Which place is cheaper, Durban 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 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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Aswan Prices
Egypt PricesDurban Prices
South Africa Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAswan $28Durban $73
The average daily cost (per person) in Aswan is $28, while the average daily cost in Durban is $73. 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 $9.45Durban $28
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAswan $19Durban $56
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 $5.18Durban $15
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Aswan
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Aswan:
- Aswan–Luxor Private Transfer with Guide & Stops at Kom Ombo, Edfu: $250
- Private Transfer from Aswan to Hurghada in AC Cars Local Driver: $230
- Private Transfer From Aswan Airport or Hotel to Hurghada by Car: $200
- Private Aswan to Luxor Transfer with Custom Temple Stops: $199
- Private Transfer from Aswan to Hurghada: $189
- Marvel 3-Days Unique Guided Tours Aswan, Abu Simbel & Luxor with all Transfers: $167
- Private Transfer from Aswan to Luxor: $160
- Private Transfer from Aswan to Luxor: $160
- Private Transfer from Aswan to Luxor by Air-Conditioned Vehicle: $150
- Aswan to Hurghada Private Door to Door Transfer: $140
- Edfu and Kom Ombo Day Tour with Luxor Transfer: $115
- Private Transfer Aswan to Luxor: $105
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Durban
Also for Durban, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Durban airport to Durban city transfer: $39
- Private Transfers - Minibus - Durban Arrivals and Departures: $50
- Durban Cruise Ship Transfers: $53
- Private Sedan Transfers - Durban King Shaka: $53
- Durban to Durban Airport (DUR) - Departure Private Transfer: $54
- Durban Airport (DUR) to Durban - Arrival Private Transfer: $54
- 1-3 Passenger Durban - Airport Transfer: $54
- Private Durban Airport Departure Transfer: $67
- Durban Private Airport Arrival Transfer: $67
- Departure Private Transfer Durban to Durban Airport DUR by Sedan: $99
- Durban Airport (DUR) to Durban - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $108
- Private transfers from King Shaka Airport: $123
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 $14Durban $32
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
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: $72
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Aswan $8.88Durban $19
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:
- 2 Day Aswan Tour+Hotel Includ:Abu Simbel, Philae& Nubian Village: $260
- 2 Hours Private Sound and Light Show Tour in Philae Temple: $85
- 2 Hours Tour in Philae Temple: $19
- 2-Day Tour Package in Aswan with a Guide: $227
- 3 Days 2 Nights Aswan and Abu Simbel Private Friendly Tour: $200
- 3 Days Private Tour to Abu Simble, Balloon Ride, Aswan and Luxor: $299
- 3 Days and 2 Nights Nile Cruise from Aswan to Luxor: $299
- 3 or 2 or 1 Nights Mighty Nile Felucca Adventure: $25
- 3-Day Tour Aswan, Abu Simbel , Luxor & Train ticket, Opt. Balloon: $280
- 4 Day 3 Nights Nile Cruise From Aswan to Luxor: $1,273
- 4 Days Nile Cruise from Aswan to Luxor including Abu Simbel and Hot Air Balloon: $284
- 4 Days Nile Cruise, Aswan to Luxor AbuSimbel optional hot balloon: $295
Tours and Activities in Durban
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Durban.
- 30-Minute Harbor Boat Cruise: $6.37
- Durban Point Waterfront: Luxury Canal Boat Cruise: $8.97
- 1-Hour Boat Cruise from Wilson's Wharf: $9.26
- Luxury Canal Boat Cruise - Fun Things Durban Ushaka: $10
- Pontoon Boat Harbor Cruise: $11
- Luxury Harbour Ocean Boat Cruise: $14
- Magical Gondola Night Boat Cruise in Durban: $16
- From Half Day Durban City Tour: $53
- Half Day Durban City Tour: $61
- Local Markets and Culture Guided Walking Tour: $64
- Culture Walking Tour of Durban: $69
- Whale and Dolphin Watching Boat Tour: $84
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAswan $1.01Durban $15
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.