They were in London, Dubai, Toronto. Now they live in New Cairo. Here's what they wish they'd known before.
Every month, dozens of English-speaking families land in Cairo. Most arrive underprepared. A few arrive ready — and those ones are rarely alone.
What the expat forums won't tell you
Most advice online dates back to 2019. Prices have doubled or tripled since. The "affordable" compounds now cost twice as much. Administrative procedures have changed.
Here's what nobody writes: the first two months are hard. The dry air gives you headaches. Power cuts in summer hit without warning. And the Abbiya passport office looks exactly as bad as people say.
But here's what families who succeed have in common: they don't do it alone.
The three mistakes everyone makes at first
First mistake**: choosing a compound from Instagram photos. Photos don't show the neighbours, the real finish quality, or the community within 500 metres. Two compounds five kilometres apart can offer radically different experiences.
Second mistake**: arriving without a municipally stamped rental contract. Without it, the New Cairo passport office sends you away. Result: Abbiya. Result: a wasted day.
Third mistake**: underestimating summer electricity bills. USD 150-200 per month with AC running. Not 40.
What it actually costs
A furnished 3-bedroom apartment in a New Cairo compound: USD 700-1,000/month. Add electricity, groceries for a family of 4, and transport — a comfortable family life runs around USD 2,000-2,500/month.
The equivalent in London or Paris costs 3-5x more.
The visa — options nobody explains properly
The e-Visa (USD 25, 30 days) is a starting point, not a solution. There are several ways to legalise a long-term stay in Egypt — including some accessible to most British and American families for a few hundred dollars.
The most common route used by families who relocate gives annual residency for the entire family...