Daily costs
| Typical daily cost | €25-45 / €80-140 |
|---|---|
| Budget level | $ / $$ |
| Trip length | 8 - 12 days recommended |
| Region | North Africa |
What things cost
Illustrative planning allowances for Egypt. These are not verified current prices. Replace these allowances with dated quotes before booking. Check whether each price is per person, room or vehicle.
| Budget hotel (per night, Luxor/Aswan) | EGP 600–1,200 ($12–25) |
| Mid-range river-view hotel (per night) | EGP 2,000–3,500 ($40–70) |
| Koshary, falafel or fuul plate | EGP 40–80 ($1–1.60) |
| Restaurant dinner | EGP 250–500 ($5–10) |
| Valley of the Kings entry (3 tombs) | EGP 700 ($14); Tutankhamun tomb extra |
| Karnak sound-and-light or balloon ride | EGP 900 / EGP 5,000+ ($1.80 / $100+) |
Daily budget by travel style
| Shoestring — €25/day ($27) | Budget hotels, street food, public ferries, the big-ticket tombs chosen carefully. |
| Comfortable — €80/day ($87) | River-view rooms, restaurant meals, private guide for the west bank, balloon ride. |
| Upside — €160+/day ($175) | Nile cruise cabin, Dahabiya sailing, private Egyptologist throughout. |
The page-wide figure of €25-45 / €80-140 per day (at the $ / $$ level) matches the 8 - 12 days recommended. Flights are separate.
How to save money in Egypt
- Buy the Luxor west-bank pass strategically: the premium tombs (Seti I, Tutankhamun) cost extra but three standard tombs already deliver the experience.
- Eat the EGP 40 street classics — koshary, fuul, taameya — where queues are local; restaurant Luxor prices are for the view, not the food.
- Book hot-air balloons directly with Luxor operators the day before rather than through hotel desks; the hotel markup can be 30%+.
- Shoulder months (October, April) cut cruise and hotel rates below the December peak with nearly the same weather.
Related guides
Ready-made itinerary · Best time to visit · General budget tips · Full Egypt guide
FAQ
Is Egypt cheap to travel?
The ground costs are genuinely low — €25–45 per day covers beds, excellent food and the major tombs. Flights and Nile cruises are where the budget actually goes.
How much does a Nile cruise cost?
A 3–4 night Luxor–Aswan cruise runs roughly $80–150 per person per night including meals and guided stops, depending on boat class and season; dahabiyas (sail boats) sit higher.
Should I hire a guide at the temples?
For the west bank and Karnak, a licensed guide transforms the visit — the iconography is dense and unlabelled. Budget $25–50 per site for a private guide, or join shared tours for less.
What does a 8-12 day trip to Egypt really cost?
Multiply the daily figure by your days: at the mid-range (€80 per day per person), on-ground costs for 8-12 days land around €600–€1,700, before international flights. The style table above shows which choices move you between the columns.
How to use these budget figures
These amounts are editorial allowances rather than a survey of current prices. Confirm the currency and whether the charge is per person, room, vehicle or group. Replace accommodation and activity figures with quotes for your dates. Flights, insurance and entry costs must be budgeted separately unless explicitly included.