City Profile
Shubra El Kheima, Qalyubia
Egypt · Comprehensive city data and intelligence
Shubra El Kheima is a densely populated industrial city located immediately north of Cairo in the Qalyubia Governorate of Egypt. As the fourth-largest city in the country, it serves as a critical manufacturing and residential extension of the Greater Cairo metropolitan area. Historically rooted in agriculture, the city transformed during the 20th century into a major hub for Egyptian industry, drawing hundreds of thousands of workers from rural regions. Today, it is characterized by its bustling urban energy, working-class neighborhoods, and vital role in the national industrial economy.
Qalyubia, a densely populated governorate in Lower Egypt, sits north of Cairo at the apex of the Nile Delta, making it a crucial link between Lower Egypt and the administrative division. Its economy is heavily reliant on agriculture, with extensive cultivation of crops like maize, cotton, wheat, and various fruits and vegetables, serving as a major provider to Cairo's markets. The region also boasts a significant industrial sector, particularly in Shubra El Kheima, featuring factories for metal products, food processing, oil refining, vehicle manufacturing, plastics, electrical appliances, spinning, weaving, and chemical industries. Qalyubia experiences a subtropical desert climate with hot, arid, and humid summers and cool, dry, mostly clear winters; the cost of living is generally considered low compared to global averages, though specific figures for Qalyubia itself are limited, with overall Egyptian costs being budget-friendly. Lifestyle in Qalyubia offers an authentic Egyptian experience, often less touristy and more local.
How this 72/100 was calculated five components, with every reading behind them
| Component | Readings used | Points | Weight | Contributes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Safety | Safety score: 68 / 100 | 68.0 | 30% | 20.4 |
| Affordability | Cost of living index (100 = national baseline): 28.0 | 100.0 | 25% | 25.0 |
| Economy & jobs | Median household income: $4,100 Income needed to live here: $3,000 Unemployment rate: 7.2% | 52.9 | 20% | 10.6 |
| Growth | Population growth rate: 1.8% Job growth rate: 2.2% | 67.0 | 15% | 10.1 |
| Business climate assessment | Business climate assessment: 62 / 100 | 62.0 | 10% | 6.2 |
| Overall score | 72.2 | |||
Provenance.
These figures were produced by the research pass recorded as
Tier 3 (deep think) (q=54, partial — below threshold), last refreshed
16 October 2026.
They are researched estimates drawn from public sources, not a licensed data feed.
Each component is scored against fixed published endpoints, so this number is comparable with any other city and does not move as the dataset grows. Scoring framework 2026.10 — full methodology, weights and accepted ranges.
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Cost of Living
The cost of living in Shubra El Kheima is significantly lower than Western standards, aligning closely with Egypt's broader economic conditions and national income averages. Everyday expenses such as local produce, public transportation, and neighborhood market goods remain highly affordable for residents earning in local currency. Housing and utility costs are also modest, though inflation and currency fluctuations in recent years have increased financial pressures on households. Overall, the city offers an economical urban lifestyle compared to upscale districts in central Cairo.
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The local economy is heavily anchored by manufacturing, particularly textiles, chemicals, electrical equipment, and metal products established along the Nile and major transport corridors. Many residents are employed in factory operations, small-scale commerce, logistics, and public sector administration within Greater Cairo. While formal corporate remote work is less common here, the informal economy and micro-enterprises support a vast portion of the local workforce. Industrial growth continues to provide steady blue-collar employment opportunities, though upward mobility often requires commuting to central Cairo.
The average salary in Shubra El Kheima is $3,400 per year. You would need approximately $3,000 to live comfortably.
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Transportation is a defining feature of daily life, anchored by the northern terminus of the Cairo Metro Line 2, which links residents directly to downtown Cairo and Giza. An extensive network of microbuses, local buses, and taxis facilitates movement within Qalyubia and across the metropolitan area. Traffic congestion is a persistent challenge during peak commuting hours, particularly along major arteries like the Cairo-Alexandria Agricultural Road. Walkability varies by neighborhood, with older areas featuring narrow, crowded streets while newer main roads accommodate heavier vehicular traffic.
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