Egypt on a budget: daily costs and money-saving tips

Egypt is one of the few countries where the daily cost is set by tickets rather than by hotels or meals. A koshari bowl costs less than a coffee in most Western cities, a metro ride is pocket change, and a dorm bed is cheap. Then you walk up to the Giza plateau or the Valley of the Kings and pay more in one hour than you spent on food all day. Plan the ticket list first, then build the rest of the budget around it.

The second lever is how you move between cities. Second-class trains and the overnight sleeper keep Cairo–Luxor–Aswan cheap; a domestic flight saves a day but costs from about US$90 one way. Buses and shared taxis fill the gaps on the Red Sea and Sinai routes. Inside Cairo, the metro and Uber are both cheap enough that transport rarely decides anything.

The third lever is season. Winter (roughly November–February) is peak: hotel rates climb and Nile cruises cost the most. Summer is cheaper and much hotter, especially in Luxor and Aswan, where daytime sightseeing becomes hard. Shoulder months are the usual compromise. Check current rates before you commit, because Egyptian prices have moved sharply in recent years.

Tipping (baksheesh) is a real line in the budget, not a rounding error. Keep a stack of small notes for toilet attendants, guards who open a locked tomb, drivers and hotel staff, and keep them separate from your larger notes so you are not handing over a big bill by mistake.

Per person per day, sharing a room at mid and comfort tiers. International flights are not included. 2026 estimate.

Buy site tickets online where the option exists and pay at the gate by card where it does not. Many ticketed sites have moved to card-only payment, so a cash-only traveller can be turned away at the window.

Eat where Egyptians eat. Koshari shops, ful and taameya stands, and busy grills cost a fraction of hotel restaurants and are the single easiest saving. Carry your own water bottle and refill where you can.

Take the train instead of flying when the schedule suits you, and book the sleeper for Cairo–Aswan so you save a hotel night. Second class is fine for daytime legs.

Stay in one base per region rather than moving every night. Two nights in Luxor and two in Aswan beat four one-night stops once you count transfers and tickets.

Use ATMs inside banks or hotels rather than street machines, and check the current exchange rate before you trust any quoted price. Hotels, cruise boats and larger restaurants take cards; taxis, markets, small cafés and tips are cash.

Travel insurance is not optional on a budget trip: a single clinic visit can cost more than a week of beds. Compare what is covered before you buy.