Pyramid Compass › Money & Practical
Most Egypt budget guides quote a 2020 figure in USD and assume the rate is stable. It's not — the EGP has moved from ~15 to ~50 to one USD over five years. This calculator takes a 2026 reference rate, lets you adjust it to whatever rate your bank charges, and breaks your budget down by category.
Printed reference rate: 50 EGP/USD (October 2026). Your bank may give you 48-55.
Run the calculator to see your category breakdown.
Generic Egypt budget articles quote figures from 2018 in USD with no EGP adjustment. They miss:
The calculator returns five category totals: hotel, food, sights, transport (incl. cruise if applicable), and a 5% buffer. Each is broken into per-day and total. The USD equivalent uses your entered rate — not the printed reference — so what you see is what your bank will actually charge you.
The trip focus slider redistributes the budget. "Cruise" puts more into transport (the cruise line) and less into hotels. "Desert" puts more into fuel and permits. "Beach" puts more into resort and less into sights. "Balanced" is roughly 35/20/20/20/5 across the five categories.
The advice card highlights the line items most likely to surprise first-time travelers at your chosen style and focus.
At the shoestring level, yes — if you sleep in 2-star guesthouses, eat at koshary and local restaurants, use the metro, and self-guide. Once you add a single 5-star night or a Nile cruise day, that jumps to $100–$150.
Site tickets for the pyramid interiors, tombs in the Valley of the Kings (Seti I alone is 1,800+ EGP), and the GEM Grand Egyptian Museum. A family of four visiting Giza + Valley of the Kings + GEM can spend 8,000–15,000 EGP ($160–$300) on tickets alone.
For hotels and tours, USD cash is fine and sometimes gets you a small discount (since vendors avoid card fees). For souqs, tipping, and small restaurants, EGP is essential. Bring both: $200–500 USD for buffer, and use ATMs in Cairo for EGP at the best rate.
Yes at hotels, restaurants, large shops, and supermarkets. No at souks, taxis, small cafes, microbus, and most baksheesh situations. Visa and Mastercard work; American Express less often. Always have cash as backup.
Page last updated: October 2026.
What it is. A small JavaScript calculator that breaks an Egypt trip budget into five categories and converts to USD at a user-set rate.
Who it's for. Independent travelers planning a real Egypt trip and wanting a defensible line-item budget.
What it isn't. Not a live price scraper. Not a substitute for getting quotes from hotels and operators.
Limitations. Egypt prices change. The calculator uses October 2026 reference data.
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Last updated: October 2026.
Not professional advice. The information on Pyramid Compass is for general informational purposes only. It is not professional travel, legal, financial, medical, or safety advice.
Accuracy. We do our best to keep prices, ticket tiers, opening hours, EGP rates, and rules current. Conditions in Egypt change quickly — always cross-check with your hotel concierge, your embassy, and the official site.
Personal responsibility. Travel in Egypt carries real risks. You are responsible for your own safety, insurance, visa, and choices.
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Last updated: October 2026.