Money at Cairo International Airport (CAI)
Currency, tipping and cash-vs-card for arrivals at Cairo, Egypt.
Cairo uses the EGP (E£). Expected airport→city taxi fare is roughly EGP 250–450. Cash preferred; refuse USD pricing — always worse.
Airport currency kiosks quote rates 5–15% worse than any bank ATM inside the terminal. If you need cash on landing, use an in-terminal bank ATM — not the "0% commission" kiosks (the margin is in the rate).
Frequently asked
Q.What currency is used at Cairo International Airport (CAI)?
Egypt uses the EGP (E£). Airport ATMs dispense EGP directly — skip the exchange kiosks.
Q.How much should a taxi from CAI to the city cost?
Expected fare on the CAI → Downtown / Zamalek route is roughly EGP 250–450. Around EGP 500–750 is already high, and EGP 800+ is a scam quote — confirm the meter or a printed rate before you get in.
Q.Do I tip taxi drivers at CAI?
Small tip (10–20 EGP) expected. Drivers in Egypt don't rely on tips the way US drivers do; inflated "tips" are sometimes used to justify an overcharge — pay the metered fare first, then decide.
Q.Cash or card for a taxi at CAI?
Cash preferred; refuse USD pricing — always worse. "Card machine broken" is the most common excuse to force a cash overpay — carry a small stack of EGP notes and you keep the leverage.
Q.Should I change money at CAI?
Only if you need $10–20 of EGP to cover a taxi or a SIM card. Airport exchange kiosks quote 5–15% worse than a bank ATM in the same terminal. If your card has no FX fee, just pay by card and skip cash entirely.
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