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City Profile

Sharm El Sheikh, South Sinai

Egypt · Comprehensive city data and intelligence

Custom Comparison
82
Overall Score

Sharm El Sheikh is a world-renowned resort city situated on the coastal strip of the Sinai Peninsula along the Red Sea in South Sinai, Egypt. Historically a small fishing village, it has transformed into a premier global destination for scuba diving, international diplomacy, and luxury tourism. The city is celebrated for its stunning coral reefs, year-round warm climate, and strategic location at the southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula. People are drawn to Sharm El Sheikh for its vibrant resort lifestyle, stunning natural landscapes, and unique blend of Bedouin culture and modern resort amenities.

About South Sinai

South Sinai, Egypt, is characterized by its striking desert mountains meeting the Red Sea, offering both profound tranquility and adventure opportunities. The economy is heavily reliant on tourism, particularly in areas like Sharm El Sheikh, which is a hub for diving, snorkeling, and resort stays, though petroleum and mining also contribute. Living costs in South Sinai, particularly in Sharm El Sheikh, are generally considered inexpensive compared to many Western countries, with a single person's monthly expenses (excluding rent) estimated around $313. The climate is subtropical desert, featuring very mild, clear-sky winters and intensely hot, dry summers with minimal rainfall. The lifestyle often revolves around the tourism industry and outdoor activities, with a mix of indigenous Bedouin communities and expatriates drawn to the warm climate and lower cost of living.

73,000
Population
$4K
Avg Salary
42
Cost Index
81.8
Quality Score
How this 82/100 was calculated five components, with every reading behind them
Component Readings used Points Weight Contributes
Safety Safety score: 82 / 100 82.0 30% 24.6
Affordability Cost of living index (100 = national baseline): 42.0 100.0 25% 25.0
Economy & jobs Median household income: $4,800 Income needed to live here: $3,600 Unemployment rate: 5.2% 63.3 20% 12.7
Growth Population growth rate: 2.4% Job growth rate: 3.1% 83.5 15% 12.5
Business climate assessment Business climate assessment: 70 / 100 70.0 10% 7.0
Overall score 81.8

Provenance. These figures were produced by the research pass recorded as Tier 1 (fast) (q=52, partial — below threshold), last refreshed 17 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
70
Livability
79
Affordability
75
Growth
73

Expenses

Cost of Living

The cost of living in Sharm El Sheikh is relatively affordable compared to major Western metropolitan areas and many European resort cities, though it tends to be higher than inland Egyptian cities due to its status as a premier tourist hub. Imported goods, upscale dining, and resort-style amenities drive up expenses, while local produce, public transportation, and street food remain very budget-friendly. Housing costs vary significantly depending on whether you choose to live in local neighborhoods like El Tur or Hadaba versus high-end gated communities in Naama Bay or Sharks Bay.

Average Rent
$450/mo
Groceries
$250/mo
Transport
$60/mo
Utilities
$90/mo
Healthcare
$80/mo
Gym membership (monthly)
$30.00
Cinema ticket
$6.00
Restaurant meal (mid-range)
$12.00
Monthly groceries
$200.00
Doctor visit (without insurance)
$30.00

Income

Salary Insights

The economy of Sharm El Sheikh is overwhelmingly driven by the tourism, hospitality, and leisure sectors, supported by extensive international and domestic visitors. Major employers include luxury hotel chains, diving centers, tour operators, and entertainment complexes. In recent years, the city has also positioned itself as a major hub for international conferences and summits, boosting its business tourism sector. While traditional 9-to-5 corporate remote work is less common locally, the growing digital nomad community is finding appeal in the city's scenic backdrop and hospitality infrastructure.

The average salary in Sharm El Sheikh is $4,200 per year. You would need approximately $3,600 to live comfortably.

Employment

Top Industries

Construction +4.00% Hospitality +3.00% Tourism +3.50% Public Administration +1.50% Recreational Services +2.80%

Weather

Climate

🌡️
27°C
Avg Temp
☀️
40°C
Summer High
❄️
14°C
Winter Low
🌧️
0.40"
Annual Rain
💧
48.00%
Humidity
🌤️
363
Sunny Days

Mobility

Transport

Getting around Sharm El Sheikh primarily relies on taxis, microbuses, and private vehicles, as traditional fixed-route urban transit networks are limited. Taxis and ride-hailing apps are widely available and relatively inexpensive for navigating between the city's distinct bays and districts. Walkability is high within specific resort hubs like Naama Bay and Soho Square, but overall city design and expansive distances between neighborhoods make owning a car or relying on taxis necessary for daily commuting.

18 min
Avg Commute
40.00/10
Transit Score
52.00/10
Walkability
Medium
Car Dependency
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At a Glance

Pros & Cons

Advantages
World-class diving and snorkeling access directly along the Red Sea coral reef ecosystem
Exceptional year-round sunshine with 363 sunny days annually per climate records
Enhanced security infrastructure providing a safe environment for residents and tourists
Vibrant international community with a wide selection of global dining and entertainment
Favorable cost of living and housing options relative to major European coastal resorts
Drawbacks
Extreme summer temperatures reaching a high of 103.5°F can limit outdoor daytime activities
Local economy heavily dependent on tourism fluctuations and geopolitical events
Limited public mass transit network requiring reliance on taxis or private vehicles
Higher prices for imported goods and utilities compared to mainland Egyptian cities
Scarce local freshwater resources requiring reliance on desalination infrastructure

Explore

Nearby Cities

Taba
77
Ras Sidr
76
St. Catherine Monastery Area
68
Taba Heights
78

Community Q&A

Questions about Sharm El Sheikh

What people ask about living in and moving to Sharm El Sheikh, South Sinai.

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Gathering the most common questions about Sharm El Sheikh…

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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