How Does Money-Saving Tips Work in Egypt?
Last verified: 2025-06 · Middle East
1The Quick Answer
Egypt is very affordable — eat koshari at local restaurants, use the Metro and ride-hailing apps, and always bargain for tourist services.
2What You Need to Know
Egypt offers exceptional value for money by global standards, especially for accommodation, food, and entry fees. Koshari restaurants charge 20–40 EGP for a huge, filling meal. The Cairo Metro costs 8–15 EGP per journey regardless of distance. Buying bottled water from local grocery shops rather than tourist kiosks saves 200–400% instantly. Entry to the Egyptian Museum costs considerably less if booked directly than through combined guided tours. Felucca rides on the Nile and horse-carriage rides in Luxor are negotiable and can be secured for a fraction of the initial asking price. Using Wise or a fee-free card for ATM withdrawals saves on exchange fees.
3Practical Tips
Practical Tips
- 1Eat where locals eat — a koshari restaurant, a ful and ta'meya (falafel) breakfast spot, or a local shawarma stand will cost 20–60 EGP compared to 200–500 EGP at tourist-facing restaurants
- 2Buy the individual site entry tickets yourself at the booth rather than through your hotel or a tour operator — the markup is often 2–3x
- 3A Wise multi-currency card eliminates foreign transaction fees and gives near-interbank exchange rates when withdrawing EGP from ATMs
How does this compare?
Money-Saving Tips rules in nearby and similar countries:
The UAE is expensive but cheap eats, free beaches, the Dubai Metro, and hotel happy hours can significantly reduce your costs.
Street food from 10-30 MAD, prix fixe local lunches, public hammams for 15-30 MAD, and riads over chain hotels offer outstanding value throughout Morocco.
Saudi Arabia is not a budget destination, but street food is cheap, many attractions are free, and avoiding tourist-trap restaurants saves significantly.
Traveling to Egypt?
You might also need:
Wise (formerly TransferWise)
Send and spend money abroad using real mid-market exchange rates with no hidden fees.
SafetyWing Travel Insurance
Medical coverage for travelers worldwide. Covers emergency care, hospital stays, and evacuation.
Airalo eSIM
Instant eSIM for 190+ countries. Set up before you leave — no physical SIM card needed.
More About Egypt
Tipping (baksheesh) is deeply embedded in Egyptian culture and expected for almost every small service.
Updated 2025-06
Use the Cairo Metro for cheap city travel, and Uber or Careem for safe, fairly-priced taxis.
Updated 2025-06
Private hospitals in Cairo are good, but healthcare in rural and desert areas is very limited — travel insurance with evacuation cover is essential.
Updated 2025-06
Drug possession, LGBTQ+ activity, photographing government or military sites, and criticising the president are all serious criminal offences in Egypt.
Updated 2025-06
Police: 122, Ambulance: 123, Fire: 180, Tourist Police: 126.
Updated 2025-06
Cover shoulders and knees in most public areas; swimwear is fine at Red Sea and Mediterranean resorts.
Updated 2025-06
🪙 See Money-Saving Tips rules in all countries
Compare all countries →