Cairo

Egypt · North Africa

Pyramids on the city's edge; bazaars at its heart.

Best timeOct–Apr
CurrencyEGP
LanguageArabic
Vibepyramids · bazaar · Nile
Why it stands out

What makes Cairo distinctive

  • -57% vs $279
    57% below global median

    At $120/day mid-range, Cairo runs 57% under the $279/day global median across 68 cities.

  • -27% vs region
    Notably cheap misc

    Misc runs $8/day here, about 27% below the North Africa average of $11/day — one of the reasons Cairo punches above its weight for daily spend.

  • -24% vs region
    Cheaper than North Africa average

    24% cheaper than the North Africa regional average of $157/day mid-range. Regional rank: #1 of 2.

Cairo lands in the cheaper third of the global index — a $120/day mid-range figure that undercuts the $279/day median by 57%. Inside North Africa it's ranked #1 of 2 on daily cost, 24% below the regional average of $157/day. The line item that moves the total most is misc at $8/day (27% below the regional norm) — worth accounting for before you compare against another city on headline numbers alone. Season effect is roughly 47% between low and peak, in line with the global average (~47%), which is why timing the trip to oct–apr shows up on nearly every itinerary that hits the numbers on this page.

Daily cost · shoulder season

Three credible numbers, depending on how you travel.

Budget
$52
per person · per day
hostels, street food
Mid-range
$120
per person · per day
hotels, sit-down meals
Luxury
$336
per person · per day
design hotels, tasting menus

What a trip to Cairo actually costs

On a shoulder-season day in Cairo, a budget traveller spends about $52, a mid-range traveller about $120, and a luxury traveller about $336 — per person, covering accommodation, food, local transport, activities, and miscellaneous costs. At $120/day mid-range, Cairo is noticeably cheaper than the global median of $279/day.

Time your visit for Oct–Apr and the daily figure stays near the baseline; shift into peak and you'll see roughly a 47% swing between low and peak season for the same mid-range trip ($102 → $150 per day).

Compared with nearby North Africa destinations, Marrakech trends pricier ($194/day).

Cost breakdown

Where the money goes, per day

CategoryBudgetMid-rangeLuxury
accommodation$28$62$182
food$10$25$67
transport$3$8$20
activities$7$17$45
Misc & fees$4$8$22
Total per day$52$120$336

Per person · USD · shoulder-season baseline

By season

When is Cairo cheapest?

SeasonBudget / dayMid / dayLuxury / day
low$44$102$286
shoulder$52$120$336
peak$65$150$420

Best-value window: Oct–Apr

By trip length

Total cost by length of stay

LengthBudgetMid-rangeLuxury
3 days$156$360$1,008
7 days$364$840$2,352
14 days$728$1,680$4,704

On-the-ground totals · shoulder season · excludes flights and visas

FAQ

Cairo travel costs · common questions

How much does a day in Cairo cost?
Budget travellers spend around $52 per day, mid-range travellers around $120, and luxury travellers around $336. Figures are shoulder-season, per person, in USD, and cover accommodation, food, local transport, activities, and miscellaneous costs.
Is Cairo expensive?
At $120/day mid-range in shoulder season, Cairo is noticeably cheaper than the global median (~$279/day). It sits inside our North Africa cost band.
What's the cheapest time to visit Cairo?
Low season in Cairo brings mid-range daily costs down to about $102, versus $150 in peak season — a ~47% swing. The best window weather-and-price overall is Oct–Apr.
How much should I budget for a week in Cairo?
Plan for roughly $364 (budget), $840 (mid-range), or $2352 (luxury) per person for seven days on the ground, before flights and visas. Add a 10–15% buffer.
What currency is used in Cairo?
Cairo uses the EGP. Pay in the local currency at terminals — never accept "dynamic currency conversion" into your home currency.