Egypt captivates travelers with its ancient pyramids, majestic Nile River, and vibrant culture spanning over 5,000 years. From the iconic Sphinx and Valley of the Kings to bustling Cairo bazaars and Red Sea coral reefs, Egypt offers an unforgettable journey through history and natural beauty.
Local currency: Egyptian Pound (EGP).
Daily budget by traveller style
Typical per-person daily spend in Egypt.
Cost breakdown
Typical price ranges across major spending categories.
Accommodation
- Hostel
- $10-20
- Budget
- $30-55
- Midrange
- $80-150
- Luxury
- $250+
Food
- Street
- $1-3 (koshari, ful, ta'ameya)
- Local
- $8-15 (sit-down Egyptian restaurant)
- Midrange
- $20-40 (upscale local or tourist restaurant)
- Fine
- $60+
Transport
- Metro
- $0.30
- Taxi
- $3-8 (Uber Cairo short trip)
- Airport
- $10-20 (Uber from Cairo Airport)
- Daytrip
- $20-40 (organized day tour)
Activities
- Museum
- $7-15
- Sites
- $10-15 (Karnak, Valley of Kings)
- Tour
- $40-80 (guided day tour)
- Excursion
- $100-150 (Nile cruise day or Abu Simbel flight)
Trip budgets by length
What a typical trip to Egypt costs end-to-end.
Budget traveller
$175-245/week
Midrange traveller
$420-700/week
Luxury traveller
$1,400-2,800+/week
Money-saving tips
Practical ways to stretch your budget further.
Travel mid-October to November or late February to March for shoulder-season prices 20-30% lower than peak
Egyptian National Railways first-class sleeper trains between Cairo and Luxor ($30-50) are far cheaper than flights and include accommodation
Eat where locals eat — koshari, ful, and ta'ameya meals cost $1-3 at local shops compared to $8-15 at tourist restaurants
Negotiate all taxi and felucca fares before you board; use Uber/Careem to get fair prices automatically
Many site tickets cover multiple attractions — the Luxor pass ($100) is excellent value if visiting 5+ West and East Bank sites
Free things to do
Memorable experiences that cost nothing.
Giza Plateau Exterior
Walking around the exterior of the Giza Plateau and photographing the pyramids from the public road is free — only the interior of the complex requires a ticket.
Khan el-Khalili Exploration
Wandering the medieval alleyways of Khan el-Khalili bazaar, visiting El-Fishawy coffeehouse, and exploring Islamic Cairo's architecture costs nothing.
Al-Azhar Mosque Visit
Non-Muslims are welcome to visit Al-Azhar Mosque's exterior courtyard and halls outside prayer times, free of charge.
Corniche Walks (Nile)
The Nile Corniche in Cairo, Luxor, and Aswan offers wonderful free riverside walking with boat and felucca views.
Islamic Cairo Street Architecture
A self-guided walk through Islamic Cairo between the Citadel and Khan el-Khalili passes 50+ medieval monuments visible from the street.