Focus your spending on the things that are hard to redo, and save everywhere else. Day tours from Cairo start around $15, koshary and foul are both cheap and genuinely good, and public transport within cities costs little. Where it's worth spending more: a good guide at your must-see sites, and the sleeper train or a flight instead of a rough overland day.
Key takeaways
- Day tours from Cairo start from around $15 for shorter, closer excursions.
- Everyday Egyptian food (koshary, foul, ta'ameya) is both cheap and among the best things to eat.
- A private Egyptologist guide for your top one or two sites is the upgrade most worth paying for, even on a tight budget.
- Book domestic transport (flight or sleeper train) rather than a long, rough overland day to save real time.
Where to spend and where to save
| Spend more on | Save on |
|---|---|
| A guide at your must-see sites | A guide for every single stop |
| One flight or the sleeper train for the long leg | Multiple short internal flights when a bus or day tour covers it |
| One nicer meal to try something specific | Everyday meals — local food is both cheap and good |
Practical ways to keep costs down
See our Egypt travel budget guide for an overall cost picture, and cash or card in Egypt and using ATMs in Egypt to avoid losing money to avoidable card and exchange fees.
Frequently asked questions
Is Egypt cheaper than other major destinations?
Day-to-day costs (food, local transport, day tours) are generally lower than in Western Europe or the US; flights and internationally-run hotels are priced closer to global norms.
Can I see the major sites without a private guide at all?
Yes, but a guide adds real context at complex sites — even booking one for just your top pick or two is a reasonable middle ground.
Reviewed September 2026.