How much should I budget for a week in Egypt?
The average price of a 7-day trip to Egypt is $1,349 for a solo traveler, $2,246 for a couple, and $1,654 for a family of 4. Egypt hotels range from $36 to $160 per night with an average of $75, while most vacation rentals will cost $60 to $400 per night for the entire home.
Eat like a local
In Egypt, Egyptian cuisine tends to be cheaper than international food, and you'll find an array of delicious, cheap and diverse options.
Budget-Friendly Travel Planning. How much money will you need for your trip to Egypt? You should plan to spend around E£636 ($26) per day on your vacation in Egypt, which is the average daily price based on the expenses of other visitors.
One week in Egypt will be a fast trip, but it is absolutely worth it. With 7 days Egypt tour you can visit the most popular main attractions, relax a little with some scenic Nile Cruising, and dive into the local culture. Just be warned, you'll likely leave wanting to come back.
Egypt is relatively easy on the wallet. Compared with places like Europe, North America, Japan, Australia, and New Zealand, Egypt is cheaper to visit. Traveling through Egypt is similar in price to traveling through Southeast Asia.
Prices for two-week tours of Egypt are usually priced well upwards of $2,000+ per person for a decent package. As an example, this National Geographic tour is priced at $6,000 per person. So the cost per couple is more than $12,000 for that 11-day Egypt trip – ouch!
Estimated cost | |
---|---|
Airfare | $800 |
Accommodations | $350 |
Local transportation | $640 |
Attractions | $320 |
Seven days is usually an ideal amount of time to spend in Egypt to see places like Cairo, Aswan, Luxor and Alexandria and also sail down the Nile River. However, to see most major attractions of Egypt, 5 days should be enough too.
According to Skyscanner, the cheapest time to fly to Egypt is in May, right at the end of shoulder season and the beginning of the summer months. Starting around May, you'll see deals in and around Egypt on hotels and tour packages.
Egypt is one of the best countries in the world to backpack. Not only are they very friendly and cater to backpackers around the country, but it is also one of the cheapest places to travel. In every city we visited, we found a backpacker hostel and private rooms that were very inexpensive for couples.
How much is a Big Mac in Egypt?
The Egyptian news outlet Akhbarak published a graphic July 17 of McDonald's prices before and after the jump. A Big Mac combo meal, which includes French fries and a drink, previously cost 52 Egyptian pounds ($2.74). Now, a Big Mac meal costs 78 Egyptian pounds ($4.12).
Tipping 10–15% of your bill total is customary at cafes and restaurants, and loose change is acceptable for food purchases from street vendors and markets. Often known as 'backsheesh' in parts of Asia and the Middle East, tipping is standard practice in Egypt.

The good news is that Egypt is generally considered to be an extremely affordable destination. It's considered WAY cheaper than most European places, with rates for everything from hotels to food just a fraction they would be just a quick hop over the Med in, say, Cyprus or Greece.
Five days in Egypt offers plenty of choices where most travelers want to spend time in Cairo, a great hub for visiting the famous Egyptian Museum, and nearby Giza to see the pyramids and Sphinx.
Do not travel to: The Sinai Peninsula (with the exception of travel to Sharm El-Sheikh by air) due to terrorism. The Western Desert due to terrorism. Egyptian border areas due to military zones.
Both places are definitely worth a visit and offer many excursions and activities as well as diving schools. I would say Hurghada is for those looking for more action, Sharm El Sheikh for a quieter holiday or with a focus on diving and snorkelling.
3 days is the perfect amount of time to see the city of Cairo. Here are the best of what you'll see during your 3 days in Cairo.
- Travel during the off-season. You can save a lot of money by travelling to Egypt during the low season. ...
- Stay in hostels or guesthouses. ...
- Eat like a local. ...
- Bargain. ...
- Take public transportation. ...
- Visit free attractions. ...
- Go on a desert safari. ...
- Take a felucca ride.
Cost of Living Comparison Between Hurghada and Cairo
You would need around 31,802.87EG£ in Cairo to maintain the same standard of life that you can have with 28,000.00EG£ in Hurghada (assuming you rent in both cities). This calculation uses our Cost of Living Plus Rent Index to compare cost of living.
If you take your perishable food in your hold luggage it will keep cooler than in hand luggage. As I have an apartment in Sharm I always take food which is unobtainable or more expensive being imported. I have had no problems & there is no import restrictions on tourists regarding food in the Egyptian regulations.
Is 10 days in Egypt enough?
With 10 days in Egypt, you have plenty of time to go beyond the pyramids and experience the highlights of this amazing country.
The average salary in Egypt ranges from 2,330 EGP per month (USD 148) to 41,100 EGP (USD 2,615) per month — with 2,330 EGP being the lowest average salary and 41,100 EGP being the maximum salary (actual maximum salary is higher).
Drinking alcohol in the street and anywhere other than a licensed restaurant or bar is not allowed and can lead to arrest. Possession, use or trafficking in illegal drugs is a serious offence and can, even for small amounts, lead to lengthy prison sentences (25 years), life imprisonment or the death penalty.
Money, haggling & tips
As a rule, the best exchange rates are found once you've arrived in Egypt - US Dollars, British Pounds and Euros are the easiest currencies to convert, and you can take cash out at the majority of ATMs.
Meal in a cheap restaurant | 80 EGP (50-150) |
---|---|
Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course | 450 EGP (300-900) |
McMeal at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal) | 90 EGP (75-100) |
Domestic Beer (0.5 liter draught) | 30 EGP (20-60) |
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle) | 50 EGP (35-90) |
Pyramids of Giza General Admission Tickets: Adult: EGP 200 / Student: EGP 100. (This ticket does not cover entrance to the Great Pyramid, Pyramid of Khafre, Pyramid of Menkaure, Worker's Cemetery, or the Solar Boat Museum) Pyramids of Giza Inclusive Area Tickets: Adult: EGP 600 / Student: EGP 300.
You can wear what you would typically wear for a night out as long as it is conservative. There is no dress code per se in Egypt. Egyptian women wear the same things we do including fitted clothing like skinny jeans and leggings. They typically wear loose, long sleeved tops with high necklines (no cleavage showing).
The best time to visit Egypt is between October and April, temperatures are cooler but you are still guaranteed sun. During spring and autumn daytime temperatures will reach hit 77-86°F (25-30°C) but the evenings are much cooler. Egypt is blessed with a whole lot of sunshine and very little rain.
A backpacker should budget about LE600 (€30) a day for food, room and transportation. Budget a little more if you're shopping at markets or heading to an ancient Egyptian site.
To obtain an Egypt Tourist Visa on Arrival, one must have the following: A valid passport for at least 6 months. Passport with at least 1 blank page. Visa on Arrival fee is 25 USD in cash.
How much money do you need for a month in Egypt?
Family of four estimated monthly costs are 1,087$ (26,736EG£) without rent. A single person estimated monthly costs are 305$ (7,507EG£) without rent. Cost of living in Egypt is, on average, 70.33% lower than in United States. Rent in Egypt is, on average, 91.10% lower than in United States.
There are no restrictions on the amount of foreign currency carried upon arrival in the country subject to disclosure of the amount of (10) ten thousand dollars or the equivalent of other foreign currencies and may be carrying the amount of local currency up to (5) five thousand Egyptian pounds.
Egyptian men do not often wear shorts, but they are perfectly fine for a male tourist to wear. Aside from beachside resort cities, it is not recommended for female tourists to ever wear shorts in Egypt.
Cash is king in Egypt and many local restaurants, shops, and tour operators will not have card facilities. However, you should be able to pay electronically at most mid-range and high-end stores, restaurants, and hotels; just make sure to check first before racking up a huge bill.
EGP 5.90(Inc.
We use pieces of muscle meat from the rear quarter, the front quarter and part of the cattle's thigh ONLY. We get the meat pieces from authorized suppliers, who follow McDonald's strict quality and food safety standards and the Halal practices.
About 10-20 Egyptian pounds per day is a nice gesture. Tip someone who carries your bags up to your room 5-20 Egyptian pounds, although they may leave abruptly after dropping bags off and not stay to receive a tip.
If a driver is taking you sightseeing for the day, plan on tipping him around 100 LE. If he takes you for a half day, 50 LE is a good amount.
"Three to five dollars is a sufficient tip," Swann says. "It doesn't necessarily need to be a percentage of the food you ordered."
Egypt, well known for its quality cotton, is now producing a large range of clothes, for its own retail chains as well as for famous international brands. Many of these clothes arent a bargain, but often still cheaper than in Europe or America if you compare clothes of the same level of quality to each other.
Is Cairo expensive?
Cairo is a great bargain for the budget traveler. It's one of those places with more or less parallel systems, with luxury travelers having plenty to choose from but backpacker types can also find good hotels and meals at very reasonable prices.
The clothes are expensive for Egypt (about EGP180-200 for a shirt) but cheap by Western standards given the quality. Inlaid goods, such as backgammon boards. Jewellery Cartouches make a great souvenir. These are metal plates shaped like an elongated oval and have engravings of your name in hieroglyphics.
- Not researching the culture & country before you go.
- You don't pack culturally appropriate clothing.
- Not booking your Nile cruise first.
- Not hiring a guide for certain tourist sites.
- Travelling without a currency converter app.
- You forget to tip.
- Not haggling for shopping and taxis.
- You're not prepared for so much attention.
Cairo has walkable areas, but is not typically a walkable city. Sidewalks are not consistent throughout the city and can often land you walking in the street, even in suburban areas such as New Cairo City.
How Much Time Do You Need at the Pyramids of Giza? Plan on spending a minimum of three hours at the Pyramids of Giza. This gives you enough time to go inside one of the pyramids, visit Panoramic Point, go on a short camel ride, visit the Solar Boat Museum, and snap a photo with the Sphinx.
The average salary in Egypt is 9,200 EGP (Egyptian Pound) per month or 110,000 EGP per annum. This amounts to roughly 586 US Dollars per month, according to the exchange rates in February 2022.
You should tip a fair amount, 100-250 Egyptian pounds (between $6-14), or around 10% of the total amount paid.
The best currency to use in Egypt is the Egyptian Pound (LE or EGP). We highly advise not to use any other currency like USD or Euro to buy things.
Egypt is one of the best countries in the world to backpack. Not only are they very friendly and cater to backpackers around the country, but it is also one of the cheapest places to travel. In every city we visited, we found a backpacker hostel and private rooms that were very inexpensive for couples.
- Surgeons & Doctors. Average Monthly Salary: 34,200 EGP. ...
- Anesthesiologist. Average Monthly Salary: 31,700 EGP. ...
- Judge. Average Monthly Salary: 28,700 EGP. ...
- Lawyer. Average Monthly Salary: 23,300 EGP. ...
- Bank Manager. Average Monthly Salary: 21,900 EGP. ...
- CEO. ...
- CFO. ...
- Orthodontist.
What is the lowest paying job in Egypt?
Data. The highest paid Egypt are Executive Management & Change professionals at $45,000 annually. The lowest paid Egypt are Education & Research professionals at $2,200.
Like many countries in the MENA region, only about 3.2 percent of Egyptians live on less than the international poverty line of US$1.90 (2011 PPP US$) per day; and only 4.1 percent of Egyptians are considered multidimensionally poor when using the dimensions considered by the World Bank for international comparisons.
In Egypt, drinking water from the tap is not recommended. Water treatment plants in and around Cairo heavily chlorinate the supply, so the water in the capital is relatively safe to drink. However, it is advisable everywhere else in Egypt to purchase bottled water or drink treated or purified water.
A 20 Baht tip for the bell-boy or porter who carries your bags to your room is fairly standard. I also think it's nice to leave a small tip for the room maid at the end of your stay. Hotel workers may only make 200 Baht a day or less and although they won't always expect a tip it will be appreciated.