Egypt
Money in Egypt: currency, ATMs, cards and tipping
Egypt uses the Egyptian pound (EGP, written LE or £E). Carry cash for taxis, markets, small cafés, tips and toilets; hotels, cruises, larger restaurants and most ticketed sites take cards. Keep a stack of small notes for baksheesh, and check the current rate before trusting any quoted price.
- Source checked
- A source and a date are on record: we read it from an official or published page. Not yet confirmed on the ground.
- Field checked
- Someone checked it on the ground, with the date shown.
- Plan calculated
- Worked out by Voykit from its own data (times, distances, budgets). A calculation, not a measurement.
Unknown times stay unknown. How we verify
GuideEgypt
Key facts
- Currency
- Egyptian pound (EGP), written LE or £E; 100 piastres = 1 pound
- Cash vs card
- Cards at hotels, cruises, larger restaurants and most site gates; cash for taxis, markets, small cafés, tips, toilets
- Small notes
- Carry EGP 5, 10, 20 and 50 notes separately for tips
- ATM
- Use machines inside banks, malls or hotels; withdraw during the day
- Restaurant tip
- 10–15% if no service charge is added
- Toilet attendant
- EGP 5–10
- Rate volatility
- The pound has moved sharply in recent years; check the rate before trusting a quoted price
By purse, month and cost type
Egypt is a cash economy with a card layer on top. The table below shows what each payment method covers and what to expect in each budget tier; the parent country page carries the full daily cost breakdown.
| Situation | Pay with | Typical amount (2026 estimate) |
|---|---|---|
| Hotel, Nile cruise, larger restaurant | Card or cash | Card accepted; keep some cash for extras |
| Taxi or Uber | Cash (Uber can be card) | Uber across Cairo EGP 100–250 |
| Market, small café, koshari shop | Cash | Koshari bowl EGP 40–90 |
| Ticketed sites (Giza, GEM, Valley of the Kings) | Card at the gate | GEM about EGP 1,450, online only |
| Tips, toilet attendants, porters | Cash, small notes | EGP 5–50 depending on service |
| Backpacker day | Mostly cash | US$30–50 per day |
| Mid-range day | Mix | US$90–170 per day |
| Comfort day | Mostly card | US$300+ per day |
2026 estimate, per person. Site tickets are the big fixed cost and rise often; many gates now take cards only.
Step by step
Arrive with a small amount of Egyptian pounds or US dollars for the first taxi and tips, then withdraw from an ATM inside a bank, mall or hotel rather than a street machine. Declining the ATM's own conversion and letting your bank convert is usually cheaper. Keep the receipt until you have counted the notes.
Change money at a bank or a licensed exchange office, not with a street changer. Rates have moved sharply in recent years, so compare the rate on the board with the rate on your banking app before you hand over anything. Hotels often give a worse rate than a bank.
Split your cash: a wallet for larger notes and a pocket for EGP 5, 10, 20 and 50 notes for tips. Ask for small notes when you withdraw or change money, since vendors and drivers rarely have change early in the day.
Carry a card as well as cash. Most ticketed sites have moved to card-only payment at the gate, and a card is the fallback if an ATM is empty or your bank blocks the transaction. Tell your bank you are travelling before you leave.
Notes
Tipping (baksheesh) is expected for almost any small service: a guide, a driver, a hotel porter, a toilet attendant, someone who opens a gate or points out a photo spot. It is not a reward for exceptional work; it is part of how the service economy works. Budget for it rather than being surprised by it.
Prices for Egyptians and for foreign visitors differ at many sites, and quoted prices in markets are an opening offer. Agree the fare or the price before the service starts, especially for taxis, feluccas and guides. If a price is quoted in US dollars, ask for the pound price as well.
Cards work at hotels, cruise boats, larger restaurants and most site gates, but small businesses may add a surcharge or refuse cards below a minimum. Keep enough cash to cover a full day in case a machine is down.
- Carry small notes separately from larger ones.
- Agree fares and prices before the service starts.
- Keep a card for site gates and as an ATM fallback.
- Check the current exchange rate before trusting a quoted price.
FAQ
Sources and checked
Questions people ask
What currency is used in Egypt?
The Egyptian pound (EGP), written LE or £E, divided into 100 piastres. US dollars are sometimes quoted for tours and cruises, but you pay in pounds for everyday things.
Should I use cash or a card in Egypt?
Both. Cards work at hotels, cruises, larger restaurants and most ticketed sites; cash covers taxis, markets, small cafés, tips and toilets. Carry a card as a fallback and cash for the day.
How much should I tip in Egypt?
About 10–15% in restaurants if no service charge is added, EGP 5–10 for a toilet attendant, and EGP 20–50 or more for a guide or driver, depending on the service. Carry small notes.
Can I use US dollars in Egypt?
Some hotels, tour operators and cruises quote in dollars, but everyday businesses want pounds. Change dollars at a bank or licensed exchange office and keep pounds for daily spending.
Are ATMs easy to find in Egypt?
Yes in Cairo, Alexandria, Luxor, Aswan and the Red Sea resorts. Use machines inside banks, malls or hotels, withdraw during the day, and keep a card as a backup.
Do I need cash for site tickets?
Many ticketed sites have moved to card-only payment at the gate, and the Grand Egyptian Museum is online only. Carry a card as well as cash, and check the current rules before you go.
Deep dive
Every source; changeable facts are marked check
Sources
- officialCentral Bank of Egypt
- officialEgyptian Tourism Authority
- secondaryWikivoyage – Egypt