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.

The average daily cost (per person) in Amman is $110, while the average daily cost in Dahab is $13. 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 $6.02
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Amman $98
    Dahab $12
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 $1.90
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:

  • Transfer to Petra from Amman /Amman Airport: $290
  • Transfer from Queen Alia Airport to Amman Hotels: $30
  • Transfer from Amman or Airport to Petra with Optional Tour: $99
  • Transfer Amman To/From Petra: $200
  • Queen Alia Intl Airport Private Transfer to Amman City or Hotels: $20
  • Queen Alia Airport and Amman Private Transfer /Multiple Destion: $44
  • Queen Alia Airport Transfers From / To Amman, Petra, Dead Sea.: $45
  • Queen Alia Airport Transfers: $43
  • Private Transfer: From Amman City to Dead Sea : $60
  • Private Transfer: Amman Airport to Aqaba Airport: $153
  • Private Transfer from Madaba Hotel to Amman Queen Alia Airport: $47
  • Private Transfer from Amman to Wadi Musa: $135

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Dahab

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

  • Private Transfer from Hotel in Dahab To Sharm el Sheikh Airport: $55
  • Private Transfer From Dahab To Taba border group from 1 to 4: $90
  • Dahab To/from Sharm El Sheikh Private Transfer : $40
  • Dahab Private Transfer To/From Sharm el sheikh ( One Way Transfer ): $30

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 $34
    Dahab $4.77
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 2 Hour Cooking Class with the Locals in Amman: $51
  • 3 course dinner with a sommelier: $56
  • Private Lunch or Dinner at a Local Traditional Restaurant in Amman: $71
  • Private Madaba Haret Jdoudna Restaurant Lunch or Dinner from Amman: $90
  • Private Panoramic Amman Tour and Local Lunch or Dinner-Wine Taste: $90
  • Private Jordan Heritage Restaurant Lunch or Dinner Experience : $109
  • Half Day Cooking Class Experience with Amman Panoramic Tour: $109
  • 3-Hours Guided Food Tour in Amman: $130
  • Private Jordan Heritage Restaurant Lunch or Dinner with Wine Experience : $173

Typical Food Prices in Dahab

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


  • Seafood Dinner (for 2)
    $1.98
  • Juice
    $0.10
  • Breakfast for Two
    $0.63

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: $30
  • Bedouin Dinner in the Mountains In Dahab: $36
  • Bedouin Dinner in the Mountains In Dahab: $39
  • Dahab Desert Safari and Bedouin Dinner: $40
  • Stargazer + Camel riding + Bedouin dinner from Dahab : $90

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Amman $32
    Dahab $4.55

Tours and Activities in Amman

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

  • Tour to the hidden Kingdom of the north: $300
  • Um Qais Private Tour Enjoy The History And Stunning Scenery.: $130
  • 1-Night Private Overnight Madaba Independent Tour from Amman: $170
  • 1Day Private spiritual Tour to Amman Madaba Baptism site Dead Sea: $235
  • 2 Day Private Tour to Petra and Wadi Rum from Amman : $215
  • 2 Day Tour Petra Wadi Rum and Dead Sea from Amman: $300
  • 2 Day Tour to Petra, Wadi Rum, and Dead Sea from Amman: $200
  • 2 Days - 1 Night Ma'in Hot Springs Private Tour From Amman: $150
  • 2 Days Private Tour in Jordan: Petra, Wadi Rum Camping & More from Amman: $220
  • 2 Days Tour | Petra, Wadi Rum, and Dead Sea From Amman.: $264
  • 2 Days Trip Amman City Tour With Baptism Site And Nebo Mountain : $130
  • 2 Private Tour Days From Amman, Petra, Wadi Rum, Dead Sea, Amman: $275

Tours and Activities in Dahab

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

  • Camel Trek Desert and Beach Experience Private Tour in Dahab: $45
  • 2 Day Private Desert Experience in Sinai: $244
  • 4x4 Jeep Adventure from Dahab: $40
  • Adventure Quad Biking Tour in Dahab: $50
  • Adventure Safari By Horse In Dahab At Laguna Beach: $65
  • Astronomy and Bedouin Culture Private Tour in Dahab with Pickup: $40
  • Blue Hole Snorkeling Tour with lunch from Dahab: $28
  • Camel Ride + Blue Hole Snorkeling + Quad Bike Tour With Lunch From Dahab: $45
  • Dahab Windsurfing Adventure in Red Sea Waves: $30
  • Dahab's Kept Secrets 5 Adventures in 1 Tour: $25
  • Royal Seascope Submarine Guided Boat Tour : $39
  • Full Day Dahab Highlights Tour with Pickup: $150

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Amman $14
    Dahab $2.60

Sample the Local Flavors in Amman

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

  • Private Wine Tasting Tour in Amman: $64


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.