Cairo vs Ismailia Cost of Living Comparison
Executive summary: Ismailia leads on CPI (11 vs 16.5, NYC=100), Ismailia leads on rent index, and Cairo leads on purchasing power. Validate neighbourhood rents before relocating — city-wide winners can reverse at district scale.
Overall Cost Winner
Ismailia
Lower overall CPI; largest measurable gaps: Housing (62% gap, Ismailia ahead); Utilities (62% gap, Ismailia ahead).
Monthly Cost Difference
Estimated monthly housing+utilities+internet basket is about $217 lower in Ismailia than in Cairo (~60% gap; converted via exchange rates).
Estimated monthly difference: $217 (favoring Ismailia).
Category Winners
| Category | Winner | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Overall CPI | Ismailia | CPI 11 vs 16.5 (lower is better) |
| Housing | Ismailia | Rent index 3.6 vs 9.4 (lower is better) |
| Food | Ismailia | Groceries index 18.1 vs 24.2 (lower is better) |
| Transport | Ismailia | One-way ticket 7.38 vs 12.25 (lower is better) |
| Utilities | Ismailia | Utilities (85m²) 345.6 vs 902.4 (lower is better) |
| Internet | Ismailia | Internet 470.4 vs 591.36 (lower is better) |
| Restaurants | Ismailia | Restaurant index 9.6 vs 17.1 (lower is better) |
| Salary | Cairo | Avg net salary 66662.4 vs 36902.4 (higher is better) |
| Purchasing Power | Cairo | PP index 22.4 vs 12.4 (higher is better) |
Biggest Difference
Housing: Ismailia leads with a 62% gap.
Rent index 3.6 vs 9.4 (lower is better)
Quick Decision
- Students: Ismailia — Lower housing / rent index (62% gap).
- Families: Ismailia — Housing is typically the largest household line; rent index favors Ismailia; purchasing power favors Cairo.
- Remote Workers: Ismailia — Everyday cost index (CPI) favors Ismailia (~33% gap).
- Budget Living: Ismailia — Lowest overall consumer-price index in this pair.
Key Takeaways
- Ismailia is the overall cost winner on CPI (~33% lower everyday-cost index than Cairo).
- Housing: Ismailia leads on rent index (62% gap).
- Food / groceries: Ismailia is lower (25% gap).
- Purchasing power: Cairo scores higher (45% gap).
- Sample monthly basket (1BR + utilities + internet) is ~$217 cheaper in Ismailia.
Analysis
Detailed breakdown uses only paired indices: CPI 16.5/11, rent 9.4/3.6, purchasing power 22.4/12.4. 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.