A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Aswan vs. Antananarivo for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Aswan or Antananarivo?

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

Should I visit Aswan or Antananarivo? 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 Antananarivo?

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.

Antananarivo

Antananarivo is the capital of Madagascar; it is also sometimes referred to as Tana. This city is the cultural and political center of Madagascar as a whole. There are multiple universities, museums, and other social venues in the city, as well as a national rugby team. This city has a very apparent French influence.

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 Wildlife Tours to Madagascar, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Madagascar.


Which place is cheaper, Antananarivo or Aswan?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Aswan is $16, while the average daily cost in Antananarivo is $72. 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 Antananarivo in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Aswan $6.75
    Antananarivo $30
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Aswan $14
    Antananarivo $60
Compare Hotels in Aswan and Antananarivo

Looking for a hotel in Aswan or Antananarivo? 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 Aswan


Hotels in Antananarivo


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 Antananarivo Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Aswan $4.34
    Antananarivo $14

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Aswan

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Aswan:

  • Private Transfer from Aswan Airport to Aswan: $5.00
  • Aswan Airport Private Transfer: $6.00
  • Private transfer from Aswan to Aswan Airport: $6.40
  • Transfer from Aswan Airport to Hotels or Nile Cruise in Aswan: $8.00
  • Station Aswan Transfer To hotel: $8.00
  • Private Aswan Airport Arrival/Departure One Way Transfer: $10
  • Private transfer from Aswan to Aswan Airport: $10
  • Private Aswan Airport Transfer To Hotel : $10
  • Private transfer from Aswan to Aswan Airport: $10
  • Private Transfer from Aswan Airport to Anywhere in Aswan: $10
  • Airport Arrival/Departure One Way Private Transfer: $10
  • Private Airport Arrival/Departure One Way Transfer: $10

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Antananarivo

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Antananarivo:

  • Private Airport Transfert Ivato Antananarivo: $43

Is it cheaper to fly into Aswan or Antananarivo?

Prices for flights to both Antananarivo 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Aswan $5.73
    Antananarivo $29

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Aswan

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Aswan.

  • Dinner at Soleih restaurant by vehicle: $33
  • Nubian Dinner in Nubian Village Of Aswan: $40
  • Nubian lunch Or Dinner at Nubian village : $75
  • Private 3-Hour Nubian Party with Dinner and Pickup in Aswan: $77
  • Your Grandmothers Cooking Class In Aswan : $90
  • Dinner In Nile Cruise in Aswan: $150

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Antananarivo

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Antananarivo.

  • Street food and Cooking class tour in Antananarivo: $163
  • Cooking And Cuisine Tasting From Tana-Malagasy Fine Foodie Madagascar Tour: $245

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Aswan $6.11
    Antananarivo $24
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
    $1.26

Tours and Activities in Aswan

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Aswan are as follows:

  • The High Dam In Aswan Entry Ticket: $2.53
  • Unfinished Obelisk Entry Ticket: $5.60
  • Philae Temple Entry Ticket: $11
  • Aswan High Dam Entry Tickets Included Pickup And Drop Off: $13
  • Philae Temple Complex Skip the Line Entry Ticket: $13
  • Temple Of Kalabsha Entry Tickets Included Pickup And Drop Off: $14
  • Day Trip to Nubian Village with Camel Tour: $15
  • Philae temple entry ticket: $16
  • City Tour in Aswan by Bicycle : $16
  • Private Day Tour to Phalie Temple, High Dam, Unfinished Obelisk: $17
  • Unfinished Obelisk Entry Tickets Included Pickup And Drop Off: $17
  • Kom Ombo Entry Tickets Included Pickup And Drop Off From Aswan: $19

Tours and Activities in Antananarivo

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Antananarivo are as follows:

  • Antanavario: Private custom tour with a local guide: $23
  • Antananarivo Like a Local: Customized Guided Tour: $25
  • Private Walking Tour with a Local Guide: $30
  • Private Custom Walking Tour with a Local Guide in Antananarivo: $35
  • Private Ambohimanga and Ironwork Shop Tour from Antananarivo: $86
  • Private Tour Through the Wildlife of Madagascar and the Kingdom of Rova: $136
  • Day - Tour Ampefy: $144
  • Half-Day Private Tour in Lemur's Park: $150
  • Full Day Private Tour in Antananarivo: $201
  • Day tour discovery Tour to Ampefy village: $272
  • Lemur Day Tour at Andasibe Rainforest and Vakona Lodge Reserve: $299
  • 3 days -Wildlife and Lemur discovery Tour to Andasibe: $682

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Aswan $1.24
    Antananarivo $9.65


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Aswan and Antananarivo, we can see that Antananarivo 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 Antananarivo would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Antananarivo 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 Aswan Expensive? and Is Antananarivo Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Aswan or Antananarivo?

Antananarivo has a larger population, and is about 6 times larger than the population of Aswan. When comparing the sizes of Aswan and Antananarivo, 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.