Can only really speak for Luxor - there in 1st week March 2006.

Beers in hotels range from 16 egyptian pounds (Egp) to 24 Egp. That's about £1.60 to £2.40 and it will be a 500ml bottle or can - local beer - and pretty good.

It's cheaper in restaurants outside the hotels - reported to be about 10-16 Egp per bottle/can.

Wine; in our hotel a full bottle varied between 140 Egp and 200 Egp for domestic red wine, 350 Egp for mediocre imported. White wine same prices but tastes dire according to my wife - an acknowledged expert on white wines
No knowledge of costs outside hotel restaurants. Difficult to but wines and beers in shops although not impossible. A chap (Brit) I met at our hotel who knows Luxor well bought me a bottle of local red wine for 34 Egp (£3.40) from some shop nearby.

Taxis are cheap and you need to barter. A 5-10 min. drive from Sonesta hotel in Luxor to the Luxor museum (perhaps 2-3 miles) cost just 15 Egp having negotiated downwards from the requested 25.

I would consider the overall cost of living in Luxor to be cheap. Food especially so given the quality on offer in the larger hotels. For example, chateaubriand for two in the Sonesta, "Beban" restaurant - just 136 Egp that's £13.60 and it included the vegatables and wonderful surroundings.

Mike

In Luxor you can eat very cheaply at a wide range of restaurants outside the hotels. Many places you can get get beer/wine with your meal but not in all. You can get Stella for as little as 8-10 Egyptian if you know where to go. Hotel restaurants are more exspensive but still cheap compared to UK prices.
Taxis are cheap too but agree a price before you get in & stick to it. Another great way to travel here in Luxor is by caleche. But make sure the driver knows where you want to go & no 'detours'!!! Again agree a price first & keep to it. Have a great holiday, if you need any more help you cna contact me I'm from UK.

*edit email removed as per T&C Briar[/i]