Cairo vs Amsterdam Cost of Living Comparison
Takeaway for Cairo vs Amsterdam: everyday costs favor Cairo (~360% CPI gap), housing index favors Cairo, wage stretch favors Amsterdam. Use category winners, not a single headline, when the binding constraint is rent or income.
Overall Cost Winner
Cairo
Lower overall CPI; largest measurable gaps: Housing (428% gap, Cairo ahead); Purchasing Power (380% gap, Amsterdam ahead).
Monthly Cost Difference
Estimated monthly housing+utilities+internet basket is about $1,538 lower in Cairo than in Amsterdam (~427% gap; converted via exchange rates).
Estimated monthly difference: $1,538 (favoring Cairo).
Category Winners
| Category | Winner | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Overall CPI | Cairo | CPI 16.5 vs 75.9 (lower is better) |
| Housing | Cairo | Rent index 9.4 vs 49.6 (lower is better) |
| Food | Cairo | Groceries index 24.2 vs 66.1 (lower is better) |
| Transport | Amsterdam | One-way ticket 1.82 vs 12.25 (lower is better) |
| Utilities | Amsterdam | Utilities (85m²) 91.26 vs 902.4 (lower is better) |
| Internet | Amsterdam | Internet 58.15 vs 591.36 (lower is better) |
| Restaurants | Cairo | Restaurant index 17.1 vs 77 (lower is better) |
| Salary | Cairo | Avg net salary 66662.4 vs 6131.8 (higher is better) |
| Purchasing Power | Amsterdam | PP index 107.5 vs 22.4 (higher is better) |
Biggest Difference
Housing: Cairo leads with a 428% gap.
Rent index 9.4 vs 49.6 (lower is better)
Quick Decision
- Students: Cairo — Lower housing / rent index (428% gap).
- Families: Cairo — Housing is typically the largest household line; rent index favors Cairo; purchasing power favors Amsterdam.
- Remote Workers: Cairo — Everyday cost index (CPI) favors Cairo (~360% gap).
- Budget Living: Cairo — Lowest overall consumer-price index in this pair.
Key Takeaways
- Cairo is the overall cost winner on CPI (~360% lower everyday-cost index than Amsterdam).
- Housing: Cairo leads on rent index (428% gap).
- Food / groceries: Cairo is lower (173% gap).
- Purchasing power: Amsterdam scores higher (380% gap).
- Sample monthly basket (1BR + utilities + internet) is ~$1,538 cheaper in Cairo.
Analysis
Cairo versus Amsterdam is not a single number. With a 360% CPI spread, groceries and services tend to move with Cairo, while housing follows Cairo's rent index. Purchasing power (22.4 vs 107.5) decides whether local wages offset local prices.
Trust & data transparency
Last updated: 2026-08-21
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.