Is Luxor expensive? What things really cost in 2026
Short answer
Day-to-day costs in Luxor are low by European standards — street food, ferries and simple hotels are cheap — but foreigner ticket prices for the temples and tombs are high and rise often. Expect about E£1,950 a day per person on a tight budget, about E£4,900 mid-range and E£14,500 or more for comfort. Entry tickets are the single biggest cost for most visitors.
Daily budget: backpacker, mid-range, luxury
| 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.
What things cost
| Item | Typical price* |
|---|---|
| Ful and ta'ameya sandwich at a street stall | roughly E£10–30 |
| Bowl of koshary | roughly E£40–100 |
| Hibiscus or sugar-cane juice | roughly E£15–40 a glass |
| Main course in a local restaurant | E£150–350 |
| Karnak Temple ticket (foreigners) | roughly E£600 (check current rates) |
| Valley of the Kings, standard ticket (three tombs) | roughly E£750; Tutankhamun and Seti I extra |
| Public ferry across the Nile | a few pounds |
| Felucca for an hour at sunset | around E£300–600 per boat (agree first) |
| Hot-air balloon at dawn | roughly US$60–150 per person |
* Approximate prices, October 2026. They change with season and exchange rates.
Where the money goes
Sightseeing tickets take the biggest share: Karnak, Luxor Temple, the Valley of the Kings and Hatshepsut alone come to well over E£2,000, and premium tombs such as Tutankhamun, Seti I and Nefertari cost much more. A taxi or car with driver on the West Bank is roughly E£1,000–1,800 for a day, and a day trip to Dendera and Abydos E£3,000–5,000 for a private car. Food and rooms are good value: simple hotels on the East Bank cost E£800–1,800 and a local meal E£150–350, while hotel restaurants and Nile-view dinners cost several times more.
When it is cheaper
May to September is the low season because of the heat, and hotel and balloon prices are often noticeably lower. Christmas, New Year and Easter are the busiest and most expensive weeks. Ticket prices for sites do not change with the season.
How to spend less
- Plan which tombs you really want before paying for premium tickets; the standard Valley of the Kings ticket already includes three.
- Consider the Luxor Pass only if you will see many sites, including premium tombs; check current terms.
- Cross the Nile on the public ferry for a few pounds instead of a motorboat.
- Share a West Bank taxi for the day with other travellers and agree the route and waiting time first.
- Eat at local restaurants with printed prices, and check the bill line by line.
- Carry small notes for tips, toilets and water so you are not dependent on change.
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Common questions
Is Luxor expensive?
Food, rooms and transport are cheap, but foreigner tickets are high. Plan on about E£1,950 a day on a budget, E£4,900 mid-range and E£14,500 or more for comfort.
How much is the Valley of the Kings ticket?
Roughly E£750 for the standard ticket with three tombs; Tutankhamun and Seti I need separate, more expensive tickets. Prices rise often.
How much does a balloon ride in Luxor cost?
Roughly US$60–150 per person, depending on the operator and season.