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

Should you visit Aswan or Dakar?

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

Should I visit Aswan or Dakar? 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 Dakar?

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.

Dakar

Located in West Africa, Dakar is the capital city of Senegal and an Atlantic port on the Cap-Vert peninsula. Main attractions include the city's markets, the Dakar Grand Mosque, Goree Island, the IFAN Museum, the African Renaissance Monument, beaches, and the Senegal Zoo.

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 Senegal, and The Best Luxury Tours to Senegal.


Which place is cheaper, Dakar 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 $28, while the average daily cost in Dakar is $82. 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 Dakar in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Aswan $9.45
    Dakar $35
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Aswan $19
    Dakar $70
Compare Hotels in Aswan and Dakar

Looking for a hotel in Aswan or Dakar? 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 Dakar


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.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Aswan $5.18
    Dakar $5.80

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Aswan

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Aswan:

  • A transfer to Luxor from Aswan by car: $75
  • Abu Simbel Shared Transfer: $37
  • Aswan Airport Private Arrival Transfer: $28
  • Aswan Airport Private Departure Transfer: $28
  • Aswan Airport Private Transfer: $24
  • Aswan Airport Private Transfer – Fixed Group Price: $15
  • Aswan Airport Transfer: $24
  • Aswan Airport Transfer: $16
  • Aswan Airport Transfers inside city & to Luxor, Hurghada- One Way: $18
  • Aswan City Tour With Private Transfer and Live Guide: $45
  • Aswan Port Private Arrival Transfer: $24
  • Aswan Station Private Transfer – Arrival or Departure: $30

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Dakar

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Dakar:

  • DSS Airport to Saly Private Transfer: $65
  • Transfer - DSS Airport Dakar (One way): $71
  • DSS Airport Transfer Saly (One way): $71
  • Private Transfer, Airport, Hotels, Dakar, Saly and Surrounding Areas: $72
  • Dakar hotels to Blaise Diagne Intl Airport (DSS) - Departure Private Transfer: $73
  • DSS Airport Riu Baobab Hotel Premium Private Transfer: $76
  • DSS Airport Dakar Premium Private Transfer: $76
  • Private Transfer DSS AIBD Airport - Dakar (two directions): $101
  • Private Transfer DSS AIBD Airport - Riu Baobab Hotel (two ways): $101
  • DSS Airport Transfer Dakar (Return): $130
  • Airport Transfer Dakar DSS: $130
  • Blaise Diagne Intl Airport (DSS) to Dakar hotels - Round-Trp Private Transfer: $147

Is it cheaper to fly into Aswan or Dakar?

Prices for flights to both Dakar 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 $14
    Dakar $37

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
  • Private Evening Dinner Cruise in Cairo: $75
  • Your Grandmothers Cooking Class In Aswan: $90

Typical Food Prices in Dakar

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Dakar:


  • Breakfast
    $4.44

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Dakar

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

  • Authentic Jollof Cooking Class: $99
  • Senegalese Street Food Tour in Dakar: $115

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Aswan $8.88
    Dakar $15
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
    $1.15

Tours and Activities in Aswan

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

  • Shared Half-Day tour of The Nubian Village: $10
  • Day Trip to Nubian Village with Camel Tour: $15
  • Private Tour in Aswan : Felucca and Nubian village: $18
  • 2 Hours Tour in Philae Temple: $19
  • Day Trip to Nubian Village with Camel Tour from Aswan: $20
  • Philae Temple and Aswan High-Dam Half-day tour: $20
  • Private Day tour to High Dam&Unfinished Obelisk&Philae From Aswan: $20
  • Felucca Nile Cruise in Aswan: $20
  • Private Guided Tour to Aswan High Dam and the Unfinished Obelisk: $20
  • Private Tour in Aswan : Felucca and Nubian village: $23
  • Philae Temple Guided Half-Day Group Tour: $25
  • 3 or 2 or 1 Nights Mighty Nile Felucca Adventure: $25

Tours and Activities in Dakar

Here are a few actual costs in Dakar for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Private custom tour with a local guide: $33
  • Private Custom Tour with a Local Guide: $33
  • Dakar in 3h: Full tour by traditional fast coach: $36
  • Private Custom Walking Tour with a Local Guide in Dakar: $41
  • prepare the thieboudienne for the ultimate local experience: $55
  • private tour "move, eat, act like a local": $82
  • Quad tour of Somone Lagoon and Baobab Spider: $83
  • Half Day Dakar City Tour (Minimum 2 Participants): $105
  • From Dakar or Saly: Gorée Island Half-Day Private Tour: $108
  • Half Day Dakar Museums Tour and Local Markets: $115
  • Private City Tour: $117
  • Full Day Private Tour in move, eat, act like a local: $118

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Aswan $1.01
    Dakar $9.73


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


Which is Bigger, Aswan or Dakar?

Dakar has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Aswan. When comparing the sizes of Aswan and Dakar, 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.