What budget to travel Egypt? Money and currency

What budget for activities and outings Egypt?

Egypt relies heavily on its cultural tourism, and while you can eat and stay without breaking the bank, you'll need to budget for visits. Expect to pay between 60 and 400 LE for access to the major sites. Certain days should be avoided when planning visits, notably public holidays such as the end of Ramadan, Eid el-Kebir, Cham al-Nessim and October 6. Fridays should also be avoided if you want to visit sites such as the Giza or Saqqarah pyramids, the Egyptian Museum or the Nile ledges. The locals take advantage of these days to flock to these sites and public places, and you won't fully appreciate them.

Entrance fees to the tourist sites listed in this guide are subject to change, particularly due to inflation, which is particularly high in Egypt.

Egypt is a known diving destination. It is the whole Mediterranean coast which proposes you to discover its sea beds. In Sharm el-Sheikh, Dahab, Nuweiba, Taba, Hurghada, Port Safaga, Quseir and Marsa Alam, most dive clubs are safe and prices are rather fixed. Some destinations are also popular for kitesurfing, such as Ras es-Sudr, Dahab, Port Safaga. Stays are organized around the practice of this sport.

Egypt is not a trendy shopping destination! Nevertheless, it's a country of artisans and you can find some interesting pieces, the price of which will essentially depend on your ability to haggle, especially in the souks! It's worth noting that in some souks, in Cairo for example, humanitarian associations have their own stalls to ensure fairer prices and, above all, a fair reward for the little hands. Egyptians have a great passion for malls, and you'll find them in every major city, with both local and international brands.

From evening shows to trendy discos, cinema screenings to belly dancing shows: prices vary according to the standing of the establishment.

What budget to eat Egypt?

Restaurants abound in Egypt, from boui-boui to luxury eateries: you'll be spoilt for choice. In general, the cheapest dishes are those based on cooked fava beans: foul or taamiya, a kind of falafel where fava beans replace chickpeas. Foul is the Egyptians' favorite breakfast, according to the following proverb: "Morning foul, king's meal, noon foul, poor man's meal, evening foul, donkey's meal However, for a Westerner, foul is better at midday than at coffee and croissant time!

Another economical and nourishing option: kouchary, a mixture of rice, pasta, lentils and chickpeas, all spiced up with a light tomato sauce and lots of grilled onions. There are three "sizes" of kouchary: small, medium and large. Prices range from LE 1 to LE 2. You can even take this feast away with you.

Sandwich shops are also an excellent option for smaller budgets. Flat, almost round bread rolls(eish shami) are filled with your choice of shakshouka (eggs with tomato), taamiya, foul, kebab, kofta, potatoes, cauliflower fritters, salad, etc. Count on 1 to 1.50 LE, depending on the side dish. There's also chawarma: strips of lamb or chicken (cooked first on a spit) are fried with tomatoes and onions, and a shami is stuffed with the mixture. Again, cheap, fast and therefore practical, but also delicious and fragrant.

Restaurant prices shared in this guide are those of 2023 and are subject to change, as inflation has been particularly high in Egypt in recent years.

While access to traditional neighbourhood cafés is unregulated in large cities, many of the more upscale cafés practice a "minimum charge" policy, often set at 50 LE, encouraging consumption and sorting out their customers from the outset.

What is the budget for accommodation Egypt?

For the same quality, hotel prices in Egypt are much lower than in France. A double room, impeccably decorated and equipped with all modern comforts, rents for around LE 600 to LE 1,200 in an average hotel.

The major international chains offer hotel nights from €60 to... more than €400 for the most luxurious, in high season. In this range, room prices vary enormously between high (winter) and low season (high summer).

On the other side of the spectrum, Egypt has many low-end hotels, with no equivalent in France. Gone are the days when you could stay for little more than 5 LE. Cheaper hotels now offer rooms from LE 300, but cleanliness and service have also improved. Above that, we're generally dealing with more comfortable hotels.

The hotel prices shared in this guide are those of 2023 and are subject to change, as inflation has been particularly high in Egypt in recent years.

Finally, since July¹, 2023, a tourist tax corresponding to 1% of the hotel room rate per night, with a maximum of LE 50 per occupant per night, is now payable in addition to the accommodation.

Travel budget Egypt and cost of living

Due to the devaluation of the currency, which lost half its value in autumn 2016, many prices have risen, but the differential remains very advantageous for foreign tourists.
As a general rule, rates for small-to-medium hotels range from LE 100 to LE 450; restaurants from LE 50 to LE 350; the price of a museum ticket is LE 60 or LE 100 (50% discount for holders of an international student card); the price of a cab ride in Cairo is LE 70 for half the city.
For a small budget, a typical day, including one night's hotel accommodation and breakfast (200 LE), transport (80 LE), two visits (between 60 LE and 100 LE in Cairo, and between 100 LE and 200 LE in the Nile Valley), lunch and dinner (300 LE), comes to around 800 LE, or 38 €.
For a larger budget, grand hotels can go up to 600 US$ or more, and lunch and dinner in well-known restaurants can be had for between 400 and 600 LE per person, drinks not included.