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Hurghada vs Sharm El Sheikh cost of living 2026
Which is cheaper, what exactly is cheaper, and how it feels on your money · Updated October 2026
🇪🇬 Hurghada
🇪🇬 Sharm El Sheikh
At a glance
- Where Sharm El Sheikh is clearly cheaper: Entry ticket (25%↓), Half-day tour (17%↓)
- Where Hurghada is clearly cheaper: Scooter rental (68%↓), Tuk-tuk / moto taxi (57%↓), Local meal (50%↓)
By category
Salary equivalence
Travel difficulty
Both cities are about equally easy to travel. Closer to 1 is easier. Difficulty ranking ›
Item by item
| Item | Hurghada | Sharm El Sheikh | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local mealper person | E£ 150$3.06 | E£ 300$6.12 | Hurghada −50% |
| Street food1 item | E£ 40$0.82 | E£ 50$1.02 | Hurghada −20% |
| Restaurant dinnerper person | E£ 450$9.18 | E£ 700$14.3 | Hurghada −36% |
| Coffeeone cup | E£ 60$1.22 | E£ 100$2.04 | Hurghada −40% |
| Beerone bottle | E£ 100$2.04 | E£ 150$3.06 | Hurghada −33% |
| Cocktail & wineone cup | E£ 220$4.49 | E£ 400$8.16 | Hurghada −45% |
| Bottled water | E£ 10$0.2 | E£ 15$0.31 | Hurghada −33% |
| Convenience store1 snack or drink | E£ 25$0.51 | E£ 25$0.51 | similar |
| Taxi5 km in town | E£ 80$1.63 | E£ 120$2.45 | Hurghada −33% |
| Tuk-tuk / moto taxishort hop | E£ 30$0.61 | E£ 70$1.43 | Hurghada −57% |
| Transitone ride | E£ 10$0.2 | E£ 10$0.2 | similar |
| Scooter rentalper day | E£ 700$14.3 | E£ 2,200$44.9 | Hurghada −68% |
| Hotel night3-star | E£ 2,200$44.9 | E£ 2,300$46.9 | similar |
| Studio rent (month) | E£ 9,000$184 | E£ 15,000$306 | Hurghada −40% |
| Laundry | E£ 50$1.02 | E£ 60$1.22 | Hurghada −17% |
| SIM card1 week data | E£ 300$6.12 | E£ 350$7.14 | Hurghada −14% |
| Haircutcut | E£ 130$2.65 | E£ 150$3.06 | Hurghada −13% |
| Massage1 hour | E£ 800$16.3 | E£ 1,000$20.4 | Hurghada −20% |
| Half-day tourper person | E£ 1,200$24.5 | E£ 1,000$20.4 | Sharm El Sheikh −17% |
| Entry ticketTourist town | E£ 400$8.16 | E£ 300$6.12 | Sharm El Sheikh −25% |
Reference prices start as estimates from published price levels; items with 3+ traveler reports use the median of real reports. Hostels and local eateries cut both by 30%+.
FAQ
Which is cheaper, Hurghada or Sharm El Sheikh?
Hurghada is 33% cheaper than Sharm El Sheikh. Daily budget $71.7 vs $91.4; a month $911 vs $1,540.
Which is easier to travel, Hurghada or Sharm El Sheikh?
About the same: Hurghada 2.8/5, Sharm El Sheikh 2.8/5 (average of rip-offs, language, transport, payments and safety).
How do monthly costs compare between Hurghada and Sharm El Sheikh?
With a short-term studio and living costs, Hurghada is about $911 and Sharm El Sheikh about $1,540 per month.
Where do the numbers come from?
They start as estimates informed by published price levels; any item with 3+ traveler reports switches to the median of real reports. Live reports are in the app.