Money and Cost of Living
Egypt is a very economical place to be. Food, accommodation and other amenities are, compared to European countries, extremely cheap.
Most banks in Egypt are equipped with ATM's, either using Visa or Mastercard. For location of ATM's in Egypt, please check the Visa and Mastercard ATM locators.
Besides the Egyptian institutions like Banque Misr, National Bank of Egypt, Bank of Alexandria, Banque du Caire and Commercial International Bank, there are several international banks with branches in Egypt. Among them: BNP Paribas, Crédit Agricole, Nationale Societe Generale Bank, HSBC and Piraeus Bank (for a list of all banks in Egypt, consult the Wikipedia website here).
One Egyptian Pound is divided in 100 piastres.
There are both notes and coins of 25 piastres, 50 piastres and 1 pound (or guinee).
Other notes are 5 pounds, 10 pounds, 20 pounds, 50 pounds, 100 pounds and 200 pounds. Make sure to have change when you venture into rural areas; you won't be able to change a 100 or 200 pound note in smaller towns. Egyptian pounds is either written as EGP or LE.
The Egyptian pounds exchange rate is directly connected to the US$, so when the 'greenback' goes up or down, so does the Egyptian Pound. Below mentioned exchange rates are provided by www.exchange-rates.org and updated daily.
Cost of living
To give you an idea what your money will buy you in Egypt, we've put some essential goods and services and their prices for you in a row. All prices in Egyptian Pounds (EGP) and accurate as of May 2011.
water
water
juice
juice
soft drink (can)
soft drink (bottle)
soft drink (bottle)
beer- local (can)
beer - local (bottle)
beer - local bar (bottle)
beer import (can or bottle)
beer - non alcoholic (can)
table wine (bottle)
wine (bottle)
tea
loose tea dust
coffee (cafe / bar)
tea (cafe / bar)
fresh fruit juice
Nescafe instant
coffee - ground arabic
coffee - ground pure beans
milk powder
milk
milk
yoghurt / curd
cheese - cream
cheese - gouda
cheese - feta
cheese - slices
olives
mayonaise
chips
salted peanuts
pumpkin seeds
cashew or pistachio nuts
dates
cornflakes
nougat/ coconut / peanut bars
sesame caramel candy
chocolate bars
biscuits - plain
biscuits- deluxe
food
local markets, restaurants & stores
white bread rolls - fresh
sesame hamburger rolls - fresh
flat bread - small fresh
flat breat - large fresh
flat bread - pre-packet
individual cakes + slices
swiss roll
orange or chocolate cake
mini pizza
falafel
fast food cafe: half falafel pita
tahina
koshari meal
rice pudding
chinese - vegetables and rice
pizza - tourist restaurant
rice (Egyptian white)
rice (basmati)
pasta
couscous
instant noodles
eggs
tomato extract
tomato extract
potatoes
onions
tomatoes
rucola
peas - fresh in pod
baby courgette
paprika - chilli
carrots
eggplant / aubergine
favabeans (fuul)
chickpeas
apples
oranges
bananas
mandarins
grapes
strawberries
pommegranite
oil (corn)
oil (olive)
peanut paste
jam
nutella
honey - pure
personal
deodorant - roll-on
soap
shampoo
toothbrush
toothpaste
disposable razor
toilet paper
accommodation
budget hostel / hotel
budget hostel / hotel
camping
internet
1.5 litre
6-7 litre
200ml
1 litre
330ml
1 litre
2.0 litre
330ml
500 ml
500ml
330ml
330ml
750ml
750ml
25 bags
40g
per cup
per cup
per cup
50g
200g
kg
25g
200ml
1 litre
90g
8 portions
kg
250g
10 slices
kg
320g
113g pack
kg
kg
kg
kg
250g pack
45g
100g packet
22g- 40g each
140g pack
200g
4 piece - small
4 piece - small
5 piece
per piece
5 per bag
per 30-35g packet
200g
260g packet
one
4 med/ 8 small
one serve
tub - small
deluxe large serve
one serve
main meal
large
kg
kg
400g
500g
75g
each
400g tin
135g tetra pak
kg
kg
kg
large bunch
kg
kg
kg
kg
kg
400g tin
400g tin
kg
kg
kg
kg
kg
kg
kg
750ml
750ml
350g
300g
200g
250g
50ml
100g bar
200ml
each
75ml
each
2 pack
dorm bed
double room shared bath
double room + private bath
per person
per hour (non-tourist town)
per hour (tourist town)
per day per room (hotel wifi)
1.50 - 2.50
5.00 - 7.00
1.50 - 2.00
5.50 - 8.00
2.50
3.50
5.50 - 6.00
5.00
6.50 - 7.50
7.50 - 15.00+
6.50
3.50
45.00
55.00 - 90.00
4.25
1.50
1.50 - 3.50
1.00 - 3.50
4.00 - 4.50
6.00 - 8.00
6.50
40.00 - 48.00
1.25
2.00
6.50
1.00
2.00 - 4.00
50.00
3.50
8.00
10.00
8.00
3.00
16.00 - 20.00
20.00 - 28.00
78.00
10.00 - 15.00
8.00
1.00
2.50
0.50 - 1.50
1.50
3.50
1.00
1.00
1.00
0.50
1.50 - 2.00
0.50
7.00
5.00
1.50
1.00
0.50
2.00 - 3.00
5.00 - 7.00
1.50 - 2.50
22.00
18.00 - 25.00
3.50
9.00
2.00 - 4.00
8.00
1.50
0.75
6.50
1.00
4.00
4.00 - 5.00
2.50 - 3.00
1.00
5.00 - 6.00
5.00
4.00
4.00
4.00 - 5.00
2.50 -4.00
4.50 - 6.00
6.00 - 10.00
2.00 - 4.00
3.00 - 5.00
2.00 - 3.00
6.00
5.00
7.00
3.50
30.00
9.00
5.00
7.00
7.50
7.00+
1.25 - 1.50
6.50
4.00
3.50+
2.00
2.00
25 - 45
60 - 100
90 - 150
7.50 - 30.00
2.00 - 3.00
4.00 - 15.00
10.00 - 25.00
Bartering
Egypt is defintely a bartering country. Unless you go into a big supermarket, there won't be any prices displayed on any goods. This means the right price is the price you are willing to pay. Before you go on a shopping spree, make yourself familiar with what other people pay for their goods. Ask questions and remember the (lowest) prices of goods on sale. There might be some regional differences in prices around Egypt, but don't be tricked in paying double because you are in (for example) the desert. Above mentioned list gives you a good indication of the prices in Egypt. Inflation is high these days (+10%), so prices may go up rapidly.
When discussing the price with somebody, don't be afraid to start low, very low. I've bought sunglasses for 10LE, where the salesman wanted 60LE. I started at 5LE and made him a final offer of 10LE after he came down to 35LE. He then sold me the glasses. Sales like this are a game, and don't forget to smile playing it. The saleman wants to make as much money as possible, and you want to pay as little as possible, but this should never lead to an argument. If you don't like his/her price, leave. If he/she doesn't like the price you want to pay, they won't sell it to you. Take your time!
