Essentials
- City
- Alexandria, Alexandria Governorate, Egypt
- Population
- 5,600,000
- Internet Speed
- 35-60 Mbps (WE/Telecom Egypt Fiber), 4G/5G stable on Corniche
- Currency & Banking
- 1 USD ≈ 48.50 EGP, 1 EUR ≈ 52.10 EGP (March 2026 rates)
- Tap Water
- Not drinkable; use bottled water (e.g., Dasani or Baraka, ~10 EGP per 1.5L)
- Power
- 220V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type C/F sockets
- SIM Card
- WE (Telecom Egypt), Vodafone Egypt, Orange; ~250 EGP for 40GB
- Banking for Expats
- CIB (Commercial International Bank), HSBC Egypt, QNB Al Ahli; cash is king but cards used in malls
- Accommodation
- Airbnb, Booking.com, Local Facebook groups (Alexandria Real Estate)
- Cashless Friendly
- Moderate; major hotels and supermarkets accepted, street vendors are cash only
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb (Avg. $35/night), Blue House Apartments in Kafr Abdu
- Budget Accommodation
- Transit Egypt Hotel (Mansheya) - Approx. $20/night
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- El Mansheya and Raml Station (Historical heart, close to Library)
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Kafr Abdu (Upscale, quiet, walkable cafes) and Smouha (Modern infrastructure)
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- Flux Coworking Space (Kafr Abdu) - ~150 EGP/day
- Best Cafe for Work
- Trianon (Raml Station) for history; Brazilian Coffee Stores (Various) for speed
- Networking Events
- Icealex (Innovation Hub nearby the University)
- Social Events for Expats
- Alexandria Expat Meetup Group, events at L'Atelier d'Alexandrie
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Uber, Careem, Indrive (Cheapest/negotiable)
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Not recommended due to traffic; use local 'Velo' enthusiasts for tours
- Best Beach Nearby
- Al-Agamy (Bianchi) or private hotel beaches like Helnan Palestine (Montaza)
- Top Regional Airline
- EgyptAir (Flying from Borg El Arab Airport/HBE)
- Top International Airline
- Turkish Airlines, FlyDubai, Qatar Airways (via HBE)
- Highway Access
- Cairo-Alexandria Desert Road (2.5 hours to Cairo)
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Misr Station (Mahatet Misr) for Cairo trains; Sidi Gaber Station
- Public Transport Passes
- Yellow Trams (~5-10 EGP), Blue Trams (Tourist line, slightly higher)
- Regional Travel
- SuperJet or GoBus (Alexandria to Cairo or North Coast) ~120-300 EGP
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- German Hospital (Sidi Gaber) or Alexandria Medical Center (Smouha)
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Soul Yoga Studio (Kafr Abdu) - ~250 EGP per class
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- Gold's Gym (Loran and Smouha branches)
- Laundry Services
- Local 'Kwag' shops (Dry cleaners) found on every side street; ~50 EGP per shirt
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- Talabat, ElMenus
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Sayadeya (Fisherman's Rice) at Fish Market or Kebda Iskandarani (Liver)
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- Koshary El Tahrir (Vegan staple), L'Amandine (French/Fusion)
- Best Dessert Spots
- El Sheikh Wafik (Roz Bel Laban), Delices (Historical bakery)
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Al Attarine Market, Fathallah Market
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Amazon.eg, Noon.com
- Grocery Delivery
- Rabbit App (20-min delivery), Instashop
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Spitfire (Classic bar, Downtown), sky bars in hotels (Cecil Hotel)
- Local Brewery
- Stella and Sakara (Available at 'Drinkies' outlets)
- Wine Bars
- Calithea (Sea view, Greek vibes)
- Street Food Stalls
- Kebda El Fallah (Mahatet El Raml)
- Popular International Cuisine
- White and Blue (Greek-influenced seafood), Carlo's (Loran)
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Bibliotheca Alexandrina, Citadel of Qaitbay
- Museums & Art Venues
- Alexandria National Museum, Royal Jewelry Museum
- Historical Sites
- Pompey's Pillar, Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa
- Religious Sites
- Abu al-Abbas al-Mursi Mosque, St. Mark's Coptic Orthodox Cathedral
- Annual Events
- Bibliotheca Alexandrina Summer Festival (July/August)
- Cultural Districts
- L'Atelier d'Alexandrie (Artistic center)
- Theater Venues
- Alexandria Opera House (Sayed Darwish Theatre)
- Local Markets
- Zanqet El-Sattat (The ladies' crush market)
- Music Scene
- Jazz nights at the Jesuit Cultural Center
- Street Art
- Murals on the walls of Fouad Street
- Cooking Classes
- Available through 'Bellies in Babylon' food tours
- Art Galleries
- B'art Gallery (Kafr Abdu)
- Historic Buildings
- Steigenberger Cecil Hotel, Palace of Montaza
- Local Heritage
- The 'Alexandrian Personality' - cosmopolitan, sea-focussed Hellenic-Egyptian mix
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Montaza Palace Gardens (Expansive royal parks)
- National Parks Nearby
- Wadi El Natrun (1.5 hours away, desert monasteries and lakes)
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- The Corniche (8km walk from Qaitbay to Montaza)
- Scenic Viewpoints
- San Giovanni Stanley Bridge views at sunset
- Birdwatching Locations
- Lake Mariout (Seasonal migration)
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Remote North Coast beaches (Sidi Abdel Rahman, 1.5 hours away)
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- Aramex, DHL Alexandria (Kafr Abdu Branch)
- Tech Repair Services
- Souq El-Komy (Mansheya) for hardware/laptops
- Table Tennis Spots
- Smouha Sporting Club (Requires guest entry)
- Language Classes
- French Cultural Institute (Institut Français d'Egypte)
- Libraries & Study Spots
- The Great Library of Alexandria (BA) - specific study rooms for researchers
- Community Centers
- Jesuit Cultural Center (Sidi Gaber)
- Gaming Lounges
- Rush Gaming Hall (Smouha)
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Restricted mostly to high-end hotels for foreigners only; Caesars Casino (Cecil Hotel)
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. EGP 45,000 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = EGP 1,800,000 / $37,000)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. EGP 25,000 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = EGP 1,000,000 / $20,600)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. EGP 42,000 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = EGP 2,520,000 / $52,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. EGP 22,000 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = EGP 1,320,000 / $27,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. EGP 40,000 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = EGP 3,200,000 / $66,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. EGP 20,000 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = EGP 1,600,000 / $33,000)
- Corporate Tax
- 22.5% standard rate
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 5-10% depending on listing status
- Tax System
- Territorial/Residency based; tax on Egyptian source income for residents
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 27.5% for income over EGP 1.2M annually
- VAT
- 14% standard rate
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Limited; primarily focused on residency status
- Property Tax
- Real Estate Tax applies (10% of annual rental value minus maintenance)
- Property Transaction Tax
- 2.5% real estate disposal tax
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- No specific nomad visa yet; residents taxed on global income, tourists/non-residents not taxed on foreign income