Money in Egypt, Cards, Currency Exchange and Transfers for Expats

The Egyptian pound and its exchange rate

The currency of Egypt is the Egyptian pound (EGP, price tags often say LE). One pound is divided into 100 piastres.

Since March 2024 the Central Bank of Egypt has let the pound float freely, and the rate changes noticeably. For example, in early October 2026 a dollar cost a little over 52 pounds at Egyptian banks. Check the current rate on the Central Bank of Egypt website or in your bank app, not in chats.

Cash or card

Egypt still runs largely on cash. Cards are usually accepted in supermarkets, malls, chain cafes, large pharmacies and taxi apps. You need cash at markets, small shops, microbuses and tuk-tuks, for deliveries and small repairs.

• Carry small notes: you will not always get change for large ones.
• Landlords often ask for payment in cash. Get a receipt with the amount and date for every payment, and read more in how to rent an apartment in Cairo.
• Do not carry all your money with you, keep a reserve at home and on a card.

Which cards work in Egypt

International Visa and Mastercard cards issued by banks not under sanctions work. According to travel media in 2026, cards from banks in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and other CIS countries are accepted in Egypt without restrictions. Domestic cards that work only in their home country will not do abroad. Before leaving, ask your bank whether your card works in Egypt and what its limits and fees abroad are.

Russian Visa and Mastercard cards have not worked abroad since 2022, and according to the same sources Mir cards are not accepted in Egypt. For students from Russia, cash dollars and a foreign card are the safer option. Some Russian banks are launching QR code payments in large Egyptian stores, so ask your bank about the terms.

ATMs and fees

ATMs are almost everywhere in cities. It is safer to withdraw at ATMs of large banks, ideally inside a branch or a mall rather than at a random machine in the street.

• If the ATM offers to charge you in your own currency at its rate, decline and choose to be charged in pounds. ATM conversion is usually a bad deal.
• Your bank may charge its own fee for withdrawals abroad, and the ATM may add another. Check the terms in advance.
• The limit per withdrawal depends on both the ATM and your bank. Sometimes it is cheaper to take out more at once than to pay the fee several times.
• Tell your bank about your trip so the card is not blocked for foreign transactions.
• Cover the keypad when entering your PIN and do not accept «help» from strangers at the ATM.

Where to exchange currency

Dollars and euros are exchanged at banks and at licensed exchange offices authorised by the Central Bank of Egypt. Do not change money with private street dealers: exchanging currency outside banks and licensed offices is illegal in Egypt, and you also risk getting fake notes or the wrong amount.

• Bring clean notes without tears or writing, as worn banknotes may be refused.
• Count the money at the counter and take a receipt.
• On arrival, cash in foreign currency worth more than 10,000 dollars must be declared on the customs form. By decision of the Central Bank, you can bring in or take out no more than 5,000 Egyptian pounds in cash. The rules can change, so check them on the website of Egyptian Customs or the Central Bank before you travel.

InstaPay and mobile wallets

InstaPay is an instant transfer system between Egyptian banks, launched by the Central Bank of Egypt. Many landlords, handymen and sellers accept payment through it by phone number.

To use InstaPay you need an account at an Egyptian bank, a debit card or Meeza card from that bank and an Egyptian phone number registered with the bank. According to the InstaPay website, the limits are up to 70,000 pounds per transfer, 120,000 per day and 400,000 per month from one bank, and there is no limit on receiving money.

A foreigner can open an account: in August 2024 the Central Bank of Egypt told banks that nothing prevents them from opening accounts for foreigners, including non-residents. Banks usually ask for a passport, a visa or residence permit, an Egyptian phone number and sometimes proof of address. Some banks refuse applicants with only a tourist visa, and each bank has its own document list, so check it at the branch. If you need help with a residence permit, see documents, visas, translations.

Mobile wallets of operators, such as Vodafone Cash, are very popular in Egypt. But the Vodafone website lists an Egyptian national ID for registration, so with a foreign passport ask at an operator store first whether a wallet is available to you.

How to receive money from home

The method depends on the country sending the money and on sanctions, so ask your bank in advance which transfers to Egypt currently work.

• Topping up your card at home. For many this is the easiest option: relatives put money on your international card in your home country, and you withdraw pounds from an ATM or pay by card in Egypt.
• Bank transfer. If you have an account at an Egyptian bank, you can receive an international SWIFT transfer. The sending bank, intermediary banks and your bank may charge fees, and the money takes several days.
• Money transfer systems. In Egypt you can collect a transfer in cash (for example, Western Union) at banks and payout points with your passport. Check in advance whether the system works in the sending country, in which currency the money is paid out and what the limit is.
• From Russia many familiar methods stopped working after 2022, so agree on a plan with your family in advance.
• Do not send money to strangers from chats who offer a «good rate» or a «transfer with no fee». This is a common scam, and such money is almost impossible to get back.

How Tullab helps you save

On Tullab you can buy what you need second hand for less than in a shop and sell what you no longer need before leaving. Students also find part-time work there with Russian-speaking employers and clients.

Listings are free, and you can post yours in a couple of minutes. Agree on payment directly with the seller and pay when you meet and have checked the item.