Cairo vs Istanbul: cost of living for digital nomads

Cairo, Egypt and Istanbul, Turkey, line by line from the catalogue: what a month costs, rent, food, coworking, safety and internet. Every figure links back to its source on the city page.

The short version

  • Cairo is about 29% cheaper than Istanbul for a month of nomad living ($1,000 vs $1,400).
  • Rent is the biggest gap: $420 in Cairo against $650 in Istanbul.
  • Istanbul scores higher on safety (7/10 vs 6/10).
  • Cairo is arid; Istanbul is mediterranean.

Cairo wins 5 of the measured lines; Istanbul wins 2.

LineCairoIstanbul
Monthly total (USD)$1,000$1,400
Rent$420$650
Food$300$380
Transport$35$45
Coworking$90$110
Safety (out of 10)6/107/10
Internet (Mbps)6060
Climatearidmediterranean
City sizemetrometro
Settinginlandcoast
Nomad score (out of 10)7/108/10

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Costs are typical monthly figures for one person in USD, from the sources named on each city page; safety and internet are the catalogue's own ratings. Check the city pages for the dates each was last verified.