Which place is cheaper, Dahab or Aqaba?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Aqaba or Dahab?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Aqaba or Dahab, 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 Dahab?
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.
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.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAqaba $127Dahab $13
The average daily cost (per person) in Aqaba is $127, 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 Aqaba and Dahab in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAqaba $59Dahab $6.02
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAqaba $118Dahab $12
Compare Hotels in Aqaba and Dahab
Looking for a hotel in Aqaba 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.
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 Dahab Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Aqaba $24Dahab $1.90
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Aqaba
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Aqaba:
- Wadi Rum to Aqaba Border Terminal Private Transfer: $78
- Wadi Araba Border (Eilat) Private Transfer To Petra: $135
- Transfer from Aqaba City Or TalaBay to Amman Airport: $101
- Transfer from Aqaba Airport to Petra: $60
- Transfer From Aqaba Airport to Petra: $60
- Transfer From Aqaba Airport to Aqaba City Or TalaBay: $25
- Sheikh Hussein Crossing Private Transfer to or from Aqaba: $237
- Private Transfers from Wadi Rum: Dead Sea, Petra, Amman, Aqaba & vice versa: $107
- Private Transfers Aqaba to Dead Sea, Petra, Wadi Rum, Amman & vice versa: $47
- Private Transfer: Aqaba Hotels to Aqaba Airport: $27
- Private Transfer: Aqaba Airport to Sheikh Hussein Border or vice versa: $193
- Private Transfer: Aqaba Airport to Ma'in Hotel: $120
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Dahab
Also for Dahab, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Dahab Private Transfer To/From Sharm el sheikh ( One Way Transfer ): $30
- Dahab To/from Sharm El Sheikh Private Transfer : $40
- Private Transfer From Dahab To Taba border group from 1 to 4: $90
- Private Transfer from Hotel in Dahab To Sharm el Sheikh Airport: $55
Is it cheaper to fly into Aqaba or Dahab?
Prices for flights to both Dahab 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
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Food Meals for one dayAqaba $42Dahab $4.77
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Aqaba
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Aqaba.
- Overnight in Bedouin Camp. Dinner and breakfast included.: $56
- Explore Wadi Rum: Jeep Tour, Bed and Breakfast, and Dinner: $72
- 4 hour desert jeep tour with overnight in beduin camp including dinner&breakfast: $85
- Wadi Rum Full Day Jeep Tour + Overnight + Dinner in Bedouin Camp: $87
- Wadi Rum Full Day Jeep Tour + Overnight & Dinner in Bedouin Camp: $89
- Wadi Rum Full Day Jeep Tour + Overnight + Dinner Under the Stars: $135
Typical Food Prices in Dahab
For Dahab, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Seafood Dinner (for 2)$1.98
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Juice$0.10
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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
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Aqaba $54Dahab $4.55
Tours and Activities in Aqaba
Here are a few actual costs in Aqaba for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Day Tour in Jeep Tour with Bedouin Guide: $81
- Discover the Depths: Aqaba's Ultimate private Dive Experience: $55
- Full-Day Jeep Tour in Wadi Rum without Overnight Stay: $85
- Wadi Rum Day Tour & Starlight Cave & Traditions Food: $166
- horse riding 2 hours tour in Wadi Rum: $100
- 05 Hrs Jeep tour in Wadi Rum: $68
- 1 Day & 1 Night | Stay & Jeep + Camel Tour in Wadi Rum | Magic Bedouin Star: $136
- 2 Days & 1 Night | Jeep & Hike Tour in Wadi Rum Desert | Magic Bedouin Star: $258
- 2 Days 1 Night in Wadi Rum Jeep Tour: $204
- 2 Hour Jeep Tour (Morning or Sunset) Wadi Rum Desert Highlights: $35
- 2 Hour Jeep Tour - Wadi Rum Desert & Canyon: $35
- 2 Hours Morning or Sunset Jeep Tour in Wadi Rum Desert Highlights: $35
Tours and Activities in Dahab
For Dahab, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Dahab's Kept Secrets 5 Adventures in 1 Tour: $25
- Blue Hole Snorkeling Tour with lunch from Dahab: $28
- Dahab Windsurfing Adventure in Red Sea Waves: $30
- Half Day Tour to the Blue Hole with Snorkeling: $35
- Royal Seascope Submarine Guided Boat Tour : $39
- 4x4 Jeep Adventure from Dahab: $40
- Astronomy and Bedouin Culture Private Tour in Dahab with Pickup: $40
- Seascope Submarine Tour from Dahab: $45
- Camel Trek Desert and Beach Experience Private Tour in Dahab: $45
- Camel Ride + Blue Hole Snorkeling + Quad Bike Tour With Lunch From Dahab: $45
- Adventure Quad Biking Tour in Dahab: $50
- Mount Sinai Sunrise and St Catherine Monastery Tour from Dahab: $50
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAqaba $9.07Dahab $2.60
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Aqaba and Dahab, we can see that Aqaba is more expensive. And not only is Dahab much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Aqaba 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 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 Dahab.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Aqaba Expensive? and Is Dahab Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Aqaba or Dahab?
Aqaba has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Dahab. When comparing the sizes of Aqaba 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.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.