Egypt money is simple once you know three things: you pay in Egyptian pounds (EGP), cash still rules outside hotels and big restaurants, and small tips are part of daily life. In October 2026, one US dollar buys roughly 52 Egyptian pounds, so prices often look high in numbers but feel modest in dollars. This guide walks you through banknotes, cards, ATMs, exchange and exactly how much to tip, so you can spend with confidence from your first taxi to your last night on the Nile.
The Egyptian pound is Egypt's official currency, shown as EGP, E£ or LE (from the French "livre égyptienne"). Locals call it the gineih. One pound splits into 100 piastres, called irsh, though you will rarely handle anything below one pound today. Price tags may use Arabic numerals, so it helps to learn the digits 0 to 9 before you arrive: it takes ten minutes and saves real money at markets.
You will mostly use banknotes of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 and 200 pounds, plus 1-pound and 50-piastre coins. The 10 and 20 pound notes now come in a newer plastic (polymer) version, and the older paper notes are still valid, so do not worry if you get both. Each note has Arabic on one side and English on the other, which makes counting easy. Keep a stack of 10s, 20s and 50s for tips, toilets and taxis, because many small vendors cannot break a 200.
In October 2026, one US dollar is worth about 52 Egyptian pounds, and the rate has moved between roughly 47 and 55 during the year. Egypt lets its currency float, so check a live rate in your banking app a few days before you fly. As a quick mental shortcut, 100 EGP is about $2 and 1,000 EGP is about $19. A bottle of water may cost 10 to 15 EGP, while a sit-down local meal is often 200 to 400 EGP per person.
Use cards for big bills and cash for everything small. Visa and Mastercard work in most 4 and 5-star hotels, Nile cruise ships, malls, chain restaurants and the ticket offices at major sites such as the Pyramids and Karnak. American Express is accepted far less often. Taxis, local cafés, street food, markets and almost all tips are cash only. A good rule is to carry enough Egyptian pounds for one to two days and keep your card for hotels and larger purchases.
Yes. ATMs are easy to find in Cairo, Luxor, Aswan, Hurghada and Sharm El Sheikh, and they accept Visa and Mastercard with a standard 4-digit PIN. Most machines let you take out a few thousand pounds per withdrawal, and the exact cap depends on the bank and the cash inside the machine. Stick to ATMs attached to bank branches or hotels, such as National Bank of Egypt, Banque Misr or CIB. If the screen offers to convert the amount into dollars, decline and choose to be charged in EGP, which is almost always cheaper. Tell your bank you are traveling to Egypt so your card is not blocked, and withdraw before boarding a Nile cruise, since there are no ATMs on board.
The best places are banks and official exchange offices, which display their rates and give a receipt. Changing a small amount at the airport is fine for your first taxi and tips, then use a bank or ATM in town for the rest. Avoid anyone offering to change money on the street, even if the rate looks better, because short-changing and fake notes are a real risk. Bring clean, undamaged US dollar bills, as torn or very old notes are often refused.
Yes, a small stash of US dollars is useful. Many hotels, cruise ships and tour companies accept them, and dollars are welcome for larger tips such as guides and cruise crew. Bring a mix of $1, $5, $10 and $20 bills. You must declare foreign cash worth more than $10,000 when you enter or leave Egypt. For daily spending, though, pay in Egyptian pounds: prices quoted in dollars at shops and markets are usually rounded up in the seller's favor.
Yes, tipping in Egypt is expected for most services, and it is a normal part of local culture called baksheesh. Guides, drivers, hotel porters and cruise crew earn modest base wages, so tips make up a real share of their income. A tip is a thank-you, not a bribe, and it is usually given quietly by hand at the end of the service. You will also meet people who offer help you did not ask for, like carrying a bag or pointing out a photo spot; a polite "la, shukran" (no, thank you) is enough if you do not want the service.
A fair tip for a private Egyptologist guide is $10 to $20 per person per day, and $5 to $10 per person per day when the guide is shared with a group. Drivers usually receive about half of what you give the guide, around $5 to $10 per day for your party. Give both at the end of the tour, or at the end of the last day if they stay with you for several days. If your guide went the extra mile, with great stories, patience and good photo spots, tipping at the top of the range is a kind way to say so.
At hotels, give porters 20 to 50 EGP per bag and leave housekeeping 50 to 100 EGP per day. In restaurants, check the bill first: many add a 12% service charge, but it rarely reaches the waiter, so add another 5 to 10% in cash. For taxis, simply round up the fare; for Uber or Careem, 20 to 50 EGP is generous. Keep 10 to 20 EGP coins and notes for toilet attendants and for site guards who unlock a tomb or point out a carving.
Plan on about $10 to $15 per person per night for the ship's crew, given in one envelope at reception on your last evening. That shared pool is split among everyone who looks after you, including the many staff you never see in the kitchen and engine room. For example, two people on a 4-night cruise would leave $80 to $120 in total. Your Egyptologist guide on the cruise is tipped separately, following the guide amounts above, and on a dahabiya (a smaller sailing boat) budget a little more, around $15 to $20 per person per night.
Keep tip money separate from your main wallet, so you never have to pull out a thick stack in public. Agree on a price before any taxi, felucca ride or camel ride starts, and confirm whether it is in pounds or dollars. Count your change before you walk away, since similar-coloured notes are easy to mix up in a hurry. Carry two cards stored in different places, and photograph them in case one is lost. Finally, budget about 5 to 10% of your trip cost for tips, so they never feel like a surprise.
The easiest way is to travel on a package where the big costs are already paid and your guide helps with the small ones. Our Egypt tour packages cover hotels, Nile cruises, transfers, entry tickets and expert Egyptologist guides, so you only carry cash for tips, snacks and souvenirs. Your guide can also tell you what to tip on the day and where the nearest reliable ATM is. Explore the itineraries and pick the one that fits your dates.
- How much Egypt money should I bring per day?
For a guided tour where hotels and meals are mostly prepaid, about $20 to $40 per person per day in cash covers tips, drinks and small purchases. Independent travelers should plan for more. - Can I pay in US dollars in Egypt?
Yes, at many hotels, cruise ships and tour companies, and dollars are fine for larger tips. For taxis, cafés and markets, Egyptian pounds get you a fairer price. - Is it better to exchange money before traveling to Egypt?
No. You usually get a better rate inside Egypt, at a bank or a bank ATM, than at home. Change only a small amount at the airport for your first day. - Is tipping in Egypt mandatory?
It is not a law, but it is strongly expected for guides, drivers, cruise crew and hotel staff. Skipping a tip after good service is seen as rude. - Should I tip in Egyptian pounds or US dollars?
Both are welcome. Use pounds for small tips such as porters and toilet attendants, and dollars or pounds for guides, drivers and the Nile cruise envelope. - Is a service charge included in Egyptian restaurant bills?
Often, yes, usually 12%. It rarely goes to your waiter, so leave an extra 5 to 10% in cash on the table. - Are credit cards widely accepted in Egypt?
Visa and Mastercard work in larger hotels, cruise ships, malls and at major ticket offices. Small shops, taxis and markets are mostly cash only.
