Cost per day · Egypt
Cairo on $20, $70 or $250 a day
How much does Cairo cost per day? Budget travellers get by on about $20 a day, mid-range trips run around $70, and luxury starts near $250 — accommodation, food, transport and activities included.
That makes Cairo the 5th cheapest of 82 cities for a mid-range trip — see all 82 ranked.
Cairo is the mother of the world — a 5,000-year-old metropolis where the pyramids of Giza meet 20 million people, Islamic architecture rivals any in the world, and the chaos of the streets is matched only by the warmth of the people.
Cairo is extremely affordable. Street food is $1, museum entry is $5, and budget hotels near Tahrir Square cost $15. The biggest challenge is navigating the city — but the metro covers key sites and is incredibly cheap.
✈️ How to Get There
🗺️ What to Do
The last Wonder standing — Khufu's mountain of stone, the Sphinx at its feet, and 4,500 years staring back. Go early, go guided, ride the camel on your own terms.
Read guide → Get tickets on Tiqets →Saladin's fortress over the city — the alabaster Muhammad Ali Mosque, a skyline of a thousand minarets, and 700 years of ruling Egypt from one hill.
Read guide → Get tickets on Tiqets →The biggest museum ever built for one civilisation — Tutankhamun's full treasure reunited, Ramses in the atrium, and the pyramids framed in the window.
Read guide → Get tickets on Tiqets →🏨 Where to Stay
Rooftop with pyramid views (on clear days), Giza location
Check prices on Klook →Social hostel near Tahrir Square, free breakfast
Check prices on Klook →Hostel accommodation with dorm beds and, usually, a few private rooms.
Check prices on Klook →Sample 3-Day Itinerary
Day 1: The Pyramids ~$25
Day 2: Museum & Downtown ~$20
Day 3: Islamic & Coptic Cairo ~$25
Use the Cairo Metro for key routes (tickets are $0.30). Eat koshari from street carts ($1) — it's Egypt's national dish. Uber works well and is cheap. Negotiate taxi prices before getting in. Friday is the quietest day for visiting sites.
Mid-range Cairo unlocks guided Egyptologist tours, comfortable Nile-view hotels, and excellent Egyptian cuisine beyond street food. A private guide at the pyramids transforms the experience entirely.
✈️ How to Get There
🗺️ What to Do
Saladin's fortress over the city — the alabaster Muhammad Ali Mosque, a skyline of a thousand minarets, and 700 years of ruling Egypt from one hill.
Read guide → Get tickets on Tiqets →The biggest museum ever built for one civilisation — Tutankhamun's full treasure reunited, Ramses in the atrium, and the pyramids framed in the window.
Read guide → Get tickets on Tiqets →Dinner on the moving Nile — Cairo's lights from the water, a belly-dance orchestra, and the tanoura spinning like a dervish-powered disco ball.
Read guide → Get tickets on Tiqets →🏨 Where to Stay
Renovated historic hotel on Tahrir Square, Nile views
Check prices on Klook →Garden City location, excellent Nile views, good restaurants
Check prices on Klook →Four-star chain hotel, reliably comfortable rooms and full service without luxury pricing.
Check prices on Klook →Sample 3-Day Itinerary
Day 1: Giza & the GEM ~$80
Day 2: Ancient Treasures ~$70
Day 3: Memphis & Saqqara ~$80
Book a private Egyptologist guide for the pyramids — it's the difference between a good visit and an unforgettable one. Stay in Zamalek or Garden City for the best neighbourhood feel. The Grand Egyptian Museum is a must.
Luxury Cairo is one of the world's most extraordinary travel experiences. Private access to the pyramids at dawn, Nile-view suites, and the new Grand Egyptian Museum make this the golden age of high-end Egyptian travel.
✈️ How to Get There
🗺️ What to Do
Saladin's fortress over the city — the alabaster Muhammad Ali Mosque, a skyline of a thousand minarets, and 700 years of ruling Egypt from one hill.
Read guide → Get tickets on Tiqets →The biggest museum ever built for one civilisation — Tutankhamun's full treasure reunited, Ramses in the atrium, and the pyramids framed in the window.
Read guide → Get tickets on Tiqets →Dinner on the moving Nile — Cairo's lights from the water, a belly-dance orchestra, and the tanoura spinning like a dervish-powered disco ball.
Read guide → Get tickets on Tiqets →🏨 Where to Stay
Giza Nile bank, stunning suites, exceptional restaurants
Check prices on Klook →Newest luxury hotel in Cairo, Nile corniche, butler service
Check prices on Klook →Legendary hotel at the foot of the pyramids, garden pool with views
Check prices on Klook →Sample 3-Day Itinerary
Day 1: Private Pyramids ~$320
Day 2: Sound, Sand & Sail ~$350
Day 3: Desert & Antiquities ~$380
Book private pyramid access through your hotel — sunrise sessions are magical. The Nile Ritz-Carlton has the best Nile views. Combine Cairo with a luxury Nile cruise to Luxor. The Khan el-Khalili after hours is unforgettable.
About Cairo
Hot desert climate. Blazing summers (35°C+, often 40°C) and mild, sunny winters (20°C by day, cool at night). It barely rains. The khamsin sand winds blow in spring; October–April is far more comfortable.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
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| 14° | 16° | 19° | 23° | 27° | 29° | 30° | 30° | 28° | 25° | 20° | 16° |
| 2d | 1d | 1d | 1d | 0d | 0d | 0d | 0d | 0d | 0d | 1d | 2d |
| high | high | high | mid | mid | low | low | low | mid | high | high | high |
Cairo's metro (three lines, with women-only carriages) beats the notorious traffic. Uber and Careem are cheap and easier than haggling with street taxis. Old and Islamic Cairo are best on foot; cross roads with great care.
The Egyptian Museum on Tahrir, the bridge with the lions and the tower on the island.
The medieval bazaar and the street of minarets, the mosque-university, then the citadel above the city.
A travel eSIM gets you online the moment you land in Egypt — data plans start at $5.50 — no roaming bill, no queue for a local SIM, and nothing to swap in and out of your phone. Install it before you fly.
The early-20th-century European-style core: grand crumbling facades, old cafés, Tahrir Square and the Egyptian Museum. Gritty and atmospheric.
Best for budgetA Nile island of embassies, galleries, tree-lined streets and the best independent cafés and restaurants — Cairo's most relaxed quarter.
Best for midrangeA thousand years of mosques and madrasas around Al-Muizz street and the Khan el-Khalili bazaar. The medieval heart, best explored on foot.
Best for midrangeThe Christian quarter: the Hanging Church, an ancient synagogue and Roman fort, plus the Coptic Museum.
Best for budgetCurving leafy streets of old villas and grand Nile-side hotels just south of downtown.
Best for luxuryAcross the Nile and home to the Pyramids and Sphinx; hotels with pyramid views and the Grand Egyptian Museum nearby.
Best for midrange- ✓Carry small notes for baksheesh — tips oil every interaction
- ✓Dress modestly — cover shoulders and knees, especially at mosques
- ✓Use Uber or Careem to avoid taxi-fare haggling
- ✓Remove shoes (and women cover hair) when entering mosques
- ✓Bargain firmly but good-naturedly in the bazaar
- ✓Agree any price before accepting a "free" offer or help
- ✗Drink the tap water — stick to bottled
- ✗Photograph military, police, bridges or the metro
- ✗Accept unsolicited "help" at sights — it ends in a demand for money
- ✗Show public affection or drink alcohol in the street
- ✗Eat or hand things over with the left hand
- ✗Cross the road without shadowing a local — the traffic is relentless
Travel Insurance for Cairo
Travel insurance is strongly recommended for any trip to Cairo. Safety is rated Generally safe for tourists — persistent touts and scams are the main hassle; petty theft and traffic are the real risks. — even in safe destinations, unexpected medical emergencies or trip cancellations can be costly. Make sure your policy covers emergency medical treatment, hospitalisation, trip cancellation, and emergency evacuation.
Visa note: Most visitors need a visa — available on arrival or as an e-Visa for many nationalities.. Some countries require proof of travel insurance as part of the visa application.
Get travel insurance for Cairo →FAQ: Cairo Travel Questions
Is Cairo safe to visit? ▾
Generally safe for tourists — persistent touts and scams are the main hassle; petty theft and traffic are the real risks.
When is the best time to visit Cairo? ▾
October – April (cooler) Hot desert climate. Blazing summers (35°C+, often 40°C) and mild, sunny winters (20°C by day, cool at night). It barely rains. The khamsin sand winds blow in spring; October–April is far more comfortable.
How much does a trip to Cairo cost per day? ▾
- budget: $20–$40/day
- midrange: $70–$130/day
- luxury: $250–$500/day
- business: $100–$220/day
Do I need a visa to visit Egypt? ▾
Most visitors need a visa — available on arrival or as an e-Visa for many nationalities.
How do I get around Cairo? ▾
Cairo's metro (three lines, with women-only carriages) beats the notorious traffic. Uber and Careem are cheap and easier than haggling with street taxis. Old and Islamic Cairo are best on foot; cross roads with great care. Cairo has a metro system. Taxi base fare ~$1. Day pass ~$1.
Is tipping expected in Cairo? ▾
"Baksheesh" is woven into daily life — tip small amounts often, plus around 10% at restaurants.
What currency is used in Egypt? ▾
The local currency is EGP (E£), and the official language is Arabic.