Which place is cheaper, Arequipa or Aswan?
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 Aswan or Arequipa?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Aswan or Arequipa? 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 Arequipa?
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.
Arequipa
Sitting in the middle of the Misti, Chachani and PichuPichu volcanoes of Peru is the enchanting city of Arequipa. With 468 years of history, the city is full of Spanish colonial architecture. Known to locals as the "white city," the city center, Plaza de Armas, is quite the sight with buildings of sillar white stone made from the rocks of the surrounding volcanoes.
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 Sightseeing Tours in Peru, and The Best Cultural Tours in Peru.
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Aswan Prices
Egypt PricesArequipa Prices
Peru Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAswan $29Arequipa $62
The average daily cost (per person) in Aswan is $29, while the average daily cost in Arequipa is $62. 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 Arequipa in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAswan $9.72Arequipa $25
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAswan $19Arequipa $50
Compare Hotels in Aswan and Arequipa
Looking for a hotel in Aswan or Arequipa? 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 Arequipa Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Aswan $5.33Arequipa $6.61
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Aswan
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Aswan:
- Abu Simbel Shared Transfer: $37
- Arrival Transfer from Aswan Airport to Hotels or Nile Cruise: $26
- Aswan Airport Private Arrival Transfer: $19
- Aswan Airport Private Departure Transfer: $28
- Aswan Airport Private Transfer: $16
- Aswan Airport Transfer to Nile Cruise or Hotel: $20
- Aswan Airport Transfers: $32
- Aswan Airport Transfers inside city & to Luxor, Hurghada- One Way: $18
- Aswan Port Private Arrival Transfer: $24
- Aswan Port Private Departure Transfer: $24
- Aswan Private Transfer To Luxor city: $130
- Aswan Station Private Transfer – Arrival or Departure: $30
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Arequipa
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Arequipa are as follows:
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Taxi Ride$1.49
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Bus Ride$0.48
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Taxi Ride$1.04
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Arequipa
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Arequipa:
- Arequipa Airport Arrival Transfer: $13
- Private Transfer from Alfredo Rodríguez Ballón Airport to Hotel: $20
- transfer Airport - Hotel: $21
- Arequipa Airport Departure Transfer: $22
- Arequipa Airport (AQP) Private Transfer to Arequipa City: $23
- Transfer Between Arequipa's Airport and Hotels: $35
- Private Transfer from Arequipa to Alfredo Rodríguez Ballón (AQP) Airport: $38
- Arequipa Airport Private Transfer: $38
- Colca Canyon Day Trip with Transfer to Puno: $65
- Koh Lanta any hotel to Krabi airport Private transfer: $79
- Colca Canyon 2 days from Arequipa with final transfer to Puno: $85
- Colca Canyon + Transfer To Puno: $103
Is it cheaper to fly into Aswan or Arequipa?
Prices for flights to both Arequipa 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 $15Arequipa $26
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
- Night Dinner Cruise in Cairo: $42
- Dinner on board a cruise on the Nile: $59
- Nubian Dinner at Nubian Village: $60
- Cairo Nile Dinner Cruise with Entertainment: $66
- Your Grandmothers Cooking Class In Aswan: $90
Typical Food Prices in Arequipa
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Arequipa:
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Coke$0.45
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Lunch$3.13
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Ice Cream$1.19
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Fruit$0.89
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Ice Cream$1.04
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Arequipa
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Arequipa.
- Peruvian Cooking Experience in Arequipa: $35
- Cooking Class at La Plantation: $36
- Arequipa Nights Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $59
- Peruvian Cooking Class: $63
- Arequipa Food Tour: Ancestral Cuisine & City Tour: $79
- Arequipa : Food Tour and History (3 Restaurants and Market): $80
- Arequipa Food Tour Experience: $115
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Aswan $9.14Arequipa $20
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$1.18
Tours and Activities in Aswan
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Aswan are as follows:
- Aswan Tour, Philae Temple and High Dam: $19
- 2 Hours Tour in Philae Temple: $19
- Private Tour Sail on the Nile Aswan Felucca Ride: $20
- Private Tour in Aswan : Felucca and Nubian village: $22
- Aswan City Tour By Horse And Carriage: $25
- Philae Temple and Aswan High-Dam Half-day tour: $25
- Philae Temple private tour or Sound and light show evining: $25
- Nubian Village Tour: $25
- Shared Half-Day Tour to the Nubian Village: $25
- 3 or 2 or 1 Nights Mighty Nile Felucca Adventure: $25
- Explore Philae Temple and High-Dam on Half-day Tour: $26
- Day Tour Philae Temple, Unfinished Obelisk, and High Dam in Aswan: $28
Typical Entertainment Prices in Arequipa
Here are a few typical costs in Arequipa for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Monastery Entry$2.98
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Salsa Class$2.98
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Movie Ticket$3.25
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Hot Springs$2.98
Tours and Activities in Arequipa
Here are a few actual costs in Arequipa for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Pedestrian Tour of the Historic Center of Arequipa: $5.00
- Route of the Sillar 4-Hour Tour: $10
- City tour Arequipa by foot: $10
- Walking Tour through the Historic Center of Arequipa: $10
- Arequipa Tasting Tour: $13
- Tour to La Ruta del Sillar and Culesbrillas in Arequipa: $15
- Full Day Arequipa Tour to Sillar and Canyon: $17
- Full Day Tour Sillar Route and Culebrillas Canyon Arequipa: $18
- Rafting in Arequipa Chili River Half Day Tour: $18
- Countryside Tour Arequipa: $18
- Chili River White Water Rafting Adventure with Pickup: $19
- City Tour Arequipa: $20
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAswan $1.04Arequipa $17
Typical Alcohol Prices in Arequipa
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Arequipa are as follows:
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Beer$2.68
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Aswan and Arequipa, we can see that Arequipa is more expensive. And not only is Aswan much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Aswan is in Africa and Arequipa is in South America, 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 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 Arequipa would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Arequipa 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 Arequipa Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Aswan or Arequipa?
Arequipa has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Aswan. When comparing the sizes of Aswan and Arequipa, 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.