Cost Of Living For a Student in Cairo 2024
Average Monthly Expenditure
Currency: EGP
Average monthly spending for students in Cairo
How much money does a student need in a month to survive in Cairo?
Students in Cairo spend around 13,000 EGP per month on average. Depending on the lifestyle, a student can survive with a monthly budget as low as 2,000 EGP or as high as 89,000 EGP. Location is a very important factor and has a huge influence on expenditure and budget.
Prices and cost of goods and services in Cairo
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
| 59,000 EGP | 120,000 EGP | 160,000 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
| 2,100 EGP | 3,200 EGP | 8,600 EGP |
1-bedroom apartment
| 3,200 EGP | 5,200 EGP | 13,000 EGP |
2-bedroom apartment
| 4,300 EGP | 6,400 EGP | 17,000 EGP |
Housing costs / Buying
Studio apartment
| 430,000 EGP | 640,000 EGP | 1.3M EGP |
1-bedroom apartment
| 520,000 EGP | 860,000 EGP | 3.2M EGP |
2-bedroom apartment
| 860,000 EGP | 2.6M EGP | 5.2M EGP |
Furniture Costs
King Size Bed
| 2,400 EGP | 2,900 EGP | 3,900 EGP |
Double Bed
| 1,600 EGP | 2,400 EGP | 2,900 EGP |
Single Bed
| 1,400 EGP | 1,800 EGP | 2,400 EGP |
Living Room
| 2,600 EGP | 3,400 EGP | 12,000 EGP |
Dining Table
| 1,200 EGP | 1,600 EGP | 2,900 EGP |
Sofa or Couch
| 1,600 EGP | 2,100 EGP | 4,700 EGP |
Electronics and House Appliance Costs
TV Set
| 1,600 EGP | 2,400 EGP | 4,700 EGP |
Fridge or Freezer
| 1,400 EGP | 2,100 EGP | 2,900 EGP |
Washing Machine
| 1,800 EGP | 2,600 EGP | 4,700 EGP |
Stove or Cooker
| 1,700 EGP | 2,100 EGP | 2,900 EGP |
Mobile Phone
| 2,000 EGP | 2,400 EGP | 3,400 EGP |
Laptop or Computer
| 2,100 EGP | 2,600 EGP | 4,700 EGP |
How do students spend their money in Cairo?
We asked thousands of students about their spending habits and expenditure break down.
Housing and accomodation expenditure for students
Accomodation Cost18%
18% of total expenses on average (13% to 24%)
| LOW | $15 480 EGP |
| AVERAGE | $100 3,200 EGP |
| HIGH | $690 21,000 EGP |
| Per Month |
Students in Cairo typically spend from 13% to 24% of their total monthly expenditure on housing with 18% being the average. The average monthly spend on housing is 3,200 EGP with expenditure ranging from 480 EGP to 21,000 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 | $2.6 80 EGP |
| AVERAGE | $17 530 EGP |
| HIGH | $110 3,600 EGP |
| Per Month |
Utility expenditure like electricity, water, and gas in Cairo ranges from 5% to 11% of total expenses with 7% being the average for most students. The average monthly cost of utilities is 530 EGP with 80 EGP and 3,600 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 | $4.5 140 EGP |
| AVERAGE | $30 930 EGP |
| HIGH | $200 6,200 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 140 EGP to 6,200 EGP in a month on commuting with 930 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 | $13 400 EGP |
| AVERAGE | $86 2,700 EGP |
| HIGH | $570 18,000 EGP |
| Per Month |
The average outlay on groceries and basic houshold items for a typical student in a month in Cairo is 2,700 EGP. The cost of groceries can range between 400 EGP to 18,000 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 | $3.9 120 EGP |
| AVERAGE | $26 800 EGP |
| HIGH | $170 5,300 EGP |
| Per Month |
Students in Cairo 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 120 EGP to 5,300 EGP with 800 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 | $3.2 100 EGP |
| AVERAGE | $22 670 EGP |
| HIGH | $140 4,400 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 100 EGP to 4,400 EGP with 670 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 | $12 380 EGP |
| AVERAGE | $82 2,500 EGP |
| HIGH | $550 17,000 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 2,500 EGP per month with 380 EGP being the minimum spent amount and 17,000 EGP being the maximum.
Other Expenses19%
19% of total expenses on average (13% to 25%)
| LOW | $9.7 300 EGP |
| AVERAGE | $65 2,000 EGP |
| HIGH | $430 13,000 EGP |
| Per Month |
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.
Affordable living in Cairo
Income and cost of living compatibility
We asked students one simple question and recorded their answers.
Is it affordable or economical to live in Cairo?
Around 49% of surveyed students think that living in Cairo is affordable with proper budgeting while 51% reported that it is just too expensive and not affordable even with frugality and thriftness.
Low-cost alternatives in Cairo
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 options58%
Few low-cost options42%
Based on the survey, 58% of the students living in Cairo have no problem finding low-cost alternatives to support a frugal lifestyle while 42% think that thriftness is difficult due to scarcity in discount markets and secondhand outlets.
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 of Cairo whether they have an emergency fund and the answers were as follows.
Yes44%
No57%
Based on the survey, 57% of the students living in Cairo said that they don't have an emergency fund while 44% said that they do.
Financial Literacy in Egypt
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 Cairo 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 Egypt 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%
Housing costs, accommodation, and housing affordability in Cairo
Rental costs and house/apartment prices can vary drastically between different areas and locations.
Rent Cost in Cairo
Monthly Rent Prices
Studio apartment monthly rent cost
| 2,100 EGP | 3,200 EGP | 8,600 EGP |
1-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost
| 3,200 EGP | 5,200 EGP | 13,000 EGP |
2-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost
| 4,300 EGP | 6,400 EGP | 17,000 EGP |
3-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost
| 5,200 EGP | 8,600 EGP | 23,000 EGP |
Furnished apartment monthly rent cost
| 10,000 EGP | 26,000 EGP | 52,000 EGP |
Townhouse monthly rent cost
| 8,600 EGP | 13,000 EGP | 37,000 EGP |
House monthly rent cost
| 10,000 EGP | 26,000 EGP | 52,000 EGP |
Villa monthly rent cost
| 13,000 EGP | 32,000 EGP | 52,000 EGP |
The monthly rental cost of a studio apartment in Cairo ranges between 2,100 EGP and 8,600 EGP, meanwhile the cost of monthly rental of a one-bedroom apartment can be anywhere from 3,200 EGP to 13,000 EGP. Two-bedroom rentals rate ranges between 4,300 EGP and 17,000 EGP per month. The monthly rental for a three-bedroom apartment ranges from 5,200 EGP to 23,000 EGP. The average rent of a townhouse in Cairo is around 13,000 EGP while house rental costs can be as high as 26,000 EGP per month. Finally, if you want to rent a villa, expect to pay anywhere from 13,000 EGP to 52,000 EGP per month.
Apartment and house prices in Cairo
Cost of buying a property
Studio apartment price
| 430,000 EGP | 640,000 EGP | 1.3M EGP |
1-bedroom apartment price
| 520,000 EGP | 860,000 EGP | 3.2M EGP |
2-bedroom apartment price
| 860,000 EGP | 2.6M EGP | 5.2M EGP |
3-bedroom apartment price
| 2.9M EGP | 4.3M EGP | 13M EGP |
| $93,000 | $140,000 | $420,000 |
Townhouse price
| 3.7M EGP | 8.6M EGP | 32M EGP |
House price
Villa price
The average price of a studio apartment in Cairo can range from 430,000 EGP to 1.3M EGP depending on location. One bedroom cost can be anywhere from 520,000 EGP to 3.2M EGP. A villa can cost you 29M EGP on average with prices ranging from 5.2M EGP to 43M EGP.
If you're leasing or purchasing, housing costs in Cairo 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
| 32 | x89 monthly income | 214 |
Property prices in Cairo can be x89 to x214 multiples of the monthly income depending on the property and the income of the person. On average, property prices are approximately x89 multiples of the average monthly salary in Cairo.
Rent to income ratio
Rent to income ratio
( monthly rental / monthly income ) x 100
The average rent-to-income ratio in Cairo is around 32%. This means that people pay 32% of their income for rent. Those figures can range from 21% to 44% 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
29% 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.
Monthly costs and expenses of energy and basic utilities in Cairo
Utilities expenditure can vary slightly between different areas and locations.
Energy, electricity, water, gas, internet, and mobile cost in Cairo
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 530 EGP. The cost of internet and WiFi ranges from 120 EGP to 310 EGP with 240 EGP being the average internet bill. Finally, the average monthly mobile charges is around 160 EGP but can range between 94 EGP and 470 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 Cairo is around 8%. This means that people pay 8% of their income for energy, water, internet, and mobile charges. Those figures can range from 4.6% to 13% depending on salary and location.
Food Prices, Dining Expenses, and Grocery Costs in Cairo
Grocery / Food expenditure and prices can vary drastically between different areas and locations.
Prices and cost of goods and services in Cairo
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 Cairo is approximatly 47 EGP with meal cost ranging from 24 EGP to 78 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 82 EGP and 250 EGP with 120 EGP being the average price of a plate for one person at a regular restaurant in Cairo.
Fine dining meal for one price
The price range of a meal at fine-dining restaurant is 160 EGP to 990 EGP with the average cost being 250 EGP for one person. This is what you would expect to pay a top-tier diner in Cairo.
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 Cairo is around 31 EGP. Price ranges between 20 EGP and 47 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 Cairo is 19 EGP. The maximum what you would pay for milk is 24 EGP and the minimum being 16 EGP depending on the brand of milk and other properties.
12 eggs price
A dozen eggs costs around 16 EGP on average with 12 EGP and 24 EGP being the lower and upper limits respectively.
Fresh whole chicken price
The price range of a fresh whole chicken in Cairo is between 27 EGP and 49 EGP depending on the size of the chicken and whether it is oraganic or not. The average price is approximatly 35 EGP.
Pack of beef price
The price of a regular pack of beef or meat is around 47 EGP. A pack of beef contains around 1Kg or 1lb depending on packing.
Medium bag of rice price
A bag of rice in Cairo costs around 17 EGP on average with prices rangeing between 13 EGP and 24 EGP depending on the brand and quality.
Bag of tomatos price
A bag of tomatoes costs anywhere from 4.7 EGP to 12 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.
Grocery and food expenditure to income ratio
( monthly grocery expenses / monthly income ) x 100
The average grocery-to-income ratio in Cairo is around 32%. This means that students spend 32% of their income on grocery and basic household items. The expenditure can range from 23% to 39% depending on salary and location.
Expenditure on food and grocery for students
Students' spending on grocery ranges from 400 EGP to 18,000 EGP with the location, income, and size of the student being the most determinite factors.
