Which place is cheaper, Johannesburg or Alexandria?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Alexandria or Johannesburg?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Alexandria and Johannesburg can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Alexandria or Johannesburg?
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 The Alexandria Library housed their most sacred and historical documents only to be burned to the ground.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.
Johannesburg
Johannesburg is the largest city in South Africa with a population of over 3 million people. Most of the population is made up of South Africa's black residents, who predominately reside in the Soweto area. There are approximately half a million white residents and 300,000 residents of other descent. Half of the population live in the Soweto area as well as the nearby suburbs.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Luxury Tours to Egypt, The Best Budget Tours to Egypt, The Best Adventure Tours to South Africa, and The Best Eco Tours in South Africa.
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Alexandria Prices
Egypt PricesJohannesburg Prices
South Africa Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAlexandria $26Johannesburg $122
The average daily cost (per person) in Alexandria is $26, while the average daily cost in Johannesburg is $122. 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 Alexandria and Johannesburg in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAlexandria $9.64Johannesburg $62
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAlexandria $19Johannesburg $124
Compare Hotels in Alexandria and Johannesburg
Looking for a hotel in Alexandria or Johannesburg? 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: Alexandria Hotel Prices and Johannesburg Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Alexandria $3.56Johannesburg $18
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Alexandria
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Alexandria:
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Taxi to Train Station$0.08
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Alexandria
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Alexandria:
- Private Transfer from or to Borg Al Arab Airport: $14
- Alexandria Airport Arrival Transfer: $24
- Alexandria to Alexandria Airport (HBE)-Departure Private Transfer: $36
- Private Transfer from Alexandria Airport (HBE) to Alexandria Port: $43
- Pickup Transfers From Alexandria Borg Al Arab Airport To Alexandria Hotel: $50
- Private Transfer from Alexandria Airport to Alexandria Hotels: $54
- transfer from Alexandria to Cairo airport, Cairo & Giza hotels: $55
- Private Transfer Alexandria Hotel to Cairo Airport: $70
- Private One Way Transfer from Alexandria Hotels to Cairo and Giza Hotels: $80
- Private Transfer Alexandria Hotel to Sphinx Airport: $88
- From Private One-Way Transfer to Cairo: $94
- Private Transfer from Alexandria to El Cairo: $128
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Johannesburg
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Johannesburg:
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Taxi Ride$3.68
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Johannesburg
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Johannesburg:
- 1-4 Passenger Arrival & Departure JNB - Airport Transfers: $75
- 1-4 Passenger Johannesburg - Airport Transfer: $40
- Airport & Private Shuttle and Transfer Services in Johannesburg: $79
- Airport Shuttle and Private Transfers: $39
- Airport Transfer: Johannesburg to Tambo Airport JNB by Luxury Van: $82
- Airport Transfers Johannesburg: $76
- Airport Transfers Johannesburg-Pretoria-Sandton: $76
- Airport Transfers OR Tambo to Sandton Hotels: $58
- Airport Transfers from Cradle of Humankind Muldesdrift to Jo'burg: $167
- Airport transfers, door to door .private transfers: $62
- Arrival Transfer: JNB Airport to Johannesburg by Business Car: $77
- Comfort Private Airport Transfer: OR Tambo Airport (JNB): $44
Is it cheaper to fly into Alexandria or Johannesburg?
Prices for flights to both Johannesburg and Alexandria 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 dayAlexandria $14Johannesburg $33
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
- Alexandria Food Tour Top Rated: $40
- From Giza: Sound&light show, Giza pyramids and Dinner on the Nile: $94
- GEM and Pyramids Tour with Cruise Dinner From Alexandria Port: $120
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Johannesburg
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Johannesburg.
- Unique street food tour from at least 6 different cultures!: $78
- Zulu Food Cooking & Dining Experience with a local Chef: $85
- Pan-African Cooking & Dinning Experience: $96
- Johannesburg Culture and Food Tour: $98
- Johannesburg Culture and food tour: $113
- Lesedi Cultural Village Tour with Lunch or Dinner: $126
- Lesedi Cultural Village with lunch or dinner cultural food: $133
- Pan African Cooking Class & Dinning Experience: $139
- Soweto Township Tour With African food tour: $145
- Rooftop Bar, Dinner and Clubbing (Amapiano): $217
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Alexandria $4.98Johannesburg $24
Tours and Activities in Alexandria
Here are a few actual costs in Alexandria for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Tour to The Qaitbay Citadel in Alexandria: $19
- Discover Alexandria Walking Tour: $20
- Half Day Tour to Bibliotheca Alexandrina: $22
- Catacombs of kom el shoqafa Guided Walking Tour: $30
- Guided City Walking Tour: $35
- Graeco Roman Museum Guided Walking Tour by a Storyteller: $35
- Private Alexandria Highlights Guided Day Tour: $35
- Rosetta Day Tour from Alexandria Islamic architecture: $37
- Alexandria Library Exclusive Guided Walking Tour: $40
- Group Tour top Things To Do In Alexandria From Cairo: $45
- Islamic Cairo Hidden Gems and Khan El Khalili Local Experience: $45
- Full day tour to Alexandria from Cairo: $50
Tours and Activities in Johannesburg
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Johannesburg are as follows:
- Mapatiza Mine Guided Tour with Showroom: $4.63
- Mandela House Entry Ticket: $6.08
- Discover Hidden Treasure with Scratch Patch Experience in Midrand: $16
- Johannesburg Hop-On Hop-Off City Tour with Soweto Option: $19
- Hop-On Hop-Off Bus with Optional Soweto Tour: $22
- Architectural Walking Tour: $25
- Braamfontein Street Art & Culture Tour: $28
- Soweto: Bike Tour with a Local Tour Guide: $32
- Soweto: Hector Pieterson Memorial, to Orlando Towers Tour: $32
- Johannesburg Street Art & Museum Walking or E-scooter Tour: $35
- Soweto Township Tour: $35
- Maboneng Street Art & Culture Tour: $35
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAlexandria $1.34Johannesburg $5.38
Sample the Local Flavors in Johannesburg
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Johannesburg:
- Wine Tasting Experience in Johannesburg: $9.48
- Wine Tasting: $12
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Alexandria and Johannesburg, we can see that Johannesburg 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 Johannesburg would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Johannesburg 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 Alexandria Expensive? and Is Johannesburg Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Alexandria or Johannesburg?
Alexandria has a larger population, and is about 88% larger than the population of Johannesburg. When comparing the sizes of Alexandria and Johannesburg, 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.