Egypt
Source: WhereNext Global Relocation Index 2026 · CC BY 4.0
Challenging Fit — strongest in safety and cost.
83% data coverage·116.5M population·Public-domain data
Per-field freshness (5 dimensions)
Egypt at a glance
Quick answer
Egypt ranks #80 of 95 countries on the WhereNext composite score (30/100), with strongest scores in affordability and safety and watch areas in infrastructure and career. Estimated 2026 single-person cost of living in Egypt is around $700/month. Best fit profile: stretch my savings. Composite score uses 7 dimensions (cost, safety, healthcare, education, career, lifestyle, infrastructure) sourced from World Bank ICP, UNDP HDI, IEP Global Peace Index, OECD PISA, and EF EPI.
Last updated: May 2026 · Cost-of-living estimate is a 2026 single-person model based on the WhereNext cost index. Use the Cost of Living tool for city-level detail.
Key facts
- Rank #80 of 95 composite score 30/100 across the WhereNext 7-dimension framework.
- ~$700/mo estimated single-person cost of living, including rent, utilities, food, and transport.
- Strongest: Affordability 100/100 normalized — top strength out of 7 dimensions.
- Watch area: Infrastructure 0/100 — lowest dimension; verify against your priorities.
- Coverage: 83% of dimensions population 116.5M · public-domain data sources (World Bank, UNDP, IEP, OECD, EF EPI).
Composite score
On par with peers
- Egypt
- 30/100
- North Africa avg
- 30/100
- Global avg
- 47/100
Compared against 3 regional neighbors and 95 indexed countries globally.
Source: WhereNext 7-dimension composite (World Bank ICP, UNDP HDI, IEP GPI, OECD PISA, EF EPI, Eurostat) · updated
Healthcare costs — Egypt vs US baseline
Five common line items. Grey bar = US median; primary-green = destination median; amber appears only when the destination is MORE expensive than the US (rare for healthcare).
Verified · WhereNext healthcare-cost dataset
Private ins./mo
GP visit
Specialist visit
ER visit
Dental cleaning
| Line item | Country | Local range | US median | Delta |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Private ins./mo | 🇪🇬 Egypt | $28-$52 | $500 | −$460 |
| GP visit | 🇪🇬 Egypt | $10-$20 | $225 | −$210 |
| Specialist visit | 🇪🇬 Egypt | $15-$30 | $375 | −$352 |
| ER visit | 🇪🇬 Egypt | $70-$150 | $1.9K | −$1.7K |
| Dental cleaning | 🇪🇬 Egypt | $5-$10 | $150 | −$142 |
Annual climate — Cairo (Egypt)
Each vertical band shows the monthly low-to-high temperature range. Green = comfortable (5-25°C); amber = hot (>25°C); grey = cold (<5°C).
Verified · Climate-Data.org + WhereNext city-monthly-climate dataset
Cairo
| City | Month | High | Low | Tier |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cairo | Jan | 19°C | 9°C | Comfortable (5–25°C) |
| Cairo | Feb | 21°C | 9°C | Comfortable (5–25°C) |
| Cairo | Mar | 24°C | 12°C | Comfortable (5–25°C) |
| Cairo | Apr | 28°C | 14°C | Comfortable (5–25°C) |
| Cairo | May | 33°C | 18°C | Hot (>25°C) |
| Cairo | Jun | 35°C | 21°C | Hot (>25°C) |
| Cairo | Jul | 36°C | 23°C | Hot (>25°C) |
| Cairo | Aug | 35°C | 23°C | Hot (>25°C) |
| Cairo | Sep | 34°C | 21°C | Hot (>25°C) |
| Cairo | Oct | 30°C | 18°C | Comfortable (5–25°C) |
| Cairo | Nov | 25°C | 14°C | Comfortable (5–25°C) |
| Cairo | Dec | 20°C | 10°C | Comfortable (5–25°C) |
Will you find your people in Egypt?
Community density signals — quant + qualitative. Loneliness is a top-three relocation-failure factor; this section flags whether Egypt has the expat scene to match your profile.
Expat density
Low0.5% foreign-born
English proficiency
7/100 (EF EPI)
Coworking density
Low
Top nomad hubs
Cairo, Dahab
Safety reality in Egypt
7 dimensions of safety, each scored separately so a single weak axis doesn’t drag the cross-dimensional view. Per Global Peace Index + WHO + national crime statistics.
GPI 2025verified Apr 2026HDR 2024 (HDI 2023 data)verified Apr 2026- Moderate
Overall public safety
Sinai insurgency; high sexual harassment rates; LGBTQ+ individuals face arrest under morality laws.
- Serious
Political stability22/100
Material political instability — track-record of policy reversals or civil unrest. Verify residency rights are durable before committing.
- Strong
Natural disaster resilience80/100
Moderate exposure (earthquake, flood, drought). Insurance coverage usually sufficient; check policy fine print.
- Serious
Women's safety28/100
Elevated harassment / personal-safety reports — research neighbourhoods and apply additional precautions.
- Serious
LGBTQ+ safety8/100
Hostile legal regime — same-sex relationships may be criminalised or unrecognised. Do not relocate without legal advice.
- Caution
Emergency healthcare quality48/100
Limited emergency capacity — international medical evacuation insurance strongly advised. Avoid relocation without local-network research if managing chronic conditions.
- Caution
Terrorism risk
Active advisories — avoid known target areas, register with home embassy.
National averages only. Within-country variation is large — Mexico City vs Mérida differ massively. Cross- reference at the city / neighbourhood level before relocating.
Verify with current government advisories
Static-data signals don’t reflect this week’s situation. Cross-check against your home government’s current travel advisory before any irreversible commitment.
What life in Egypt is actually like
Daily rhythm and cultural texture
Cairo is sensory overload distilled into a city. The call to prayer echoes across Zamalek at dawn while feluccas drift on the Nile below. Traffic on the 6th October Bridge is a contact sport — lanes are suggestions, horns are punctuation. You'll eat kushari from a street cart in Downtown for 20 Egyptian pounds, then have a world-class dinner at Sequoia overlooking the Nile for a fraction of London prices. The social rhythm is nocturnal: dinner at 10pm is early, cafes in Maadi and Heliopolis buzz until 2am, and Ramadan flips the entire schedule. Weekends are Friday-Saturday, and Thursday night is the new Friday. Dust is constant — a thin film coats everything within hours of cleaning. The khamsin winds in spring bring Saharan sand that turns the sky orange. Escape routes matter: the Red Sea coast is a 4-hour drive to Ain Sokhna, Alexandria's corniche offers Mediterranean relief, and Dahab in Sinai is the diving-and-decompression retreat. Social life depends heavily on your compound or neighborhood — Maadi's tree-lined streets and expat clubs feel like a village within the megacity.
Who thrives here — and who struggles
History and archaeology enthusiasts find nowhere comparable on Earth. Arabic language students benefit from immersive exposure to Egyptian dialect, the lingua franca of the Arab world. Cost-conscious remote workers stretch their income dramatically — a comfortable apartment in Maadi or Zamalek runs $300-500/month. Regional business professionals use Cairo as a hub for the broader MENA market. Egypt is not for those who need personal space, quiet, or predictability. Women should be prepared for persistent street harassment, particularly outside expat enclaves. Anyone requiring clean air or minimal noise will find Cairo genuinely punishing.
Reality check: the first 6 months
Navigating mogamma-style government offices for residency paperwork is a trial of endurance — bring a book, arrive early, and expect to be sent to a different window multiple times. Opening a bank account requires your residency permit, which requires a bank account to prove financial stability — the circularity is real and typically resolved through a fixer or a sympathetic bank manager. Landlords in expat-friendly areas demand rent in US dollars despite technically needing to accept Egyptian pounds. The currency has devalued sharply since 2022, which benefits dollar-earners but creates constant price adjustments. Internet speeds are adequate in urban areas but throttling during peak hours is common. Learning to read Arabic numerals (which differ from Western Arabic numerals) is essential for daily transactions.
Egypt at a glance
What works well here
- ✓Extremely low cost of living relative to quality
- ✓Rich ancient history and cultural depth
- ✓Strategic geographic location with excellent air connectivity
- ✓Warm climate year-round with Red Sea beaches
Friction to expect
- !Severe air pollution and traffic congestion in Cairo
- !Bureaucracy can be slow and opaque
- !Political stability concerns and press freedom limitations
Practical nuances
- LGBTQ+ safety
- Homosexuality is not explicitly criminalized but authorities use morality and debauchery laws to prosecute. Extreme discretion is essential; public displays are unsafe.
- Driving & licensing
- Drives on the right. Traffic in Cairo is notoriously chaotic with aggressive driving norms. International driving permits are accepted temporarily; a local license requires a practical test.
- Healthcare system
- A fragmented system with public, military, and private tiers. Most expats rely on private hospitals such as As-Salam International or Dar Al Fouad, which offer modern facilities.
- Walkability & transit
- Cairo has an expanding metro system (the oldest in Africa) and a new monorail under construction. Outside the metro, traffic congestion makes ride-hailing apps far more practical than driving.
Healthcare-system facts · Source: WHO Global Health Observatory + national health-ministry publications · Last verified Apr 18, 2026 · Verify coverage and eligibility with the public-system administrator or a licensed health insurer before relying on it.
Tax overview
- Personal income tax
- 0% - 25%
- Corporate tax
- 22.5%
- Sales / VAT
- 14%
- Wealth & crypto
- No specific crypto regulation. Income tax applies to all income sources including digital assets.
Tax rates and special regimes · Source: OECD Tax Database + national tax authority publications + treaty texts · Last verified Apr 18, 2026 · Verify against your own circumstances with a licensed cross-border tax advisor before filing.
See our tax calculator to model your specific situation.
Where expats settle in Egypt
Decision Snapshot
The numbers that matter most for your relocation decision.
Scored 0–100 using institutional data: World Bank (cost, governance), WHO (healthcare), OECD PISA (education), Global Peace Index (safety), Open-Meteo (climate), and 22 more — not crowdsourced surveys. See the full methodology.
$700
High Value
1.3 homicides per 100k
UHC index: 71
3 pathways
Tourist Visa
GDP/capita PPP: $19,094
Key Caution
Career scores 0/100, which is 58 points below the global average. Research this area carefully before committing.
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The honest take
What's great
- Affordability — scored 100/100(well above average)
- Safety — scored 71/100
- Lifestyle — scored 44/100
Watch out for
- Infrastructure — scored 0/100(58 below average)
- Career — scored 0/100(58 below average)
Is this place viable for you?
Quick decision check — Egypt
Strengths
- Affordability100/100
- Safety71/100
- Lifestyle44/100
Likely blockers
Infrastructure trails comparable destinations
Re-rank destinations against your prioritiesCareer market is narrower than average
Re-rank destinations against your priorities
How Egypt Scores
Seven dimensions, weighted by what matters to relocators.
Who Egypt Is Best For
Based on how this country ranks under different lifestyle priorities.
Rankings shift based on your priorities. Personalize your ranking
Best Cities in Egypt
Flagship cities first, then researched, then modeled — sorted by cost.
Cairo
Sharm El Sheikh
Giza
Alexandria
All 4 Cities in Egypt
Tradeoffs and Risks
Every country has tradeoffs. Here is what the data shows.
What works well
Areas to research
Regional comparison
Similar Countries
Countries with a similar data profile across all seven dimensions.
Relocation Checklist — Egypt
Checklist is for guidance only. Requirements may vary based on nationality, visa type, and personal circumstances. Consult an immigration professional.
Make Egypt real
Start a free relocation case for Egypt
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- public-domain data
- free to start
- 30-day brief guarantee
Egypt advisor intro
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Tell us what you're trying to figure out about a move to Egypt — tax, visa, schools, or housing — and we'll personally vet one human who works that country regularly. WhereNext may earn a referral fee; that's disclosed before any handoff. WhereNext does not provide legal, tax, immigration, property, or school-placement advice.
About Egypt
Egypt, officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, is a country spanning the northeast corner of Africa and southwest corner of Asia via the Sinai Peninsula. It is bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Palestine and Israel to the northeast, the Red Sea to the east, Sudan and the Sahara to the south, and Libya to the west. The Gulf of Aqaba in the northeast separates Egypt from Jordan and Saudi Arabia. Cairo is the capital, largest city, and leading cultural centre, while Alexandria is the second-largest city and an important hub of industry and tourism. With over 107 million inhabitants, Egypt is the most populous country in the Arab world, third-most populous country in Africa, and 15th-most populated in the world.
Deep Research
Detailed data for thorough due diligence. Expand any section below.
Quick Facts
Quick Facts
Capital
Cairo
Population
116.5M
Region
North Africa
Languages
Arabic
Currency
Egyptian Pound (EGP)
Timezone
EET (UTC+2)
GDP per capita (PPP)
$19,094
Unemployment
6.8%
Healthcare System
Healthcare System
UHC Coverage Index
71
Physicians per 1,000
1.2
Life expectancy
71.8 years
Homicide rate
1.3 per 100k
Climate & Environment
Climate & Environment
Visa Pathways
Visa Pathways
Tourist Visa
Available on arrival for many nationalities, valid for 30 days with possible extension.
Work Permit
Employer-sponsored, requires labor ministry approval and a ratio of local-to-foreign employees.
Residence Permit
Granted for property owners, retirees, or those with Egyptian family ties; renewable annually.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Egypt a good country to move to?
Egypt scores 30/100 overall and ranks #80 out of 95 countries in our data-driven analysis. It excels in safety and cost. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use our free personalization quiz to see how it ranks for your specific profile.
What is the cost of living in Egypt?
The estimated monthly cost of living in Egypt is approximately $700 for a single person with a moderate lifestyle. This is calibrated against a US baseline of ~$3,000/month. GDP per capita (PPP) is $19,094. Cost data is sourced from World Bank, and national statistical agencies.
Is Egypt safe to live in?
Egypt is relatively safe, scoring 71/100 on our safety index. This score combines the Global Peace Index, political stability data from the World Bank, and homicide rate statistics. The homicide rate is 1.3 per 100,000 people.
How is healthcare in Egypt?
Egypt has adequate healthcare, scoring 49/100. The WHO Universal Health Coverage index is 71. There are 1.2 physicians per 1,000 people. Healthcare quality can vary significantly between cities and rural areas.
Do I need a visa to move to Egypt?
Visa requirements for Egypt depend on your citizenship and intended length of stay. Egypt offers various visa categories including tourist, work, and residence permits. Common pathways include Tourist Visa, Work Permit, Residence Permit. Always check with the official embassy or consulate for current requirements.
Egypt Guides & Articles
Suggested citation
CC BY 4.0This dataset is free to redistribute, quote, and embed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0. The composite form below preserves source lineage so AI assistants can cite both WhereNext and the underlying institutional publishers.
WhereNext composite — WhereNext Egypt Relocation Profile 2026 (2026-04-21). Derived from: World Bank ICP (cost of living); WHO Global Health Observatory (healthcare quality); OECD PISA + UNESCO UIS (education); Yale EPI (environment); IEP Global Peace Index (safety); EF EPI (English proficiency); World Bank Doing Business + WGI (governance, infrastructure). Available at https://getwherenext.com/country/eg?utm_source=internal&utm_medium=citation&utm_campaign=data-citation. CC BY 4.0.
WhereNext. (2026). WhereNext Egypt Relocation Profile 2026. Retrieved from https://getwherenext.com/country/eg?utm_source=internal&utm_medium=citation&utm_campaign=data-citation. CC BY 4.0.
WhereNext. "WhereNext Egypt Relocation Profile 2026." WhereNext, 21 Apr 2026, https://getwherenext.com/country/eg?utm_source=internal&utm_medium=citation&utm_campaign=data-citation. Accessed via https://getwherenext.com/country/eg?utm_source=internal&utm_medium=citation&utm_campaign=data-citation. CC BY 4.0.
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}<a href="https://getwherenext.com/country/eg?utm_source=internal&utm_medium=citation&utm_campaign=data-citation">WhereNext — WhereNext Egypt Relocation Profile 2026</a>
Next step
Anchor Egypt as your destination. Visa, cost, healthcare, and school tools inherit the same context so you don't re-enter it.
Essentials for moving to Egypt
Two recurring questions in every relocation case: medical cover when local insurance hasn't kicked in yet, and how to pay or receive money across currencies without the typical 4% bank-card markup. Defaults we'd pick first.
Health insurance abroad
Travel medical insurance for nomads + relocators
Monthly subscription medical insurance that covers 180+ countries. No commitment; cancel anytime. The default pick if you're moving abroad without an employer plan.
Cross-border money + banking
Real exchange rates + multi-currency account
Hold 40+ currencies, send money at the mid-market rate, get local bank details in USD/EUR/GBP. The default pick for cross-border payments and saving on FX fees while you set up local banking.
Important Notice
WhereNext provides data-driven insights for informational purposes only. Scores and rankings are algorithmically generated from public institutional data and may not reflect your individual circumstances. This tool does not replace professional advice for immigration, legal, tax, or financial matters.