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Marsa Alam, Suez

Egypt · Comprehensive city data and intelligence

85
Overall Score

Marsa Alam is a rapidly growing resort town situated on the western coast of the Red Sea in Egypt. Historically a small fishing village, it has transformed over recent decades into a world-class destination for scuba diving, kitesurfing, and eco-tourism. The town's character is defined by its pristine coral reefs, relaxed desert-meets-sea atmosphere, and increasing popularity among European expatriates and tourists.

About Suez

Suez, Egypt, is a major port city situated at the southern terminus of the Suez Canal, a critical global trade artery connecting the Mediterranean and Red Seas. Its economy is heavily reliant on maritime trade, with major industries including petroleum refining, petrochemicals, and the operation of canal workshops, alongside growing sectors like green energy, pharmaceuticals, and electronics within the Suez Canal Economic Zone. The cost of living in Suez is relatively low, with an average monthly cost for a single person around $507, excluding rent, and a generally warm, arid climate. The lifestyle is influenced by its industrial and trade focus, offering a unique blend of historical significance and modern economic development.

15,000
Population
$4K
Avg Salary
35
Cost Index
85.5
Quality Score
How this 86/100 was calculated five components, with every reading behind them
Component Readings used Points Weight Contributes
Safety Safety score: 85 / 100 85.0 30% 25.5
Affordability Cost of living index (100 = national baseline): 35.0 100.0 25% 25.0
Economy & jobs Median household income: $5,500 Income needed to live here: $3,600 Unemployment rate: 6.5% 67.4 20% 13.5
Growth Population growth rate: 3.2% Job growth rate: 4.1% 100.0 15% 15.0
Business climate assessment Business climate assessment: 65 / 100 65.0 10% 6.5
Overall score 85.5

Provenance. These figures were produced by the research pass recorded as Tier 1 (fast) (q=52, partial — below threshold), last refreshed 16 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.

Businesses in Marsa Alam

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Quality Scores

Business
65
Livability
76
Affordability
82
Growth
73

Cost of Living

Living in Marsa Alam is relatively affordable compared to major Western standards, though certain imported goods and resort-town amenities carry a premium. Housing costs for rentals and utilities are significantly lower than national averages in larger metropolitan hubs like Cairo, making it an attractive option for remote workers and retirees. Daily expenses such as local produce, dining out, and basic services remain very budget-friendly.

Average Rent
$450/mo
Groceries
$250/mo
Transport
$80/mo
Utilities
$90/mo
Healthcare
$120/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

Salary Insights

The local economy of Marsa Alam is overwhelmingly driven by the tourism, hospitality, and marine recreation sectors. Major employers include international resort chains, diving centers, and eco-lodges operating along the Red Sea Riviera. While traditional corporate or tech remote work infrastructure is still developing, the growth of tourism-adjacent services creates continuous seasonal employment opportunities.

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

Top Industries

Tourism and Hospitality +4.50% Real Estate and Construction +5.20% Transportation and Logistics +3.00% Fishing and Seafood +1.50% Scuba Diving and Marine Recreation +4.00%

Climate

🌡️
27°C
Avg Temp
☀️
36°C
Summer High
❄️
17°C
Winter Low
🌧️
1.10"
Annual Rain
💧
45.00%
Humidity
🌤️
363
Sunny Days

Transport

Transportation in Marsa Alam relies heavily on private cars, taxis, and minibuses connecting the coastal resorts to the town center and Marsa Alam International Airport. Public transit is limited, and walkability varies depending on whether you reside within a self-contained resort community or the main town. Driving is straightforward due to uncrowded coastal highways, though longer trips to major cities require significant travel time.

20 min
Avg Commute
35.00/10
Transit Score
50.00/10
Walkability
High
Car Dependency

Pros & Cons

Advantages
Year-round warm climate with an average temperature of 80.1°F and 363 sunny days per year per Open-Meteo data.
Proximity to world-class Red Sea coral reefs, diving sites, and pristine untouched beaches.
Lower cost of living and affordable housing compared to major Western countries and capital cities.
Very high safety profile with low crime rates and a secure community environment.
Growing popularity as an eco-tourism hub, offering unique opportunities for outdoor enthusiasts and marine professionals.
Drawbacks
Extreme summer high temperatures reaching up to 96.9°F per climate records.
Extremely arid climate with only 1.1 inches of annual rainfall, limiting local agriculture and green spaces.
Limited public transportation infrastructure, increasing reliance on private vehicles and taxis.
Heavy dependence on the tourism industry can lead to seasonal economic fluctuations.
Specialized or advanced healthcare services require travel outside the city to larger hubs like Hurghada or Cairo.

Questions about Marsa Alam

What people ask about living in and moving to Marsa Alam, Suez.

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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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