A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Aqaba vs. Aswan for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Aqaba or Aswan?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Aqaba or Aswan, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Where Should I go: Aqaba or Aswan?

Aqaba

Aqaba is a port city in Jordan, in fact, it is the only port city in the country. This city is located on the Gulf of Aqaba on the Red Sea, which is in the southern part of Jordan. The city is still being developed; many of its facilities and infrastructures are being improved. The population of Aqaba is about 190,000 and the city has been key in developing Jordan's economy via trade and tourism.

Aswan

Lounging along the Nile like Egyptian royalty is a fantasy for most world travelers. If you want to do it without the hustle and bustle of Cairo, there's always Aswan. This city in the south of Egypt is the smallest of the three major cities on the Nile. Located just below the Aswan Dam and Lake Nasser, Aswan's 275,00 people include a large portion of Nubians – mostly resettled from their flooded homeland.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Luxury Tours to Jordan, The Best Budget Tours to Jordan, The Best 10-Day Tours in Egypt, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Egypt.


Which place is cheaper, Aswan or Aqaba?

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 Aqaba is $157, while the average daily cost in Aswan is $19. 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 Aqaba and Aswan in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Aqaba $59
    Aswan $6.37
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Aqaba $118
    Aswan $13
Compare Hotels in Aqaba and Aswan

Looking for a hotel in Aqaba or Aswan? 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 Aqaba


Hotels in Aswan


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: Aqaba Hotel Prices and Aswan Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Aqaba $24
    Aswan $4.09

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Aqaba

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Aqaba:

  • Transfer From Aqaba Airport to Aqaba City Or TalaBay: $25
  • Private Transfer from Aqaba Airport to Arava Border: $27
  • Private Transfer: Aqaba Hotels to Aqaba Airport: $27
  • Small Group Unesco Wadi Rum Jeep Tour w/ Transfer + Optional Stay: $38
  • Private Transfers Aqaba to Dead Sea, Petra, Wadi Rum, Amman & vice versa: $47
  • Aqaba or Aqaba Airport Private Transfer To Wadi Rum: $60
  • Transfer From Aqaba Airport to Petra: $60
  • Transfer from Aqaba Airport to Petra: $60
  • Aqaba:Water Park Entry Ticket with Meal & transfer for 1 way: $66
  • Private Beach, Pools, Snorkeling & Boat Trip,Transfer: $66
  • Wadi Rum: One-Way Transfer to/from Aqaba by Private Car: $76
  • Wadi Rum to Aqaba Port Private Transfer: $80

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Aswan

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Aswan:

  • Aswan to Luxor Private Car Transfer: $80
  • Private Transfer from Aswan Airport to Hotels or Nile Cruise : $13
  • Transfer Service to Luxor from Aswan: $70
  • Abu Simbel from Aswan in Egypt - Private Tour (guide and transfers Included): $150
  • Arrival Transfer from Aswan Airport to Hotels or Nile Cruise in Aswan: $8.00
  • Aswan Airport Arrival Transfer: $16
  • Aswan Airport Private Arrival Transfer: $28
  • Aswan Airport Private Departure Transfer: $28
  • Aswan Airport Private Transfer: $24
  • Aswan Airport Transfer: $24
  • Aswan Airport Transfer to Hotels : $35
  • Aswan Airport Transfer to Hotels in Aswan: $25

Is it cheaper to fly into Aqaba or Aswan?

Prices for flights to both Aswan and Aqaba 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
    Aqaba $73
    Aswan $9.36

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Aqaba

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Aqaba.

  • Sunset Cruise with BBQ Dinner and Drinks: $54
  • Explore Wadi Rum: Jeep Tour, Bed and Breakfast, and Dinner: $59
  • Bedouin Cooking Class, full day Desert Tour & overnight Wadi Rum: $84
  • Wadi Rum Full Day Jeep Tour + Overnight & Dinner in Bedouin Camp: $98
  • Wadi Rum New Year Eve Party (Jeep Tour + Dinner + Music + Fireworks + Overnight): $112
  • 2 Day Wadi Rum Tour: Traditional Dinner and Starlit Cave Camp: $115
  • From Wadi Rum Full-Day Private Jeep Tour with Dinner: $169
  • Wadi Rum Private Tour with Jeep Safari and Dinner: $220
  • Petra & Wadi Rum Private Tour with Dinner one day: $425

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Aswan

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Aswan.

  • Nubian Dinner in Nubian Village Of Aswan: $40
  • Private Nubian Dinner at Nubian Village in Aswan: $44
  • Nubian Dinner at the Nubian village : $47
  • Nubian Dinner at Nubian Village: $49
  • Dinner on board a cruise on the Nile: $59
  • Private 3-Hour Nubian Party with Dinner and Pickup in Aswan: $77
  • Experience the Magic of Aswan in One Day Food Tour with Guide: $280

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Aqaba $54
    Aswan $5.77

Tours and Activities in Aqaba

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

  • Aqaba : All Water Sports Adventure in the Red Sea: $22
  • Aqaba Walking Tour : History ,Culture & Food : $30
  • Wadi Rum: Premium English Speaking Guide 4WD Desert Tour: $32
  • 2 Hour Jeep Tour - Wadi Rum Desert & Canyon: $35
  • Wadi Rum 2-Hour Sunset Tour Wadi Rum Desert Highlights: $35
  • 2 Hours Morning or Sunset Jeep Tour in Wadi Rum Desert Highlights: $35
  • 3 hours Jeep Tour in Wadi Rum: $35
  • Discover Aqaba in Style: A 3-h City Tour by Car with meal: $37
  • Mosaic Art Experience: $37
  • Jeep Tours in Wadi Rum with Bedouin Guide 2,3,4,5 hours | Magic Bedouin Star: $38
  • Wadi Rum 4-Hour Sunset Tour - Wadi Rum Desert Highlights: $40
  • 5-hours Jeep Tours + Free sunset: $40

Typical Entertainment Prices in Aswan

Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Aswan are as follows:


  • Temple Kom Ombo for Two
    $1.19

Tours and Activities in Aswan

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Aswan are as follows:

  • Day Trip to Nubian Village with Camel Tour: $15
  • Day Trip to Nubian Village with Camel Tour from Aswan: $20
  • High Dam, Unfinished Obelisk, & Philae Private Tour: $20
  • Horse Carriage Ride with a Private Tour in Aswan: $20
  • Aswan full day tour phile temple unfinished obelisk high dam : $20
  • From The Unfinished Obelisk Private Tour: $21
  • From Nubian Museum and village tour with tour guide: $25
  • Full Day tour to Abu simbel temples from aswan : $25
  • Aswan City Tour By Horse And Carriage: $25
  • 3 Hours Private Tour in Nubian Village from Aswan: $25
  • Nubian Village Day Tour In Aswan: $25
  • Private Felucca Tour:Aswan Elephantine Island, Agha Khan & Botanic Garden: $25

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Aqaba $9.06
    Aswan $1.17


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

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


Which is Bigger, Aqaba or Aswan?

Aswan has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Aqaba. When comparing the sizes of Aqaba and Aswan, 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.