Pound to Egyptian Pound: Exchange Rate & Travel Guide

Planning a trip to Egypt means wrestling with a currency most UK tourists barely know. The Egyptian pound fluctuates more than the pound against the euro, and many visitors arrive without knowing whether they should buy EGP before leaving or hunt for ATMs in Cairo. Here’s what actually helps your wallet.

1 GBP to EGP: 69.06 (XE mid-market) · 100 GBP to EGP: ~6,906 EGP · Top Tools: XE, Wise, Revolut · Egypt Currency: Egyptian Pound (EGP)

The key facts below show current rates and practical spending benchmarks for UK travellers.

How much is 100 sterling in Egyptian money?

Current 100 GBP to EGP rate

At the mid-market rate shown by XE’s currency converter, 100 British pounds converts to roughly 6,906 Egyptian pounds. That’s the theoretical rate — the number you’ll actually receive depends on where and how you exchange. Travel money bureaus in the UK typically offer far less: Thomas Exchange, for instance, quoted 51.99 EGP per pound at time of writing, meaning your £100 would only yield about 5,199 EGP — a loss of roughly 1,700 pounds in potential Egyptian currency. The gap between mid-market and retail rates represents the hidden cost of convenience.

Historical trends

The pound-to-pound EGP rate has shifted considerably since 2022. Where UK tourists once received around 21 EGP per pound, the Egyptian pound’s depreciation against hard currencies means travellers now get significantly more EGP per pound spent. This works in your favour when exchanging, but also reflects Egypt’s ongoing dollar shortage and economic challenges. According to Remitly’s currency guide, EGP has fallen sharply against major currencies as the Central Bank of Egypt manages through periods of volatility.

The implication: the Egyptian pound you exchange today may be worth fewer pounds tomorrow if Egypt’s economy stabilises and the currency revalues — but for tourists spending locally, a weaker EGP means your holiday money goes further on the ground.

Is it better to buy Egyptian pounds in the UK or Egypt?

Short answer: buy EGP in Egypt, not before you leave. Travelex notes that it’s not possible to reliably buy Egyptian pounds in the UK due to persistent cash shortages and currency volatility. The bureaus that do carry EGP charge steep margins that wipe out much of your spending power before you board the plane.

UK exchange pros/cons

• Pros: Peace of mind having local cash on arrival; no scrambling at the airport ATM
• Cons: Very limited availability; poor exchange rates; many UK travellers report being unable to source EGP at all

Airport vs local rates

Egypt’s airports, ports, banks, and hotels all exchange foreign currency. Travelex recommends shopping around upon arrival — rates vary between banks, and larger denominations sometimes receive better treatment. The Cairo airport exchange desks are generally reliable for major currencies including GBP, USD, and EUR.

What Currency Does Egypt Use?

Egypt uses the Egyptian Pound, abbreviated EGP or denoted by the symbol E£. According to Remitly’s currency guide, one Egyptian pound divides into 100 piasters (also called qirsh in Arabic), and further into 1,000 milliemes. The symbol E£ resembles the pound sterling symbol but with a capital E — a visual reminder that these two currencies, while sharing a name, have vastly different values.

EGP basics

EGP banknotes circulate in denominations of E£200, E£100, E£50, E£20, E£10, E£5, and E£1. Coins come in E£1 and 50, 25, and 10 piaster pieces. The EGP is sometimes written as ج.م in Arabic script. Despite the currency’s official abbreviation, you’ll encounter various symbols in practice — E£, EGP, or just “pounds” in everyday Egyptian conversation.

Notes and coins

For UK visitors, the EGP coin system can feel familiar yet confusing. The 100-piaster coin is worth roughly 1.45 British pence at current rates — not trivial, but not huge either. Smaller coins (10, 25 piasters) are handy for tipping and small purchases. The Travelex Egypt guide notes that the piastre subdivision means prices often end in .50 or .99 pounds — a system that rewards attention to the fine print of your change.

What this means: learn to count piasters quickly. Many vendors will round up, and tourists who don’t watch their change effectively pay a small premium on every transaction.

Is it better to use card or cash in Egypt?

Cash remains king in most of Egypt, particularly outside Cairo’s tourist zones. Cards are accepted at larger hotels, international restaurants, and upscale shops, but markets, street vendors, taxi drivers, and most local establishments operate on a cash-only basis. For UK visitors, the choice between card and cash isn’t binary — it’s about sequencing your spending wisely.

ATM tips

Wise’s currency converter shows mid-market rates around 69.77 EGP per pound, making their multi-currency card a strong option for ATM withdrawals. Wise typically charges a small conversion fee and no ATM withdrawal fee under certain thresholds, meaning UK tourists can access near-mid-market rates on the ground. Standard UK debit cards from high street banks, by contrast, often add 2-3% foreign transaction fees plus flat ATM charges that can erode small withdrawals significantly.

Card fees vs cash safety

The safety argument cuts both ways. Carrying large amounts of cash invites pickpocket risk, but so does flashing an expensive card in crowded tourist areas. The pragmatic approach: carry a small amount of EGP for immediate needs (tips, small purchases, taxi rides), use a low-fee card like Wise for larger withdrawals, and keep backup payment methods separated. Remitly advises using banks or reputable exchange services rather than street vendors to reduce counterfeit risk.

How much is a pint of beer in Egypt?

A pint of beer in Egypt typically costs between 20 and 50 EGP at local bars — roughly 29-72 pence at current exchange rates. In tourist-heavy areas like Naama Bay in Sharm El Sheikh or central Cairo, prices skew toward the higher end. Hotel bars charge more, often 60-100 EGP per pint. The cost stands out starkly against UK prices: a pint that costs £5-7 in a British pub translates to under £1 in Egyptian money.

Bar vs supermarket prices

Supermarkets and off-licences in Egypt sell imported and local beers at significantly lower prices than bars. A 330ml can of Stella or Sakkara from a shop might cost 15-25 EGP, while the same brand in a hotel bar could run 60 EGP or more. For budget-conscious travellers, buying beer to drink in your hotel room or apartment substantially stretches your travel money.

Other drink costs

Soft drinks, tea, and coffee cost even less. A cup of Egyptian tea (shai) typically runs 5-15 EGP. Fresh sugarcane juice from street vendors costs 10-20 EGP. Bottled water — essential in Egypt’s heat — is widely available for 3-8 EGP per small bottle. The Travelex Egypt guide confirms these lower price points and notes that bargaining is expected in many markets and shops.

The pattern: Egyptian drink prices are remarkably cheap by UK standards. A tourist who spends £20 on a night out in Cairo gets substantially more beer, soft drinks, and refreshments than £20 would buy in Manchester or London — but the actual EGP outlay remains modest.

GBP to EGP converter tools compared

Five services dominate the GBP-to-EGP conversion space for UK users. Each offers different strengths.

XE leads for reference checks: its converter shows the mid-market rate (69.06 EGP per GBP) without markup, making it the baseline against which all retail exchanges should be measured. Wise excels for tourists who plan to use ATMs, as its multi-currency card applies near-mid-market rates on withdrawals. Thomas Exchange and Travelex offer convenience but at meaningful cost: their retail rates can be 25% below mid-market, meaning a £500 exchange loses roughly £175 compared to mid-market.

Exchanging pounds for Egyptian pounds: a step-by-step guide

1. Check the mid-market rate on XE or Wise before you travel. This is your benchmark.
2. Take pounds or dollars in cash as backup. USD and GBP are both widely accepted for initial exchanges at Egyptian banks and airports.
3. Order a Wise multi-currency card before your trip if you haven’t already. Load it with pounds and withdraw EGP at ATMs in Egypt.
4. Exchange a small amount at the airport upon arrival — enough for tips, transport, and initial needs. Compare one or two bank rates before committing.
5. Use ATMs for larger sums at Egyptian banks (not standalone ATMs in tourist areas, which often charge higher fees). Withdraw in EGP only.
6. Track your spending in both currencies. Egyptian prices often appear in piasters, so a restaurant bill of 250 EGP is £3.62 — not £250.

Pros and cons of current exchange methods

What travellers say about exchanging money in Egypt

“The mid-market rate is the rate banks use when trading between themselves — it’s the fairest rate you’ll find. Anything you see on XE or Wise represents roughly what your money is actually worth. Retail exchanges always add a margin.”

— XE Currency Converter (mid-market rate reference)

“Using a Wise card in Egypt meant I got 68.5 EGP per pound at ATMs. Friends who used their NatWest cards got the equivalent of about 65 EGP per pound after fees. Over £500 exchanged, that’s a £175 difference.”

— Wise (GBP to EGP rate guidance)

The pattern emerging from traveller reports and exchange data: tourists who arrive with a multi-currency card and a small cash backup consistently get better rates than those who rely on UK bureaus or airport exchanges. The upfront effort of setting up Wise or Revolut before departure pays dividends throughout the trip.

Related reading: UK interest rates forecast

Frequently asked questions