Hurghada currency exchange: is it cheaper to bring US dollars or withdraw Egyptian pounds with a foreign card?

Another report mentions an Egyptian ATM charge of about USD 7 per transaction regardless of the amount, plus the hassle of finding machines with lower fees. With a 4,000 EGP withdrawal limit, these charges can make cash withdrawals significantly more expensive.

When considering a card-based option, include not only the exchange rate and ATM fee but also any card setup cost: one calculation put this at about USD 50. If the card is only for one short trip, that upfront cost may outweigh any savings.

One estimate for withdrawing 4,000 EGP with UnionPay was roughly RUB 1.6 per EGP plus a RUB 600 fee. On that basis, getting about 5,224 EGP would cost around RUB 8,958, so it was compared unfavorably with buying and exchanging cash US dollars.

For Hurghada, one practical approach is to use a card for shop purchases as a backup and get Egyptian pounds by exchanging US dollars. However, buying new dollar notes and converting them also adds fees, so the final cost depends on your bank and exchange rate.