Which place is cheaper, Dharamsala or Aswan?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
Jump to 
Should you visit Aswan or Dharamsala?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Aswan or Dharamsala? 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 Dharamsala?
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.
Dharamsala
With a name that literally means "a spiritual dwelling," Dharamsala roughly translates as a shelter or rest house for pilgrims and travelers. Home to the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan Government in Exile, Dharamsala is today a popular destination for foreigners on vacation, backpackers seeking the surrounding mountains, as well as students of Buddhism.
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 Religious Tours in India, and The Best Yoga Tours and Retreats in India.
-
Aswan Prices
Egypt PricesDharamsala Prices
India Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAswan $30Dharamsala $36
The average daily cost (per person) in Aswan is $30, while the average daily cost in Dharamsala is $36. 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 Dharamsala in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAswan $9.95Dharamsala $20
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAswan $20Dharamsala $40
Compare Hotels in Aswan and Dharamsala
Looking for a hotel in Aswan or Dharamsala? 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 Dharamsala Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Aswan $5.46Dharamsala $4.50
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Aswan
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Aswan:
- Private Airport Arrival/Departure One Way Transfer: $7.00
- Airport Arrival/Departure One Way Private Transfer: $7.00
- Private transfer from/to Aswan train station: $7.00
- Private transfer from Aswan to Aswan Airport: $8.00
- Transfer from Aswan Airport to Hotels or Nile Cruise in Aswan: $8.00
- Private transfer from Aswan to Aswan Airport: $10
- luxor Airport Private Transfer: $14
- Private Transfer from Aswan Airport to Anywhere in Aswan: $15
- Private Transfer From Aswan Airport Transfer To Hotel: $15
- Aswan Airport Arrival Transfer: $16
- Private Transfer Service From Aswan Airport to anywhere in Aswan: $16
- Private VIP Aswan Airport Transfer to Hotel or Nile Cruise: $17
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Dharamsala
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Dharamsala:
- Dharamshala Airport Transfers : Budget Sedan and SUV Cabs: $33
Is it cheaper to fly into Aswan or Dharamsala?
Prices for flights to both Dharamsala 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 dayAswan $15Dharamsala $13
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Aswan
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Aswan.
- Dinner on board a cruise on the Nile: $59
- Nubian Dinner at Nubian Village: $60
- Cairo Nile Dinner Cruise with Entertainment: $65
- Private Evening Dinner Cruise in Cairo: $75
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Aswan $9.36Dharamsala $4.87
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$1.21
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
- 2 Hours Tour in Philae Temple: $19
- Private Guided Tour to Aswan High Dam and the Unfinished Obelisk: $20
- Private Tour Sail on the Nile Aswan Felucca Ride: $20
- Aswan full day tour phile temple unfinished obelisk high dam: $20
- Private Tour in Aswan : Felucca and Nubian village: $23
- Philae Temple and Aswan High-Dam Half-day tour: $25
- 3 or 2 or 1 Nights Mighty Nile Felucca Adventure: $25
- Aswan Highlights Tour Philae Temple High Dam Unfinished Obelisk: $25
- Philae Temple Guided Half-Day Group Tour: $25
- Nubian Village Day Tour In Aswan: $25
Tours and Activities in Dharamsala
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Dharamsala are as follows:
- The Spiritual Trails of Dharamshala(Guided Walking Tour): $14
- McLeod Ganj: Triund Trek with Manu Adventures India: $19
- Dharamshala Street Food Crawl ( Guided Food Tasting Tour): $27
- Mcleodganj Nature Trek (3 Hours Guided Walking Tour): $28
- Guided Cycling tour in Dharamshala: $28
- Hiking Day Tour to Triund from Dharamshala: $39
- Guided Kora Circuit & Walking Tour Around McLeod Ganj: $39
- Private 6 hrs Mcleodganj & Dharamshala City Tour: $63
- Best of Dharamshala with a local Half Day Tour by a AC Car: $88
- Private 2-Days McLeodGanj & Dharamshala Guided Tour: $97
- Historical Tour, Kangra fort &Rock cut temple from Dharmasla: $107
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayAswan $1.07Dharamsala $4.87
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Aswan and Dharamsala, we can see that Dharamsala 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 Dharamsala 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 Dharamsala would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Dharamsala 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 Dharamsala Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Aswan or Dharamsala?
Aswan has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Dharamsala. When comparing the sizes of Aswan and Dharamsala, 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.