Port Elizabeth vs Aswan
Single · Comfortable · $3,000/mo
Aswan is approximately 154% less expensive than Port Elizabeth based on cost of living including rent. This makes Aswan a more budget-friendly option for expats considering a move.
Aswan has a FIRE Score of 83/100, indicating its suitability for financial independence and early retirement. The city's safety index is 66.62, which is relatively safe.
Recommended profile: Aswan is ideal for GeoArbitragers and remote workers looking to maximize savings.
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Best in rowSouth Africa
Port Elizabeth
Egypt
Aswan
Estimates from published local prices. N/A means no figure is published for that city.
About these cities
About Aswan
Aswan is a cheap place to live, with a cost of living index of 25/100 and 1-bedroom rent in the city center at just $200/mo, so a single adult can get by on a budget tier of $550/mo. The catch is that English proficiency is limited, the expat community is small, and the retiree score of 58/100 and digital nomad score of 60/100 suggest it suits a certain kind of person rather than everyone. If you want a low-cost base with an arid climate and a safety index of 70/100, Aswan delivers, but do not expect a big social scene or fast internet at 25 Mbps.
About Egypt
Political stability of -0.98 and no digital nomad visa rule this out for remote workers wanting a straightforward path. But retirees on tight budgets get a real deal: $338/mo living costs, $147 rent, and no dedicated retirement visa. This is for budget-focused retirees who can handle bureaucratic friction, not remote-work nomads or safety-first movers.
Aswan costs roughly 98% less than Port Elizabeth. Port Elizabeth has significantly faster average internet speeds (54 Mbps vs 25 Mbps). Use our tool below to personalize the estimate based on your income and lifestyle.
Aswan is approximately 154% less expensive than Port Elizabeth based on cost of living including rent. This makes Aswan a more budget-friendly option for expats considering a move.
Aswan has a FIRE Score of 83/100, indicating its suitability for financial independence and early retirement. The city's safety index is 66.62, which is relatively safe.
Recommended profile: Aswan is ideal for GeoArbitragers and remote workers looking to maximize savings.
About Port Elizabeth
Port Elizabeth is a genuinely affordable coastal pick, with a 1-bedroom in the center at $602/mo and a comfortable single lifestyle running $3,200/mo, all against a cost of living index of 48/100. The catch is income: the average monthly net salary of $1,599/mo makes the budget tier at $1,050/mo the realistic landing spot for most locals, not the comfortable one. A safety index of 51/100 and a crime index of 49/100 mean you should choose your neighborhood deliberately, with Humewood and Summerstrand the established expat choices. Retirees on the South Africa Retired Person Visa need $2,050/mo and digital nomads need $2,950/mo, so bring foreign income rather than a local paycheck.
About South Africa
Safety is the dealbreaker: a 25.3 safety index puts South Africa firmly in caution territory, with the advisory level of 2 underscoring that. Retirees on fixed budgets should look past this for the math: $2,050/mo qualifies for the retirement visa, while rent runs under $500/mo in city centers. Low cost, low safety, weigh accordingly.
$2,064/mo
Cost of Living (Without Rent)
Rent Per Month
Attractiveness
City Details
About Aswan
Aswan is a cheap place to live, with a cost of living index of 25/100 and 1-bedroom rent in the city center at just $200/mo, so a single adult can get by on a budget tier of $550/mo. The catch is that English proficiency is limited, the expat community is small, and the retiree score of 58/100 and digital nomad score of 60/100 suggest it suits a certain kind of person rather than everyone. If you want a low-cost base with an arid climate and a safety index of 70/100, Aswan delivers, but do not expect a big social scene or fast internet at 25 Mbps.
About Egypt
Political stability of -0.98 and no digital nomad visa rule this out for remote workers wanting a straightforward path. But retirees on tight budgets get a real deal: $338/mo living costs, $147 rent, and no dedicated retirement visa. This is for budget-focused retirees who can handle bureaucratic friction, not remote-work nomads or safety-first movers.
$2,100/mo
Cost of Living (Without Rent)
Rent Per Month
Attractiveness
City Details
Which visa fits your move?
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| Metric | Port Elizabeth | Aswan |
|---|---|---|
| 1BR Apartment (Center) | $507.1 | $200 |
| 1BR Apartment (Outside) | $383.41 | $150 |
| 3BR Apartment (Center) | $940.62 | $450 |
| 3BR Apartment (Outside) | $918.34 | $300 |
| Safety Index | 21.7 | 66.62 |
| Internet Speed | 54Mbps | 25Mbps |
| Walkability Score | N/A | N/A |
Monthly cost by categoryOne person, computed from each city's own average prices
| Category | Port Elizabeth | Aswan |
|---|---|---|
| Total (rent included) | $940/mo | N/A |
| Excluding rent | $557/mo | N/A |
| Rent | $383/mo | N/A |
| Groceries | $118/mo | N/A |
| Dining out | $108/mo | N/A |
| Entertainment & lifestyle | $93.00/mo | N/A |
| Utilities & connectivity | $202/mo | N/A |
| Transport | $36.00/mo | N/A |
Usage-based estimates from this city's own average prices. A row marked N/A means that city is missing data, so no figure is shown instead of a stale one.
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