Which place is cheaper, Johannesburg or Alexandria?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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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 The Alexandria Library housed their most sacred and historical documents only to be burned to the ground.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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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAlexandria $17Johannesburg $94
The average daily cost (per person) in Alexandria is $17, while the average daily cost in Johannesburg is $94. 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 $7.99Johannesburg $54
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAlexandria $16Johannesburg $108
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 $2.49Johannesburg $16
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 Alexandria Port to Alexandria City Hotels: $16
- Private Transfer from Alexandria Airport (HBE) to Alexandria: $26
- Alexandria to Alexandria Airport - Departure Private Transfer: $26
- Borg El Arab Arrival & Departure Transfers: $40
- Private Pickup Transfer From A Hotel In Alexandria To Borg Al Arab Airport: $50
- Alexandria Airport to Alexandria - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $52
- Private Transfer from 6 of October City to El Cairo (CAI) Airport: $52
- Private Transfer from Alexandria to Cairo/Giza Hotels or Cairo./Giza to Alexandr: $65
- Private One Way Transfer from Alexandria Hotels to Cairo and Giza Hotels: $68
- Private Transfer from Alexandria Port to Cairo Int Airport (CAI): $71
- Private Transfer from Alexandria to Cairo : $73
- From Private One-Way Transfer to Cairo: $75
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$3.19
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Johannesburg
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Johannesburg:
- 1-3 Passenger Private Johannesburg - Airport Transfer: $34
- Airport To Suncity Transfer And Return: $388
- Arrival Private Transfer JNB Airport to Johannesburg, Pretoria or SunCity by Van: $73
- Arrival Private Transfer: Tambo Airport JNB to Johannesburg in Business Car: $61
- Arrival Private Transfer: Tambo Airport JNB to Johannesburg in Luxury Van: $72
- Departure Private Transfer: Johannesburg to Tambo Airport JNB in Luxury Van: $72
- Executive Airport Transfers - OR Tambo to Sandton : $174
- From Johannesburg Airport: 1-Way Transfer with Pretoria Tour: $104
- Johannesburg Airport (JNB): Transfer to Johannesburg hotels: $193
- Johannesburg Airport (JNB): Transfer to Pretoria hotels: $276
- Johannesburg Airport JNB to Johannesburg Hotels Arrival Transfer: $35
- Johannesburg Airport Private Transfers: Departures (Hotel Pickup): $43
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 $6.46Johannesburg $17
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: $50
- From Giza: Sound&light show, Giza pyramids and Dinner on the Nile: $94
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Johannesburg
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Johannesburg.
- Maboneng Street Art and Street Food Tour: $39
- Taste of Africa Food Tour: $49
- A Private Traditional Cape Malay Cooking Class, with a MKR Finalist: $95
- Johannesburg Culture and food tour: $96
- Pan-African Cooking & Dinning Experience: $186
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Alexandria $3.50Johannesburg $21
Tours and Activities in Alexandria
Here are a few actual costs in Alexandria for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- The Ancient Roman Theater Entry Ticket: $3.80
- Pompey's Pillar Entry Ticket: $3.80
- Citadel of Qaitbay Entry Ticket : $3.80
- Catacomb Of Kom El-Shoqafa Entry Tickets : $3.80
- Skip The Line Entry Ticket to Pompey's Pillar in Alexandria: $4.25
- Catacomb Of Kom El-Shoqafa Entry Ticket: $5.70
- Alexandria Library Entry Ticket: $5.70
- Qaitbay Citadel Entry Ticket: $5.70
- Skip the Line Tickets for The Roman Theater in Alexandria: $6.12
- Skip the Line Tickets for The Catacomb of Kom eL Shoqafa: $6.12
- Alexandria Library Skip the line Access Entry Ticket: $6.12
- Library of Alexandria Entry Ticket Included Pickup And Drop Off: $6.38
Tours and Activities in Johannesburg
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Johannesburg are as follows:
- Johannesburg Self-Guided Audio Tour: $9.00
- Jo'burg Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour with Apartheid Museum & Soweto: $16
- Hop-On Hop-Off Bus with Optional Soweto Tour: $16
- Architectural Walking Tour: $18
- Soweto: Hector Pieterson Memorial, to Orlando Towers Tour: $23
- Braamfontein Street Art Tour: $23
- Maboneng Street Art & Culture Tour: $26
- Soweto: Bike Tour with a Local Tour Guide: $28
- Colours of A Graffiti & Street Art Tour: $28
- (Meet the Artist)Art Gallery & Street Art tour with lunch: $29
- Johannesburg Street Art & Museum Walking or E-scooter Tour : $29
- A Day Of Soweto Food & Beer Tour: $31
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAlexandria $1.35Johannesburg $4.65
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: $8.02
- Wine Tasting and Cableway Half Day Tour: $111
- Experience Johannesburg Wine Tour Views and Luxury: $225
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.