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

Should you visit Aqaba or Eilat?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Aqaba or Eilat, 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 Eilat?

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.

Eilat

Eilat serves as the gateway to Israel from Egypt. It's located at the southern tip of the country and sits on the Red Sea with views of the Gulf of Aqaba. It's location in the Negev Desert along the beautiful coast make it appealing to both domestic and international vacationers.

Eilat is a resort town with many dive shops and snorkeling opportunities. The population of about 50,000 can easily be overshadowed by vacationers. With no shortage of sun, entertainment, bars, and partying, you will find both Israeli and international tourists looking for an oasis of fun and relaxation.

Although the area's coral reefs were being damaged by overuse, the removal of contraversial fish cages in 2008 has led to a slow recovery and an improvement in the quality of diving and snorkeling in the area. There are also less crowds than you will find in Sharm el-Sheikh or Dahab, Egypt.

Eilat has a hot desert climate. The summers are hot and dry and the winters are warm and dry. Temperatures in the winter can range from 52 to 73 degrees Fahrenheit and summer temperatures are usually between 79 and 104 degrees Fahrenheit.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Luxury Tours to Jordan, The Best Budget Tours to Jordan, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Israel, and The Best 2-Week Tours in Israel.


Which place is cheaper, Eilat 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 Eilat is $174. 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 Eilat in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Aqaba $59
    Eilat $98
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Aqaba $118
    Eilat $196
Compare Hotels in Aqaba and Eilat

Looking for a hotel in Aqaba or Eilat? 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 Eilat


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 Eilat Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Aqaba $24
    Eilat $14

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Aqaba

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Aqaba:

  • Wadi Rum: One-Way Transfer to/from Aqaba by Private Car: $77
  • Wadi Rum to Petra Private Transfer: $80
  • Wadi Rum to Aqaba Border Terminal Private Transfer: $85
  • Transfers , Meet & Assistance at Wadi Araba Crossing Border : $153
  • Transfer from Aqaba City Or TalaBay to Wadi rum: $120
  • 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
  • Snorkeling in The Red Sea With Equipment And Free Transfer: $155
  • Small Group Unesco Wadi Rum Jeep Tour w/ Transfer + Optional Stay: $38
  • Sheikh Hussein Crossing Private Transfer to or from Aqaba: $250

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Eilat

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


  • Local Bus
    $3.91

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Eilat

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

  • Private Transfer From Ramon airport Eilat to Eilat Hotels or Arava Border : $70

Is it cheaper to fly into Aqaba or Eilat?

Prices for flights to both Eilat 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
    Eilat $64

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
  • Overnight in Bedouin Camp. Dinner and breakfast included.: $56
  • Explore Wadi Rum: Jeep Tour, Bed and Breakfast, and Dinner: $60
  • Bedouin Cooking Class, full day Desert Tour & overnight Wadi Rum: $86
  • Wadi Rum Full Day Jeep Tour + Overnight & Dinner in Bedouin Camp: $100
  • Wadi Rum New Year Eve Party (Jeep Tour + Dinner + Music + Fireworks + Overnight): $112
  • From Wadi Rum Full-Day Private Jeep Tour with Dinner: $169
  • From Aqaba to Wadi Rum ,Jeep Tour with Dinner (Half Day): $185
  • Wadi Rum Private Tour with Jeep Safari and Dinner: $220
  • Petra & Wadi Rum Private Tour with Dinner one day: $425

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Aqaba $54
    Eilat $17

Tours and Activities in Aqaba

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

  • Discover the Depths: Aqaba's Ultimate private Dive Experience: $53
  • Wadi Rum 2-Hour Sunset Tour Wadi Rum Desert Highlights: $35
  • Wadi Rum Day Tour & Starlight Cave & Traditions Food: $160
  • Wadi Rum: Premium English Speaking Guide 4WD Desert Tour: $33
  • "Jordan: 3-Day Tour of Ancient Sites, Nature,&Local Culture": $317
  • 05 Hrs Jeep tour in Wadi Rum: $68
  • 06 Hours Jeep Tour in Wadi Rum : $84
  • 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 Guided Hiking Tour To Wadi Rum Jebal Al Hash: $103
  • 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 Eilat

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

  • Jeep tour adventure Eilat mountains: $55
  • From Timna Park Guided Jeep Tour: $68
  • Red canyon jeep tour in Eilat: $70
  • Timna park Jeep tour adventure: $70
  • Timna Park Tour from Eilat: $150
  • Full-Day Tour of Petra from Eilat: $199
  • Petra 1-Day Tour from Eilat + FREE Traditional Lunch: $215
  • 1 Day Tour to Petra From Eilat: $217
  • Day Tour to Petra from Eilat: $219
  • Private Scuba Diving Tour with Transportation and Guide : $220

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Aqaba $9.06
    Eilat $28


When comparing the travel costs between Aqaba and Eilat, we can see that Eilat is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Middle East, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.

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


Which is Bigger, Aqaba or Eilat?

Aqaba has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Eilat. When comparing the sizes of Aqaba and Eilat, 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.


When is the best time to visit Aqaba or Eilat?

Both destinations experience a warmer climate most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season. Although in the rainy season, it doesn't necessarily rain every day.

Should I visit Aqaba or Eilat in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Aqaba as well as Eilat. Aqaba attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Eilat throughout the year.


Fatal error: Uncaught DivisionByZeroError: Division by zero in /homepages/12/d310477359/htdocs/include/weatherdataDAO.php:272 Stack trace: #0 /homepages/12/d310477359/htdocs/citycomparison.php(3491): weatherdataDAO->moreOrLess() #1 {main} thrown in /homepages/12/d310477359/htdocs/include/weatherdataDAO.php on line 272