Which place is cheaper, Cairo or Addis Ababa?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Addis Ababa or Cairo?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Addis Ababa or Cairo, 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 Cairo?
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.
Cairo
Cairo is the chaotic capital city of Egypt. With a population of more than 16 million, it is one of the largest cities in both Africa and the Middle East. As a traveler, you're likely to arrive and leave from here and you'll get your first orientation to the area during the chaotic and congestion filled taxi ride from the airport.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Egypt, and The Best Historical Tours in Egypt.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAddis Ababa $32Cairo $17
The average daily cost (per person) in Addis Ababa is $32, while the average daily cost in Cairo is $17. 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 Cairo in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAddis Ababa $21Cairo $9.19
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAddis Ababa $42Cairo $18
Compare Hotels in Addis Ababa and Cairo
Looking for a hotel in Addis Ababa or Cairo? 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.
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 Cairo Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Addis Ababa $3.74Cairo $2.93
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Addis Ababa
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Addis Ababa are as follows:
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Short Taxi Ride$0.25
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
- 4 Hours Addis Airport Transfer with Ethiopian Cultural Tour: $299
- Addis Ababa Private Airport-Hotel Transfer: $82
- City and Airport Transfer in Addis Ababa: $26
- City/Airport Transfers-Addis Ababa: $26
- Lalibela Full Day Tour with Guide and Transfer: $130
- Private Transfer from Bole Airport Addis Ababa (ADD) to Addis Ababa: $112
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Cairo
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Cairo are as follows:
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Metro Ride$0.08
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Taxi Ride$0.31
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cairo
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cairo:
- 3-Days Private Guided Tour Package Covering all Cairo,Lunch and Airport Transfer: $300
- 3 Private Full-Day Tours to Cairo Top Attractions+One Airport Transfer: $300
- Full-Day Private Trip to Fayoum from Cairo, with Transfer: $286
- 2-Day-One night Camping Tour in The Bahariya Oasis with Private Transfer: $274
- Private Pickup Transfers From Cairo To Dahab: $260
- Overnight camping White Desert (Baharaya Oasis) & Cairo Private Transfers: $240
- Private Transfer from El Cairo (CAI) Airport to El Alamein: $240
- Transfer from Hurghada to Cairo by van : $235
- Private Pickup Transfers From Cairo To Hurghada By Mini Bus: $220
- Two-Day Private City Tour of Cairo, Giza Pyramids and Saqqara+Airport Transfer: $220
- Private Pickup Transfer From Cairo To Sharm El Sheikh: $220
- Awesome Private 2 Days all Highlights Giza Cairo incl Free airport transfers: $220
Is it cheaper to fly into Addis Ababa or Cairo?
Prices for flights to both Cairo 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
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Food Meals for one dayAddis Ababa $8.35Cairo $4.66
Typical Food Prices in Addis Ababa
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Addis Ababa:
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Slice of Cake$0.06
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
- Culinary Class and Food Tour in Addis Ababa : $82
- Local Ethiopian Food Tour: $100
- 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
Typical Food Prices in Cairo
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Cairo:
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Juice$0.04
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cairo
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Cairo.
- Cairo Dinner Cruise on River Nile with Belly Dancing Show: $10
- Private Pickup Cairo Dinner Cruise with Belly Dancer Show : $11
- Nile Dinner Cruise in Cairo with Belly Dancing and Hotel Transfer: $11
- Dinner Cruise On the Nile with Belly Dancing Show: $11
- Cairo Dinner Cruise With Belly Dancer Show: $11
- Cairo Dinner Cruise With Belly Dancer Show: $11
- Giza Dinner Cruise With Belly Dancer Show: $11
- Cairo Night Dinner Cruise on The Nile With Pickup: $11
- 2-Hour Nile River Dinner Cruise From Cairo: $11
- 2 Hour Cairo Dinner Cruise on Nile river with live band: $11
- Cairo Dinner Cruise on the River Nile with Belly Dancing Show: $11
- Evening Dinner Nile Cruise in Cairo with Private Transport: $11
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Addis Ababa $3.86Cairo $5.65
Tours and Activities in Addis Ababa
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Addis Ababa.
- Historical and sightseeing tour in Addis Ababa: $56
- Half Day City Tour of Addis Ababa : $60
- Addis Ababa Group City Day Tour: $65
- City tour of Addis, Transit in Addis by car: $65
- Food tasting tours, Enjera/Injera baking,coffee ceremony,Tej tasting: $69
- Full Day Tour of Addis Ababa with Hotel Pickup and Drop-off: $70
- Addis Ababa Guided City Tour With Airport & Hotel Pick Up: $70
- Addis Ababa Half Day Shopping Tour: $70
- Addis Ababa City - Half Day Tour: $70
- Addis Ababa City tour: $72
- Addis Ababa City Tours: $75
- Every day Addis Ababa City Tour : $75
Typical Entertainment Prices in Cairo
Here are a few typical costs in Cairo for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Entry to Camel Market for Two$0.83
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Egyptian Museum Entry for Two$6.38
Tours and Activities in Cairo
Here are a few actual costs in Cairo for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 2 Days 1 Nights Tour package to Saint-Catherine from Cairo : $300
- 2-Day Cairo Giza Highlights Guided Tour including Camel Ride All inclusive : $40
- 2-Day Private Tour of Cairo with Accommodation and Entrance Fees: $165
- 2-Days Tour at Cairo & Giza: $86
- 2-Days tour at Cairo & Giza: $80
- 3-Day Tour at Cairo & Giza : $200
- 3-Days Tour at Cairo (Customized Package): $229
- 3-Days Tour in Siwa Oasis from Cairo : $295
- 4-Day Tours at Cairo & Giza & Alexandria: $209
- 8 Hours Private Cairo Tour: A Journey Back in Time: $45
- Alexandria Private Day Tour From Cairo: $60
- All Inclusive 2-Day Private Tour to All Pyramids and Cairo and 2 evenings: $299
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAddis Ababa $3.19Cairo $1.15
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Addis Ababa and Cairo, we can see that Addis Ababa is more expensive. And not only is Cairo much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Cairo would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Cairo 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 Cairo.
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 Cairo Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Addis Ababa or Cairo?
Cairo has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Addis Ababa. When comparing the sizes of Addis Ababa and Cairo, 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.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.