With its rich tapestry of history, ancient wonders, and vibrant culture, Egypt has long-beckoned travellers from all over the world to awe at the famous pyramids, explore the bustling souks and cruise down the Nile. But enjoying everything Egypt has to offer comes at a price, and the amount of spending money you take will ultimately determine what you can do.
At Crown Currency Exchange, we've put together this ultimate guide to spending money in Egypt. Below, you'll find the average daily cost across three different travel styles, making it easier to see how much you'll need to create that dream Egyptian holiday while staying within budget.
How Much Spending Money Do I Need for Egypt?
The amount of spending money you need to take to Egypt will depend on your travel style. For instance, if you're working with a lower budget and consider yourself a 'budget traveller', then you'll need less than you would if you want to stay in luxury hotels and eat at fine dining restaurants.
To help make things clearer, here's a guide to how much you may need for each day of your trip to Egypt, depending on your personal travel style:
Budget Travellers
Budget travellers can get a room in a hostel or guesthouse, eat at street stalls and coffeehouses, and travel by Metro or microbus for a daily budget of around £1,500 Egyptian Pounds. Within this budget, you'll also be able to take a tour of the Pyramids of Giza and visit SOHO Square.
Mid-range Travellers
Those looking to spend a little more money will find that a daily budget of around £5,000 Egyptian Pounds will afford them an entire apartment or a room in a mid-range hotel. You'll also be able to buy groceries, enjoy three-course meals in traditional restaurants, and travel by taxi.
For this budget, you'll be able to take part in some awesome activities too, including snorkelling at Tiran Island and hiking at Ras Mohammed National Park.
Luxury Travellers
Where spending money doesn't need to be limited, a daily budget of up to £18,000 Egyptian Pounds will get you a luxury hotel room or allow you to get accommodation on a Nile Cruise. You'll also be able to eat at fine dining restaurants and travel by Felucca or hire your own car.
In terms of activities, for this luxury budget, you'll be able to enjoy some of Egypt's most high-end sites, including a guided tour of The Valley of The Kings and an 8-hour personal tour of The Museum of Egyptian Antiquities.
What Goes into a Travel Budget?
It's very easy to get lost in the romance and excitement of booking a trip to Egypt, and before you know it, you've forgotten some of the most important aspects of planning your budget. To help prevent this from happening, we're going to focus on the four most important 'portions' of any travel budget:
- Food & Drink: Whether you're planning to go self-catering or use restaurants and cafes, you're going to need to find somewhere to eat and drink every day of your trip, so make sure a good chunk of your budget goes towards this.
- Activities: You're also definitely going to want to see some of Egypt's incredible sights and enjoy some activities, so place some money aside for this portion of your travel budget, too.
- Transportation: Thinking about how you're going to get around Egypt is also important, and whether you want to use public transport or hire a car, you'll need a dedicated transportation section.
- Accommodation: You'll also need to think about where you're going to stay while you're in Egypt, and while there are plenty of options to suit everyone, this is one of the most important aspects of your travel budget.
What is the Cost of Accommodation in Egypt?
The cost of accommodation in Egypt will vary based on where you choose to stay. The least expensive option is hostels, which you can get for as little as £146 Egyptian Pounds per night. At the other end of the spectrum, a night in a luxury hotel room or Nile River Cruise can cost up to £5,000 Egyptian Pounds per night.
- Budget Travellers: Those trying to spend as little as possible on accommodation would be best choosing hostels or guesthouses, which range from £146 - £354 Egyptian Pounds per night.
- Mid-Range Travellers: For a slightly higher mid-range budget, an average of £1,126 - $2,805 Egyptian Pounds per night will allow you to rent an entire apartment or stay in a mid-range hotel.
- Luxury Travellers: Should money not be too much of an issue, a budget of £3,500 - £5,000 Egyptian Pounds per night will get you a luxury hotel room or a cabin on a Nile River Cruise.
Different Accommodation Options:
- Hostels: Ideal for the budget-conscious traveller, hostels offer a safe space to sleep and access to essential amenities for a small price of around £146 Egyptian Pounds per night.
- Guesthouses: Should you prefer your own private room, guesthouses are also an affordable option for budget travellers and cost an average of £354 Egyptian Pounds per night.
- Vacation Rentals: You can rent an entire apartment through Airbnb in Egypt for around £1,126 Egyptian Pounds per night, which is ideal if you're travelling as a group and need a home-from-home situation.
- Mid Range Hotels: The cost of a mid-range hotel room in Egypt averages £2,085 Egyptian Pounds per night, and this is a good choice for the mid-range traveller who plans to spend their time exploring but still wants comfortable surroundings at night.
- Nile Cruise: You can create a truly unique holiday by staying on a Nile River Cruise, which will also combine your accommodation with travel and activities. This is more suited to a luxury travel budget though, and will cost an average of £3,500 Egyptian Pounds per night.
- Luxury Hotels: Should you prefer to stay on dry land, you can still experience the very best hotel services in Egypt by booking one of many luxury hotels. Again, prices will be higher for this, and your average costs will be as high as £5,000 Egyptian Pounds per night.
Our Money-Saving Tips for Accommodation Costs:
- Stay Outside Tourist Areas: Some accommodation in less touristy areas can be cheaper than city centres or places close to popular tourist attractions, so look a little further afield, and you may be able to save money on accommodation.
- Consider All-Inclusive Packages: In some areas, such as Sharm El Sheikh or Hurghada, hotels offer all-inclusive packages that cover accommodation, meals, and sometimes activities. So, while they may seem more expensive initially, you could end up saving money overall.
What is the Cost of Food in Egypt?
From traditional cuisine to international favourites, there are plenty of dining options to enjoy in Egypt. Each is suited to different budgets as well, and here are the average prices you'll pay for what and where you want to eat:
- Street Food: Egypt has a vibrant street food scene, and for an average price of just £62 Egyptian Pounds per meal, you can enjoy small dishes such as shawarma, kofta, and hawawshi.
- Coffeehouses: A great place to grab breakfast or a light snack, the average food cost in coffeehouses is £106 Egyptian Pounds. As you may expect, you can also pick up a coffee here, which will set you back around £61 Egyptian Pounds.
- Traditional Restaurants: There are loads of traditional restaurants to try in Egypt, and they aren't overly expensive either. On average, a three-course meal in a traditional restaurant will cost you £177 Egyptian Pounds per person.
- Fine Dining Restaurants: Should you want to go a little more upscale and try one of Egypt's fine dining restaurants, you can expect to pay up to £3,000 Egyptian Pounds per person for a three-course meal with wine.
- Groceries: Those planning to cook for themselves will need to hit the grocery store at least once during their visit, and for around £72 Egyptian Pounds per day, you'll be able to pick up all of your essentials.
Our Money-Saving Tips for Food Costs:
- Ask For Recommendations: Asking locals where the best places to eat will often result in local, cheaper dining options that aren't tourist-centric and have lower prices as a result.
- Share Portions: Egyptian food portions are very generous, so you may find that you're able to save money on food costs by sharing dishes.
What is the Cost of Transport in Egypt?
Getting around Egypt is relatively straightforward, and you have a few transport options available to you. However, as with all other aspects of your trip to Egypt, each is best suited to different budgets:
- Metro: Cairo has a very efficient metro system that offers both a super convenient and budget-friendly way of navigating the city. For an average price of £7 Egyptian Pounds per journey, you'll be able to reach popular tourist sites and key areas of interest.
- Microbuses: There's also a microbus system with set routes and timetables operating throughout most of Egypt, and this is a good way of connecting to nearby towns from the city centre. The average cost of a one-way trip on a microbus is £5 Egyptian Pounds, but prices will vary based on your destination.
- Taxis: You'll find loads of taxis available in Egyptian cities, and these can be hailed easily or booked through a ridesharing app. They are more expensive than public transport, however, and a 5km journey may cost up to £28 Egyptian Pounds.
- Feluccas: You can take a more unique form of transport by catching a felucca and sailing down the Nile towards your next destination. The average price of a trip in one of these traditional Egyptian sailboats is expensive though, and you'll pay around £1,500 Egyptian Pounds per person for a three-hour trip.
- Car Hire: For those who prefer to move at their own pace, hiring a car may be the best option. This does come at a premium, however, and a day's car hire will cost around £1,700 Egyptian Pounds.
Our Money-Saving Tips for Transportation Costs:
- Negotiate Taxi Fares: It isn't uncommon to negotiate a taxi fare ahead of a journey in Egypt, and agreeing on a set price beforehand can lead to significant savings as it will stop the metre from being used.
- Bargain For Felucca Rides: While a felucca ride is generally one of the most expensive ways of getting around in Egypt, you can try bargaining for a price beforehand as you would with a taxi.
What is the Cost of Activities in Egypt?
As you may expect from a country with such an ancient history, there's plenty to see and do in Egypt. Here are a few of our favourite activities, along with their costs:
- Explore The Pyramids Of Giza: There's no way you can visit Egypt and not see its most famous destination. For £900 Egyptian Pounds, you can take a guided tour of the Pyramids of Giza and see The Great Sphinx with lunch included.
- Visit The Valley Of The Kings: Another of Egypt's most famous and remarkable sites, a full-day guided tour of The Valley of the Kings will cost around £2,700 Egyptian Pounds per person.
- Go Snorkelling At Tiran Island: For those wanting to see some of Egypt's incredible marine life up close and personal, a day trip snorkelling at Tiran Island will set you back £1,300 Egyptian Pounds per person.
- Go Shopping At SOHO Square: Perfect if you want to indulge in a little retail therapy or keep children entertained with a ball pit and slides, SOHO Square is a popular destination with no entrance fees.
- Tour The Museum Of Egyptian Antiquities: Home to the world's largest collection of Egyptian artefacts, this museum is the perfect place for anyone interested in Egyptian history and mythology. For £3,000 Egyptian Pounds, you can enjoy an 8-hour day exploring The Museum of Egyptian Antiquities accompanied by a tour guide.
- Hike Ras Mohamed National Park: One of Egypt's most beautiful spaces, a half-day trip including hiking to Ras Mohamed National Park from Sharm El Sheikh costs £910 Egyptian Pounds per person.
Our Money-Saving Tips for Activity Costs:
- Buy Combo Passes: Many popular attractions, such as the Giza Pyramids complex, offer combo passes that grant access to multiple sites for a set price. This is a great way of saving money on multiple entrance fees.
- Visit Off-Peak: Like all other countries, Egypt has a peak season and visiting at this time of year is more expensive. However, visit Egypt off-peak (which is from May to August when the weather is scorching hot), and you'll find many attractions lower their prices. Just don't forget to pack your sun cream!
Other Expenses to Consider for the Trip
Along with your accommodation, food, drink, transport, and activities, there are some other expenses to consider when it comes to budgeting for the actual costs of your Egyptian holiday.
- Travel Insurance: Without a doubt, travel insurance is one of the most important things you'll need to buy ahead of your trip to Egypt. This will cover you for certain emergencies as well as offer peace of mind.
- Visa Fees: You'll also need to apply for a visa before you can visit Egypt, and this comes with a set fee. Likewise, any other documents you need to gather or renew when applying for a visa will need to be budgeted for.
- Emergency Fund: It's a very good idea to section off a portion of your travel budget for emergencies. This could be urgent medical care, lost luggage, or anything that your travel insurance policy may not cover.
- Souvenirs: You'll likely want to pick up some mementos from your trip to Egypt as well, so put some money aside for gifts and souvenirs.
Most Cost-Effective Way to Take Egyptian Pounds to Egypt
The most cost-effective way of taking your spending money to Egypt is in cash, as this will prevent your bank or credit card issuer from charging an International Payment Fee each time you make a transaction. It's also much more convenient and will allow you to purchase souvenirs or enjoy services offered in rural locations or street food stalls where card payments may not be accepted.
Crown Currency is the best place to get your Egyptian Pounds ahead of your trip, and you'll find competitive AUD to EGP rates with zero commission and no hidden fees.
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