Should you visit Aswan or Alexandria?
Should I visit Aswan or Alexandria? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
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 The Alexandria Library housed their most sacred and historical documents only to be burned to the ground.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.
Which city is cheaper, Alexandria or Aswan?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Aswan is $19, while the average daily cost in Alexandria is $24. 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 city. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Aswan and Alexandria in more detail.
Accommodation
If you're traveling alone, you may be able to find a budget hotel or hostel for around $7.98. But for two people in a standard two-person hotel room in Aswan the cost is $16 on average.
Alexandria's average price for two people sharing a typical double-occupancy hotel room is $26. A typical place to stay for one person, per day is $13.
Food
On average, meal and food prices in Aswan cost around $5.86 per person, per day. While this price can vary widely by location, the type of restaurant, and the amount of food ordered, a typical meal often costs around $2.34.
The price of a meal in Alexandria can vary widely. However, the average price for food per day is $8.94 per person, and a typical meal will cost around $3.58 based on the spending of previous visitors. Less expensive dining options can be found by eating street food or at fast food restaurants.
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Food
Meals for one day
Aswan $5.86
Alexandria $8.94
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Aswan
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Aswan.
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Nubian Dinner With Enchanted Events:
$35
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Nubian Dinner at Nubian Village:
$49
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Dinner on board a cruise on the Nile:
$59
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Private 3-Hour Nubian Party with Dinner and Pickup in Aswan:
$75
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Nubian Dinner with enchanted events:
$86
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Alexandria
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Alexandria.
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Private Full-Day Food Tour of Alexandria with Hotel Pick Up:
$32
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Alexandria Food Tour:
$36
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Amazing Alexandria Food Tour:
$55
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Alexandria Food Tour:
$60
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Sound&light show,Giza pyramids-Dinner on the Nile:
$94
Local Transportation
While taxis and private drivers typically cost much more than public transportation, people usually spend around $6.94 per day to get around in Aswan.
While taxis and private drivers typically cost much more than public transportation, people usually spend around $2.24 per day to get around in Alexandria.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Aswan
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Aswan:
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Arrival Transfer from Aswan Airport to Hotels or Nile Cruise in Aswan:
$40
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Aswan : 3-Days GUIDED Tours to Aswan, Abu Simbel and Luxor & All Transfers:
$149
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Aswan Airport Arrival Transfer:
$45
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Aswan Airport Arrival Transfer:
$16
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Aswan Airport Arrival Transfer:
$36
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Aswan Airport Departure Transfer:
$20
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Aswan Airport Departure Transfer:
$36
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Aswan Airport Private Arrival Transfer:
$28
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Aswan Airport Private Arrival Transfer:
$9.00
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Aswan Airport Private Departure Transfer:
$28
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Aswan Airport Private Departure Transfer:
$9.00
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Aswan Airport Transfer Pick-up or Drop-off - One Way:
$20
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
$0.26
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Alexandria
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Alexandria:
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Private Airport Transfer: from Alexandria to Borg El Arab Airport (HBE):
$20
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Private transfer from HBE airport to Alexandria Hotel:
$20
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Private Transfer from Borg El Arab Airport to Alexandria Hotels:
$20
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Alexandria Airport Departure Transfer:
$33
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Alexandria Airport Departure Transfer:
$36
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Alexandria AIRPORT ARRIVAL TRANSFER:
$36
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One Way Transfer from Alexandria Hotels to Alexandria Port – Premium:
$37
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One Way Transfer from Alexandria Hotels to Alexandria Port - Standard:
$41
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Alexandria Airport Departure Transfer:
$45
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One Way Transfer from Alexandria Hotels to Borg El Arab Airport - Standard:
$53
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One Way Transfer from Alexandria Hotels to Alexandria Port – 15 Seater:
$57
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One Way Transfer from Alexandria Hotels to Borg El Arab Airport – Premium:
$66
Entertainment
Activities, things to do, and other forms of entertainment usually cost around $4.35 per person, per day in Aswan. This cost includes the price of admission tickets to attractions and museums as well as daily tours.
Activities, things to do, and other forms of entertainment usually cost around $2.64 per person, per day in Alexandria. This cost includes the price of admission tickets to attractions and museums as well as daily tours.
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
$3.83
Tours and Activities in Aswan
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Aswan are as follows:
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Biking city tour in Aswan:
$10
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Tour to High Dam, The Obelisk & Philae Temple by Boat:
$14
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Half Day tour St Simon Monastery in Aswan:
$14
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Aswan City Tour by Horse Carriage Start from 10$:
$19
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Aswan City Tour by Horse Carriage:
$20
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Aswan City Tour By Horse And Carriage:
$20
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Aswan City Tour by Horse Carriage:
$21
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Aswan tour ( the temple of philae - high dam ):
$23
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cheap trip : Tour to Abu Simbel Temple:
$24
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cheap trip : Tour to Abu Simbel Temple:
$24
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cheap trip : Tour to Abu Simbel Temple:
$24
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cheap trip : Tour to Abu Simbel Temple:
$24
Tours and Activities in Alexandria
Here are a few actual costs in Alexandria for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
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Online Virtual Tour Of Alexandria and Mt. Vernon:
$19
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Alexandria Walking Tour-Walk Like Egyptian:
$23
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half day tour to Montazah Palace and gardens:
$25
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half day tour to The Bibliotheca Alexandrina (Library of Alexandria):
$27
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Private Day Tour to Alexandria From Alexandria:
$30
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Alexandria Like a Local: Customized Private Tour:
$31
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Tour in Alex:
$32
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Alexandria Day Tour:
$38
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Tour to The Qaitbay Citadel in Alexandria:
$40
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Visit Mount Vernon by Bike: Self-guided Ride with Optional Boat Cruise Return:
$50
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Alexandria private excursion tour from Cairo:
$50
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Private Day Tour to Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa, Monatazah Palace In Alexandria:
$50
Alcohol
The average person spends about $3.07 on alcoholic beverages in Aswan per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
While the amount that someone spends on alcohol while visiting Alexandria may vary from person to person, on average a person spends $2.63 per day on alcoholic beverages.
Sample the Local Flavors in Alexandria
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Alexandria:
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Alexandria Bar Hunt: Ye Olde Pub Crawl through Old Town:
$12
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Haunted Old Town Alexandria Ghost and Pub Walking Tour:
$26
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Aswan and Alexandria, we can see that Alexandria 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 Alexandria would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Alexandria than you might in Aswan.
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