Yes — Egypt is one of the cheapest major travel destinations in the world right now, and in 2026 it is cheaper for foreign visitors than it has been in years.
A weak Egyptian pound (around 50 EGP to the US dollar in June 2026) means your money stretches a long way on hotels, food, taxis, and even flights to Cairo. Here is exactly what a trip costs.
How much does a trip to Egypt cost per day?
Excluding international flights, most travelers fall into one of three daily budgets.
| Travel style | Per day | 10-day trip |
|---|---|---|
| Budget / backpacker | USD 30–50 | USD 800–1,200 |
| Mid-range | USD 80–150 | USD 1,800–3,000 |
| Luxury | USD 300+ | USD 4,500+ |
Backpackers staying in dorms and eating street food can get by on as little as USD 30 a day.
Mid-range travelers get comfortable 3–4 star hotels, restaurant meals, private taxis, and guided day tours for under USD 150.
Which areas are cheapest?
Upper Egypt — Luxor and Aswan — is the best value for rooms and food, with budget hotels from around USD 20 a night. Cairo sits in the middle, while Red Sea resort towns like Hurghada and Sharm El Sheikh swing with the season — cheapest in the summer heat and priciest over the winter holidays.
What you’ll pay for hotels & transport
The day-to-day basics are where Egypt feels genuinely cheap.
Accommodation
Live prices on Wego’s hotel search show how far your money goes. Budget rooms in Luxor start from around USD 20 (roughly EGP 1,000) a night.
Rates in Cairo and the Red Sea resort towns climb with season and star rating, but you can still compare hundreds of deals in each:
- Cairo hotels — 1,400+ deals on Wego
- Luxor hotels — from about USD 20 a night
- Hurghada resorts — 900+ deals on Wego
These are starting rates for sample dates, so check live Wego prices for your exact travel dates.
Transport
Getting around is one of Egypt’s biggest bargains. The Cairo Metro charges just 10 EGP (about USD 0.20) for up to nine stations, rising to 20 EGP for longer trips.
- Cairo Metro: 10–20 EGP (USD 0.20–0.40) per ride
- Uber/taxi within Cairo: a few dollars per trip
- Cairo to Luxor sleeper train: USD 90–130 per berth
- Cairo–Luxor first-class seated train (foreigner fare): from USD 70
Are Egypt’s attractions expensive?
Entry tickets are the one area where prices have climbed, though they remain reasonable by global standards.
| Attraction | Adult ticket |
|---|---|
| Pyramids of Giza (site entry) | ~700 EGP (USD 15) |
| Great Pyramid (Khufu) interior | ~400 EGP (USD 8) |
| Khafre pyramid interior | ~100 EGP (USD 2) |
| Menkaure pyramid interior | ~100 EGP (USD 2) |
| Grand Egyptian Museum | 1,450 EGP (USD 29) |
| Valley of the Kings (Luxor) | 750 EGP (USD 15) |
Note: the Menkaure pyramid is the Giza interior most often closed for conservation work. If it is open during your visit, it is the cheapest of the three interiors to enter — confirm access at the plateau gate before paying the supplement.
Egypt’s range of attractions goes well beyond the Giza circuit. Check out our guide to Egypt beyond the pyramids for future tour inspiration.
How much is Egypt’s tourist visa?
Most visitors need a tourist visa, and it is a modest, fixed cost. As of 2026 a single-entry visa is USD 30 — the same price whether you buy it on arrival at the airport (paid in US dollars cash) or apply online in advance through Egypt’s official e-Visa portal. A multiple-entry e-Visa is USD 65. Either way you get a 30-day stay.
One possible saving: Egypt has in recent years waived the visa for travelers arriving directly at Luxor or Aswan during the summer season. Confirm the current rule for your nationality and dates before relying on it.
Staying connected: SIM cards and eSIMs
Mobile data is cheap in Egypt. A local tourist SIM from Vodafone, Orange, or Etisalat (e&) is the lowest-cost option, sold at airport counters and operator stores in Cairo, Luxor, Aswan, and the Red Sea resorts — bring your passport to register.
- Vodafone tourist SIM: around 500 EGP (about USD 10) for roughly 20 GB
- Orange “Holidays” tourist SIM: from around 200 EGP (about USD 4) for about 20 GB plus local minutes
- Travel eSIM (data only): from about USD 5 for a small bundle, up to roughly USD 25 for 10 GB — activate before you land
For a short trip, a data-only eSIM is the quickest route; for a longer stay or if you want a local number, a physical SIM is cheaper per gigabyte.
Is Egypt cheaper than Turkey, Morocco, or Jordan?
For most travelers, yes. Egypt is one of the most affordable destinations in the wider Middle East and North Africa region.
- vs Jordan: Egypt is clearly cheaper — Jordan’s hotels and attraction tickets run higher.
- vs Turkey: Egypt is slightly cheaper for a similar quality of trip.
- vs Morocco: Roughly comparable, with Egypt edging ahead on archaeological sites and hotels.
If you are comparing the region, our guide on where your travel budget stretches furthest in 2026 puts Egypt in context.
How to keep your Egypt trip cheap
A few simple choices make a big difference.
- Eat where locals eat — koshari joints beat hotel restaurants on price and flavor.
- Use the metro and Uber instead of pre-arranged private cars.
- Travel between cities by overnight train to save a hotel night.
- Visit in summer (June–August) for the lowest hotel rates, especially in Hurghada and Sharm El Sheikh.
- Carry a card for site entry, but small cash for tips and street stalls.
For seasonal inspiration, our guides to summer adventures in Egypt and Egypt under the winter sun show what’s worth prioritizing — and what’s cheaper — at different times of year.
One caveat: with inflation around 14.6% in May 2026, prices in pounds keep rising, so check current figures before you travel. Search cheap flights to Cairo and Aswan on Wego to lock in fares early.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much money do I need per day in Egypt?
Budget travelers need around USD 30–50 a day, mid-range travelers USD 80–150, and luxury travelers USD 300 or more, excluding international flights.
Is Egypt good for budget travel?
Yes. Cheap street food, low metro and taxi fares, and affordable guesthouses make Egypt one of the best-value destinations in the region for backpackers and budget travelers.
Why is Egypt cheap for tourists right now?
The Egyptian pound has weakened sharply against major currencies, so foreign visitors get far more for their dollars, dirhams, or rupees than a few years ago.
Do I need cash for Egypt’s tourist sites?
No — most major sites switched to card-only payment in 2026. Carry a credit or debit card for entry tickets, and small cash for tips, taxis, and street food.
Do I need a visa to visit Egypt?
Most visitors do. A single-entry tourist visa costs USD 30 in 2026, available on arrival (paid in US dollars cash) or online through Egypt’s official e-Visa portal, and allows a 30-day stay.
Sources
- Central Bank of Egypt — Exchange Rates
- Ahram Online — Egypt Inflation Data 2026
- Grand Egyptian Museum — Official Ticketing
- Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities — Giza Plateau Tickets
- Egypt Independent — Cairo Metro and Train Fares 2026
- Seat61 — Egypt Train Travel Guide and Fares
- Numbeo — Cost of Living and Restaurant Prices in Cairo (June 2026)
- Wego — Egypt Hotel Search and Prices
- Budget Your Trip — Egypt Average Daily Costs
- Arab Republic of Egypt — Official e-Visa Portal (tourist visa fees)
- Traveltomtom — Egypt Tourist SIM Card Prices 2026
Disclaimer: Wego strives to ensure all information presented in this article is accurate and up to date at the time of publication. Travel policies, prices, visa requirements, and conditions can change rapidly. We strongly recommend verifying critical details with official sources before making travel decisions. Wego does not accept liability for any inaccuracies, oversights, or changes that may occur after publication.
