Choose Cairo for the pyramids at Giza (budgeted separately), the Egyptian Museum and Islamic Cairo; choose Alexandria for a slower Mediterranean city break along the Corniche. Both sets use the same dates, party and room basis, so they can be read side by side, but the hotels, restaurants and currencies differ.
Scope, dates and party
These are dated ground-cost examples for two adults sharing one room, six nights over seven days, 19–25 January 2027. Hotel offers were observed on 1 October 2026; restaurant menus were checked on 1 October (Alexandria) and 2 October 2026 (Cairo). Flights, visas, insurance, shopping and unlisted excursions are excluded. They are not booking quotes, year-round ranges or calculator defaults.
What is specific to this budget
Cairo hotels were quoted in euros and converted at one stated rate; Alexandria hotels were quoted in dollars. Restaurant and allowance lines in both cities use the same dated Egyptian pound rate.
The meal baskets differ: Cairo uses Esplanade and Al Khal at Citystars (menus reviewed 2 October 2026), Alexandria uses Fresca at San Stefano (checked 1 October 2026). Neither is a cheap citywide average.
Trade-offs
Cairo packs more major sights into a week but means more traffic and longer rides, especially to Giza and Citystars. Alexandria is easier to walk along the seafront, with fewer headline sites; it is about two to three hours from Cairo by train, so some travellers combine the two.
What the Cairo examples cover
Three central hotels, two with breakfast and one room-only, Citystars restaurant benchmarks, and labelled MTC allowances for drinks, a Cairo airport car each way, local rides and activities. Giza is excluded.
What the Alexandria examples cover
Two central hotels and Four Seasons at San Stefano, Fresca restaurant benchmarks, and labelled MTC allowances for drinks, a Borg El Arab airport car each way, local rides and activities. North Coast resorts are excluded.
Dated ground cost side by side
Basket A of each hotel tier, same party and dates, flights excluded. Scopes differ in size and in what each trip includes, so read the full itemised examples on each cost guide before deciding.
Hotel tier
Cairo
Alexandria
Budget
551.87 USD39.42 USD per person per ground day
764.83 USD54.63 USD per person per ground dayNo elevator: the priced room is on the 1st or 2nd floor.
Mid-range
1,899.47 USD135.68 USD per person per ground dayRefundable deposit of 132.06 EUR held separately; not counted in the total.
1,334.26 USD95.30 USD per person per ground day
Luxury
1,866.18 USD133.30 USD per person per ground day
2,621.87 USD187.28 USD per person per ground day
Compiled and totalled by My Travel Choices (MTC) from the dated sources credited with each example. Research estimates, not bookable offers. How we build these examples · Cite this guide
