Should you visit Aqaba or Beirut?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Aqaba or Beirut, this travel cost comparison can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
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.
Beirut
Some travelers are seeking the hustle, bustle and posh atmosphere that only comes from a big city. Those travelers should have Beirut, Lebanon at the top of their list. The capital city is jam packed with 2.1 million people that are constantly on the go. As the commercial and financial hub of Lebanon, this city is fast-paced, fashion conscious and always ready for a night on the town.
Which city is cheaper, Beirut or Aqaba?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Aqaba is $57, while the average daily cost in Beirut is $106. 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 city. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Aqaba and Beirut in more detail.
Accommodation
A hotel room in Aqaba is about $78 This assumes double occupancy and modest accommodations.
For a normal double-occupancy room in Beirut, $118 is the average cost for a hotel room. Also in Beirut, the typical price for a place to stay for one person is $59, such as in a hostel.
Food
On average, meal and food prices in Aqaba cost around $15 per person, per day. While this price can vary widely by location, the type of restaurant, and the amount of food ordered, a typical meal often costs around $6.00.
The average traveler spends about $33 per day in Beirut for food, but obviously this is dependent on the type of restaurant and the amount of food ordered. To save money you can grab a lighter lunch or dinner, or you can try fast food or street food.
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Food
Meals for one day
Aqaba $15
Beirut $33
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Aqaba
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Aqaba.
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Suhaila (The Authentic Cooking Experience):
$50
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Beirut
For Beirut, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
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Traveling Spoon Lebanese Mezze Private Online Cooking Class:
$27
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Seafood dinner with a sea view in Beirut:
$58
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Private, Traditional Lebanese Cooking Class with a Contemporary Twist:
$72
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Authentic Lebanese Cooking Lesson and Meal with Tania's Family in Beirut:
$90
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Private Lebanese Cooking Class in Beirut with Amal and Hotel Transfers:
$113
Local Transportation
The average price of local transportation around Aqaba is $5.08 per person, per day. As this average includes both taxis and public transport, keep in mind that the prices of private drivers and taxis are significantly more expensive than public transportation.
Public transportation tends to be much less expensive in Beirut than paying for a taxi or private car service, as is expected. Typically, people spend $21 on transportation in Beirut on average per day.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Aqaba
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Aqaba:
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Private Transfer: Aqaba Hotels to Aqaba Airport:
$27
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Private Transfer: Aqaba Airport to Sheikh Hussein Border or vice versa:
$193
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Private Transfer: Aqaba Airport to Petra City Hotels:
$93
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Private Transfer: Aqaba Airport to Ma'in Hotel:
$120
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Private Transfer from/To (Aqaba Airport - Aqaba City):
$18
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Private Transfer from Aqaba Tala bay Hotels to Aqaba Airport:
$33
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Private Transfer from Aqaba Airport to Wadi Rum:
$80
-
Private Transfer from Aqaba Airport to Tala Bay Hotels:
$33
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Private Transfer from Aqaba Airport to Dead Sea Hotels:
$160
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Private Transfer from Aqaba Airport to Aqaba City Hotels:
$27
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Private Transfer from Aqaba Airport to Amman Hotels:
$133
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Private Transfer Araba Border to Amman Queen Alia Airport:
$153
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Beirut
Also for Beirut, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Airport Arrival Transfer to Your Beirut Hotel:
$15
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Airport Departure Transfer From Your Beirut Hotel:
$15
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BEY Airport to Hotel: Skip-the-Line Private Arrival Transfer:
$13
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Beirut airport transfer:
$23
-
Beirut to Damascus Taxi Transfer ( Syrian Border ):
$50
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Departure Transfer:From Hotel To Beirut-Rafic Hariri International Airport (BEY):
$11
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Private Airport Transfer in Beirut:
$10
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Private Arrival Transfer: Beirut International Airport to Hotel:
$18
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Private Arrival Transfer: From Airport to your hotel in Beirut:
$20
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Private Departure Transfer: From your hotel in Beirut to Airport:
$18
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Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Beirut International Airport:
$15
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Private Transfer from Beirut Hotels to the Beirut Airport:
$10
Entertainment
Sightseeing expenses in Beirut, including the cost of admission tickets for day tours, museums, and attractions, usually cost an average of $12 per day, per person.
Tours and Activities in Aqaba
Here are a few actual costs in Aqaba for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
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1 Day Tour to Petra from Aqaba Hotels:
$268
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1 Day tours:
$359
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2 Days 1 Night in Wadi Rum Jeep Tour:
$159
-
2 Days Private Tour to Wadi Rum and Petra from Eilbat:
$665
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2 Days Wadi Rum and Petra Tour from Wadi Arava Border:
$409
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2-Day Tour: Petra, Wadi Rum from Aqaba:
$148
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2-Night Jordan Private Tour: Petra, Wadi Rum from Wadi Araba Border Crossing:
$601
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3 Days Private Wadi Rum Experience with Petra from Eilat:
$680
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Aqaba Day Tour:
$50
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Aqaba Dog Shelter Conservation Experience:
$77
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Aqaba Hooh Sweets Making Experience:
$72
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Aqaba Shore Excursions - Wadi Rum Day Tour:
$120
Tours and Activities in Beirut
For Beirut, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
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One Hour Self-guided Audio Tour of the Green Line by VoiceMap:
$5.13
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City Sightseeing Beirut Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour:
$30
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Beirut 3 museums + mini walking tour:
$30
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Beirut Like a Local: Customized Private Tour:
$31
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Jeita Grotto, Harissa and Byblos with a Group Tour from Beirut:
$35
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Small-Group Adventure Tour to Jeita Grotto,Harissa&Byblos Day Trip from Beirut:
$38
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Small-Group Adventure Tour to Sidon Tyre Maghdouche - Day Trip from Beirut:
$39
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Small-Group Guided tour of Beirut:
$40
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Small-Group Beirut Historical Tour:
$40
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Beirut Full Day Walking Tour:
$40
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Small Daily Tours in Beirut City:
$40
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Beirut Small Group Historical Tour:
$40
Alcohol
Typically, people visiting Beirut spend on average $11 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
Sample the Local Flavors in Beirut
Also in Beirut, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
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Lebanon Wine Tasting Tour:
$52
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Full-Day Private Wine Tour in Bekaa Valley with Tasting:
$60
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Budget Wine Tasting Tour at the Bekaa Valley Wineries:
$60
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Private Wine Tasting Tour:
$65
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Private Wine Tasting Day Tour from Beirut:
$75
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Full-Day Private Wine Tasting Tour at Chateau Musar and Ixsir:
$75
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Full-Day Wine Tasting Tour in The Bekaa Valley:
$75
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Full-Day Private Wine Tasting Tour:
$82
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Full-Day Private Wine Tasting Trip to Chateau Musar and Ixsir from Beirut:
$85
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Full-Day Private Wine Tasting Tour:
$85
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Wine Tasting and Culture:
$85
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Half-Day Private Tour to Baalbek With Wine Tasting and Lunch Included:
$100
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Aqaba and Beirut, we can see that Beirut is more expensive. And not only is Aqaba much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Aqaba would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Aqaba 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 Beirut would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Beirut than you might in Aqaba.
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