Living in Egypt: cost of living, rents and the salary you need

Example: the same life, elsewhere

A single person living in London in a one-bedroom home, with the average spending of a similar household, spends about £3,350 a month. To keep the same life in Cairo, they would need about E£58,000 (≈ €980) net a month locally (−75%), i.e. 9.5 times the private-sector minimum wage.

For a couple with two children in a two-bedroom home (private or international school), it would take about E£141,000 (≈ €2,390) net a month in Cairo, i.e. 23.1 times the private-sector minimum wage.

Calculated on 2 October 2026 with the official averages of London and the destination’s prices. Yours depends on your city, home and habits: the calculator works it out in a few minutes, no sign-up.

Rents in Egypt

City	Studio	1 bedroom	2 bedrooms	3-bedroom house	1 bedroom in euros
Cairo	E£30,700	E£39,700	E£51,100	E£51,100	€670
New Cairo	E£34,400	E£39,200	E£54,000	E£54,000	€660
6th of October City	E£36,000	E£36,000	E£43,900	E£58,700	€610

Monthly rent in EGP, outside the most sought-after areas. Studio 28 m², 1 bedroom 45 m², 2 bedrooms 65 m², house 95 m² where rent is known per m². Global Property Guide, Egypt rental yields for Q2 2026: median asking rents (Property Finder listings), flats, converted to pounds at the official average rate of April 2026 (World Bank) (Q2 2026).

Wages

The private-sector minimum wage is E£6,110 (≈ €100) net a month (E£7,000 gross).

Net of the employee’s social insurance (11%) and income tax, after the EGP 20,000 yearly allowance.

Healthcare

Foreigners mostly use private care: check the insurance in your contract or take out international health insurance. Universal health insurance is expanding governorate by governorate.

In the example above: foreigners mostly use private care, often with employer insurance; universal health insurance does not cover Cairo or Giza yet. We count your health costs at local prices (£0 a month).

Visa and residence permit

The employer applies for your work permit at the Ministry of Labour (EGP 6,000 the first year); you then apply for your residence permit at the passport office, followed by your family. To enter, many nationalities, including French citizens, get an e-visa or a visa on arrival.

Cost: E£7,800 (≈ €130) per person.

Family residence permits, $150 per person; the work permit and the employee’s residence are usually paid by the employer.

To live on income from abroad: the renewable one-year tourist residence permit, or the one linked to a home bought for at least $100,000; there is no remote work visa.

Moving in and everyday life

Deposit: 2 months’ rent
Agency fees: 1 month’ rent
School: Private or international school: about E£250,000 (≈ €4,230) a year
Electricity: E£1.19 per kWh
Getting around without a car: About 40 rides a month per adult at E£10
Home cleaning: E£130 an hour

Frequently asked questions

What salary do you need to live in Cairo?

For a single person keeping the same life as in London: about E£58,000 (≈ €980) net a month, i.e. 9.5 times the private-sector minimum wage.

How much is rent in Cairo?

About E£39,700 (≈ €670) a month for a one-bedroom home and E£51,100 for a two-bedroom home, according to Global Property Guide, Egypt rental yields for Q2 2026.

Do you need a residence permit to live in Egypt?

The employer applies for your work permit at the Ministry of Labour (EGP 6,000 the first year); you then apply for your residence permit at the passport office, followed by your family. To enter, many nationalities, including French citizens, get an e-visa or a visa on arrival. Cost: E£7,800 (≈ €130) per person.