Cost Of Living For a Student in Alexandria 2025
Average Monthly Expenditure
Currency: EGP
Average monthly spending for students in Alexandria
How much money does a student need in a month to survive in Alexandria?
Students in Alexandria spend around 12,000 EGP per month on average. Depending on the lifestyle, a student can survive with a monthly budget as low as 1,800 EGP or as high as 130,000 EGP. Location is a very important factor and has a huge influence on expenditure and budget.
Low-cost alternatives in Alexandria
People are always looking for ways to cut down expenses and reduce expenditures. The hallmark of any affordable place is the availability of discount stores, bargain deals, smart or secondhand shopping, refurbished items, and couponing. We asked students how easily cost-cutting is and the answers were distributed as follows:
Plenty of low-cost options51%
Few low-cost options49%
Based on the survey, 51% of the students living in Alexandria have no problem finding low-cost alternatives to support a frugal lifestyle while 49% think that thriftness is difficult due to scarcity in discount markets and secondhand outlets.
Affordable living in Alexandria
Income and cost of living compatibility
We asked students one simple question and recorded their answers.
Is it affordable or economical to live in Alexandria?
Around 43% of surveyed students think that living in Alexandria is affordable with proper budgeting while 57% reported that it is just too expensive and not affordable even with frugality and thriftness.
Prices and cost of goods and services in Alexandria
Dining, food, and beverages costs
Fast food combo meal
Restaurant meal for one
Fine dining meal for one
Cappuccino or latte
Grocery and market costs
Milk large bottle
12 eggs
Fresh whole chicken
Pack of beef
Medium bag of rice
Bag of tomatos
Bag of apples
Commute, travel, and transportation costs
20 minutes taxi ride
Average car full tank
Average car 1-day rental
Average car price
| 57,000 EGP | 110,000 EGP | 150,000 EGP |
Bus ticket one way
Car Service
Utility cost (monthly)
Utility Bill - Student
Internet and cable
Mobile phone charges
Leisure and activities costs
Movie ticket
One month gym membership
Cloths and accessories costs
Pair of jeans or pants
Woman dress
Woman shoes
Men's shoes
Men suit
Regular t-shirt
Housing costs / monthly rent
Studio apartment
| 1,900 EGP | 2,900 EGP | 7,700 EGP |
1-bedroom apartment
| 2,900 EGP | 4,700 EGP | 12,000 EGP |
2-bedroom apartment
| 3,900 EGP | 5,800 EGP | 16,000 EGP |
Housing costs / Buying
Studio apartment
| 390,000 EGP | 580,000 EGP | 1.2M EGP |
1-bedroom apartment
| 470,000 EGP | 780,000 EGP | 2.9M EGP |
2-bedroom apartment
| 770,000 EGP | 2.3M EGP | 4.6M EGP |
Furniture Costs
King Size Bed
| 2,300 EGP | 2,900 EGP | 3,800 EGP |
Double Bed
| 1,500 EGP | 2,300 EGP | 2,900 EGP |
Single Bed
| 1,400 EGP | 1,800 EGP | 2,300 EGP |
Living Room
| 2,600 EGP | 3,300 EGP | 12,000 EGP |
Dining Table
| 1,100 EGP | 1,500 EGP | 2,900 EGP |
Sofa or Couch
| 1,500 EGP | 2,100 EGP | 4,600 EGP |
Electronics and House Appliance Costs
TV Set
| 1,500 EGP | 2,300 EGP | 4,600 EGP |
Fridge or Freezer
| 1,400 EGP | 2,100 EGP | 2,900 EGP |
Washing Machine
| 1,800 EGP | 2,500 EGP | 4,600 EGP |
Stove or Cooker
| 1,600 EGP | 2,100 EGP | 2,900 EGP |
Mobile Phone
| 1,900 EGP | 2,300 EGP | 3,300 EGP |
Laptop or Computer
| 2,100 EGP | 2,600 EGP | 4,600 EGP |
A typical and healthy budgeting structure
The 50/30/20 rule
Spending among different people can vary significantly based on factors such as their income, lifestyle,
location, and personal preferences. A commonly used guideline for budgeting is the 50/30/20 rule,
which suggests allocating your income into three main categories in the following percentages.
50% for needs and financial obligations
This category includes essential expenses like housing, utilities, groceries, transportation, and healthcare.
30% for wants and discretionary spending
This category covers discretionary spending on non-essential items, such as dining out, entertainment, travel, and other lifestyle choices.
20% for savings and emergency fund
This is the percentage that must be allocated to savings, emergency funds, and retirement accounts.
About financial planning, money management, and household budgeting
The 50/30/20 rule is used as a general guideline but may not be the best choice for all people. There are in fact many budgeting plans out there like the 70/20/10 and the 60/20/20 rules, all claiming to be the best. More important than all of this is to establish financial discipline by creating a budget tailored to your specific financial goals and situation. It is very important that your financial outflow be less than your income to maintain a healthy cash flow.
How do students spend their money in Alexandria?
We asked thousands of students about their spending habits and expenditure break down.
Housing and accomodation expenditure for students
Accomodation Cost17%
17% of total expenses on average (12% to 23%)
| LOW | $14 430 EGP |
| AVERAGE | $93 2,900 EGP |
| HIGH | $1,000 32,000 EGP |
| Per Month |
Students in Alexandria typically spend from 12% to 23% of their total monthly expenditure on housing with 17% being the average. The average monthly spend on housing is 2,900 EGP with expenditure ranging from 430 EGP to 32,000 EGP. This cost mainly goes for rent but it also includes other accommodation-related expenses.
Electricity, utilities, energy, water, internet, and mobile expenditure for students
Cost of utilities7%
7% of total expenses on average (5% to 11%)
| LOW | $2.3 71 EGP |
| AVERAGE | $15 470 EGP |
| HIGH | $170 5,300 EGP |
| Per Month |
Utility expenditure like electricity, water, and gas in Alexandria ranges from 5% to 11% of total expenses with 7% being the average for most students. The average monthly cost of utilities is 470 EGP with 71 EGP and 5,300 EGP being the upper and lower limits for a student of four.
Transport, fuel, and commute expenditure for students
Cost of transport and fuel4%
4% of total expenses on average (4% to 10%)
| LOW | $4.1 130 EGP |
| AVERAGE | $27 840 EGP |
| HIGH | $300 9,300 EGP |
| Per Month |
Fuel consumption and cost of transport depend heavily on whether a student resides near school and work, but roughly speaking a student would expect to spend from 130 EGP to 9,300 EGP in a month on commuting with 840 EGP being the norm for most students. This means that money spent on transport constitutes about 4% of total spending on average but can go as low as 4% or as high as 10%.
Food, groceries, and basic shopping expenditure for students
Food and Groceries Cost23%
23% of total expenses on average (17% to 27%)
| LOW | $12 360 EGP |
| AVERAGE | $77 2,400 EGP |
| HIGH | $860 26,000 EGP |
| Per Month |
The average outlay on groceries and basic houshold items for a typical student in a month in Alexandria is 2,400 EGP. The cost of groceries can range between 360 EGP to 26,000 EGP. Students spend on average about 23% on food and groceries with upper and lower bounds of 17% and 27% respectively.
Healthcare and medical services expenditure for students
Cost of healthcare9%
9% of total expenses on average (6% to 12%)
| LOW | $3.4 110 EGP |
| AVERAGE | $23 710 EGP |
| HIGH | $250 7,800 EGP |
| Per Month |
Students in Alexandria allocate 6% to 12% of their total monthly expenditure to healthcare including health insurance and out-of-pocket medical expenses. The average spending on medical services and clinic visits is around 9%. The range of medical expenses range from 110 EGP to 7,800 EGP with 710 EGP being the norm for most students.
Leisure and shopping expenditure for students
Cost of leisure and shopping2%
2% of total expenses on average (2% to 6%)
| LOW | $2.9 89 EGP |
| AVERAGE | $19 600 EGP |
| HIGH | $210 6,600 EGP |
| Per Month |
This category mostly contains discretionary or non-essential expenses but also some non-discretionary spending like furniture for example. The monthly expenses range from 89 EGP to 6,600 EGP with 600 EGP being the average. Speaking of percentages, that equates to 2% to 6% of total expenses with an average of 2% for most students.
Education and schooling expenditure for students
Cost of education and schooling18%
18% of total expenses on average (11% to 23%)
| LOW | $11 340 EGP |
| AVERAGE | $73 2,300 EGP |
| HIGH | $810 25,000 EGP |
| Per Month |
Spending on education can vary drastically between different students. On average, education constitutes 18% of the monthly expenditure of students with 11% and 23% being the lower and upper bounds respectively. The average reported education cost is 2,300 EGP per month with 340 EGP being the minimum spent amount and 25,000 EGP being the maximum.
Other Expenses19%
19% of total expenses on average (13% to 25%)
| LOW | $8.7 270 EGP |
| AVERAGE | $58 1,800 EGP |
| HIGH | $650 20,000 EGP |
| Per Month |
Emergency Funds For Students
An emergency fund is a financial safety net comprised of easily accessible savings set aside to cover unexpected expenses or financial emergencies, typically amounting to three to six months' worth of living expenses. We asked students whether they have an emergency fund and the answers were as follows.
Yes38%
No62%
Based on the survey, 62% of the students living in Alexandria said that they don't have an emergency fund while 38% said that they do.
Housing costs, accommodation, and housing affordability in Alexandria
Rental costs and house/apartment prices can vary drastically between different areas and locations.
Rent Cost in Alexandria
Monthly Rent Prices
Studio apartment monthly rent cost
| 1,900 EGP | 2,900 EGP | 7,700 EGP |
1-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost
| 2,900 EGP | 4,700 EGP | 12,000 EGP |
2-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost
| 3,900 EGP | 5,800 EGP | 16,000 EGP |
3-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost
| 4,700 EGP | 7,800 EGP | 21,000 EGP |
Furnished apartment monthly rent cost
| 9,300 EGP | 23,000 EGP | 47,000 EGP |
Townhouse monthly rent cost
| 7,700 EGP | 12,000 EGP | 33,000 EGP |
House monthly rent cost
| 9,300 EGP | 23,000 EGP | 47,000 EGP |
Villa monthly rent cost
| 12,000 EGP | 29,000 EGP | 46,000 EGP |
The monthly rental cost of a studio apartment in Alexandria ranges between 1,900 EGP and 7,700 EGP, meanwhile the cost of monthly rental of a one-bedroom apartment can be anywhere from 2,900 EGP to 12,000 EGP. Two-bedroom rentals rate ranges between 3,900 EGP and 16,000 EGP per month. The monthly rental for a three-bedroom apartment ranges from 4,700 EGP to 21,000 EGP. The average rent of a townhouse in Alexandria is around 12,000 EGP while house rental costs can be as high as 23,000 EGP per month. Finally, if you want to rent a villa, expect to pay anywhere from 12,000 EGP to 46,000 EGP per month.
Apartment and house prices in Alexandria
Cost of buying a property
Studio apartment price
| 390,000 EGP | 580,000 EGP | 1.2M EGP |
1-bedroom apartment price
| 470,000 EGP | 780,000 EGP | 2.9M EGP |
2-bedroom apartment price
| 770,000 EGP | 2.3M EGP | 4.6M EGP |
3-bedroom apartment price
| 2.6M EGP | 3.9M EGP | 12M EGP |
| $84,000 | $130,000 | $380,000 |
Townhouse price
| 3.3M EGP | 7.8M EGP | 29M EGP |
| $110,000 | $250,000 | $940,000 |
House price
Villa price
The average price of a studio apartment in Alexandria can range from 390,000 EGP to 1.2M EGP depending on location. One bedroom cost can be anywhere from 470,000 EGP to 2.9M EGP. A villa can cost you 26M EGP on average with prices ranging from 4.7M EGP to 39M EGP.
If you're leasing or purchasing, housing costs in Alexandria will probably constitute your biggest expenditure, yet it's an area where you wield considerable influence. This is due to the substantial variance in housing prices across communities. Keep in mind the location of your workplace and the accessibility of essential amenities to prevent negating the savings from lower rental rates with increased transportation expenses.
House / apartment prices to income ratio
Property price to income ratio
( average property price / average monthly income ) x 100
| 29 | x81 monthly income | 193 |
Property prices in Alexandria can be x81 to x193 multiples of the monthly income depending on the property and the income of the person. On average, property prices are approximately x81 multiples of the average monthly salary in Alexandria.
Rent to income ratio
Rent to income ratio
( monthly rental / monthly income ) x 100
The average rent-to-income ratio in Alexandria is around 29%. This means that people pay 29% of their income for rent. Those figures can range from 18% to 39% depending on the salary, location, and type of property.
The housing-to-income ratio is a very important metric to evaluate and measure how affordable living is in a particular area, city, or country since housing comprises the biggest chunk of expenditure. A higher housing to income ratio means that the place is relatively expensive. The figure by itself does tell much. It only starts to make sense when comparing the housing to income ratio across different locations.
Housing affordability index
The housing affordability index measures how affordable accommodation is in a particular place. This can measured in multiple ways, the most common being housing expenditure to total expenditure ratio and the rent to income ratio. The housing expenditure ratio is a figure reported by individuals on the percentage they allocate for housing. Rent to income ratio is calculated by dividing the average monthly rent by the average income. Because these values are both percentages, we can find their average and get the best of the two worlds.
Housing Affordability Index
26% Property Taxes
Real estate owners pay property taxes to local tax authorities, which are determined by the assessed value of their property. Typically, these taxes are paid once a year. Property tax funds contribute to community development, financing infrastructure improvements, public services, and local education initiatives.
Home Maintenance Costs
Home maintenance costs encompass various expenses associated with the upkeep and repair of a residence. These expenditures include regular tasks such as lawn care, pest control, and HVAC system servicing, as well as occasional repairs and renovations like fixing leaks, painting, or replacing appliances.
Urban vs. rural living costs
Urban living typically entails higher housing and transportation costs due to demand and limited space, while rural areas generally offer lower housing expenses but may have higher prices for goods and services. The differnce in rental rates between urban areas and rural areas can be as high as 300% in some cases.
Financial Literacy in
Financial literacy is the knowledge of concepts and principles related to personal finance that allow individuals to make informed decisions regarding their money such as budgeting, saving, investing, borrowing, managing debt, financial risk management, and planning.
Financial Leteracy38%
We asked student guardians and parents in Alexandria whether they acquired any adequate personal financial training in their lives. Approximately 62% of the people who participated in the survey said that they are not well informed about the topics of budgeting, saving, etc., and just manage things based on their own experience, while 38% said that they know about the general principles of personal finance from sources other than their own experience.
Difficulty in Budgeting and Financial Planning
We wanted to understand whether students of have problems or difficulties in managing their expenditures and savings so we asked people one simple question: do you struggle with your personal finances? 66% of the participants reported that they indeed struggle in creating budgets and in organizing their finances while 34% said that they have everything under control.
Struggles with finance66%
Easily manages finances34%
Food Prices, Dining Expenses, and Grocery Costs in Alexandria
Grocery / Food expenditure and prices can vary drastically between different areas and locations.
Prices and cost of goods and services in Alexandria
Dining out, food, and beverages costs. Price variations for common food items.
Fast food combo meal price
The average price of a regular combo meal at a fast food outlet or chain like McDonald's, Pizzahut, or KFC in Alexandria is approximatly 46 EGP with meal cost ranging from 23 EGP to 76 EGP. The typical combo meal consists of a burger, french fries, and a drink.
Restaurant meal for one price
If you are planning to have a nice meal at a mid-range restaurant, expect to pay anywhere between 77 EGP and 230 EGP with 110 EGP being the average price of a plate for one person at a regular restaurant in Alexandria.
Fine dining meal for one price
The price range of a meal at fine-dining restaurant is 150 EGP to 920 EGP with the average cost being 230 EGP for one person. This is what you would expect to pay a top-tier diner in Alexandria.
Beverage prices, cappuccino, latte etc..
The average price of a regular beverage like cappuccino or latte at Starbucks, Costa, or similar coffee shops and cafes in Alexandria is around 31 EGP. Price ranges between 19 EGP and 46 EGP depending on the type of beverage, the size, and optional add-ons.
Grocery and market costs
Large bottle of milk price
The average price of a large bottle of milk in Alexandria is 18 EGP. The maximum what you would pay for milk is 23 EGP and the minimum being 15 EGP depending on the brand of milk and other properties.
12 eggs price
A dozen eggs costs around 15 EGP on average with 11 EGP and 23 EGP being the lower and upper limits respectively.
Fresh whole chicken price
The price range of a fresh whole chicken in Alexandria is between 26 EGP and 48 EGP depending on the size of the chicken and whether it is oraganic or not. The average price is approximatly 34 EGP.
Pack of beef price
The price of a regular pack of beef or meat is around 46 EGP. A pack of beef contains around 1Kg or 1lb depending on packing.
Medium bag of rice price
A bag of rice in Alexandria costs around 17 EGP on average with prices rangeing between 12 EGP and 24 EGP depending on the brand and quality.
Bag of tomatos price
A bag of tomatoes costs anywhere from 4.6 EGP to 11 EGP. A bag of tomatoes denotes 1Kg or 1lb depending on location.
Bag of apples price
A bag of apples costs 11 EGP on average. A bag of apples denotes 1Kg or 1lb depending on location.
Expenditure on food and grocery for students
Students' spending on grocery ranges from 360 EGP to 26,000 EGP with the location, income, and size of the student being the most determinite factors.
Monthly costs and expenses of energy and basic utilities in Alexandria
Utilities expenditure can vary slightly between different areas and locations.
Energy, electricity, water, gas, internet, and mobile cost in Alexandria
Utility Bill Cost / Electricity + Water + Gas / Student
Internet and cable cost
Mobile phone bill and charges
Because most utility bills club electricity, water, and gas costs in one bill, we can't provide a breakup for each type of utility and will display electricity, gas, and water as single cost.
The average monthly energy and water consumption of students is around 470 EGP. The cost of internet and WiFi ranges from 110 EGP to 310 EGP with 230 EGP being the average internet bill. Finally, the average monthly mobile charges is around 150 EGP but can range between 90 EGP and 450 EGP depending on consumption. Mobile charges include both calling minutes as well as data packages.
Energy / Utility expense to income ratio
( monthly utility expenses / monthly income ) x 100
The average utility-to-income ratio in Alexandria is around 7.1%. This means that people pay 7.1% of their income for energy, water, internet, and mobile charges. Those figures can range from 4.1% to 11% depending on salary and location.
Published: January 29, 2024 Last Update: May 3, 2025
