Which place is cheaper, Cuenca 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 Cuenca?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Aswan or Cuenca? 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 Cuenca?
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.
Cuenca
Cuenca is a vibrant colonial city in southern Ecuador, the third largest in the country, and the capital of Azuay Province. Cuenca is considered as Ecuador's most important and beautiful colonial city after Quito. Dating from the 16th century, Cuenca's historic center, a Unesco World Heritage Site with its trademark skyline of massive rotundas and soaring steeples, is a magical sight in which you will feel like you are moving back in time. Cuenca is the center of many craft traditions, including ceramics, metalwork and the internationally famous panama hat. The nearby villages also offer many other handicrafts. Tourists enjoy wandering the ancient streets discovering picturesque alleys and hidden corners, where nuns march along cobblestone streets and kids in Catholic-school uniforms skip past historic churches. Fascinating historic monuments and fabulous views are found at every turn. Cuenca also has outstanding art museums and festivals. For a rewarding cultural experience, visit during Easter to attend the Festival of Religious Music.
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 Ecuador, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Ecuador.
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Aswan Prices
Egypt PricesCuenca Prices
Ecuador Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAswan $29Cuenca $53
The average daily cost (per person) in Aswan is $29, while the average daily cost in Cuenca is $53. 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 Cuenca in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAswan $9.47Cuenca $13
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAswan $19Cuenca $26
Compare Hotels in Aswan and Cuenca
Looking for a hotel in Aswan or Cuenca? 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 Cuenca Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Aswan $5.20Cuenca $11
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Aswan
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Aswan:
- Abu Simbel Shared Day Trip from Aswan with Round-Trip Transfers: $30
- Abu Simbel from Aswan in Egypt - Private Tour (guide and transfers Included): $150
- Aswan – Abu Simbel – Luxor: Premium Private Transfer: $210
- Aswan Airport Arrival Private Transfer – Up to 8 Passengers: $24
- Aswan Airport Private Departure Transfer: $28
- Aswan Airport Transfer to Nile Cruise or Hotel: $30
- Aswan Airport Transfers inside city & to Luxor, Hurghada- One Way: $18
- Aswan Airport VIP Transfer – Private,Comfortable &On-Time Service: $18
- Aswan Sound and Light Show at Philae Temple with Transfer: $59
- Aswan Station Private Transfer – Arrival or Departure: $24
- Aswan airport transfer: $21
- Aswan to Hurghada : Private Transfer: $189
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Cuenca
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Cuenca:
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Taxi Ride$2.00
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cuenca
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cuenca:
- Cuenca Airport Transfer: $13
- Shared transfer from Airport to Hotel: $50
- Cuenca to/from Guayaquil Private Transfer: $80
Is it cheaper to fly into Aswan or Cuenca?
Prices for flights to both Cuenca 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 $14Cuenca $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
- Nubian Dinner at Nubian Village: $51
- Your Grandmothers Cooking Class In Aswan: $90
Typical Food Prices in Cuenca
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Cuenca:
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Lunch$10
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Snacks$5.00
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Empanada$1.50
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Hot Dog$1.00
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cuenca
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Cuenca.
- Street food Tour in Cuenca,Ecuador: $33
- Cuenca Table Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $43
- Cooking Class & Market Tour in Cuenca: $55
- Cuenca Table Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $55
- Cuenca Kitchens Food Tour with 14+ Tastings: $59
- 4h Cooking Class in Cuenca with 9 Recipes & Bottomless Drinks: $75
- 4h Cooking Class in 9 Recipes & Bottomless Drinks: $86
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Aswan $8.91Cuenca $16
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$1.15
Tours and Activities in Aswan
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Aswan are as follows:
- Private shopping tour in Aswan bazzars: $8.00
- Adventure Felucca Ride in Aswan ( Private boat ): $17
- Felucca Nile Cruise in Aswan: $20
- Aswan Engineering Marvels Private High Dam & Obelisk Tour: $20
- Private Tour Sail on the Nile Aswan Felucca Ride: $25
- Philae Temple private tour or Sound and light show evining: $25
- Shared Half-Day Tour to the Nubian Village: $25
- Aswan Highlights Tour Philae Temple High Dam Unfinished Obelisk: $25
- 3 or 2 or 1 Nights Mighty Nile Felucca Adventure: $25
- Nubian Village Tour: $25
- Explore Philae Temple and High-Dam on Half-day Tour: $26
- Nubian Village Tour by Motorboat: $28
Tours and Activities in Cuenca
Here are a few actual costs in Cuenca for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Cuenca-Ec- Highlights City Tour: $16
- Cuenca Chocolate Tour With Practical Class: $20
- Chocolate Sightseeing Tour with Hands-On Class: $20
- Cuenca Half-Day City Tour Including Panama Hat Factory: $35
- Walking Tour Through The Historic Center Of Cuenca: $35
- Tour of the best of Cuenca, walking through its Historic Center: $35
- Pumapungo Museum Guided Tour: $35
- Half-Day City Tour including Panama Hat Factory: $35
- Rivers Bike Tour with Artisan Ice Cream Stop: $37
- Cajas National Park Half Day Tour from Cuenca: $39
- Private Day Tour in Cuenca and Cajas: $41
- Cuenca Urban Adventure: Streets, Views & Local Stories: $41
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAswan $1.02Cuenca $14
Sample the Local Flavors in Cuenca
Also in Cuenca, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Cuenca Pub Crawl: Pub Crawl with Drinks and Free Club Entry: $20
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Aswan and Cuenca, we can see that Cuenca 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 Cuenca 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 Cuenca would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Cuenca 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 Cuenca Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Aswan or Cuenca?
Cuenca has a larger population, and is about 15% larger than the population of Aswan. When comparing the sizes of Aswan and Cuenca, 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.