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

Should you visit Ankara 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 Ankara 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: Ankara or Dahab?

Ankara

Located at the heart of Turkey near Central Anatolia, Ankara is the capital city and second largest city in the country after Istanbul. Formerly known for its long-haired goats and textiles, the city has since developed into a metropolitan mix of modern cultures with historic landmarks.

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 Romantic Tours for Couples in Turkey, The Best Luxury Tours to Turkey, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Egypt, and The Best Historical Tours in Egypt.


Which place is cheaper, Dahab or Ankara?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Ankara is $116, 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 Ankara and Dahab in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Ankara $57
    Dahab $6.09
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Ankara $114
    Dahab $12
Compare Hotels in Ankara and Dahab

Looking for a hotel in Ankara 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 Ankara


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: Ankara Hotel Prices and Dahab Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Ankara $37
    Dahab $1.92
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Ankara

Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Ankara:


  • Metro Ride
    $0.04
  • Short Taxi Ride
    $0.15

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ankara

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Ankara:

  • Private transfer: Ankara to Ankara Airport (ESB): $39
  • Private transfer: Ankara Airport (ESB) to Ankara: $39
  • Private Transfers Between Ankara Esenboga Airport - Ankara City Centre: $75
  • Private Transfers Ankara City or Esenboga Airport to/from Kizilcahamam Town: $185
  • Private Transfers Ankara City or Esenboga Airport to/from Gordion Ancient City: $185
  • Private Transfers Ankara City or Esenboga Airport to/from Beypazari Town: $185
  • Private Transfer from Ankara Esenboga Airport (ESB) to Central Ankara: $109
  • Ankara Private Transfer from central Ankara hotels to Ankara Airport (ESB): $109
  • Ankara Private Departure Transfer from City hotels to Airport: $60
  • Ankara Esenboğa Airport From/To City Center Private Transfer: $64
  • Ankara Esenboga Airport transfers to Ankara City Center (Cankaya,Kizilay) Hotels: $71
  • Ankara City Center (Cankaya,Kizilay) Hotels to Ankara Esenboga Airport transfers: $76

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Dahab

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

  • Dahab To/from Sharm El Sheikh Private Transfer : $40
  • Private Sharm El Sheikh Airport (SSH) Transfer: $71
  • Private Pickup Transfers From Dahab To Cairo: $260
  • Private Pickup Transfers from Dahab to Taba: $120
  • Private Transfer From Dahab To Taba border group from 1 to 12: $220
  • Private Transfer From Dahab To Taba border group from 1 to 4: $90
  • Private Transfer from Hotel in Dahab To Sharm el Sheikh Airport: $54
  • Sharm el-Sheikh: 1-Way or Round-Trip Transfer to Dahab: $38

Is it cheaper to fly into Ankara or Dahab?

Prices for flights to both Dahab and Ankara 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
    Ankara $32
    Dahab $4.82
Typical Food Prices in Ankara

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Ankara:


  • A Quick Lunch
    $0.36

Typical Food Prices in Dahab

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


  • Seafood Dinner (for 2)
    $2.00
  • Juice
    $0.11
  • 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
  • Dahab Desert Safari and Bedouin Dinner: $40
  • Stargazer + Camel riding + Bedouin dinner from Dahab : $90

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Ankara $34
    Dahab $4.60
Typical Entertainment Prices in Ankara

Here are a few typical costs in Ankara for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:


  • Underground City
    $0.25

Tours and Activities in Ankara

Here are a few actual costs in Ankara for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Ankara : Highlights Walking Tour: $48
  • Ankara : Private Walking Tour With A Guide ( Private Tour ) : $33
  • Ankara Private Walking Tour: $266
  • Ankara Private Walking Tour with a Professional Guide: $218
  • Family-Friendly Smartphone Walking Tour: $6.00
  • Inns and Baths City Sightseeing Mobile Audio Guide: $6.00
  • Private Tour with a Local: $37
  • Private Walking tour With A Guide (Private Tour): $32
  • Quick Tour, Essentials of Ankara: $6.00
  • From Konya and Cappdocia Tour (3 Days-2 Nights): $438
  • Half Day Private Tour in Ankara: $215
  • Istanbul: Golden Horn & Bosphorus Day Cruise: $165

Tours and Activities in Dahab

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

  • Saint Catherine's Monastery Half Day Tour From Dahab: $24
  • From Three Pools Guided Snorkeling Tour with Lunch: $28
  • Blue Hole Snorkeling Tour with lunch from Dahab: $28
  • Dahab Windsurfing Adventure in Red Sea Waves: $30
  • Royal seascope Semi-Submarine Cruise: $33
  • Royal Seascope Submarine Guided Boat Tour : $38
  • 4x4 Jeep Adventure from Dahab: $39
  • Full Day Climbing and Hiking Tour in Canyon with Pickup: $40
  • Blue Hole Snorkeling Adventure in Dahab: $40
  • Three Pools snorkeling and Quad Bike full-day tour in Dahab: $40
  • luxury Snorkeling cruise with buffet lunch: $41
  • Seascope Submarine Tour from Dahab: $45

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Ankara $15
    Dahab $2.63


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Ankara and Dahab, we can see that Ankara is more expensive. And not only is Dahab much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Ankara is in Europe 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 Ankara would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Ankara 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 Ankara Expensive? and Is Dahab Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Ankara or Dahab?

Ankara has a larger population, and is about 440 times larger than the population of Dahab. When comparing the sizes of Ankara 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.