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 The Alexandria Library housed their most sacred and historical documents only to be burned to the ground.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 Adventure Tours to Ethiopia, The Best Luxury Tours to Ethiopia, 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.

The average daily cost (per person) in Addis Ababa is $67, while the average daily cost in Alexandria is $16. 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 $43
    Alexandria $7.91
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Addis Ababa $86
    Alexandria $16
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 $7.73
    Alexandria $2.46
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Addis Ababa

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


  • Short Taxi Ride
    $0.52

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Addis Ababa

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

  • Transfer Services Addis Abeba Airport : $23
  • City/Airport Transfers-Addis Ababa: $26
  • Lalibela Full Day Tour with Guide and Transfer: $130

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: $261
  • Private transfer from Luxor to Alexandria: $247
  • Private Transfer from Alexandria to Cairo in Egypt or vice versa: $160
  • Private Pick Up Transfers From Alexandria To Cairo: $130
  • Pick Up Transfers From Alexandria Borg Al Arab Airport To Cairo: $130
  • Private Transfer from Alexandria to Cairo : $74
  • Private Transfer from Alexandria Port to Cairo Int Airport (CAI): $72
  • Private One Way Transfer from Alexandria Hotels to Cairo and Giza Hotels: $68
  • Private Transfer from Alexandria to Cairo/Giza Hotels or Cairo./Giza to Alexandr: $65
  • transfer from Alexandria to Cairo airport, Cairo & Giza hotels: $45
  • Alexandria to Alexandria Airport - Departure Private Transfer: $27
  • Alexandria Airport Arrival Transfer: $24

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 $17
    Alexandria $6.39
Typical Food Prices in Addis Ababa

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


  • Slice of Cake
    $0.12

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:

  • Local Ethiopian Food Tour Addis Ababa: $62
  • City Tour, Food Tour, Shopping in Shiro Meda Market : $72
  • Local Ethiopian Food Tour: $75
  • Culinary Class and Food Tour in Addis Ababa : $82
  • Unique Ethiopian Cooking Class and Coffee Ceremony with a Local in Addis Ababa: $116
  • Private Ethiopian Home Cooking Class in Addis Ababa with Transfer: $124
  • Market Tour and Cooking Class with a Coffee Ceremony at a Home in Addis Ababa: $168
  • Food Tour in Addis Ababa: $205

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: $35
  • Alexandria food Tour taste the Egyptian traditional food: $80

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Addis Ababa $7.98
    Alexandria $3.46

Tours and Activities in Addis Ababa

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

  • Addis Ababa City - Half Day Tour: $55
  • Half Day City Tour of Addis Ababa : $60
  • City tour of Addis, Transit in Addis by car: $65
  • Food tasting tours, Enjera/Injera baking,coffee ceremony,Tej tasting: $69
  • Addis Ababa Guided City Tour With Airport & Hotel Pick Up: $70
  • Addis Ababa Half Day Shopping Tour: $70
  • Addis Ababa City tour: $72
  • Addis Ababa Authentic Private City Tour: $75
  • “Addis Ababa City Tours”: $75
  • Every day Addis Ababa City Tour : $75
  • Addis Ababa City Tours Full Day With Hotel Pickup And Drop Off: $79
  • Addis Food Tasting Tour : $79

Tours and Activities in Alexandria

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

  • Alamain Private Day Tour from Alexandria Port : $160
  • National Museum and Egyptian museum Private Tour in Egypt: $258
  • Overnight Tour To Cairo from Alexandria Port: $270
  • Tour to The Qaitbay Citadel in Alexandria: $16
  • 6-Hour Day Tour to Alexandria Attractions with Pickup Included: $80
  • Alamein full day tour from Alexandria: $95
  • Alexandria By Night Private Free Walking Tours & Horse Carriage Ride: $75
  • Alexandria By Night Private Tour By Horse Carriage Ride And Free Walking Tour: $55
  • Alexandria By Night Private Tour By Horse Carriage Ride And Free Walking Tour : $55
  • Alexandria Day Tour from Alexandria: $38
  • Alexandria Day tour from Aexandria port (Archeological): $100
  • Alexandria Free Walking Tours & Horse Carriage ride By Night: $55

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Addis Ababa $6.59
    Alexandria $1.33


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Addis Ababa and Alexandria, we can see that Addis Ababa is more expensive. And not only is Alexandria much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Alexandria would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Alexandria and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Addis Ababa would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Addis Ababa than you might in Alexandria.

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.