Cairo: what to see and whether to move there

What the city lives on and who it suits

Cairo is the capital of Egypt and the largest metropolis in Africa and the Arab world, with more than 20 million people in Greater Cairo. It is a centre of trade, banking, construction, tourism, education and Arab media. The government is gradually moving to the New Administrative Capital 45 kilometres to the east, and the city keeps growing with new districts in the desert.

Cairo is chosen by entrepreneurs working with markets in Egypt, Africa and the Middle East, remote workers who want low costs and warm winters, students of Arabic and property investors seeking residence. Those who cope poorly with noise, traffic and heat find it hard.

Districts

• Zamalek - a Nile island with embassies, cafés and old buildings, a favourite with foreigners in the centre.
• Maadi - a green southern district with villas, international schools and a large expatriate community.
• Garden City and downtown - historic buildings and offices near Tahrir Square, noisy and dense.
• Heliopolis - a north-eastern district near the airport with early 20th-century architecture.
• New Cairo - gated communities, malls and offices in the east, convenient with a car.
• Sheikh Zayed and 6th of October - western suburbs with compounds and schools, closer to the pyramids and the new airport.

Housing and prices

In the best districts in 2026, a one-bedroom flat starts at about 40,000 Egyptian pounds a month, around $763. In Zamalek it starts at 50,000 pounds (about $954), and flats with Nile views and in upscale compounds reach 120,000 pounds and more (about $2,289). Ordinary districts are several times cheaper. Local food, ride-hailing and services are very cheap for foreigners, while imported goods, cars and international schools are expensive.

Taxes

Income tax is progressive, from 0% to 27.5%. Corporate tax is 22.5%, VAT 14%, and social contributions are 11% for employees and 18.75% for employers. Dividends are taxed at 10%, and on a property sale the seller pays 2.5% of the price. More on the page about taxes in Egypt.

Practicalities

• Transport. Three metro lines, ride-hailing and minibuses. Traffic is among the worst in the world, so people choose housing near work or school. Cairo International Airport is in the north-east, and Sphinx Airport operates in the west.
• Climate. Summers are hot and dry, often above 35 degrees; winters are mild, around 20 by day. Dust storms occur in spring.
• Language. Arabic; English is common in business and among young people.
• Money. The pound's exchange rate has swung sharply in recent years, so large deals are often priced in dollars and paid in pounds.
• Customs. The country is Muslim, the city's rhythm changes during Ramadan, and modest dress is advisable.

Moving and legal status

Russian citizens get a tourist visa on arrival at the airport. For long-term living there is residence through property purchase: 1 year for a property worth $50,000 or more, 3 years from $100,000 and 5 years from $200,000. There are also options through a bank deposit, work, study and business. Egyptian citizenship by investment costs from $250,000. More on the page about Egyptian citizenship.

Culture and leisure

The pyramids of Giza, the Egyptian Museum, Islamic Cairo and the Coptic quarter are within the city. The Grand Egyptian Museum by the pyramids fully opened in November 2025. At weekends people go to El Gouna and Hurghada on the Red Sea, to Alexandria on the Mediterranean and to desert oases. In winter Cairo is one of the most comfortable capitals in the region weather-wise.

Business, schools and healthcare

A foreigner can fully own an Egyptian company in most sectors, and companies are registered by the General Authority for Investment and Free Zones through a one-stop shop. Free zones offer customs and tax benefits for exporters. The share of foreigners on a company's staff is limited by labour law, so hiring foreign employees requires work permits.

International schools with British, American and German curricula are concentrated in Maadi, New Cairo and the western suburbs and are expensive by local standards. Private hospitals in Cairo are of good quality and inexpensive compared with Europe; foreigners usually use them with private insurance.

Is Cairo worth considering for life

Pros: low living costs, warm winters, a huge market, simple residence through property, history and the sea nearby. Cons: noise, traffic and polluted air, summer heat, bureaucracy and swings in the pound. Cairo works well for an entrepreneur or investor interested in the region and as a winter base, but it takes getting used to a big eastern city. Write in the chat and we will choose a residence option.