dinnerper person | E£590$12 | E£413 – E£944 | E£1,133+ |
| Bakery & dessert1 item | E£110$2.24 | E£66 – E£198 | E£238+ |
| Coffeeone cup | E£120$2.45 | E£72 – E£192 | E£230+ |
| Fruit juiceone cup | E£74$1.51 | E£44 – E£133 | E£160+ |
| Convenience store1 snack or drink | E£45$0.92 | E£27 – E£86 | E£103+ |
| Bottled water | E£18$0.37 | E£13 – E£36 | E£43+ |
| Beerone bottle | E£98$2 | E£59 – E£167 | E£200+ |
| Cocktail & wineone cup | E£250$5.1 | E£150 – E£425 | E£510+ |
| Taxi5 km in town | E£150$3.06 | E£120 – E£240 | E£288+ |
| Tuk-tuk / moto taxishort hop | E£98$2 | E£69 – E£176 | E£212+ |
| Transitone ride | E£15$0.31 | E£14 – E£20 | E£23+ |
| Scooter rentalper day | E£740$15.1 | E£518 – E£1,184 | E£1,421+ |
| Hotel night3-star | E£2,400$49 | E£1,440 – E£3,840 | E£4,608+ |
| Laundry | E£74$1.51 | E£52 – E£118 | E£142+ |
| SIM card1 week data | E£290$5.92 | E£203 – E£493 | E£592+ |
| Haircutcut | E£340$6.94 | E£204 – E£612 | E£734+ |
| Massage1 hour | E£980$20 | E£686 – E£1,568 | E£1,882+ |
| Half-day tourper person | E£1,500$30.6 | E£1,050 – E£2,400 | E£2,880+ |
| Entry ticketTourist town | E£740$15.1 | E£592 – E£1,036 | E£1,243+ |
Base prices start from public cost-of-living data; once 3+ traveler reports come in, the app blends in what travelers actually paid. Rate E£49 per USD, for reference.
Live prices reported in Cairo
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FAQ
How much does it cost to live in Cairo for a month?
A short-term studio rental (about $694) plus food, coffee, transport and a SIM (about $531) comes to roughly $1,225 a month. A local long-term lease (studio E£15,000) brings it down a lot.
What is a realistic daily budget for Cairo?
A mid-range room (about $50.4 a night) plus three meals, a coffee and two taxi rides is about $84.9 a day. Hostels and local eateries bring it well under that.
How do I know if a taxi in Cairo is overcharging?
For 5 km in the city, expect E£120 – E£240. Anything above E£288 is suspicious. The app's Price Check lets you pick the distance and gives a verdict in seconds.
How much is a coffee or a local meal in Cairo?
Coffee about E£120 ($2.45), a local meal about E£150 ($3.06), dinner at a mid-range restaurant about E£590.