Quick answer: A trip to Egypt typically costs US$30-55/day backpacker, US$80-180/day mid-range, US$350-1500+/day luxury. Currency: Egyptian Pound (EGP / £E) — roughly £E 48 = US$1.
Egypt has gotten dramatically cheaper for foreign visitors in the last 5 years as the pound has depreciated — backpackers can do US$30/day, and even mid-range Nile cruises run US$100-150/day. The pyramids, Nile, and Luxor’s temples remain unmatched. Here is what it actually costs.
Cost tiers — budget / mid / luxury
Cost breakdown by category
- Accommodation: US$15 guesthouse → US$80 4-star → US$300+ luxury
- Street food (koshary): US$1-3 per meal
- Mid-range restaurant: US$8-15
- Nile cruise Aswan-Luxor: US$300-500 for 4-night mid-range; US$2000+ luxury
- Pyramids entry: US$15 (Giza) + camel ride US$10-15
Sample 7-day budgets
- Backpacker 7 days: ~US$300-400 (guesthouses + street food + 2nd class trains + 1 cruise day)
- Mid-range 7 days: ~US$1200-1800 (4-star + AC trains + 4-night Nile cruise + Cairo day)
- Luxury 7 days: ~US$5500-12000+ (Marriott Mena House + Sanctuary Sun Boat cruise + private guide)
How to save money in Egypt
- Sleeper trains (Watania) Cairo-Aswan are cheaper than flights AND save hotel night
- Negotiate camel rides at the Pyramids (start at US$10 not US$50)
- Buy multi-site Luxor Pass (US$200) if visiting 5+ Valley of Kings tombs
- Eat at Abu Tarek (Cairo’s koshary institution) for US$3 meals
- Use Uber/Careem instead of taxis (no negotiation needed)
A local insider tip
If you want Egypt at maximum value AND historical depth, take a 4-night mid-range Nile cruise (US$400) between Aswan and Luxor, add 2 days each in Cairo and Aswan. Avoid ‘budget’ Nile boats with poor food/safety; the US$80/night sweet spot (M/S Royal Lily, M/S Princess Sara) delivers genuine value. Total 9-day trip ~US$1200 vs US$3000+ in package tours.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a week in Egypt?
Backpacker: US$300-400. Mid-range: US$1200-1800. Luxury: US$5500-12000+. Nile cruise is the biggest variable cost.
Is Egypt safe to visit?
Touristed areas (Cairo, Luxor, Aswan, Sharm el Sheikh, Red Sea coast) are safe and well-protected. Sinai Peninsula has restricted areas. Check current advisories.
When is the cheapest time to visit Egypt?
May-September (peak heat) has 30-50% off hotels and Nile cruises. Trade-off is brutal heat (40°C+ in Luxor).
Do I need to tip in Egypt?
Yes — significant baksheesh culture. Small tips (£E 10-20 = US$0.20-0.40) for service everywhere. £E 200-300 per day for a private driver.
How much is a Nile cruise?
Mid-range 4-night: US$300-500 per person. Luxury 4-night: US$1500-3000+. Includes accommodation + meals + most excursions.
Plan your Egypt trip
Written by
John Morrison is the founder and lead travel writer at Packzup. Over the past decade he has explored destinations across Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and Oceania — always self-funded, never on a press trip.