The present study evaluates the performance and economic viability of three evaporative cooling pad materials cellulose, rice straw, and palm fiber for small-scale greenhouse applications. The research examined the effects of air velocity (0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 m/s), and water flow rates (3, 5, and 7 L/min.m²) on cooling effect, relative humidity, water consumption, cooling efficiency, energy consumption, and operating costs. Experiments were conducted from July to August 2020, when the ambient temperature peaked at 44.4°C. Among the materials tested, cellulose pads demonstrated the highest cooling efficiency at 81.45% with a thickness of 100 mm, an air velocity of 1 m/s, and a water flow rate of 7 L/min.m². Rice straw followed with a cooling efficiency of 76.26%, and palm fiber recorded 72.57% under the same conditions. While cellulose pads performed best, local materials like rice straw and palm fiber provided acceptable, cost-effective alternatives, with rice straw achieving the lowest operating cost at 1.1 EGP/h, compared to cellulose at 1.21 EGP/h and palm fiber at 1.16 EGP/h for optimal conditions. It can be recommended to use rice straw pads as the most suitable option for small-scale greenhouse operations in developing regions, as they offer an optimal balance between cooling efficiency and cost-effectiveness. In scenarios where maximum cooling efficiency is of paramount importance and budget constraints are less critical, cellulose pads are advised. It is essential that all cooling systems operate at the identified optimal parameters of 100 mm pad thickness and 1 m/s air velocity to maximize efficiency while minimizing resource consumption.