Egypt Travel Budget: How Much Does a Trip to Egypt Cost?
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Egypt offers extraordinary value for money — the world’s greatest concentration of ancient monuments, affordable accommodation, cheap street food, and Nile cruises at prices that shock most visitors coming from Western Europe. The currency devaluation of recent years has made Egypt even more affordable for foreign visitors.
The Numbers at a Glance
| Budget Level | Daily Cost (per person) | What You Get |
|---|---|---|
| Budget | €25–50/day | Hostel/budget hotel, local food, public transport |
| Mid-range | €70–130/day | Decent hotel, restaurant meals, guided tours |
| Comfortable | €150–300/day | Nile cruise, boutique hotel, all activities |
| High-end | €350–800+/day | Luxury cruise, premium hotels, private guides |
Flights
From Europe to Cairo (CAI):
- Budget: €200–350 return (EasyJet from London, Ryanair, Wizz Air from various European cities)
- Mid-range: €350–550 return (EgyptAir, Lufthansa, KLM, Turkish Airlines via Istanbul)
- Book 6–10 weeks ahead for best budget airline fares
Note: EgyptAir is the main carrier from Cairo to Luxor and Aswan. EasyJet and Ryanair occasionally serve Hurghada directly from European cities (good for Red Sea resort trips).
Currency Note
Egypt uses the Egyptian Pound (EGP). Following currency devaluations in 2022–2024, the pound has significantly weakened against the euro. Check current rates — €1 ≈ EGP 50–55 as of early 2026, making Egypt exceptionally affordable.
Important: Egypt operates a dual pricing system at some (now fewer) monuments — historically higher prices for foreigners. This is being unified but check current status. Prices below reflect standard entry costs.
Accommodation
| Type | Price per Night |
|---|---|
| Budget hostel (Cairo) | €6–15 |
| Mid-range hotel (Cairo, 3-star) | €30–70 |
| Boutique hotel (Cairo near pyramids) | €70–130 |
| Luxor/Aswan mid-range hotel | €30–80 |
| Luxor/Aswan Nile-view hotel | €80–150 |
| Nile cruise (all-inclusive, per person/night) | €60–200 |
| Luxury Nile cruise (Oberoi, Sanctuary) | €300–600 |
| Siwa/oasis eco-lodge | €30–80 |
Nile cruise pricing: A 4-day/3-night cruise from Luxor to Aswan (the standard route) in a comfortable cabin costs €120–300 per person all-inclusive (meals, guided excursions at Edfu and Kom Ombo). Luxury operators (Abercrombie & Kent, Sanctuary Retreats) charge €800–1,500+ per person. Both cover the same Nile and the same temples.
Food & Drink
Egyptian street food is some of the cheapest and most satisfying in the world.
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Falafel sandwich (taameya) | €0.20–0.50 |
| Ful medames (broad bean breakfast) | €0.50–1.50 |
| Koshari (national dish — lentils, pasta, tomato sauce) | €0.80–2 |
| Shawarma | €1–2.50 |
| Sit-down lunch at a local restaurant | €3–8 |
| Restaurant dinner (tourist area) | €10–25 |
| Fresh juice (mango, sugarcane, tamarind) | €0.50–1 |
| Beer (Stella — Egyptian lager, in licensed restaurants) | €2–5 |
| Bottled water (1.5L) | €0.20–0.50 |
Koshari shops: Koshari is Egypt’s national dish — a bowl of lentils, pasta, chickpeas, and crispy onions topped with tomato-chile sauce and vinegar. Found at specialist koshari restaurants for €1–2. It is extraordinarily good and an essential Cairo eat.
Alcohol: Egypt is a Muslim country but alcohol is available at licensed restaurants, hotels, and tourist venues. Beer is readily available; wine and spirits less so and more expensive. During Ramadan, alcohol service is further restricted.
Entrance Fees
| Site | Cost (per person) |
|---|---|
| Pyramids of Giza + Sphinx | €16 |
| Great Pyramid interior | €27 (separate, worth it) |
| Grand Egyptian Museum | €18 |
| Egyptian Museum (Tahrir) | €10 |
| Tutankhamun Collection (GEM) | €18 |
| Karnak Temple Complex | €12 |
| Luxor Temple | €10 |
| Valley of the Kings (3 tombs) | €13 |
| Tutankhamun’s tomb (KV62, separate) | €22 |
| Hatshepsut Temple | €10 |
| Philae Temple (Aswan) | €10 |
| Abu Simbel temples | €22 |
| Saqqara Step Pyramid | €10 |
Combo reality: Visiting all of the above costs €180–200 per person — completely reasonable for the world’s greatest concentration of ancient monuments.
Photography: Some sites charge additional photography fees for cameras (not smartphones). Usually €2–5.
Transport
| Transport | Cost |
|---|---|
| Cairo Metro (per trip) | €0.10–0.20 |
| Uber Cairo (5km trip) | €1.50–4 |
| Cairo taxi (airport to city) | €8–15 (negotiate or Uber) |
| Cairo → Luxor train (overnight sleeper, 2nd class) | €20–35 |
| Cairo → Luxor train (1st class sleeper) | €35–60 |
| EgyptAir Cairo → Luxor | €40–90 |
| EgyptAir Cairo → Aswan | €50–100 |
| EgyptAir Aswan → Abu Simbel return | €100–160 |
| Local taxi (Luxor/Aswan, per trip) | €1–5 |
| Felucca (per hour) | €5–15 (negotiate) |
| Motorboat to Philae Temple | €3–6 |
Overnight sleeper trains between Cairo and Luxor/Aswan: a classic Egypt experience — affordable, comfortable enough, and you arrive having saved a hotel night. The train departs late evening and arrives early morning, giving you a full day at the destination.
Sample Daily Budgets
Budget (€30–40/day)
- Hostel or budget hotel: €15
- Street breakfast (ful + taameya): €1.50
- Koshari lunch: €2
- Local restaurant dinner: €6
- Metro + local taxis: €3
- One monument entry: €10
- Total: ~€38
Mid-Range (€90–120/day)
- Decent hotel: €55
- Café breakfast: €6
- Restaurant lunch: €10
- Tourist restaurant dinner: €20
- Uber + taxis: €10
- Two monument entries: €25
- Juice + water: €3
- Total: ~€129
Nile Cruise (all-inclusive, €150–200/day)
- Cruise cabin (all-inclusive): €100–150
- Guided temple excursions included
- All meals included
- Entry fees: €40–50 extra
- Tips for crew: €10–15/day
- Total: ~€165–215
Sample Trip Costs
7 Days (Cairo + Nile Cruise + Aswan)
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Return flights from Europe | €300 |
| 3 nights Cairo hotel (mid-range) | €150 |
| 4-day Nile cruise (all-inclusive) | €350 |
| Entrance fees (pyramids, GEM, temples) | €100 |
| Local transport | €40 |
| Meals outside cruise | €60 |
| Total per person | ~€1,000 |
14 Days (Full Egypt Circuit)
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Return flights | €350 |
| Internal flights (Cairo–Luxor, Aswan–Cairo) | €130 |
| 14 nights accommodation (avg. €55) | €770 |
| Food (avg. €25/day) | €350 |
| Entrance fees (comprehensive) | €200 |
| Transport + tours | €150 |
| Total per person | ~€1,950 |
Money Tips
Cash is essential. ATMs (Banque Misr, National Bank of Egypt) are widely available in Cairo, Luxor, and Aswan. Carry EGP for entry fees, street food, and tips. Cards accepted at major hotels but not at monuments or local restaurants.
Tipping (baksheesh): Tipping culture is deeply embedded in Egypt. Restaurant service: 10–15%. For guides, drivers, and anyone who assists you: €1–5 per interaction is expected and appreciated. Budget €5–10/day for baksheesh.
Bargaining: Expected at bazaars (Khan el-Khalili) and for taxis without meters. Not appropriate at restaurants or fixed-price shops. Start at half the asking price for bazaar items.
Best exchange: ATMs in Egypt give fair rates. Airport exchange counters and hotel exchange desks are poor value — use ATMs.
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