Which place is cheaper, Alexandria or Aswan?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Aswan or Alexandria?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Aswan or Alexandria? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Aswan or Alexandria?
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.
Alexandria
There are few cities in the world with a history as rich, deep, tragic and fascinating than Alexandria, Egypt. Founded by Alexander the Great in 331 BC, Egypt's second largest city has seen the most extreme ups and extreme downs. The city watched the beautiful and iconic Alexandria Lighthouse crumble to the ground after several natural disasters. The Alexandria Library housed their most sacred and historical documents only to be burned to the ground. These structures may be physically gone, but the history remains. Alexandria is a city with an ancient allure that draws in visitors from all over the world. Alexandria is a survivor city ready for a comeback.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours in Egypt, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Egypt, The Best 2-Week Tours in Egypt, and The Best River Cruises in Egypt.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAswan $16Alexandria $16
The average daily cost (per person) in Aswan is $16, while the average daily cost in Alexandria 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 Aswan and Alexandria in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAswan $6.67Alexandria $7.91
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAswan $13Alexandria $16
Compare Hotels in Aswan and Alexandria
Looking for a hotel in Aswan or Alexandria? 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: Aswan Hotel Prices and Alexandria Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Aswan $4.29Alexandria $2.46
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Aswan
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Aswan:
- Private Transfer from Aswan Airport to Hotels or Nile Cruise : $13
- Private Transfer from Aswan to Luxor: $110
- Transfer Service to Luxor from Aswan: $55
- VIP Aswan to Hurghada Transfer: Luxury and Comfort: $100
- 3-Days Travel Into The History to Aswan, Abu Simbel & Luxor with all Transfers: $299
- Arrival Transfer from Aswan Airport to Hotels or Nile Cruise: $12
- Aswan Airport Private Arrival Transfer: $28
- Aswan Airport Private Departure Transfer: $19
- Aswan Airport Transfer: $20
- Aswan Airport Transfer to Hotels : $20
- Aswan Airport Transfer to Hotels in Aswan: $25
- Aswan Airport Transfers: $35
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Alexandria
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Alexandria:
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Taxi to Train Station$0.08
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Alexandria
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Alexandria:
- Private Airport Transfer in Alexandria: $22
- Alexandria Airport Arrival Transfer: $24
- Alexandria to Alexandria Airport - Departure Private Transfer: $27
- transfer from Alexandria to Cairo airport, Cairo & Giza hotels: $45
- Private Transfer from Alexandria to Cairo/Giza Hotels or Cairo./Giza to Alexandr: $65
- Private One Way Transfer from Alexandria Hotels to Cairo and Giza Hotels: $68
- Private Transfer from Alexandria Port to Cairo Int Airport (CAI): $72
- Private Transfer from Alexandria to Cairo : $74
- Private Pick Up Transfers From Alexandria To Cairo: $130
- Pick Up Transfers From Alexandria Borg Al Arab Airport To Cairo: $130
- Private Transfer from Alexandria to Cairo in Egypt or vice versa: $160
- Private transfer from Luxor to Alexandria: $247
Is it cheaper to fly into Aswan or Alexandria?
Prices for flights to both Alexandria and Aswan 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 dayAswan $5.67Alexandria $6.39
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Aswan
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Aswan.
- Nubian Dinner in Nubian Village Of Aswan: $40
- Nubian Dinner at Nubian Village: $51
- Dinner on board a cruise on the Nile: $59
- Your Grandmothers Cooking Class In Aswan : $90
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Alexandria
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Alexandria.
- Half-Day Food Tour in Alexandria, Egypt: $35
- Alexandria food Tour taste the Egyptian traditional food: $80
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Aswan $6.04Alexandria $3.46
Typical Entertainment Prices in Aswan
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Aswan are as follows:
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Temple Kom Ombo for Two$1.25
Tours and Activities in Aswan
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Aswan are as follows:
- Unfinished Obelisk Entry Ticket: $5.60
- Kom Ombo Temple Entry Ticket: $9.12
- Philae Temple Entry Ticket: $11
- High Dam Aswan Entry Tickets With Pickup And Drop Off: $13
- The High Dam In Aswan Entry Ticket With Pickup : $13
- Aswan High Dam Entry Tickets Included Pickup And Drop Off: $13
- Philae Temple Complex Skip the Line Entry Ticket: $13
- Unfinished Obelisk Entry Tickets Included Pickup And Drop Off: $18
- 2 Hours Tour in Philae Temple: $19
- Day Trip to Nubian Village with Camel Tour from Aswan: $20
- Adventure Felucca Ride in Aswan: $20
- Guided Tour of Philae Temple in Aswan Egypt: $22
Tours and Activities in Alexandria
Here are a few actual costs in Alexandria for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Pompey's Pillar Entry Ticket: $3.80
- The Ancient Roman Theater Entry Ticket: $3.80
- Alexandria Library Entry Tickets With Pickup and Drop Off: $3.80
- Entry Ticket To The Citadel of Qaitbay: $4.39
- Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa Entry Tickets: $4.39
- Skip The Line Entry Ticket to Pompey's Pillar in Alexandria: $4.39
- Skip the Line Tickets for The Catacomb of Kom eL Shoqafa: $6.31
- Alexandria Library Skip the line Access Entry Ticket: $6.31
- Qaitbay Citadel Entry Tickets: $6.31
- Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa Entry Ticket with Pick and Drop Off: $14
- Ancient Roman Theater Entry Ticket with Pick up and Drop Off: $14
- Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa Entry Ticket with Pickup and Drop Off: $16
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAswan $1.23Alexandria $1.33
When comparing the travel costs between Aswan and Alexandria, we can see that Alexandria 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 Africa, 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 Aswan Expensive? and Is Alexandria Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Aswan or Alexandria?
Alexandria has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Aswan. When comparing the sizes of Aswan and Alexandria, 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.