Which place is cheaper, Pompeii or Alexandria?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Alexandria or Pompeii?
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 Pompeii can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Alexandria or Pompeii?
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 The Alexandria Library housed their most sacred and historical documents only to be burned to the ground.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.
Pompeii
Pompeii was once a 160-acre Roman port city, called home by more than 20,000 residents. In 79 A.D., Mount Vesuvius erupted and after burying the entire city 16 feet deep in ash, the debris destroyed everything in its path, killing thousands of people and affecting more than 200 square miles around the area.
However, the phenomenon is that the ash preserved everything as it was in that time and to this day, you can visit and observe life as it was nearly two thousand years ago, as figures of people running from the explosion have been burned permanently into history.
The best time to visit Pompeii is during spring, after the rains of March and before the scorching heat of June and July. On the downside, this is the beginning of the busy season for tourists, so while you'll enjoy pleasant weather, you won't be likely to avoid crowds. Conversely, November starts the low-season for travel, so you can easily skip the crowds, though you may have to compromise on weather, as the rains return this time of year. Rain and crowds won't be an issue if you visit during winter, but be warned, temperatures drop down to the 50's during the day, accompanied by winds.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Luxury Tours to Egypt, The Best Budget Tours to Egypt, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Italy, and The Best Walking Tours in Italy.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAlexandria $17Pompeii $161
The average daily cost (per person) in Alexandria is $17, while the average daily cost in Pompeii is $161. 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 Pompeii in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAlexandria $7.99Pompeii $75
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAlexandria $16Pompeii $150
Compare Hotels in Alexandria and Pompeii
Looking for a hotel in Alexandria or Pompeii? 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 Pompeii Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Alexandria $2.49Pompeii $57
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 Luxor to Alexandria: $243
- Private Transfer from Alexandria to Cairo/Giza Hotels or Cairo./Giza to Alexandr: $65
- Private Transfer from Alexandria to Cairo : $73
- Private Transfer from Alexandria Port to Cairo Int Airport (CAI): $71
- Private Transfer from Alexandria Port to Alexandria City Hotels: $16
- Private Transfer from Alexandria Airport (HBE) to Alexandria: $26
- Private Transfer from 6 of October City to El Cairo (CAI) Airport: $52
- Private Pickup Transfer From A Hotel In Alexandria To Borg Al Arab Airport: $50
- Private One Way Transfer from Alexandria Hotels to Cairo and Giza Hotels: $68
- From Private Transfer to Luxor: $251
- From Private One-Way Transfer to Cairo: $75
- Borg El Arab Arrival & Departure Transfers: $40
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Pompeii
Also for Pompeii, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Organic Wine Tasting & Lunch on Vesuvius with Transfer from Pompeii: $132
- Private transfer Ravello to Naples: $121
- Private transfer from Ravello to Naples: $121
- Small Group Pompeii Wine Tasting with Lunch & Transfer Included : $97
- Transfer Private from Ravello to Naples: $239
- Transfer Ravello to Naples: $121
- Transfer from Pompeii to Naples or viceversa: $66
- Transfers Ravello - Naples: $207
- Transfers from Naples to Sorrento Positano Amalfi Ravello Maiori: $97
Is it cheaper to fly into Alexandria or Pompeii?
Prices for flights to both Pompeii 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 $6.46Pompeii $38
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 Pompeii
For Pompeii, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Traditional Neapolitan Dinner in Pompei - Villa Franca - Family Restourant: $38
- Cooking Class with Italian Mamma in Pompeii: $65
- Lunch or dinner and cooking demo at a local home in Pompei: $93
- Pompei tour with a 2000 years roman dinner: $112
- Small Group Market tour and Cooking class in Pompei: $142
- Private Pizza & Tiramisu Class at a Cesarina's home with tasting in Pompei: $158
- Private Cooking Class with Lunch or Dinner in Pompei: $158
- Private market tour and cooking class with lunch or dinner in Pompei: $206
- guided tour of the ruins and cooking class fresh pasta : $272
- Cooking class: Pasta Experience in Pompei, Italy: $300
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Alexandria $3.50Pompeii $82
Tours and Activities in Alexandria
Here are a few actual costs in Alexandria for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Day Tour to Alamein and Alexandria: $169
- National Museum and Egyptian museum Private Tour in Egypt: $258
- Tour to The Qaitbay Citadel in Alexandria: $16
- 10-Hour Historical Pyramids Tour from Alexandria Port: $130
- 2 Day Tour Visit the Top Attractions of Alexandria City: $174
- 2 Day Tour Visit the Top Attractions of Alexandria City: $155
- 6-Hour Day Tour to Alexandria Attractions with Pickup Included: $78
- 6-Hour Private Day Tour to Rashid from Alexandria: $100
- 8 Days Ultra Luxury Cairo, Alexandria & Nile cruise: $4,190
- Alamein full day tour from Alexandria: $95
- Alexandria : Rosetta Day Tour from Alexandria: $117
- Alexandria : Tour to WadiElNatroun Monastery from Alexandria: $135
Tours and Activities in Pompeii
For Pompeii, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- The Rise, Fall, and Rediscovery of A Self-Guided Tour: $20
- Pompeii Express 1 hour Guided Tour: $21
- Pompeii Ticket with Optional Guided Tour: $31
- PompeiI VIP: Guided Tour with your Archaeologist in a Small Group : $32
- Entrance ticket to the Valle dell'Orso Water Park: $33
- Pompeii for kids or adults skip the line small group walking tour 2 hours: $33
- Pompeii Skip the Line ticket + Audioguide: $35
- Pompeii Archeological Site Fast Track Entry Ticket : $36
- Pompeii tour with archaeologist: $38
- Pompeii Tour with experienced guide: $38
- guided tour of the archaeological excavations of Pompeii: $38
- Semi-Private Tour of Pompeii Ruins: $41
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAlexandria $1.35Pompeii $7.84
Sample the Local Flavors in Pompeii
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Pompeii:
- Wine Tasting Tour on the Slopes of Vesuvius: $46
- Wine Tasting on Mt. Vesuvius: $55
- Seafood Lunch with Wine Tasting & Tour on a golf cart: $87
- Guided Tour of Pompeii Ruins with Lunch and Wine Tasting: $98
- Private Wine Tour and Tasting in Pompeii with a Local: $124
- Pompeii Guided Tour & Horse Riding on Vesuvius with Wine Tasting: $191
- Pompeii, Herculaneum and scenic drive of the Mt. Vesuvius with wine tasting: $207
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Alexandria and Pompeii, we can see that Pompeii is more expensive. And not only is Alexandria much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Alexandria is in Africa and Pompeii is in Europe, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. 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 Pompeii would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Pompeii 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 Pompeii Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Alexandria or Pompeii?
Pompeii has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Alexandria experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Alexandria or Pompeii in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Alexandria as well as Pompeii. Alexandria attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Pompeii this time of year.
Alexandria is a little warmer than Pompeii in the summer. The daily temperature in Alexandria averages around 26°C (79°F) in July, and Pompeii fluctuates around 23°C (74°F).
Alexandria usually gets less rain in July than Pompeii. Alexandria gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Pompeii receives 26 mm (1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyAlexandria 26°C (79°F)Pompeii 23°C (74°F)
Should I visit Alexandria or Pompeii in the Autumn?
Both Pompeii and Alexandria are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Alexandria throughout the year.
In the autumn, Alexandria is a little warmer than Pompeii. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Alexandria in October average around 22°C (72°F), and Pompeii averages at about 17°C (63°F).
It rains a lot this time of the year in Pompeii. In October, Alexandria usually receives less rain than Pompeii. Alexandria gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Pompeii receives 132 mm (5.2 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberAlexandria 22°C (72°F)Pompeii 17°C (63°F)
Should I visit Alexandria or Pompeii in the Winter?
Both Pompeii and Alexandria during the winter are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Alexandria because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Furthermore, many visitors come to Pompeii in the winter for the museums.
In January, Alexandria is generally much warmer than Pompeii. Daily temperatures in Alexandria average around 13°C (55°F), and Pompeii fluctuates around 8°C (47°F).
Pompeii gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Alexandria usually gets less rain in January than Pompeii. Alexandria gets 50 mm (2 in) of rain, while Pompeii receives 111 mm (4.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryAlexandria 13°C (55°F)Pompeii 8°C (47°F)
Should I visit Alexandria or Pompeii in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Alexandria and Pompeii. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Alexandria year-round.
Alexandria is a little warmer than Pompeii in the spring. The daily temperature in Alexandria averages around 19°C (66°F) in April, and Pompeii fluctuates around 13°C (55°F).
In April, Alexandria usually receives less rain than Pompeii. Alexandria gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Pompeii receives 71 mm (2.8 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilAlexandria 19°C (66°F)Pompeii 13°C (55°F)
Typical Weather for Pompeii and Alexandria
| Alexandria | Pompeii | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 13°C (55°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 8°C (47°F) | 111 mm (4.4 in) |
| Feb | 13°C (55°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 99 mm (3.9 in) |
| Mar | 16°C (61°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 88 mm (3.5 in) |
| Apr | 19°C (66°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) |
| May | 22°C (72°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 52 mm (2.1 in) |
| Jun | 23°C (73°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 21°C (69°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) |
| Jul | 26°C (79°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 23°C (74°F) | 26 mm (1 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 24°C (74°F) | 46 mm (1.8 in) |
| Sep | 25°C (77°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) |
| Oct | 22°C (72°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 132 mm (5.2 in) |
| Nov | 19°C (66°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 161 mm (6.3 in) |
| Dec | 14°C (57°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 9°C (49°F) | 118 mm (4.6 in) |
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.