Cairo, Egypt
In Cairo, $10 covers entry to the Cairo Tower observation deck with money left over, a koshary feast for two or three people plus sugarcane juice, or a private felucca sailboat for a sunset hour on the Nile.
Index score 365 (rank 3 of 20) — the full basket totals $13.66, so $10 covers about 73.2% of it.
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The basket
| Item | Cairo | NYC | vs NYC |
|---|---|---|---|
| White bread (500g) | $0.83 | $4.61 | -82% |
| Milk (1L) | $0.96 | $1.44 | -33% |
| Eggs (12) | $1.33 | $5.90 | -77% |
| Bananas (1kg) | $0.79 | $2.10 | -62% |
| Bottled water (1.5L) | $0.23 | $2.50 | -91% |
| Domestic beer (0.5L, store) | $1.51 | $3.21 | -53% |
| Cappuccino (cafe) | $1.83 | $6.09 | -70% |
| White rice (1kg) | $0.75 | $6.64 | -89% |
| Chicken breast (1kg) | $5.13 | $14.41 | -64% |
| Public transit, one-way ticket | $0.30 | $3.00 | -90% |
| Total | $13.66 | $49.90 |
What $10 actually buys here
- Cairo Tower observation deck entry~$6.50
180-degree views over the Nile and the pyramids from the city's iconic 187m tower — a fraction of the Giza pyramid ticket price.
- A koshary feast for 2 to 3 people, plus sugarcane juice~$9.40
Egypt's most beloved comfort food, at a famous spot like Abou Tarek.
- A private felucca sailboat for a sunset hour on the Nile~$9.40
The whole boat, shareable with up to 6 people.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a basic grocery basket cost in Cairo?
$13.66 for a basic grocery basket in Cairo — over $36 cheaper than New York City's $49.90, one of the lowest totals in the Index.
What can $10 buy in Cairo?
A koshary feast for two or three people plus sugarcane juice at a famous spot like Abou Tarek, or a full private felucca sailboat for a sunset hour on the Nile, shareable with up to six people.
Is Cairo cheaper than New York for everyday expenses?
Yes — Cairo's index score of 365 means a dollar goes roughly 3.7 times as far in Cairo as in New York.
How much is bottled water in Cairo?
About $0.23 for 1.5 liters — the cheapest item in Cairo's basket, and less than a tenth of what bottled water costs in New York City ($2.50).
How much is the Cairo Tower observation deck?
About $6.50 for 180-degree views over the Nile and the pyramids — a fraction of the Giza pyramid ticket price.
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Keep exploring
In Mumbai, $10 covers a round-trip ferry to Elephanta Island with cave-temple entry, a full street-food crawl of vada pav and pav bhaji, or a Bollywood movie with popcorn.
In New York City, $10 covers a halal-cart chicken-and-rice platter, three subway or bus rides, or a pay-what-you-wish museum ticket — the baseline this whole index is measured against.
In Hanoi, $10 buys almost six bowls of phở bò on its own, or a cà phê trứng egg coffee plus a water puppet theatre ticket with plenty of change back.
Prices are researched estimates (July 2026), not live data — treat them as illustrative, not exact. See the methodology page for details.