Aswan vs Ismailia Cost of Living Comparison
Executive summary: Aswan leads on CPI (10.6 vs 11, NYC=100), Aswan leads on rent index, and Ismailia leads on purchasing power. Validate neighbourhood rents before relocating — city-wide winners can reverse at district scale.
Overall Cost Winner
Aswan
Lower overall CPI; largest measurable gaps: Salary (15% gap, Ismailia ahead); Purchasing Power (15% gap, Ismailia ahead).
Monthly Cost Difference
Estimated monthly housing+utilities+internet basket is about $15 lower in Aswan than in Ismailia (~12% gap; converted via exchange rates).
Estimated monthly difference: $15 (favoring Aswan).
Category Winners
| Category | Winner | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Overall CPI | Aswan | CPI 10.6 vs 11 (lower is better) |
| Housing | Aswan | Rent index 3.2 vs 3.6 (lower is better) |
| Food | Aswan | Groceries index 16.9 vs 18.1 (lower is better) |
| Transport | Aswan | One-way ticket 6.96 vs 7.38 (lower is better) |
| Utilities | Aswan | Utilities (85m²) 307.2 vs 345.6 (lower is better) |
| Internet | Aswan | Internet 440.16 vs 470.4 (lower is better) |
| Restaurants | Aswan | Restaurant index 9.6 vs 9.6 (lower is better) |
| Salary | Ismailia | Avg net salary 36902.4 vs 32140.8 (higher is better) |
| Purchasing Power | Ismailia | PP index 12.4 vs 10.8 (higher is better) |
Biggest Difference
Salary: Ismailia leads with a 15% gap.
Avg net salary 36902.4 vs 32140.8 (higher is better)
Quick Decision
- Students: Aswan — Lower housing / rent index (12% gap).
- Families: Aswan — Housing is typically the largest household line; rent index favors Aswan; purchasing power favors Ismailia.
- Remote Workers: Aswan — Everyday cost index (CPI) favors Aswan (~4% gap).
- Budget Living: Aswan — Lowest overall consumer-price index in this pair.
Key Takeaways
- Aswan is the overall cost winner on CPI (~4% lower everyday-cost index than Ismailia).
- Housing: Aswan leads on rent index (12% gap).
- Food / groceries: Aswan is lower (7% gap).
- Purchasing power: Ismailia scores higher (15% gap).
- Largest category gap: Salary (15%), favoring Ismailia.
- Sample monthly basket (1BR + utilities + internet) is ~$15 cheaper in Aswan.
Analysis
Detailed breakdown uses only paired indices: CPI 10.6/11, rent 3.2/3.6, purchasing power 10.8/12.4. Category winners can diverge — a city may win rent while losing CPI. No GDP, climate, or industry claims are invented for either city.
Trust & data transparency
Last updated: 2026-08-20
Data Sources
This page uses CityCost index inputs. Platform sources (see also Data sources):
- Regional
- Regional
On-page labels for this view: Regional · Regional.
Methodology
Each indexed city is associated with a reference basket of common living costs (for example rent, groceries samples, transport tickets, utilities, restaurant meals, and net salary where available). From those items, the platform derives relative indices such as CPI, rent, groceries, restaurants, and local purchasing power, using New York City = 100 as the familiar baseline convention for relative comparison.