Which place is cheaper, Aswan or Arusha?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit Arusha or Aswan?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Arusha and Aswan can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Arusha or Aswan?
Arusha
Arusha is a city in East Africa's Tanzania, located at the base of volcanic Mt. Meru. It’s a gateway to safari destinations and to Africa’s highest peak, Mt. Kilimanjaro, lying some 100 kilometers northeast. To the west lies Serengeti National Park, home to wildlife including lions, rhinoceros, giraffes and leopards. Annual migrations feature huge herds of wildebeests crossing its plains. Arusha is Tanzania’s gateway to the northern circuit of stellar national parks and the starting point of many a memorable safari. It’s also a large, sprawling city which offers a nice break from the rigors of life on the African road – it has excellent places to stay and eat and, for the most part, it’s lush and green and enjoys a temperate climate throughout the year. Arusha is a great destination, and you're sure to enjoy your time here, no matter what your interests are.
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 G Adventures Tours to Tanzania, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Tanzania, The Best 10-Day Tours in Egypt, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Egypt.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayArusha $165Aswan $16
The average daily cost (per person) in Arusha is $165, while the average daily cost in Aswan is $16. 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 Arusha and Aswan in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personArusha $121Aswan $6.62
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomArusha $242Aswan $13
Compare Hotels in Arusha and Aswan
Looking for a hotel in Arusha 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.
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: Arusha Hotel Prices and Aswan Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Arusha $12Aswan $4.26
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Arusha
Also for Arusha, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Arusha Airport & Hotel Transfers: $40
- Tanzanite Museum and Shopping Tour with Transfer: $40
- Airport transfer: $45
- Kilimanjaro International Airport to Arusha City Center Transfer: $60
- Kilimanjaro Airport Transfer to Moshi: $65
- Airport Transfers, Arusha Airport and Kilimanjaro JRO: $70
- Transfer Around Moshi and Arusha in Tanzania: $75
- Private Transfer from Arusha to Kilimanjaro Airport (KIA): $134
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Aswan
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Aswan:
- luxor Airport Private Transfer: $6.00
- Transfer to Luxor from Aswan and visit Kom Ombo and Edfu Temples: $66
- Transfer from Aswan to Luxor: $23
- Transfer from Aswan to Luxor: $60
- Transfer from Aswan to Hurghada : $95
- Transfer from Aswan Airport to Hotels or Nile Cruise in Aswan : $13
- Transfer from Aswan Airport to Anywhere in Aswan: $25
- Transfer From Hotel To Aswan airport : $35
- Station Aswan Transfer To hotel: $6.40
- Shared Transfer from Aswan Airport to Hotels : $15
- Private transfer from aswan to luxor with visits: $93
- Private transfer from aswan Airport To Marsa alam: $195
Is it cheaper to fly into Arusha or Aswan?
Prices for flights to both Aswan and Arusha 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 dayArusha $22Aswan $5.62
Typical Food Prices in Arusha
For Arusha, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
-
A Quick Lunch (for 2)$2.01
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Arusha
For Arusha, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Cooking and Sewing & Jewelry Workshops in Arusha: $33
- NGO Lifted Strong - Traditional Tanzanian Cooking Class: $50
- Guided walking city tour& traditional cooking lesson: $78
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Aswan
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Aswan.
- Private Nubian Dinner at Nubian Village in Aswan: $44
- Aswan Sunset Dinner Cruise: $80
- Dinner In Nile Cruise in Aswan: $150
- Experience the Magic of Aswan in One Day Food Tour with Guide: $224
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Arusha $42Aswan $6.00
Tours and Activities in Arusha
For Arusha, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Coffee Tourism & Banana Farms Experience: $20
- Charity Tour of SATINO Daycare & Preschool: $20
- Arusha:From Earth to Art pottery workshop tour: $23
- Coffee Tour Experience - Village Walk: $25
- Street Food and Community Walking Tour: $25
- Arusha City Walking Tour: $25
- Town tour: $25
- Arusha city & town walking tour History Cultural souvenir Museum : $25
- Coffee making tour in Arusha: $28
- City Sightseeing Walking Tour. (with local guides): $29
- Traditional Coffee Preparation(coffee tour): $29
- Tanzanite experience tour - Tanzanite shopping in Arusha: $35
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$1.24
Tours and Activities in Aswan
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Aswan are as follows:
- Abu Simbel Private Tour from Aswan : $110
- Abu Simbel Temples Full Day Tour From Aswan With Entry Tickets : $89
- Abu Simbel Temples private tour from Aswan : $90
- Aswan : Full Day Private Guided Tour to the Legend of Abu Simbel Temples: $125
- Day Tour To Luxor From Aswan by Car: $60
- Full Day Tour to Abu Simbel Temples from Aswan: $22
- Full-Day Private Tour of Aswan, Philae Temple and Obelisk: $95
- Guided Tour of Philae Temple in Aswan Egypt: $29
- Kalabsha Temple and Nubian Museum Tour: $89
- Kayak Tour around the Temple of Philae & Heissa Island : $28
- Nubian Village Day Tour In Aswan: $25
- Nubian Village Tour in Aswan: $50
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayArusha $10Aswan $1.22
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Arusha and Aswan, we can see that Arusha is more expensive. And not only is Aswan much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. 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 Arusha would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Arusha 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 Arusha Expensive? and Is Aswan Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Arusha or Aswan?
Arusha has a larger population, and is about 41% larger than the population of Aswan. When comparing the sizes of Arusha 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.
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.