A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Addis Ababa vs. Alexandria for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Addis Ababa or Alexandria?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Addis Ababa or Alexandria, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Where Should I go: Addis Ababa or Alexandria?

Addis Ababa

Addis Ababa is the capital city of Ethiopia and also the nation's largest when ranked by its population of over three million. There are also more than 120 international missions and embassies in Addis Ababa, making the city a hub for international diplomacy concerning Africa. Other draws include its thriving marketplaces, spicy food, and rich coffee.

Alexandria

There are few cities in the world with a history as rich, deep, tragic and fascinating than Alexandria, Egypt. Founded by Alexander the Great in 331 BC, Egypt's second largest city has seen the most extreme ups and extreme downs. The city watched the beautiful and iconic Alexandria Lighthouse crumble to the ground after several natural disasters. The Alexandria Library housed their most sacred and historical documents only to be burned to the ground. These structures may be physically gone, but the history remains. Alexandria is a city with an ancient allure that draws in visitors from all over the world. Alexandria is a survivor city ready for a comeback.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Luxury Tours to Egypt, and The Best Budget Tours to Egypt.


Which place is cheaper, Alexandria or Addis Ababa?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

  • Addis Ababa Prices
    Ethiopia Prices
    Alexandria Prices
    Egypt Prices
  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    Addis Ababa $29
    Alexandria $28

The average daily cost (per person) in Addis Ababa is $29, while the average daily cost in Alexandria is $28. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Addis Ababa and Alexandria in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Addis Ababa $16
    Alexandria $10
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Addis Ababa $32
    Alexandria $20
Compare Hotels in Addis Ababa and Alexandria

Looking for a hotel in Addis Ababa or Alexandria? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.

Hotels in Addis Ababa


Hotels in Alexandria


Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.


Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Addis Ababa Hotel Prices and Alexandria Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Addis Ababa $2.81
    Alexandria $3.73
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Addis Ababa

Some typical examples of transportation costs in Addis Ababa are as follows:


  • Short Taxi Ride
    $0.19

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Addis Ababa

Also for Addis Ababa, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Addis Ababa Airport in/out transfer: $49
  • Addis Ababa Airport pickup and Transfer: $23
  • Addis Ababa Airport transfer and shuttle service(privet): $23
  • City and Airport Transfer in Addis Ababa: $35
  • City/Airport Transfer in Addis Ababa - Shuttles: $40
  • Private Addis Ababa Airport Transfer: $55

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Alexandria

Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Alexandria:


  • Taxi to Train Station
    $0.08

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Alexandria

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Alexandria:

  • Private transfer from Alexandria to Luxor: $274
  • Private Transfer From Alexandria To Cairo Airport: $240
  • Private Transfer from Alexandria to Cairo or vice versa: $160
  • Private Transfer from Alexandria to Cairo in Egypt or vice versa: $134
  • Private Transfer from Alexandria to El Cairo: $125
  • Private Transfer Alexandria Hotel to Cairo Airport: $100
  • From Private One-Way Transfer to Cairo: $94
  • Private One Way Transfer from Alexandria Hotels to Cairo and Giza Hotels: $80
  • Alexandria Airport (HBE)to Alexandria-Round-Trip Private Transfer: $70
  • Private Transfer from 6 of October City to El Cairo (CAI) Airport: $56
  • transfer from Alexandria to Cairo airport, Cairo & Giza hotels: $55
  • Private Transfer from Alexandria Airport to Alexandria Hotels: $54

Is it cheaper to fly into Addis Ababa or Alexandria?

Prices for flights to both Alexandria and Addis Ababa change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.





Food
  • Food Meals for one day
    Addis Ababa $11
    Alexandria $14
Typical Food Prices in Addis Ababa

Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Addis Ababa:


  • Slice of Cake
    $0.04

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Addis Ababa

For Addis Ababa, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Berbere Bites Food Tour with 14+ Tastings: $49
  • Addis Eats Food Tour with 12+ Tastings: $49
  • Totot Cultural Feast & Rhythm Show With Dinner: $54
  • Flavors of Ethiopia: Hands-On Cooking Class in Addis Ababa: $55
  • Food tour in Addis Ababa with airport pick-up.: $56
  • Addis Ababa Ethiopian cooking class Airport & hotel pick up: $68
  • Addis Ababa Food Tour: Eat Like a Local: $70
  • Yod Abyssinia Cultural Night: Dinner, Music, and Dance: $70
  • Half Day Food Tour Addis Ababa With Airport pickUp And Drop-Off: $75
  • Food tours in Addis Ababa tastever with lunch: $76
  • Private City Tour with Folkloric Dinner: $77
  • Addis Ababa Private City Tour with Immersive Cooking Class Lunch: $85

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Alexandria

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Alexandria.

  • Half-Day Food Tour in Alexandria, Egypt: $20
  • Private Half Day Food Tour in Alexandria Egypt: $20
  • Alexandria Food Tour Top Rated: $40
  • Alexandria food Tour taste the Egyptian traditional food: $56
  • From Giza: Sound&light show, Giza pyramids and Dinner on the Nile: $94
  • GEM and Pyramids Tour with Cruise Dinner From Alexandria Port: $120

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Addis Ababa $2.90
    Alexandria $5.21

Tours and Activities in Addis Ababa

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Addis Ababa.

  • Traditional Ethiopian Coffee Ceremony Tour: $30
  • 5 hours Addis Ababa Layover city tour: $36
  • Layover in Addis Ababa 5 hours tour: $38
  • Sightseeing Walking Tour: $40
  • Open-bus Tour and Cycling: $41
  • Local Food Open Market, City Tours & More.: $42
  • 4 Hours Addis Ababa Cultural Discovery Tour: $42
  • Merkato Addis Ababa Guided Tour: $42
  • Mercato Market Guided Tour with Coffee Tasting: $43
  • Best of Addis Ababa Tour: $45
  • Addis Ababa DayTours with Hotel/Airport pick up and drop off: $45
  • Entoto hill and Mercato Market layover tour: $45

Tours and Activities in Alexandria

Here are a few actual costs in Alexandria for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • 2 Day Tour Visit the Top Attractions of Alexandria City: $155
  • 6-Hour Day Tour to Alexandria Attractions with Pickup Included: $89
  • 6-Hour Private Day Tour to Rashid from Alexandria: $100
  • 8Days Egypt Tour package UltraLuxury Cairo,Alexandria&cruise: $4,190
  • Alamain Private Day Tour from Alexandria Port: $160
  • Alamein full day tour from Alexandria: $95
  • Alexandria : Rosetta Day Tour from Alexandria: $130
  • Alexandria : Tour to WadiElNatroun Monastery from Alexandria: $150
  • Alexandria By Night Private Free Walking Tours & Horse Carriage Ride: $68
  • Alexandria City Tour from Cairo Full Day: $121
  • Alexandria Day Tour: $110
  • Alexandria Day Tour – Explore the City's Top Attractions!: $83

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Addis Ababa $2.40
    Alexandria $1.41

Sample the Local Flavors in Addis Ababa

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Addis Ababa:

  • Pub-crawl Tour ( locally crafted beer and wine tasting ): $58
  • Night Tour Addis Ababa beer and wine tasting: $65


When comparing the travel costs between Addis Ababa and Alexandria, we can see that Addis Ababa is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Africa, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Addis Ababa Expensive? and Is Alexandria Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Addis Ababa or Alexandria?

Alexandria has a larger population, and is about 38% larger than the population of Addis Ababa. When comparing the sizes of Addis Ababa and Alexandria, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.