What Cairo actually looks, feels, and costs like for someone considering moving. Neighbourhoods, climate, transport, healthcare, safety, and the practical scaffolding — every figure sourced.
Country
Egypt
Africa
Population
22,183,200
metro · 2024
Area
3,085 km²
Elevation
23 m
city centre
Time zone
Africa/Cairo
Currency
EGP
Airport
CAI · Cairo International Airport
Metro
3 metro lines · tram network
Walkability
●●○○○
editorial score · 1–5
Bike friendliness
●○○○○
editorial score · 1–5
Primary language
Arabic (Egyptian colloquial) is the working language. English widespread in multinational firms, universities, and higher-end services; French also present in professional circles.
Cairo is a city of 22,183,200 people in Egypt (Africa). It is the capital. The main international airport is CAI (Cairo International Airport). The metro system has 3 lines, alongside a tram network.
A one-bedroom city-centre apartment runs approximately €300 per month. Monthly groceries for one person run approximately €130. A monthly public-transport pass costs €10. Across the 100 cities Meridian tracks, Cairo ranks 3rd overall on combined monthly essentials — among the cheaper.
Cairo's climate is hot arid — June is typically the warmest month with average highs around 35°C, while January is the coldest with average lows near 9°C. Annual rainfall totals approximately 24mm, wettest in December.
Cost of living
Cost of living
Total monthly essentials: approximately €475/month EUR-equivalent for a single person in a 1-bedroom flat (rent + utilities + groceries + transit). District and lifestyle swing this 30–50% either way.
Visa policy, taxation, healthcare, and broadband infrastructure are national rather than city-level — the numbers below are Egypt-wide context for someone weighing Cairo specifically. Each links through to the full country brief.
The National Council for Wages raised the minimum wage to EGP 7,000/month effective July 2025 — up from EGP 6,000. Continues the recent pattern of regular above-inflation minimum-wage adjustments as part of the state response to the EGP devaluation impact on household purchasing power.
Who it affects: Low-wage Egyptian workers; indirect context for foreign-resident cost-of-living.
Prime-ministerial decree in mid-2024 clarified and repriced the Egyptian Citizenship-by-Investment programme: non-refundable Treasury contribution US$250,000; real-estate investment US$350,000; direct business investment US$500,000 creating local employment; bank deposit US$500,000 (3-year lock). Processing target 6–9 months. Volumes expanded materially in 2024–2025 from Gulf and East Asian applicants.
Who it affects: High-net-worth applicants seeking Egyptian citizenship.
The 2024–25 Finance Law restructured personal income tax bands — modest increases in the middle-band thresholds to offset inflation effects. Top marginal rate remained at 27.5%. Basic non-taxable threshold raised to EGP 40,000 (from EGP 30,000). Foreign residents on work permits are subject to Egyptian PIT on Egyptian-source income; 183-day residence triggers worldwide-income taxation.
Who it affects: All Egyptian tax residents including foreign workers.
A one-bedroom apartment in central Cairo rents for around €300 per month. Combined monthly essentials (rent + utilities + groceries + transit) total approximately €475 EUR-equivalent. Individual spend varies 30–50% by district and lifestyle.
Is Cairo expensive compared to other global cities?
Cairo ranks 3rd out of 100 cities Meridian tracks for combined monthly living costs — among the cheapest quartile, and 3rd of 3 within Egypt. Rankings use EUR-normalised rent + utilities + groceries + transit.
What's the weather like in Cairo?
Cairo sees average summer highs of 35°C in June and winter lows of 9°C in January. Annual rainfall totals about 24mm. Full monthly breakdown in the Climate section above.
What visa do I need to move to Cairo?
Cairo's visa regime is set at the national level — Egypt tracks 4 residence-permit routes including Work Permit (Ta'asheera al-'Amal), Investor Residence, Egyptian Citizenship by Investment, among others. See the Egypt country brief for full eligibility, salary thresholds, and processing times.
How do you get around in Cairo?
Cairo has 3 metro lines plus an extensive tram network; the city centre is not especially walkable (Meridian editorial score 2/5). Monthly transit pass cost is in the breakdown above.
What language is spoken in Cairo?
Arabic (Egyptian colloquial) is the working language. English widespread in multinational firms, universities, and higher-end services; French also present in professional circles.
What is the main airport for Cairo?
Cairo's primary international airport is CAI (Cairo International Airport).