Rafah vs Qalyub: Which City Wins for Expats in 2026?
Qalyub ranks meaningfully higher on safety. Use our tool below to personalize the estimate based on your income and lifestyle.
Qalyub is approximately 128% less expensive than Rafah based on cost of living including rent. This makes Qalyub a more budget-friendly option for expats considering a move.
Qalyub has a FIRE Score of N/A/100, indicating its suitability for financial independence and early retirement. The city's safety index is 50, suggesting moderate safety levels.
Recommended profile: Qalyub is best suited for digital nomads who prioritize experience over savings.
About Rafah
Rafah is dirt cheap, with a 1-bedroom in the center at $109/mo and a budget tier that runs $141/mo, but you get what you pay for. A safety index of 30/100 and a crime index of 70/100 make this a hard sell for anyone who values peace of mind, and an expat score of 34/100 with no expat community confirms you would be on your own. Add poor healthcare, limited English, 5 Mbps internet, and an air quality index of 78, and Rafah is a place to save money, not to build a life.
About Egypt
Political stability of -0.98 and no digital nomad visa rule this out for remote workers wanting a straightforward path. But retirees on tight budgets get a real deal: $338/mo living costs, $147 rent, and no dedicated retirement visa. This is for budget-focused retirees who can handle bureaucratic friction, not remote-work nomads or safety-first movers.
$2,801/mo
Cost of Living (Without Rent)
Rent Per Month
Attractiveness
City Details
About Qalyub
Qalyub is a cheap place to live, with a one-bedroom in the city center at $48/mo and a three-bedroom outside the center at $67/mo, but an overall expat score of 48/100 and a digital nomad score of 43/100 tell you the trade-offs are real. The air quality index of 78 and limited English proficiency will wear on you, and the very few expats mean you are largely on your own. Come for the $144/mo budget tier and the 19 km hop to CAI, not for comfort or company.
About Egypt
Political stability of -0.98 and no digital nomad visa rule this out for remote workers wanting a straightforward path. But retirees on tight budgets get a real deal: $338/mo living costs, $147 rent, and no dedicated retirement visa. This is for budget-focused retirees who can handle bureaucratic friction, not remote-work nomads or safety-first movers.
$2,789/mo
Cost of Living (Without Rent)
Rent Per Month
Attractiveness
City Details
Battle of Lifestyles
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| Metric | Rafah | Qalyub |
|---|---|---|
| 1BR Apartment (Center) | $109.01 | $47.71 |
| 1BR Apartment (Outside) | $77.87 | $38.17 |
| 3BR Apartment (Center) | N/A | $76.34 |
| 3BR Apartment (Outside) | N/A | $66.8 |
| Safety Index | 30 | 50 |
| Internet Speed | 5Mbps | 25Mbps |
| Walkability Score | N/A | N/A |
Monthly cost by categoryOne person, computed from each city's own average prices
| Category | Rafah | Qalyub |
|---|---|---|
| Total (rent included) | $215/mo | $229/mo |
| Excluding rent | $137/mo | $191/mo |
| Rent | $78.00/mo | $38.00/mo |
| Groceries | $73.00/mo | $86.00/mo |
| Dining out | $19.00/mo | $43.00/mo |
| Entertainment & lifestyle | $30.00/mo | $27.00/mo |
| Utilities & connectivity | $15.00/mo | $35.00/mo |
| Transport | N/A | N/A |
Usage-based estimates from this city's own average prices. A row marked N/A means that city is missing data, so no figure is shown instead of a stale one.
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