As an indicative guide, a comfortable retirement in Egypt costs roughly £1,050/month for a couple — about £12,600/year (≈ E£71,400/month). A modest budget is nearer £650; a premium one nearer £1,800.
Roughly where a comfortable £1,050/month goes:
Indicative estimates for a couple, general guidance only — real costs vary by location, lifestyle and exchange rates.
Ancient history, warm Red Sea resorts and some of the lowest living costs of any retirement destination make Egypt appealing, especially in expat-friendly hubs like Hurghada, El Gouna and the North Coast.
Foreigners can generally own residential property freehold across most of Egypt, subject to a limit of two properties, each up to 4,000 square metres. Agricultural land and some sensitive border areas are restricted, and the Sinai Peninsula is usually leasehold (usufruct) only. Formally registering title is important and best handled with a lawyer. As a general guide only — always confirm the current rules with a qualified local lawyer. Our free ownership checker and the Overseas Property Playbook walk through how ownership works step by step.
Egypt offers renewable residence permits linked to property ownership, with the permit length scaling to the value invested, plus long-stay options for older applicants; the property-based permit typically renews annually. Visa rules change often, so treat this as a starting point and verify the latest requirements before you plan.
Cairo's leafy Maadi for a long-established expat community, purpose-built El Gouna for a polished Red Sea resort town, Hurghada for affordable seaside living, and Sharm el-Sheikh for diving and sun.
Expats use private hospitals in Cairo, such as the JCI-accredited As-Salam in Maadi and the Saudi German Hospital, and in Red Sea resorts like El Gouna, Hurghada and Sharm el-Sheikh, where English is spoken and care is good value, with serious cases gravitating to Cairo. Most foreigners pay out of pocket or hold private insurance.
Egypt taxes residents on worldwide income in principle, but pensions are specifically exempt from income tax, so a foreign pension is generally not taxed. Confirm your own position, as rules and enforcement can change.
Hot and dry, with very warm summers (Cairo often above 35C, the Red Sea hotter) and mild sunny winters that are the peak season. Autumn and spring are comfortable, though Cairo's air can be dusty and polluted. Tourist and expat areas are generally safe and used to foreigners, English is widely spoken there, and driving is on the right; traffic is chaotic and some regions are best avoided, so retirees stick to established areas.
One-off buying costs are relatively low at roughly 3-5% including registration and fees, with a 2.5% transfer tax usually the seller's; note that property registration can be slow and bureaucratic, so use a good local lawyer.
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