Luxor on a budget: how to do it well
Short answer
Yes, apart from the entry tickets: rooms, food and transport are cheap, and careful choices keep the total down. A realistic minimum is about E£1,950 a day per person sharing a room — around E£600 for a bed, E£400 for food, E£800 for sights and E£150 for transport.
A realistic daily budget
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed (per person, sharing) | E£600 | E£1,800 | E£7,000 |
| Food & drink | E£400 | E£1,000 | E£2,500 |
| Sights & tickets | E£800 | E£1,500 | E£3,500 |
| Local transport | E£150 | E£600 | E£1,500 |
| Per person, per day | E£1,950 | E£4,900 | E£14,500 |
Approximate 2026 prices, two people sharing a room. From our Luxor day-cost table.
Free things to do
- The Colossi of Memnon by the West Bank road
- Walking the corniche along the Nile at sunset
- Viewing the Avenue of Sphinxes from the street between Luxor and Karnak
- The West Bank villages and fields near the ferry landing
- The souq streets of the East Bank
- Watching Luxor Temple lit up from outside its walls
Cheap eats
- Ful and ta'ameya sandwiches — roughly E£10–30
- Koshary — roughly E£40–100 a bowl
- Hawawshi, spiced meat in bread — roughly E£50–120
- Molokhia with rice in a local restaurant — roughly E£60–150
- Hibiscus (karkadeh) or sugar-cane juice — roughly E£15–40
Where to sleep for less
Budget travellers stay in simple hotels on the East Bank near Luxor Temple, a short walk from the station and the ferry, at about E£800–1,800 a room. The West Bank has quiet guesthouses among fields and palm trees, slightly dearer but close to the tombs.
Getting around cheaply
Walk the East Bank between Luxor Temple and the corniche, and use the public ferry across the Nile for a few pounds. A taxi from the airport costs roughly E£300–500. On the West Bank, rent a bicycle in the cooler months or share a taxi for the day.
A sample budget day
- Morning: Karnak Temple at opening time (about E£600)
- Lunch: koshary in a local restaurant (about E£80)
- Afternoon: rest through the heat, then walk the corniche (free)
- Evening: Luxor Temple after dark (about E£500), ful and ta'ameya for dinner (about E£50)
- Total: about E£1,950 including a shared East Bank room (about E£600 per person)
More ways to save
- Spread the big tickets over several days and fill the gaps with free walks.
- Rent a bicycle on the West Bank in winter instead of a taxi.
- Buy bottled water in shops rather than at site entrances.
- Ask your guesthouse for a fair taxi price before you negotiate.
- Travel in the low season (May–September) for cheaper rooms, if you can handle the heat.
- Skip the premium tombs unless they are a priority; the standard ticket is already excellent.
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Common questions
Can you visit Luxor on a budget?
Yes. Local food, ferries and simple hotels are cheap; tickets are the main cost. About E£1,950 a day is realistic.
What is free in Luxor?
The Colossi of Memnon, the corniche, the souq and the view of the lit Luxor Temple from outside.
Is the Luxor Pass worth it on a budget?
Usually not, unless you plan to see many sites including premium tombs. Check current terms before buying.