Koshary prices in Egypt have surged up to 733% since 2016 as inflation erodes purchasing power

Inflation and currency devaluation have driven the price of Egypt's national dish from 5–9 EGP in 2016 to 20–90 EGP as of July 2026.

• The minimum price for a koshary box has risen 300% to 20 EGP, and the maximum for regular boxes has increased 733% to 60–90 EGP.
• Security guard Hassan Zaghoul said that medium boxes used to be sufficient but shops now sell smaller boxes under new names to hold prices steady.
• Worker Salam Arabi said that rising ingredient costs, gas cylinder prices (from 30 to 550 EGP), and electricity bills force him to either raise prices or close the shop.
• Economist Khaled al-Shafie said that koshary has lost its role as the cheapest meal, with a family of four now paying 200–300 EGP per meal.