Egypt on a budget: how much to plan?

Nothing costs much on the ground, and the gap with Europe is dizzying. A Cairo hostel runs €2 a night, a three-star €19, a four-star €60. A week of comfortable lodging costs less than a single night in most European capitals.

The flight to Cairo is surprisingly low for the distance, from €77 return. The one to Alexandria, however, starts at €288, direct links being rare: there is no reason to pay four times more to land 200 kilometres further on, when the train connects the two cities for a few euros.

Alexandria is markedly pricier than Cairo on the ground, at an index of 0.50 against 0.36 and hostels at €6 against €2. Basing your stay in Cairo therefore stays cheaper, even with excursions added.

The line that genuinely weighs is site admission and guides. The pyramids, museums and temples apply separate pricing for foreign visitors, and organized excursions to Luxor or Aswan are sold at rates unrelated to the local cost of living. It is the one place where comparing seriously changes the total.

October to April is the only genuinely comfortable period. Cairo then sits between 13 and 24°C, allowing hours on the Giza plateau or in the temples without difficulty.

Summer is disqualifying on the ancient sites. Cairo averages 29°C in July and August, with far higher peaks and, above all, strictly zero rainfall: zero millimetres from May to September. The pyramids, temples and necropolises are open-air, without the slightest shade. It is not a question of comfort but of whether daytime visiting is feasible at all.

Alexandria offers a summer alternative. Its Mediterranean frontage holds it at 26-27°C in summer against Cairo's 29, and it gets some winter rain, 16 to 24mm, where Cairo is virtually dry all year.

December to February is tourist high season, with the best conditions and heavier crowds at the sites. October-November and March-April offer the best balance between climate and crowds.

The flight to Cairo varies little, around €77 at its lowest.

Eating. The trip's most advantageous line, at prices with no equivalent. Koshari, the national dish of rice, pasta and lentils, costs under €2 and makes a full meal. Breakfast ful and taamiya run to cents. A meal at a neighborhood restaurant costs €4 to €8. Only international hotel establishments and terraces facing the pyramids charge European rates.

Getting around. The train links Cairo to Alexandria in two to three hours for a few euros, and the overnight train to Luxor and Aswan saves a hotel night on top of the journey. In Cairo itself, the metro is very cheap and avoids considerable traffic. For taxis and ride-hailing, the app is preferable to street negotiation, the fare being set in advance.

Sightseeing. This is the one genuinely costly line, and it needs anticipating. Major sites apply separate pricing for foreign visitors, an official practice rather than a scam. Guides and organized excursions, particularly to Luxor, show considerable price gaps between operators: comparing several offers before booking is the one trade-off that genuinely moves the total.

Currency. The Egyptian pound, not the euro, and cash remains essential: markets, taxis, tips and small shops run on it. Cards are accepted in hotels and large establishments, but do not cover daily life.

Tipping. It is part of everyday custom, for many small services. Carry small notes; it is more practical and avoids awkward situations.

Language. Arabic. English is spoken in tourism and hotels, and French is understood by part of the sector's professionals.

Heat and sites. This is the decisive practical point. The ancient sites are entirely open-air and shadeless, in a country that receives virtually no rain. A hat, water and early-morning visits are not comfort tips but conditions of feasibility in the warm season.

Entry. Check the entry requirements in force before booking; they vary by nationality.