Cairo vs Suez Cost of Living Comparison
Executive summary: Suez leads on CPI (11 vs 16.5, NYC=100), Suez 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
Suez
Lower overall CPI; largest measurable gaps: Housing (62% gap, Suez ahead); Utilities (62% gap, Suez ahead).
Monthly Cost Difference
Estimated monthly housing+utilities+internet basket is about $217 lower in Suez than in Cairo (~60% gap; converted via exchange rates).
Estimated monthly difference: $217 (favoring Suez).
Category Winners
| Category | Winner | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Overall CPI | Suez | CPI 11 vs 16.5 (lower is better) |
| Housing | Suez | Rent index 3.6 vs 9.4 (lower is better) |
| Food | Suez | Groceries index 18.1 vs 24.2 (lower is better) |
| Transport | Suez | One-way ticket 7.38 vs 12.25 (lower is better) |
| Utilities | Suez | Utilities (85m²) 345.6 vs 902.4 (lower is better) |
| Internet | Suez | Internet 467.04 vs 591.36 (lower is better) |
| Restaurants | Suez | 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: Suez leads with a 62% gap.
Rent index 3.6 vs 9.4 (lower is better)
Quick Decision
- Students: Suez — Lower housing / rent index (62% gap).
- Families: Suez — Housing is typically the largest household line; rent index favors Suez; purchasing power favors Cairo.
- Remote Workers: Suez — Everyday cost index (CPI) favors Suez (~33% gap).
- Budget Living: Suez — Lowest overall consumer-price index in this pair.
Key Takeaways
- Suez is the overall cost winner on CPI (~33% lower everyday-cost index than Cairo).
- Housing: Suez leads on rent index (62% gap).
- Food / groceries: Suez is lower (25% gap).
- Purchasing power: Cairo scores higher (45% gap).
- Sample monthly basket (1BR + utilities + internet) is ~$217 cheaper in Suez.
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.