Which place is cheaper, Gili Trawangan or Aqaba?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Aqaba or Gili Trawangan?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Aqaba or Gili Trawangan, 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 Gili Trawangan?
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.
Gili Trawangan
Gili Trawangan, known as Gili T, is the most visited of the three Gili Islands, located on the northeast side of Lombok. These islands are known for world-class diving and snorkeling spots. It's not hard to see why, considering that any direction you step off the shoreline, there's a beautiful underwater world to explore.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Luxury Tours to Jordan, The Best Budget Tours to Jordan, The Best Tours for Seniors to Indonesia, and The Best G Adventures Tours to Indonesia.
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Aqaba Prices
Jordan PricesGili Trawangan Prices
Indonesia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAqaba $157Gili Trawangan $37
The average daily cost (per person) in Aqaba is $157, while the average daily cost in Gili Trawangan is $37. 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 Gili Trawangan in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAqaba $59Gili Trawangan $21
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAqaba $118Gili Trawangan $42
Compare Hotels in Aqaba and Gili Trawangan
Looking for a hotel in Aqaba or Gili Trawangan? 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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Aqaba $24Gili Trawangan $2.48
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Aqaba
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Aqaba:
- Wadi Rum: Private Transfer to Aqaba through Hotel Pickup: $70
- Wadi Rum to Aqaba Port Private Transfer – Comfortable & Reliable: $80
- Wadi Araba Border Private Transfer To Petra: $105
- 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 Petra: $59
- Transfer from Aqaba City Or TalaBay to Amman Airport: $101
- Transfer from Aqaba Airport to Petra: $60
- Transfer From Aqaba Airport to Wadi rum: $140
- Transfer From Aqaba Airport to Aqaba City Or TalaBay: $25
- Sheikh Hussein Crossing Private Transfer to or from Aqaba: $250
- Private Transfers from Wadi Rum Inside Jordan and Vice Versa: $129
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Gili Trawangan
Also for Gili Trawangan, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Bali: Gili Islands and Lombok Fast Boat Transfer: $38
- Convenient Transfers from Gili Islands to Lombok Hotels: $44
- Fast Boat Transfer Between Bali & Lombok with Hotel Transfer: $40
- Fast Boat Transfer Between Sanur and Gili Island: $28
- From Gili Islands: Bali Fast Boat Transfer: $35
- From Lombok: Bangsal to Nusa Penida Fast Boat Transfer: $33
- Gili Island Private Transfer: $15
- Gili Islands: Private Speedboat Transfer Service: $32
- Bali Fast Boat Transfer to Padang Bai: $32
- Bali Fast Boat Transfer to Sanur: $43
- Bangsal Harbor Speed Boat Transfer: $38
- Boat to Nusa Lembongan with Hotel Transfer: $32
Is it cheaper to fly into Aqaba or Gili Trawangan?
Prices for flights to both Gili Trawangan 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 $73Gili Trawangan $11
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Aqaba
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Aqaba.
- Suhaila (connecting through cooking): $50
- Traditional Bedouin Cooking Experience in the Desert: $50
- Overnight in Bedouin Camp. Dinner and breakfast included.: $56
- "Wadi Rum Jeep Tour + Bedouin Camp & Dinner Under the Stars: $80
- Explore Wadi Rum: Jeep Tour, Bed and Breakfast, and Dinner: $83
- Wadi Rum Full Day Jeep Tour + Overnight in Bedouin Camp & Dinner: $90
- Wadi Rum Full Day Jeep Tour + Overnight & Dinner in Bedouin Camp: $111
- 2 Day Wadi Rum Tour: Traditional Dinner and Starlit Cave Camp: $115
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Gili Trawangan
For Gili Trawangan, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Indonesian Food Cooking Class of Gili Air: $39
- Learn to cook Indonesian food at Gili Cooking Classes Trawangan: $39
- Gili Trawangan Sunset Cruise with Snorkeling & Dinner: $120
- Private Sunset Beach Dinner with Wine: $142
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Aqaba $54Gili Trawangan $3.58
Tours and Activities in Aqaba
Here are a few actual costs in Aqaba for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 03 Hrs Jeep tour in Wadi Rum: $61
- 04 Hrs Jeep tour in Wadi Rum: $73
- 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: $99
- 1 Day Camel tour with lunch: $75
- 2 Days 1 Night in Wadi Rum Jeep Tour: $204
- 2 Days Tour | Petra, Wadi Rum, and Dead Sea From Amman.: $190
- 2 Hour Jeep Tour - Wadi Rum Desert & Canyon: $35
- 2 Hours Morning or Sunset Jeep Tour in Wadi Rum Desert Highlights: $32
- 2 To 5 Hours Glass Bottom Boat Private Tour At Read Sea: $90
- 2 hours Jeep tour in Wadi Rum with Bedouin guide (incl. bottled water and tea): $100
Tours and Activities in Gili Trawangan
For Gili Trawangan, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Shared 3 Gili Islands Snorkeling Tour with Turtles & Reefs: $10
- Gili Islands Snorkeling Tour with Memories: $11
- Gili Islands Snorkeling Tour with Turtles: $12
- 3-Island Snorkeling Tour with GoPro Photos: $12
- best 3 island snorkeling tour with GoPro: $12
- Memories Gili Islands Snorkeling Tour Public: $13
- Gili Islands: Glass-Bottom Boat Snorkeling Tour With Photos: $13
- 3 Island Snorkeling Tour and Turtle Sanctuary with GoPro: $14
- Gili Snorkeling Tour: Swim with Turtles & Go Pro Documentation: $14
- Group Snorkeling Tour Gili Islands Including GoPro Documentation: $15
- From Gili Islands Snorkeling Boat Tour: $16
- Gili Islands Turtle and Coral Snorkeling Adventure: $16
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAqaba $9.07Gili Trawangan $3.30
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Aqaba and Gili Trawangan, we can see that Aqaba is more expensive. And not only is Gili Trawangan much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Aqaba is in Middle East and Gili Trawangan is in Asia, 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 Gili Trawangan would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Gili Trawangan 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 Gili Trawangan.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Aqaba Expensive? and Is Gili Trawangan Expensive?.
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.