Budget/Backpacker Travel Guide: Cairo
Experience authentic local culture on a shoestring budget with hostels, street food, and public transport
Daily Budget: 370-1000 EGP ($12-32) per day
Complete breakdown of costs for budget/backpacker travel in Cairo
Accommodation
200-500 EGP ($6-16) per night
Dorm beds in hostels and budget guesthouses cluster around Downtown and within walking distance of Tahrir Square, cheap, cheerful, and the fastest way to meet other shoestring travelers.
Browse budget/backpacker accommodation →Food & Dining
100-250 EGP ($3-8) per day
Street food from carts and local koshary shops, plus falafel sandwiches and sugar cane juice, grab a stool, watch the cook ladle sauce, and you'll eat like a Cairene for the cost of a metro ticket.
Transportation
20-50 EGP ($0.60-1.60) per day
Metro rides and microbuses for longer distances, walking within neighborhoods
Activities
50-200 EGP ($1.60-6.40) per day
Free activities like walking the Nile Corniche, plus occasional museum entries
Currency: £ Egyptian Pound
Money-Saving Tips
Eat lunch at koshary shops instead of tourist restaurants (typically 70% cheaper) and you'll still leave full, happy, and with change for an afternoon coffee.
Use Cairo Metro instead of taxis for most trips (saves 3-5x on transport)
Stay in Downtown rather than Zamalek for accommodation savings of 30-50%
Visit during Ramadan when restaurant prices drop 20-30% after sunset
Book Pyramid complex tickets directly rather than through hotel concierge
Common Budget Mistakes to Avoid
Taking taxis everywhere instead of Metro (costs 5-8x more)
Eating only at Nile-front restaurants (typically 200% markup vs local spots)
Booking last-minute accommodation in October/November (prices spike 40-60%)