How much does a trip to Egypt cost? Less than most people expect for what you see, but the range is wide. A careful independent traveller can see the highlights on around US$70–100 a day, a comfortable mid-range trip with private guiding and a good Nile cruise usually costs US$150–250 per person per day, and a luxury trip with five-star hotels, a top cruise ship or dahabiya and private everything can easily pass US$400 a day. This guide breaks the costs down item by item for 2026–2027, with sample budgets for one and two travellers, so you can plan realistically.
For day-by-day routes that match these budgets, see our 10- and 14-day Egypt itineraries.
Prices are in US dollars unless stated, based on an exchange rate of about EGP 56 to US$1 in October 2026. Entry fees are set in Egyptian pounds and change from time to time, so treat every figure as a planning estimate, not a quote.
Quick Answer: Egypt Trip Cost per Person
- Budget: around US$70–100 per day, using simple hotels, public transport and trains, and shared tours.
- Mid-range: around US$150–250 per day, with four-star hotels, a private guide and driver, domestic flights and a five-star Nile cruise.
- Luxury: US$400+ per day, with five-star and heritage hotels, a luxury cruise ship or dahabiya and private experiences such as a balloon flight.
- Typical 8-day mid-range trip: roughly US$1,500–2,500 per person, plus international flights.
International Flights
Flights are often the largest single cost and vary with season and departure city. As a rough guide for a return economy ticket to Cairo:
- From the United States: often US$700–1,400, higher around Christmas and Easter.
- From the United Kingdom: often £300–700.
- From mainland Europe: often €250–600, with direct flights to Hurghada, Sharm El Sheikh and sometimes Luxor in winter.
Booking two to four months ahead usually gives the best fares for the October–April high season.
Visa
Most Western visitors need a tourist visa. A single-entry e-visa or visa on arrival costs US$25. Check the current rules for your nationality in our Egypt visa requirements guide before you travel.
Accommodation
- Budget hotels and guesthouses: US$25–60 per room per night.
- Good mid-range and four-star hotels: US$80–160 per room.
- Five-star and luxury hotels: US$200–500+ per room, with historic hotels such as those overlooking the Pyramids or the Nile at the top of the range.
Prices are highest from mid-December to early January and around Easter, and lowest from May to September.
Nile Cruise
A Luxor–Aswan cruise is the best-value way to see Upper Egypt, because the price normally includes your cabin, full board and guided sightseeing. Typical prices per person for three or four nights, sharing a cabin:
- Standard ships: from about US$350–600.
- Deluxe five-star ships: about US$650–1,900.
- Luxury ships and dahabiyas: about US$1,500–3,000+.
See ship-by-ship rates in our Nile cruise price guide.
Entry Tickets
Entry fees have risen in recent years and add up quickly. Approximate 2026 foreign-visitor prices:
- Giza Pyramids plateau: EGP 700 (about US$12–13); inside the Great Pyramid adds EGP 1,500.
- Grand Egyptian Museum: around EGP 1,200 or more, booked separately.
- Saqqara: about EGP 600.
- Karnak Temple: about EGP 600; Luxor Temple: about EGP 500.
- Valley of the Kings: about EGP 600 for three tombs, with Tutankhamun and Seti I as extra tickets.
- Abu Simbel: about EGP 750; Philae Temple: about EGP 550 plus the boat.
For a classic one-week trip with the main sites, budget roughly US$150–250 per person for tickets, more if you go inside the Great Pyramid, Seti I or Nefertari’s tomb. Many tour and cruise prices already include standard entry fees, so check what is covered.
Domestic Transport
- Domestic flights (Cairo–Luxor, Cairo–Aswan, Aswan–Cairo): often US$60–150 one way.
- Sleeper train Cairo–Luxor/Aswan: about US$100–150 per person in a shared cabin with dinner and breakfast.
- Day trains: much cheaper, but long and less comfortable.
- Private car and driver: roughly US$40–90 per day in Cairo, depending on distance.
- Ride-hailing apps in Cairo: most city trips cost US$2–8.
Guides and Tours
A licensed Egyptologist guide makes a big difference at sites such as Karnak and the Valley of the Kings. A private guide typically costs US$40–80 per day, while shared day tours start from about US$30–60 per person. Packaged private tours usually include guides, transport and tickets in one price, which is often easier and not much more expensive than arranging everything separately. See our Egypt tour packages for examples.
Food and Drink
- Local street food and cafés (koshari, falafel, fuul): US$1–5 per meal.
- Mid-range restaurants: US$8–20 per person.
- Hotel and Nile-view restaurants: US$25–50 per person.
- Bottled water: under US$1 in shops, more at sites and hotels.
- Beer and wine: sold only in licensed venues, and imported drinks are expensive. Our guide to alcohol in Egypt explains where and what it costs.
Tips
Tipping is part of daily life in Egypt and should be in your budget. Plan around US$10–15 per person per day for a typical guided trip, covering guides, drivers, cruise staff and small services. Our tipping in Egypt guide gives detailed amounts.
Optional Extras
- Hot-air balloon in Luxor: about US$50–130 per person.
- Sound and Light Show at Giza: sold separately; check current prices.
- Red Sea snorkelling day trip: about US$30–60.
- Desert safari or White Desert overnight: from about US$120–250 per person.
- Travel insurance: usually US$40–120 for a one- to two-week trip.
Sample Budgets for 8 Days (Excluding International Flights)
Budget traveller (per person)
- Accommodation (shared room): US$200–300
- Nile cruise (standard, 3 nights): US$350–450
- Transport (trains and taxis): US$120–180
- Entry tickets: US$150–200
- Food: US$80–120
- Tips and extras: US$60–100
- Total: about US$960–1,350
Mid-range traveller (per person, sharing)
- Hotels in Cairo (3–4 nights, four-star): US$200–350
- Five-star Nile cruise (3–4 nights): US$650–1,100
- Domestic flights: US$150–300
- Private guide and driver in Cairo: US$100–200
- Entry tickets: US$170–250
- Food outside the cruise: US$100–150
- Tips and extras: US$100–150
- Total: about US$1,470–2,450
A couple travelling mid-range
Because rooms, cabins, guides and drivers are shared, two people usually pay about 1.7–1.8 times the single-traveller cost, not double. A comfortable 8-day trip for two typically costs around US$3,000–4,500 in total, before international flights.
How to Save Money
- Travel in the shoulder months (late April, May, late September, October) or summer for lower hotel and cruise prices.
- Choose a Nile cruise instead of separate hotels in Luxor and Aswan; meals and guiding are included.
- Carry small Egyptian pound notes for tips and small purchases to avoid overpaying in foreign currency.
- Use ride-hailing apps in Cairo instead of street taxis.
- Prioritise the extra tickets you really want; you do not need every special tomb.
- Read our budget travel tips for Egypt for more ideas.
Is Egypt Expensive?
Day-to-day costs such as food, taxis and local transport are cheap by Western standards. The costs that add up are flights, entry tickets (especially the special tombs), good hotels and private services. Overall, Egypt offers very good value: a well-organised mid-range trip with a private Egyptologist and a five-star Nile cruise costs less than a similar week in much of Europe.
What Is Usually Included in a Tour Price?
When you compare tour prices, check carefully what each one includes, because two offers that look different may cover very different things. A typical private package from a local operator includes:
- airport meet-and-assist and private transfers;
- hotel nights and the Nile cruise, usually with breakfast in hotels and full board on the cruise;
- a licensed Egyptologist guide for sightseeing days;
- private air-conditioned transport between sites;
- standard entry tickets to the sites in the programme;
- domestic flights, if stated.
Things that are usually not included: international flights, the visa, special tickets (inside the Great Pyramid, Seti I, Nefertari), optional excursions such as Abu Simbel or the balloon if not listed, drinks, lunches and dinners outside the cruise, tips and travel insurance. A cheaper price that excludes guiding, tickets or domestic flights can end up costing more.
Costs by Season
- Peak (mid-December to early January, Easter): the highest hotel and cruise prices; book early.
- High (October to April outside the peaks): comfortable weather and standard high-season prices.
- Shoulder (May, late September): noticeably cheaper, warmer in the south.
- Low (June to August): the lowest prices for hotels and cruises, very hot in Luxor and Aswan, busy Red Sea resorts with domestic tourists.
Typical Daily Spending on the Ground
Once your hotels, cruise and tours are paid, daily spending is modest. A couple on a guided trip typically spends the equivalent of US$40–80 a day on drinks, snacks, the occasional meal outside the itinerary, tips and small souvenirs. Independent travellers who pay for transport and every meal as they go should budget more. Carry small Egyptian pound notes and read our guide to money in Egypt for practical advice on cash, cards and ATMs.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a 7-day trip to Egypt cost?
Excluding international flights, a 7-day trip usually costs about US$900–1,300 per person on a budget, US$1,300–2,200 mid-range and US$3,000+ for luxury travel.
How much does a trip to Egypt cost for two people?
A comfortable mid-range 8-day trip for two typically costs around US$3,000–4,500 in total, plus international flights. Sharing rooms, cabins and private guides keeps the per-person cost down.
How much cash should I bring to Egypt?
Card payments work in most hotels and larger restaurants, but you will need cash for tips, small shops and some sites. Many travellers withdraw Egyptian pounds from ATMs and carry the equivalent of US$30–50 a day in small notes.
Are tours in Egypt worth the money?
For most first-time visitors, yes. A private tour with a licensed guide saves time at the big sites, avoids most hassle and touts, and the price often includes transport and entry fees.
What is the cheapest time to visit Egypt?
June to August is the cheapest season, followed by May and September. It is hot in Upper Egypt, but hotel and cruise prices are much lower.