Which place is cheaper, Bodh Gaya or Aswan?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Aswan or Bodh Gaya?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Aswan or Bodh Gaya? 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 Bodh Gaya?
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.
Bodh Gaya
Located in the state of Bihar in the northeast of India, Bodh Gaya is the most respected place and pilgrimage destination for Buddhists. Bodh Gaya is believed to be the site where Buddha Shakyamuni achieved enlightenment while meditating under the famous Bodhi tree.
Prince Gautama Siddartha was born in the sixth century, B.C. in what is modern-day Nepal. Siddartha lived a comfortable life of extravagance as he was born the son of King Suddhodana of the Sakya clan, but after witnessing human suffering, Siddartha decided to give up all of his possessions and embarked upon a quest to seek knowledge and the solution to such suffering. It is underneath a Pipal tree near the city of Gaya, that it is believed he began to meditate until he became enlightened. Today, a descendent of the original Bodhi Tree is located in the Mahabodhi Temple Complex in the city of Bodh Gaya.
Weather in Bodhgaya is generally warm throughout the year, with daytime highs in the 90s during summer and nighttime lows in the high 40s during winter. Because Bodhgaya is centered around religious sites, pack light layers and plan to dress modestly. Remember that you'll be expected to take shoes off at all temples, so sandals may be easier to wear and a good time-saver.
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 Cultural Tours in India, and The Best Food and Culinary Tours in India.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAswan $16Bodh Gaya $52
The average daily cost (per person) in Aswan is $16, while the average daily cost in Bodh Gaya is $52. 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 Bodh Gaya in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAswan $6.68Bodh Gaya $22
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAswan $13Bodh Gaya $44
Compare Hotels in Aswan and Bodh Gaya
Looking for a hotel in Aswan or Bodh Gaya? 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 Bodh Gaya Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Aswan $4.29Bodh Gaya $23
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Aswan
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Aswan:
- VIP Express Exclusive Aswan Airport Transfer: $50
- VIP Aswan Airport Transfer to Luxury Retreats: $35
- Transfer to Luxor from Aswan and visit Kom Ombo and Edfu Temples: $64
- Transfer from Aswan to Luxor: $140
- Transfer from Aswan to Luxor: $79
- Transfer from Aswan to Hurghada : $170
- Transfer from Aswan To Luxor: $114
- Transfer from Aswan Airport to Hotels or Nile Cruise in Aswan : $13
- Sunset Departure Evening Aswan Airport Transfer: $32
- Station Aswan Transfer To hotel: $8.00
- Shared Transfer from Aswan Airport to Hotels : $20
- Private transfer from aswan to luxor with visits: $93
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bodh Gaya
Also for Bodh Gaya, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer from Bodhgaya Hotel to Gaya Airport: $13
- Private Transfer from Bodhgaya Airport: $13
- Affordable Bodh Gaya Airport Transfer: $15
Is it cheaper to fly into Aswan or Bodh Gaya?
Prices for flights to both Bodh Gaya 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 $5.67Bodh Gaya $16
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Aswan
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Aswan.
- Private Aswan Nubian Cooking Class and Market Tour: $30
- Dinner at Soleih restaurant by vehicle: $33
- Dinner on board a cruise on the Nile: $59
- 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
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Aswan $6.05Bodh Gaya $9.85
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:
- 3 Hour Private Tour, Ancient Wonders in Philae Temple Tour : $55
- Abu Simbel Private Tour from Aswan : $110
- Abu Simbel Temples Full Day Tour From Aswan With Entry Tickets : $99
- Day Tour To Luxor From Aswan by Car: $60
- Exploration of Philae Temple and High Dam in Aswan Private Tour: $45
- Full-Day Private Tour of Aswan, Philae Temple and Obelisk: $95
- Guided Tour of Philae Temple in Aswan Egypt: $22
- Nubian Village Tour - Animalia : $84
- Nubian Village Tour in Aswan: $36
- Philae Temple Night Experience (Sound and Light show). : $65
- Private Day Tour to Luxor from Aswan: $65
- Private Luxor Day Tour from Aswan: $140
Tours and Activities in Bodh Gaya
For Bodh Gaya, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Guided Virtual Tour of Bodhgaya: $27
- Full Day Tour in Bodhgaya Hotel pick up: $32
- Bodhgaya Day Tour (Hotel Pickup): $34
- Full-Day Private Guided Bodhgaya Tour with Pick Up: $39
- Bodhgaya and Gaya Pilgrimage Tour: $53
- Excursion tour of Rajgir & Nalanda from Bodhgaya: $63
- From Varanasi: Private Same Day Bodhgaya Tour: $144
- Private guided tour of Bodh Gaya over 2 days : $175
- Exclusive Guided Tour of Bodh Gaya: $227
- Spiritual, Bodhgaya Tour (01 Night / 02 Days): $336
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAswan $1.23Bodh Gaya $5.65
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Aswan and Bodh Gaya, we can see that Bodh Gaya 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 Bodh Gaya is in Asia, 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 Bodh Gaya would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Bodh Gaya 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 Bodh Gaya Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Aswan or Bodh Gaya?
Aswan has a larger population, and is about 7 times larger than the population of Bodh Gaya. When comparing the sizes of Aswan and Bodh Gaya, 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.