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City Profile

El Qarnah, Qena

Egypt · Comprehensive city data and intelligence

Compare El Qarnah Custom Comparison
76
Overall Score

El Qarnah is a historic town located on the west bank of the Nile River in Upper Egypt, directly opposite the modern city of Luxor and near the ancient site of Thebes. Known globally for housing iconic archaeological treasures such as the Valley of the Kings, the Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut, and the Colossi of Memnon, the town's character is deeply intertwined with cultural heritage and tourism. Residents here experience a traditional Upper Egyptian lifestyle blended with the constant influx of international visitors exploring the world-famous Pharaonic necropolis.

About Qena

Qena is a city in Upper Egypt, serving as the capital of the Qena Governorate, known for its blend of ancient history and local culture. The economy is primarily driven by agriculture, with significant production of sugarcane, tomatoes, bananas, sesame, and hibiscus, alongside industries such as pottery, textiles, and an aluminum complex. Living in Qena is considered very inexpensive, with an average cost of living around $439 per month, ranking it among the least expensive cities globally. The climate is a subtropical desert type, characterized by very hot, dry summers with temperatures often exceeding 40°C (104°F) and mild winters, with minimal rainfall throughout the year. The lifestyle is generally low-key, offering an authentic Egyptian experience with bustling markets and local cafes, rather than a vibrant nightlife.

48,000
Population
$3K
Avg Salary
30
Cost Index
76.2
Quality Score
How this 76/100 was calculated five components, with every reading behind them
Component Readings used Points Weight Contributes
Safety Safety score: 80 / 100 80.0 30% 24.0
Affordability Cost of living index (100 = national baseline): 30.0 100.0 25% 25.0
Economy & jobs Median household income: $3,200 Income needed to live here: $2,200 Unemployment rate: 7.2% 58.4 20% 11.7
Growth Population growth rate: 1.8% Job growth rate: 2% 65.0 15% 9.8
Business climate assessment Business climate assessment: 58 / 100 58.0 10% 5.8
Overall score 76.2

Provenance. These figures were produced by the research pass recorded as Tier 3 (deep think) (q=54, partial — below threshold), last refreshed 15 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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Performance

Quality Scores

Business
58
Livability
68
Affordability
90
Growth
62

Expenses

Cost of Living

The cost of living in El Qarnah is significantly lower than the national urban averages of Cairo or Alexandria, making it an affordable place for locals but influenced by tourist-centric pricing in specific hospitality zones. Housing, local produce, and traditional services remain inexpensive, while imported goods and specialized services are harder to come by or incur a premium. Overall, daily expenses are modest, aligning closely with the broader economic realities of Upper Egypt.

Average Rent
$120/mo
Groceries
$90/mo
Transport
$25/mo
Utilities
$35/mo
Healthcare
$40/mo
Gym membership (monthly)
$15.00
Cinema ticket
$3.00
Restaurant meal (mid-range)
$6.00
Monthly groceries
$90.00
Doctor visit (without insurance)
$15.00

Income

Salary Insights

The local economy is overwhelmingly driven by cultural tourism, guiding services, hospitality, and traditional agriculture—particularly sugarcane and date palm cultivation. Artisanal crafts, notably alabaster carving and pottery, also provide vital livelihoods for many families in the area. While formal corporate remote work infrastructure is limited, small businesses thrive on the seasonal tourist trade.

The average salary in El Qarnah is $3,200 per year. You would need approximately $2,200 to live comfortably.

Employment

Top Industries

Tourism & Hospitality +3.50% Local Retail & Services +2.10% Agriculture & Farming +1.20% Public Administration & Education +1.50% Traditional Handicrafts & Alabaster +2.00%

Weather

Climate

🌡️
Avg Temp
☀️
Summer High
❄️
Winter Low
🌧️
"
Annual Rain
💧
40.00%
Humidity
🌤️
Sunny Days

Mobility

Transport

Getting around El Qarnah relies heavily on local microbuses, tuk-tuks, and personal vehicles, supplemented by traditional river ferries crossing the Nile to Luxor. Walkability varies, with dense village centers being pedestrian-friendly, while archaeological sites require motorized transport. Commuting to central Luxor is relatively straightforward via the bridges and ferry crossings.

20 min
Avg Commute
45.00/10
Transit Score
55.00/10
Walkability
Medium
Car Dependency
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At a Glance

Pros & Cons

Advantages
Exceptionally low cost of living compared to Western nations and major global hubs.
Proximity to world-class ancient Egyptian historical landmarks like the Valley of the Kings.
Strong community safety with low rates of violent crime.
Scenic setting on the West Bank of the Nile with dramatic mountain and river views.
Rich cultural heritage supporting vibrant local artisanal markets.
Drawbacks
Limited high-paying formal employment sectors outside of seasonal tourism and agriculture.
Basic local healthcare infrastructure requiring travel to Luxor for specialized medical care.
Very hot summer temperatures exceeding 40°C regularly.
Limited public transit infrastructure, relying heavily on microbuses and river ferries.
Scarcity of modern corporate remote work facilities and high-speed fiber internet in certain zones.

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Community Q&A

Questions about El Qarnah

What people ask about living in and moving to El Qarnah, Qena.

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Gathering the most common questions about El Qarnah…

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

The consumer market basket tracks everyday necessities, including staple grocery items (such as milk, bread, eggs, and produce), residential energy bills (electricity, gas, and water), public and private transit costs, routine outpatient medical care, and standard consumer goods and services to ensure a representative monthly budget.

Even in close geographic proximity, local tax jurisdictions, municipal utility rates, zoning laws, and micro-housing markets can create wide cost discrepancies. For example, a city with strict land-use regulations or higher local sales taxes will typically exhibit elevated housing and consumer goods costs compared to an adjacent county with looser zoning and lower tax burdens.

Even in close geographic proximity, local tax jurisdictions, municipal utility rates, zoning laws, and micro-housing markets can create wide cost discrepancies. For example, a city with strict land-use regulations or higher local sales taxes will typically exhibit elevated housing and consumer goods costs compared to an adjacent county with looser zoning and lower tax burdens.

Local tax climates significantly shift a city's affordability score by directly affecting disposable income. Urblytica factors in state income tax brackets, local municipal property tax millage rates, and combined sales taxes to measure the true tax drag on median household earnings.

Core economic indexes and consumer price metrics undergo a comprehensive quarterly recalibration. This update cycle integrates the latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) releases, municipal utility rate adjustments, and regional housing data feeds to ensure all index comparisons reflect current economic conditions.

Housing is weighted as the single largest component in Urblytica's cost-of-living algorithm, typically accounting for roughly 30% to 35% of the composite score. It incorporates both median monthly gross rent and median single-family home purchase prices relative to local median income levels.

Normalization involves adjusting raw economic inputs against localized purchasing power parities (PPPs) and population-weighted density scales. This ensures fair, apples-to-apples comparisons between dense metropolitan hubs and smaller suburban or rural towns.

Utility indexing applies a rolling annual average that captures seasonal climate variations, such as increased summer air conditioning loads in southern climates or heavier winter heating demands in northern regions, providing a realistic year-round average utility expense.

Remote workers leverage the index to calculate real purchasing power parity when moving from a high-cost-of-living area to a lower-cost region. By comparing index differentials against their fixed salary, users can determine if their net savings and lifestyle quality will improve post-relocation.

While the raw Cost of Living Index measures pure expense levels, it is frequently paired with Urblytica’s local wage index and median household income benchmarks. This combined view highlights whether local salaries keep pace with local consumer goods and housing expenses.

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