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

Should you visit Aswan or Islamabad?

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

Should I visit Aswan or Islamabad? 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 Islamabad?

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.

Islamabad

Islamabad is the capital of Pakistan, specially built in the 1960's to replace the former capital, Karachi. Most of the city's population are employees of the government, though many people come from all over Pakistan to enjoy the city's peaceful atmosphere and green spaces, museums, and monuments.

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 Pakistan, and The Best Cultural Tours in Pakistan.


Which place is cheaper, Islamabad 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 $19, while the average daily cost in Islamabad is $51. 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 Islamabad in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Aswan $6.39
    Islamabad $20
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Aswan $13
    Islamabad $40
Compare Hotels in Aswan and Islamabad

Looking for a hotel in Aswan or Islamabad? 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 Islamabad


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 Islamabad Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Aswan $4.10
    Islamabad $7.54

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Aswan

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Aswan:

  • Private Transfer Round Trip To Abu Simbel From Aswan: $300
  • Private Transfer From Aswan to Marsa Alam or Vice Versa: $225
  • 3-Day Guided tours to Aswan, Abu Simbel and Luxor & Train and Transfers : $167
  • Aswan to Abu Simbel - Private Transfer (Price: Per Vehicle): $165
  • Aswan to Hurghada Private Door to Door Transfer: $140
  • "Aswan to Hurghada: Luxe Private Transfer - Comfort Guaranteed ": $130
  • Private Transfer from Aswan to Marsa Alam: $130
  • Aswan Private Transfer To Luxor city: $130
  • Private Transfer from Aswan to Luxor: $125
  • Private Transfer from Aswan to Luxor: $120
  • Private Transfer From Aswan To Luxor Included Stop Edfu,Kom ompo: $100
  • Transfer Service to Luxor from Aswan: $100

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Islamabad

Also for Islamabad, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Islamabad International Airport Transfer: $35
  • Islamabad International Airport Transfer - DEPARTURE: $40
  • Islamabad International Airport Transfer - ARRIVAL: $40
  • Private Chauffeur: Arrival Transfer Airport Pick up (Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore): $50
  • Islamabad Airport Transfers : $54
  • Karachi Airport Transfer, Airport Pick and Drop : $55
  • Premium Services: Islamabad International Airport Transfer - Departures: $55
  • Premium Services: Islamabad International Airport Transfer - Arrival: $55
  • Islamabad International Airport Arrival Pick up Transfer: $55
  • Private Transfer from Islamabad Airport to Pakistan: $61
  • Transit Trip: Islamabad City Exploration Day Tour & Round Trip Airport Transfer: $110
  • Transit Trip: Murree Exploration Day Trip & Round Trip Airport Transfer: $140

Is it cheaper to fly into Aswan or Islamabad?

Prices for flights to both Islamabad 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 $9.38
    Islamabad $25

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Aswan

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

  • Private Aswan Nubian Cooking Class and Market Tour: $50
  • Nubian Dinner at Nubian Village: $51
  • Dinner on board a cruise on the Nile: $59
  • Nubian Dinner at Nubian Village: $60
  • Private 3-Hour Nubian Party with Dinner and Pickup in Aswan: $77
  • Aswan Sunset Dinner Cruise: $80

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Aswan $5.78
    Islamabad $9.31
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
    $1.20

Tours and Activities in Aswan

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

  • 3 Hour Private Tour, Ancient Wonders in Philae Temple Tour : $55
  • 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
  • Aswan : day tour, Philae Temple, Unfinished Obelisk &High Dam: $20
  • Aswan Luxury Car Tour: $75
  • Day Tour From Aswan To Luxor by Car: $90
  • Full-Day Private Tour to Abu Simbel Temples in Aswan : $84
  • High Dam, Unfinished Obelisk, & Philae Private Tour: $20
  • Nile Sailing Tour: Aswan Felucca Experience(Private) : $40
  • Nubian Village Day Tour In Aswan: $25
  • Nubian Village Tour in Aswan: $50
  • Nubian Village and Philae Temple Private Guided Tour From Aswan: $39

Tours and Activities in Islamabad

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Islamabad.

  • Islamabad and Rawalpindi Sightseeing Tour: $70
  • Half Day Private Instagram Guided City Tour : $80
  • Private Tour: Islamabad Full Day Customized Exploration Tour: $90
  • Full Day Tour To The Ancient City Of Taxila From Islamabad: $90
  • Islamabad Instagram Tour: Most Famous Spots (Private & All-Inclusive): $95
  • Full-Day Sightseeing Tour Of Islamabad: $95
  • City Tour with Faisal Mosque and Lake View Park: $99
  • Best of Islamabad Half Day Tour (Morn & Eve Slots): $100
  • Full Day Taxila UNESCO world heritage Site and Islamabad Tour: $110
  • Islamabad City Tour With Faisal Mosque, Pakistan Monument & Lunch : $110
  • Full Day Private Guided Tour of Taxila Gandahara Civilization : $112
  • Top Ten Wonders of Islamabad Guided City Tour: $120

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Aswan $1.18
    Islamabad $2.83


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


Which is Bigger, Aswan or Islamabad?

Islamabad has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Aswan. When comparing the sizes of Aswan and Islamabad, 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.