A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Amman vs. Dahab for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Amman or Dahab?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Amman and Dahab. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

Where Should I go: Amman or Dahab?

Amman

Amman is the largest city in of the Hashemite Kingdom of the country of Jordan. It is also the capital city of Jordan and has a population of over four million people. Many people use Amman as a base for venturing out into the rest of Jordan and other surrounding countries. There are many things to see and do in Amman.

Dahab

Dahab is a small town on the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt. It is located about 85 kilometers north of Sharm el-Sheikh and sits on the Gulf of Aqaba. It's a popular destination with divers and backpackers alike, and offers some of the best snorkeling and diving that you'll find in the Red Sea. It's a great alternative to the resort driven Sharm el-Sheikh, and is popular with independent travelers who are looking for affordable accommodation. There are some upmarket options however, predominantly in the Laguna area, but budget facilities are not hard to find.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Luxury Tours to Jordan, The Best Budget Tours to Jordan, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Egypt, and The Best Historical Tours in Egypt.


Which place is cheaper, Dahab or Amman?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in Amman is $135, while the average daily cost in Dahab is $22. 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 Amman and Dahab in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Amman $49
    Dahab $8.05
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Amman $98
    Dahab $16
Compare Hotels in Amman and Dahab

Looking for a hotel in Amman or Dahab? 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 Amman


Hotels in Dahab


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: Amman Hotel Prices and Dahab Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Amman $24
    Dahab $2.68
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Amman

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Amman:


  • Bus Ride (for Two)
    $0.71
  • RIde to Airport
    $28

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Amman

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

  • Wadi Mujib Siq Taril (Self Guided) with round trip transfers: $134
  • Transfer to Petra from Amman /Amman Airport: $250
  • Transfer from Queen Alia Airport to Dead Sea Hotels or visa versa: $46
  • Transfer from Queen Alia Airport to Amman Hotels or visa versa: $29
  • Reliable Door-to-Door Private Transfer Amman ⇆ Dead Sea ⇆ Airport: $40
  • Queen Alia Airport Transfer Pick-Up and Drop-Off Service: $50
  • Private Transfer: Amman Airport to Wadi Rum: $133
  • Private Transfer from Madaba Hotel to Amman Airport: $47
  • Private Transfer from Amman to the Dead Sea: $53
  • Private Transfer from Amman Airport to Dead sea: $95
  • Private Transfer from Amman Airport to Araba Border: $153
  • Private Transfer from Amman Airport to Aqaba: $110

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Dahab

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

  • Private Transfer from Dahab to Sharm El Sheikh Airport (SSH): $34
  • Private Transfer from Dahab to Sharm El Sheikh (SSH) Airport: $114
  • Private Transfer From Dahab To Sharm el Sheikh airport: $65
  • Private Pickup Transfers From Dahab To Cairo: $195
  • Private Pickup Transfer From Dahab To St. Catherine: $75
  • Pickup transfer from Dahab To Sharm El Sheikh airport: $70
  • Beginner Scuba Dive at Lighthouse w Photos & Transfer: $58
  • Blue Hole Snorkeling Tour from Dahab with Lunch & Hotel Transfers: $45

Is it cheaper to fly into Amman or Dahab?

Prices for flights to both Dahab and Amman 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
    Amman $58
    Dahab $11
Typical Food Prices in Amman

For Amman, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:


  • Pastries
    $4.23
  • Tea
    $5.64

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Amman

For Amman, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • private cooking with local chef: $40
  • Private 2 Hour Cooking Class with the Locals in Amman: $50
  • Private Lunch or Dinner at a Local Traditional Restaurant in Amman: $80
  • Amman Food Tours: 3-Hours Guided Walking Food Tour in Amman: $98
  • Amman Cooking Class with Local Market Tour: $99

Typical Food Prices in Dahab

For Dahab, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:


  • Seafood Dinner (for 2)
    $1.72
  • Juice
    $0.09
  • Breakfast for Two
    $0.54

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Dahab

For Dahab, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Bedouin Dinner in the Mountains In Dahab: $39

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Amman $32
    Dahab $5.67

Tours and Activities in Amman

For Amman, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • 1Day Private spiritual Tour to Amman Madaba Baptism site Dead Sea: $150
  • 2 Day Group Tour from Amman to Petra Wadi Rum Aqaba Dead Sea: $250
  • 2 Day Petra Shobak Wadi Rum and Dead Sea Private Guided Tour: $210
  • 2 Day Petra Wadi Rum Baptism and Dead Sea Private Guided Tour: $210
  • 2 Day Petra Wadi Rum Madaba Mount Nebo and Dead Sea Privet Tour: $210
  • 2 Day Petra Wadi Rum Madaba and Dead Sea Private Guided Tour: $210
  • 2 Day Petra Wadi Rum Madaba and Mount Nebo Private Guided Tour: $210
  • 2 Day Petra Wadi Rum Pink Lake Salt Beach Dead Sea Private Tour: $210
  • 2 Day Petra Wadi Rum Pink Lake and Dead Sea Private Guided Tour: $210
  • 2 Day Petra Wadi Rum and Aqaba Private Guided Tour: $210
  • 2 Day Petra Wadi Rum and Dead Sea Private Guided Tour: $210
  • 2 Day Petra Wadi Rum and Dead Sea Private Guided Tour: $192

Tours and Activities in Dahab

For Dahab, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • 4x4 Jeep Adventure from Dahab: $41
  • Adventure Quad Biking Tour in Dahab: $40
  • Adventure Safari By Horse In Dahab At Laguna Beach: $65
  • Blue Hole Snorkeling Tour with lunch from Dahab: $43
  • Camel Ride + Blue Hole Snorkeling + Quad Bike Tour With Lunch From Dahab: $50
  • Camel Trek Desert and Beach Experience Private Tour in Dahab: $140
  • Royal Seascope Submarine Guided Boat Tour: $40
  • Royal seascope Semi-Submarine Cruise: $33
  • luxury Snorkeling cruise with buffet lunch: $41
  • Full-Day Hike Tour at St. Catherine's Monastery: $35
  • Jerusalem Bethlehem and Dead Sea 1-Day Tour from Dahab: $260
  • Mount Sinai & St. Catherine Sunset and Sunrise combined tour from Dahab: $170

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Amman $14
    Dahab $3.36

Sample the Local Flavors in Amman

Also in Amman, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:

  • Full Day Tour of Ajloun Castle with Cable Car and Wine Tasting: $127


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Amman and Dahab, we can see that Amman is more expensive. And not only is Dahab much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Amman is in Middle East and Dahab is in Africa, 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 Dahab would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Dahab 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 Amman would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Amman than you might in Dahab.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Amman Expensive? and Is Dahab Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Amman or Dahab?

Amman has a larger population, and is about 160 times larger than the population of Dahab. When comparing the sizes of Amman and Dahab, 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.

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