How much does it cost to travel to Cairo?
You should plan to spend around $17 (E£824) per day on your vacation in Cairo. This is the average daily price based on the expenses of other visitors.
Past travelers have spent, on average for one day:
- $4.75 (E£225) on meals
- $2.99 (E£142) on local transportation
- $19 (E£888) on hotels
A one week trip to Cairo for two people costs, on average, $243 (E£11,535). This includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.
All of these average travel prices have been collected from other travelers to help you plan your own travel budget.
Independent Travel
Traveling Independently to Cairo has many benefits including affordabilty, freedom, flexibility, and the opportunity to control your own experiences.
All of the travel costs below are based on the experiences of other independent travelers.
Is Cairo expensive to visit?
Cairo is a very affordable place to visit. Located in Egypt, which is a very affordable country, visitors will appreciate the lower prices of this destination. It is in the top 10% of cities in the country for its overall travel expenses. Budget travelers enjoy spending long periods of time exploring Cairo in depth.
Within Africa, Cairo is a very affordable destination compared to other places. It is in the top 10% of cities in Africa for its affordability. Very few cities in the region are as affordable as Cairo.
For more details, and to find out if it's within your travel budget, see Is Cairo Expensive?
How much money do I need for a trip to Cairo?
The average Cairo trip cost is broken down by category here for independent travelers. All of these Cairo travel prices are calculated from the budgets of real travelers.
|
Category
|
Cost
|
|
Accommodation 1
(Double Occupancy)
|
E£888
($19)
|
|
Local Transportation 1
|
E£142
($3)
|
|
Food 2
|
E£225
($5)
|
|
Entertainment 1
|
E£273
($6)
|
|
Tips and Handouts 1
|
E£26 -
77
($1 - 2)
|
|
Alcohol 2
|
E£28 -
83
($1 - 2)
|
Accommodation Budget in Cairo
Calculated from travelers like you
The average price paid for one person for accommodation in Cairo is $9.36 (E£444). For two people sharing a typical double-occupancy hotel room, the average price paid for a hotel room in Cairo is $19 (E£888). This cost is from the reported spending of actual travelers.
Looking for a hotel in Cairo? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options.
Transportation Budget in Cairo
Calculated from travelers like you
-
The cost of a taxi ride in Cairo is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $2.99 (E£142) per person, per day, on local transportation in Cairo.
-
Transportation1
Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
$2.99
E£142
How much does it cost to go to Cairo? Naturally, it depends on the dates. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all airlines.
The price of renting a car in Cairo will depends on dates, the type of car, the location, and your age. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all car rental companies.
Typical prices for Transportation in Cairo are listed below. These actual costs are from real travelers and can give you an idea of the prices in Cairo, but your costs will vary based on your travel style and the place where the purchase was made.
-
Metro Ride
E£4.00
-
Taxi Ride
E£15
Food Budget in Cairo
Calculated from travelers like you
-
While meal prices in Cairo can vary, the average cost of food in Cairo is $4.75 (E£225) per day. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out an average meal in Cairo should cost around $1.90 (E£90) per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in Cairo is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.
-
Food2
Meals for one day
$4.75
E£225
Typical prices for Food in Cairo are listed below. These actual costs are from real travelers and can give you an idea of the prices in Cairo, but your costs will vary based on your travel style and the place where the purchase was made.
Entertainment Budget in Cairo
Calculated from travelers like you
-
Entertainment and activities in Cairo typically cost an average of $5.75 (E£273) per person, per day based on the spending of previous travelers. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.
-
Entertainment1
Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
$5.75
E£273
Typical prices for Entertainment in Cairo are listed below. These actual costs are from real travelers and can give you an idea of the prices in Cairo, but your costs will vary based on your travel style and the place where the purchase was made.
Tips and Handouts Budget in Cairo
Calculated from travelers like you
Scams, Robberies, and Mishaps Budget in Cairo
Calculated from travelers like you
-
Unfortunately, bad things can happen on a trip. Well, you've just got to deal with it! The average price for a scam, robbery, or mishap in Cairo is $0.89 (E£42), as reported by travelers.
-
Scams, Robberies, and Mishaps1
$0.89
E£42
Alcohol Budget in Cairo
Calculated from travelers like you
-
The average person spends about $1.17 (E£56) on alcoholic beverages in Cairo per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
-
Alcohol2
Drinks for one day
$1.17
E£56
Water Budget in Cairo
Calculated from travelers like you
-
On average, people spend $0.16 (E£7.71) on bottled water in Cairo per day. The public water in Cairo is not usually considered safe to drink.
-
Water2
Bottled water for one day
$0.16
E£7.71
Last Updated: Jun 15, 2023
Cairo On a Budget
Cairo, Egypt
Cairo is the chaotic capital city of Egypt. With a population of more than 16 million, it is one of the largest cities in both Africa and the Middle East. As a traveler, you're likely to arrive and leave from here and you'll get your first orientation to the area during the chaotic and congestion filled taxi ride from the airport.
Cairo sits on the famed Nile River and is filled with history and culture. The city is filled with sights and attractions, but there is also an atmosphere that combines the old and new. The city is an excellent place to explore and experience a modern, yet traditional Middle Eastern capital.
Cairo's climate is a hot desert climate. The humidity is usually higher than you might expect due to the proximity to the Mediterranean Sea and the Nile Delta. Wind storms are common, particularly between the months of March and May. During this time the air can be very dry. High temperatures in the winter months can be anywhere from the mid 60s Fahrenheit to the mid 80s. During the summer the highs can climb over 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Rain is rare, but more common during the cooler months.
There remains an ongoing threat of terrorism in Egypt, and visitors to Cairo should remain alert and aware of their surroundings. Research any current developments prior to any visit to the area.
Sights
Most people think of the Pyramids when they think of Cairo, but there really is so much more to this city. You should easily allow at least three, if not more, days to fully explore even the most popular sights. Check out this
guide to a 5, 7, or 10 day itinerary of Egypt for more info.
You should definitely not miss the Egyptian Museum, which is conveniently located in the middle of town. You can spend hours seeing the artifacts that date back thousands of years. The museum is divided into many rooms and you'll find fascinating objects on display, and also scattered almost randomly around the room. In Old Cairo you'll see most of the Coptic sights, which offer you a glimpse into a very different side of the city. You can also take a stroll down the famed Nile River where you'll see plenty of young Egyptian couples out walking and taking in the evening light.
Neighborhoods
Cairo is a large city that covers a vast area. The central core can be divided into 11 districts. These are Midan Tahrir, the Downtown, Midan Ramses, Garden City, Islamic Cairo, Old Cairo, Dokki Mohandeseen, Gezira and Zamalek, Giza, Heliopolis and Nasr City, and Ma'adi. Midan Tahrir is where you'll find the Egyptian Museum, many hotels, and "Liberation Square". Midan Ramses is where the main railway station is located and Garden City is a suburb near the city center and a good option for accommodation.
Activities
As Cairo is a large city, there is no shortage of activities that you can enjoy while you're in town. Many visitors take a felucca ride along the Nile River. Feluccas can be found across from the Four Seasons Hotel in the Garden City. It's possible to charter a ride and negotiate a fair price.
It's also worth visiting at least one of Cairo's many parks. Probably the most famous is the
Giza Zoo. Other options include Al Orman Gardens, Al Azbakieya Gardens, Genenet El Asmak, and Merryland, among many others.
Food and Dining
Cairo has a large number of excellent restaurants that offer everything from traditional Middle Eastern foods to international cuisines. It's best to avoid those that are listed in guidebooks, as the quality often slips as the price goes up. If you're looking for cheap food, then casual street restaurants and street stalls may be your best option. The downtown area in particular has a lot of budget food options.
The Nile is also lined with some of the city's best restaurants, which offer a delicious tasting of Egyptian cuisine. The food is comparable to Middle Eastern food elsewhere, with only subtle differences in the types of cheese used or the style of hummus. Many of the restaurants along the Nile are more expensive, but the ambiance and the quality of the food make them easily worth the added expense.
Transportation
Cairo has a great
metro system that you can use to reach many places around town. It can be very chaotic and crazy, especially during rush hour, but it is cheap and fast. Do keep an eye on your wallet during your ride.
Taxis are another good alternative. They are reasonably priced if you're a good negotiator, but be prepared to barter hard as some drivers can be quite stubborn in their prices.
Public buses also travel around the city. This is one of the cheapest travel options, but they can get quite crowded. Women should use caution when choosing this form of transportation as there are frequent problems with sexual harassment.
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We've been gathering travel costs from tens of thousands of actual travelers since 2010, and we use the data to calculate average daily travel costs for destinations around the world. We also systematically analyze the prices of hotels, hostels, and tours from travel providers such as Kayak, HostelWorld, TourRadar, Viator, and others. This combination of expenses from actual travelers, combined with pricing data from major travel companies, gives us a uniqe insight into the overall cost of travel for thousands of cities in countries around the world. You can see more here: How it Works.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.