Job Discussion Forums

[Jim Bigelow]

Greetings all!

Looking at locations in Egypt and someone mentioned to me Mokattam city. It's meant to be a little further out from the main city but as a result the rent is allot cheaper.

Do you have any info on this area and how much the rent for a 2-3 bedroom apartment would be. What about Villa's?

Any info would be very appreciated!

Thanks

[sallyally]

Hi

There's an opinion about Mokattam at this link
http://www.egyptsearch.com/forums/Forum2/HTML/002843.html

I was teaching in Cairo a couple of years ago and drove up to Mokattam a couple of times. From my perspective, it seemed fairly isolated-apartment buildings, schools, mosques, small shops-not much else. But, that was a while ago. Could be very, very different now.

I seem to recall that Zahra El-Maadi (probably spelled incorrectly) was a good place to buy or rent an apartment for very little. And, it was right next to the 'highway' and Maadi/Degla. Hopefully someone else has some info.

[Jim Bigelow]

Thanks Sallyally,

Thanks allot!

I'm also looking at the area 'EL Rehab', some people have said that it's a really nice place that's a bit like a big compound, not far from Heliopolis...any info?

Actually the link you gave me is where I was getting my info from!

Many thanks again!

[theycallmesusie1974]

Actually it depends....will you have a car, will you be driving?

El Rehab is nice.....but closeness is depending on transportation, and where you would be working.

Usually the best idea for Egypt is to come here, and stay with a friend, or if you are well to do, stay in a hotel, and explore, explore.

Decide what you like in person, and what apartment you like in person.

Your price could really vary depending on how you get the flat (simsar/broker), or in person. You can find flats of all different rents in most areas (except Digla and Katameya Heights maybe).

I would come and find a flat then....in person in the middle east is how most things work here.

BTW, I just saw some flats out near Katameya Heights, and they were nice, but you needed a car.

Also, other things to think about are schools for kids, access to supermarkets (Carfour is not too terribly far from Rehab and is a mall/super k of egypt), and access to the souk (fresh fruits and veggies).

Prices for an american type flat range from 750 Egyptian pounds up, depending on the flat (probably looking at the 1000-2000 range), and are usually furnished (whether you like their furniture style or not), either sparsely or too much.

I would definitely buy the Cairo Guide (look at amazon), the one with maps.

HTH a little,

Susie

[sarina]

This place is far, far from any schools, so it would be counterproductive to go there - you'd spend more than the money saved on transport to work and shops. Your wife and children would be very isolated unless you have a car (driving in Cairo is a nightmare and cars quite expensive-massive duty), public transport difficult/close to impossible for foreign women - the buses overcrowded and the minibuses complete death traps. This is not a good option. Villas are completely out of the question for a foreign teacher - they go for about 4000 (yes thousand!) US a month and are mostly only rented to oil companies. Zahraa El Maadi is an option - you could probably get a 3 bedroom furnished apartment for about 1500 LE. With a wife and family you can't really " go native" here - the chidren need to attend school (and these schools are not in the cheaper areas) and the traffic problems so acute here that you need to live close to your work.

[Jim Bigelow]

Dear Sarina,

Thanks for your input,

Which area are you talking about in your post? ElRehab or Mokkatam?
As for us then schools are not an issue as we home school.

I only plan to stay in Egypt for a year to complete my masters via distance and I plan to take just about enough money for rent etc for my saty. Therfore work will not be such an issue although I would like to keep myself in the classroom but more for the MA than the LE or $!

I really just want a nice,quiet,clean area. I'd really like something with a garden. I'm not at all bothered being around other expats and feel more at home amongst the locals......

I have a budget I guess of around max.2500LE per month and I'm now more confused than ever.....WHERE SHALL I GO??? Cairo/Alex/ WHERE?

Many thanks!

[sarina]

El Rehab is very nice , as is Kattamaya Heights - but again, without sounding pessimistic- these are way, way out of range for EFL teachers just earning Egyptian pounds. Both areas are targeted to the "newly rich" Cairenos - the posting suggesting Zahraa El Maadi is the most helpful _(I've lived in Maadi for four years so I know the area well - another option that could be a little cheaper is the more "baladi" end of Maadi - Hadeyak El Maadi - I've seen some reasonable flats there - but be prepared in these places for the plumbing and kitchens to be fairly prehistoric.

[Jim Bigelow]

Ok....Thanks Sarina,

So it looks like I'm narrowing it down slowly,
El Rehab looks off the list due to price...maybe it's better if I list what I'm looking for and then maybe some of you can pin point a good choice.

1) within budget of 2500LE per month
2) 2-3 Bedroom. Doesn't need to be new but needs to be CLEAN pref. with garden!
3) A nice area for a practising Muslims to live
4) Nice to have at least some supermarkets to by western goods etc
5) Some decent Medical facilities nearby

Where would you suggest?

Many thanks as always!

[sarina]

Having a garden in Cairo is very difficult - there is even a suburb (where the British Embassy is in fact) called "Garden City" - a misnomer if I ever saw one. Maadi has the most greenery of the older suburbs - but it would be very difficult find a flat with a garden - the building is very dense. Perhaps if you are home schooling you don't need to worry about proximity to schools - so you could look at Faisal (near the Pyramids - much cheaper, and I had a friend renting a small place above a horse riding centre with a garden, or Giza.
You need to think about "socialisation" for your children too. Cairo has very little facilities for sports for children - the concept of urban planning is limited here in the older areas, and the class system very distinct. Many children play in the street - very dangerous, as there are no facilities. Membership to clubs becomes very important, but without sponsership of a company, prohibitively expensive - thousands of $US to even join.
To me, Egypt is not the best prospect for work as an English teacher with a family to support in the region - the exchange rate is really scary.
Have you looked in the Gulf - Sharjah, Dubai?

[Jim Bigelow]

Hi Sarina,

My reason for coming to Egypt is not to work, it's to take a year out in a cheap country so I can complete my MA, it's much cheaper than bringing everybody back to England.

I lived in Morocco for 2 years so I think I have an idea of how life will be and your comment about the kids playing in the streets brought my memories of Morocco flooding back!

I really don't mind if it's Cairo,Alex or anywhere else. I just need it to fit the criteria that I mentioned in my earlier post!

Any thoughts?

[Jim Bigelow]

Shame Mokattam seems so remote because some of these places seem really nice and cheap!

http://www.e-dar.com/cgi-bin/newedar/newedarasp.pl

[sarina]

I've been looking at that link on "Where to live in Egypt" and I'm quite shocked at some of the misinformation there. Some of the poeple writing are giving (perhaps unintentionally) misleading info. Particularly about the cost of flats,prices and exchange rates.
My husband, who is Egyptian, has been reading these entries and asked me to say on his behalf, that some Egyptians may be writing from a sense of trying to present a good picture of Egypt - a sort of national pride - but this could have difficult consequences for you and your family if you don't read between the lines. Yes, it is a good country, and yes , some lovely people, but as a foreigner without sponsorship, a tricky and expensive country to live in. Daily life is frustrating, paperwork an Orwellian doublespeak nightmare - if you are planning just for a year - OK- to finish the masters- but don't expect a smooth sabbatical type year - it's a difficult country to live in and get around in. I know you've lived in the KSA so are used to the mode of life I'm talking about - but Cairo is a snarling, overcrowded city on top of that - which makes it that much harder.
I would suggest coming for a vacation first, to see first hand these places - check out the prices (remember that as a foreigner there is a double economy here - a higher price for you than the locals- in everything) and then make the decision to move.

[veiledsentiments]

Jim,

As I read this thread, a thought that came to me is that you also need to keep internet access in mind. Many of the cheaper flats may not have good telephone lines?? Most of my old flats had hard wired phones and it could be very difficult to get them updated to be able to connect your modem. Just thinking out loud here ---

You mentioned living in Morocco in the past. Would this not be another option of a country to hang out for a year to do the MA? or is it 'been there, done that--'

VS

[Jim Bigelow]

Thanks VS,

Seems as I get closer that internet access is much more common nowadays so shouldn't be too much of a problem.

As for Morocco then I'd love to go back to Morocco but the visa issue is not as simple as Egypt. In Egypt it's pretty easy to get a 12 month extended tourist visa where as in Morocco you have to extend every 3 months and they have become quite unpredictable....

Thanks.

[veiledsentiments]

Hi Jim,

With the newer flats there is likely no problem, but in your price range -- you just can't imagine the phone wiring system that you will find in some of the buildings built before 1990 or so -- scary stuff. And this is in the ritzy expensive neighborhoods. Plus many rental flats still have shared telephone lines. In my last flat, I was on the same line with my landlord - and though my employer would have provided free access, he wouldn't allow me to tie up 'his' phone. I never thought to ask before I moved in.

VS