Which place is cheaper, Durban or Aswan?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Aswan or Durban?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Aswan or Durban? 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 Durban?
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.
Durban
The third largest city in South Africa, Durban sits on the east coast of the country in the province of KwaZulu-Natal. The city also has the country's most active port. The city's comfortable weather and vast beaches make it one of the country's major tourist centers. There's a population of about 3.5 million in the entire metropolitan area that spreads over 2,295 square kilometers.
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 Overlanding Trips in South Africa, and The Best Adventure Tours to South Africa.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAswan $16Durban $52
The average daily cost (per person) in Aswan is $16, while the average daily cost in Durban 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 Durban in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAswan $6.75Durban $24
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAswan $14Durban $48
Compare Hotels in Aswan and Durban
Looking for a hotel in Aswan or Durban? 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 Durban Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Aswan $4.34Durban $13
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Aswan
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Aswan:
- Private Transfer Round Trip To Abu Simbel From Aswan: $300
- 3-Days Travel Into The History to Aswan, Abu Simbel & Luxor with all Transfers: $299
- Private Transfer from Aswan to temple of Abu Simbel: $230
- Abu Simbel from Aswan in Egypt - Private Tour (guide and transfers Included): $209
- Hurghada: Private Transfer To/From Aswan: $200
- Private Transfer To/From Hurghada: $200
- Private Transfer from Aswan to Hurghada: $170
- Private Transfer Aswan To Marsa-alam: $150
- Private Transfer from Aswan to Hurghada: $136
- Private Transfer from Aswan to Abu Simbel: $105
- Full Day Tour to Luxor from Aswan with Transfers and Guide: $100
- Private Trip To Kom Ombo And Edfu Temple With Transfer From Aswan: $100
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Durban
Also for Durban, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Durban Airport (DUR) to Durban - Arrival Private Transfer: $27
- Durban to Durban King Airport (DUR) - Departure Private Transfer: $27
- 1-3 Passenger Private Durban - Airport Transfer: $45
- Durban King Airport (DUR) to Durban - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $55
- Arrival Private Transfer from Durban Airport DUR to Durban City by Minivan: $84
- Private transfers from King Shaka Airport: $106
- From Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Overnight Safari w/ Transfer: $485
Is it cheaper to fly into Aswan or Durban?
Prices for flights to both Durban 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 $5.73Durban $16
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Aswan
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Aswan.
- Dinner at Soleih restaurant by vehicle: $33
- Nubian Dinner in Nubian Village Of Aswan: $40
- Nubian lunch Or Dinner at Nubian village : $75
- 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
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Durban
For Durban, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Half Day Guided Taste of Africa Food Tour in Durban: $40
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Aswan $6.11Durban $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$1.26
Tours and Activities in Aswan
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Aswan are as follows:
- Abu Simbel Private Tour from Aswan : $110
- Abu Simbel Temples Full Day Tour From Aswan With Entry Tickets : $99
- Aswan : Full Day Private Guided Tour to the Legend of Abu Simbel Temples: $125
- Full Day Tour to Luxor from Aswan by Car: $200
- Philae Temple Night Experience (Sound and Light show). : $65
- Philae Temple and Aswan High Dam Tour: $44
- Private Abu Simbel Temple tour : $123
- Private Day Tour to Luxor from Aswan: $65
- Private Luxor Day Tour from Aswan: $140
- Sharing Tour To Abu Simbel From Aswan with Tour Guide : $50
- 1 Night Nile Cruise from Aswan to Luxor: $128
- 2 Days Luxor Private Guided Tour From Aswan: $110
Tours and Activities in Durban
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Durban.
- 30-Minute Harbor Boat Cruise: $5.18
- 1-Hour Boat Cruise from Wilson's Wharf: $7.77
- Durban Point Waterfront: Luxury Canal Boat Cruise: $7.77
- Luxury Canal Boat Cruise - Fun Things Durban Ushaka: $8.29
- Magical Gondola Night Boat Cruise in Durban: $8.56
- Pontoon Boat Harbor Cruise: $9.84
- Durban Walking Tour: $26
- Whale and Dolphin Watching Boat Tour: $39
- Durban Half-Day City Tour - Golden Mile, Botanical Gardens: $41
- Durban:Culture Walking Tour of Durban: $49
- Culture Walking Tour of Durban: $51
- Durban Shore Excursion: Private Small Group Durban City Tour: $63
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAswan $1.24Durban $13
Sample the Local Flavors in Durban
Also in Durban, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Bar Crawl in Durban : $36
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Aswan and Durban, we can see that Durban 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 Durban would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Durban 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 Durban Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Aswan or Durban?
Durban has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Aswan. When comparing the sizes of Aswan and Durban, 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.