Is Cairo expensive to visit?
Cairo is a very affordable travel destination with an average daily cost of $20. Compared to the rest of Africa, it is a very affordable place to visit. It's ranked in the top 10% of cities in Africa for its affordability, comparable to places like Aswan and Alexandria.

Cairo, Egypt
How expensive is Cairo?
The average cost of traveling to Cairo can vary widely based on many factors, but our calculations based on previous travlers show that the average daily cost is $20 (U.S. Dollars). Your travel style, accommodation preferences, dining choices, and trip duration can alter your individual budget, as you can find a wide array of accommodation, food, and entertainment options available for your visit. Sticking to mid-range hotels, affordable restaurants, and public transit when available can keep your costs close to this calculated average. See more travel costs for Cairo here.
How expensive is a weekend trip (three days) to Cairo?
Based on our calculations from previous travelers, a weekend trip to Cairo will cost around $59 per person. This amount includes sightseeing activities, hotels, restaurants, local transportation, and other travel expenses. For two people, a weekend trip would cost $118.
How expensive is a one week (7-day) trip to Cairo?
On average, a one week trip to Cairo costs about $138 per person. This is based on the previous expenses of actual travelers, and includes accommodation, food, activities, local transportation, and more. For two people, a one week trip costs $275.
Is it expensive to backpack in Cairo?
With more than 40 hostels around town, Cairo is a very popular backpacker destination. Hostels usually cost around $16 per night. There's a wide range in prices though, with the cheapest beds costing about $1 and the most expensive rooms costing about $200. (See hostel prices in Cairo here.)
Here are a few sample prices from popular hostels in Cairo.
- $10 for a dorm bed at Dahab Hostel
- $9 for a dorm bed at Meramees Hostel
- $14 for a dorm bed at The Australian Hostel
Are hotels expensive in Cairo?
Hotel prices in Cairo are moderately priced and fairly even compared to hotels in other cities. You can expect to spend about $61 per night for a room on average. There are around 34 five star hotels in the city and they average $159 per night. Three star hotels average $39 a night and two star hotels average $23 per night.
Hotels by star rating in Cairo
Rating | Number of Hotels | Average Hotel Price |
---|---|---|
5 stars | 34 | $159 |
4 stars | 31 | $77 |
3 stars | 46 | $39 |
2 stars | 36 | $23 |
1 star | 8 | $15 |
No rating | 1 | $6 |
How expensive are sightseeing activities in Cairo?
Activities and things to do in Cairo can vary in price depending on the type of activity, length, and location. Below are a number of popular activities to give you an idea of what to expect when visiting. Generally, previous travelers have spent $5 per day on sightseeing activities and things to do when visiting, which is more than the country's average of $5.
- Private Guided Tour to Giza Pyramids Egyptian Museum & Khan El Kahlili Bazaar: $100
- comfort Day tour to Giza pyramids & sphinx, saqqara and Memphis : $145
- Private tour to Giza, Sakkara, Memphis with Camel and Lunch: $23
- Tour to Giza Pyramids & museum of Egyptian civilization: $130
- Full day tour to Giza Pyramids Memphis City And Sakkara Pyramid: $80
- Private Tour of the Pyramids and Egyptian Museum in Giza: $80
- Private tour to Giza pyramids,sphinx,museum,market& lunch : $100
- Full day tour to Pyramids Sphinx and Egyptian Museum of Cairo: $42
Is food expensive in Cairo?
Food in Cairo can vary in price depending on the restaurant and food options available. Generally, other travelers have spent $8 on food per person per day, which is less than the country's average of $8. To save money, eat at less expensive restaurants, try street food, or cook your own meals when possible.
- Dinner Nile cruse in Cairo at Night: $35
- Giza Pyramids, Camel Ride, ATV, shopping Tour and Dinner cruise: $25
- Best 3 Days Tour of Cairo, Giza& Alexandria with Dinner Cruise, Felucca& Camel : $158
- Cairo Dinner Cruise on River Nile with Belly Dancing Show: $14
- ATV Quad Bike Ride At GIZA Pyramids & BBQ Dinner.: $80
- Cairo food tour in Hidden Gems : $40
Is transportation expensive in Cairo?
Local transportation in Cairo can vary in price depending on the type of transit used. Generally, other travelers have spent $3 on local transportation per person per day, which is more than the country's average of $3. To save money, take public transit whenever possible, as it will almost always be cheaper than a taxi or private driver.
More for Cairo
If you're planning a trip to Cairo, Egypt, check out these other informative travel guides.
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.