What if you were born in Egypt?

If you had grown up in Egypt instead of Pakistan, here is what your money, your home and your day in Cairo could look like.

Try it with my numbers

Pyramids of Giza. Photo: Ricardo Liberato, CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)

Three alternate lives in Egypt

Each person keeps the same place on the income ladder they have in Pakistan. Amounts are per month, after tax, in EGP and in rupees at today’s rate.

Single, starting out

Earns Rs 60,000 a month in Pakistan, on your own.

Take-home in Egypt: EGP 18,800Rs 97,100
Rent (city centre): EGP 5,430
Transport (public transport): EGP 958
Food: EGP 2,710
Saved: EGP 2,820

Family of four

Earns Rs 120,000 a month in Pakistan, as a family of four.

Take-home in Egypt: EGP 43,200Rs 223,000
Rent (suburbs): EGP 11,000
Transport (public transport): EGP 2,200
Food: EGP 7,340
Saved: EGP 6,470

High-earning couple

Earns Rs 300,000 a month in Pakistan, as a couple.

Take-home in Egypt: EGP 70,000Rs 362,000
Rent (city centre): EGP 17,100
Transport (car): EGP 6,550
Food: EGP 8,560
Saved: EGP 19,600

Try it with my own income

A day in Cairo

The family of four above, with one parent working as an engineer.

Morning
You wake up in Cairo, a city of mild winters around 12°C and warm summers around 30°C, and rain is rare.
Commute
You take a bus and a train: about 40 minutes, a bit longer in bad weather.
Work
As an engineer: You spend the morning on site and the afternoon on drawings and calls with suppliers.
Language
You speak Arabic at work; English helps in the big cities.
Lunch
Lunch might be koshari: rice, lentils and pasta topped with spicy tomato sauce and fried onions.
Evening
You get home with EGP 6,470 saved each month. Most neighbourhoods feel safe after dark.
Weekend
Weekends are for the coast and the mountains.

Egypt compared with Pakistan

	Egypt	Pakistan
Prices of everyday things	0.7× Pakistan	1×
Average life expectancy	72 years	68 years
Air pollution (PM2.5)	43 µg/m³	58 µg/m³
Unemployment	6.8%	5.4%
Average temperature, main city	22°C	26°C
Languages	Arabic	Urdu, English, regional languages
Currency	EGP	PKR

Sources: World Bank (price levels, household spending, life expectancy, PM2.5, unemployment), NASA POWER (climate), Dareecha’s daily exchange rates.

Thinking of really moving? See Pakistan vs Egypt, living in Egypt and the visa checker.

Questions

How much would I earn if I was born in Egypt?

It depends on where you are on the ladder. A family earning Rs 120,000 a month in Pakistan, above the national average, would take home around EGP 43,200 a month at the same level in Egypt (about Rs 223,000 at today's rate). Try your own numbers in the simulator.

Is Egypt more expensive than Pakistan?

Everyday prices are about the same as in Pakistan or lower, according to World Bank price levels.

What language would I speak in Egypt?

Mainly Arabic. English is spoken by some people, mostly in cities.

Can I actually move to Egypt?

This page imagines being born there. For a real move, compare costs, safety and jobs on the Pakistan vs Egypt page, and check visa rules in the visa checker.