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

Should you visit Aswan or Chennai?

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

Should I visit Aswan or Chennai? 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 Chennai?

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.

Chennai

Formerly known as Madras from its colonial history, Chennai today is one of India's largest cities and capital of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is located on the Bay of Bengal in southeastern India with an extensive stretch of sandy beaches, plenty of dining and shopping, a number of historic temples, monuments, and churches, plus amusement parks and more.

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 Adventure Tours to India, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in India.


Which place is cheaper, Chennai or Aswan?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in Aswan is $29, while the average daily cost in Chennai is $30. 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 Chennai in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Aswan $9.72
    Chennai $13
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Aswan $19
    Chennai $26
Compare Hotels in Aswan and Chennai

Looking for a hotel in Aswan or Chennai? 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 Chennai


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 Chennai Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Aswan $5.33
    Chennai $2.28

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Aswan

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Aswan:

  • Private Transfer Round Trip To Abu Simbel From Aswan: $300
  • Private Transfer from Aswan to Hurghada in AC Cars Local Driver: $230
  • Family VIP Transfer: Aswan to Hurghada – Relax and Enjoy the Ride: $220
  • Exclusive Aswan to Luxor Transfer with Sightseeing Stops: $190
  • Marvel 3-Days Unique Guided Tours Aswan, Abu Simbel & Luxor with all Transfers: $167
  • Private Abu Simbel Tour from Aswan with Transfer: $160
  • Private Transfer from Aswan to Luxor by Air-Conditioned Vehicle: $160
  • Abu Simbel from Aswan in Egypt - Private Tour (guide and transfers Included): $150
  • Private Transfer from Aswan to Luxor: $140
  • Aswan to Hurghada Private Door to Door Transfer: $140
  • Edfu and Kom Ombo Day Tour with Luxor Transfer: $132
  • Aswan Private Transfer To Luxor city: $130

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Chennai

Also for Chennai, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Chennai Airport to Hotel Transfer: $13
  • Chennai Airport (MAA) Private Transfer to Chennai City/Hotels: $22
  • Affordable Chennai Airport Transfer: $24
  • Private Arrival Transfer: Chennai International Airport to Hotel: $26
  • Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Chennai International Airport: $27
  • Chennai Private City and Airport Transfer: $27
  • Private Chennai Airport Transfer: Arrival to Hotel: $30
  • Chennai - Private Departure Transfer from Hotel to Airport: $30
  • Private Transfer from Chennai City Hotel to Chennai Airport: $30
  • Chennai - Private Arrival Transfer - From Airport to Hotel: $30
  • Bangalore - private departure transfer from Hotel to Airport: $35
  • Private Transfer from Chennai City to Chennai (MAA) Airport: $40

Is it cheaper to fly into Aswan or Chennai?

Prices for flights to both Chennai 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 $15
    Chennai $9.67

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Aswan

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

  • Night Dinner Cruise in Cairo: $42
  • Nubian Dinner at Nubian Village: $60
  • Private Evening Dinner Cruise in Cairo: $75
  • Your Grandmothers Cooking Class In Aswan: $90

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Chennai

For Chennai, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Ayurvedic or South Indian Cooking Class in Chennai with an Author: $40
  • Vegetarian South Indian Cooking Class in Chennai with Vidhya: $48
  • Chennai Market Tour & Cooking Class in a Local Home with Meena: $54
  • South Indian Vegetarian Cooking Class near Chennai Airport: $62
  • Private Authentic Indian Cooking Demo in Chennai in Tara's Home: $76
  • Traditional Indian Art, Craft and Cooking Tour: $76
  • Private tour to learn Traditional Indian Art, craft & Cooking: $80
  • Neighborhood Market Tour & South Indian Cooking Class in Chennai: $152

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Aswan $9.14
    Chennai $2.42
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
    $1.18

Tours and Activities in Aswan

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

  • 2 Day Aswan Tour+Hotel Includ:Abu Simbel, Philae& Nubian Village: $190
  • 2 Days Private Tour in Aswan and Abu Simbel: $85
  • 2 Hours Private Sound and Light Show Tour in Philae Temple: $85
  • 2 Hours Tour in Philae Temple: $19
  • 2-Day Luxor Small-Group Tour from Aswan with Felucca Ride: $120
  • 3 Days Private Tour to Abu Simble, Balloon Ride, Aswan and Luxor: $299
  • 3 Hours Private Tour in Nubian Village from Aswan: $33
  • 3 or 2 or 1 Nights Mighty Nile Felucca Adventure: $25
  • 4 Days Nile cruise Aswan to Luxor & Abu Simbel. Hot air Balloon: $200
  • 4-Day Nile Cruise sails Aswan to Luxor&Abu Simbel.Hot air Balloon: $249
  • 4-Days Nile Cruise From Aswan To Luxor Abu Simbel. Air Balloon: $275
  • 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 Nights Kayaking Adventure from Aswan to Luxor: $35

Tours and Activities in Chennai

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Chennai.

  • Taj Mahal & Agra Fort Tour from Delhi by Car – Fast Entry: $4.51
  • Agra: Taj Mahal Skip-the-Line & Guided Private 3 Hours Tour: $4.51
  • Private Night Walking Tour Chennai: $12
  • Explore Chennai City in Nightlights: Guided Tour by Foot: $13
  • Spiritual Stories of Guided Tour through Holy Sites: $13
  • Exploring Chennai Bustling Markets: Guided Tour by Foot: $13
  • Walk and Explore Chennai City: Guided Tour by Foot: $13
  • Explore Chennai City: 2 Hours Guided Walking Tour: $13
  • Chennai Heritage & Cultural Walk (2 Hours Guided Walking Tour): $13
  • Chennai Walking Tour ( 2 hours guided tour): $14
  • Mahabalipuram Heritage Day Tour-Approved by Ministry of India: $18
  • Magical Markets Guided Walking Tour: $19

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Aswan $1.04
    Chennai $2.69


When comparing the travel costs between Aswan and Chennai, we can see that Chennai 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. Even though Aswan is in Africa and Chennai is in Asia, both of these destinations have relatively similar prices of travel. Generally, the levels of luxury and expenses are the same for these cities even though they are geographically far apart.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Aswan Expensive? and Is Chennai Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Aswan or Chennai?

Chennai has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Aswan. When comparing the sizes of Aswan and Chennai, 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.