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

Should you visit Aswan or Marbella?

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

Should I visit Aswan or Marbella? 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 Marbella?

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.

Marbella

Marbella is a city in southern Spain in the province of Malaga. It is part of the Costa del Sol (Coast of the Sun) and is located on the Mediterranean Sea between Malaga and the Strait of Gibraltar. It is one of the most important tourist cities in the area and receives many national and international tourists year round due to its climate and tourism structures. Marbella is a bit of a glamorous city due to its beauty and resort-type environment. The old town with its narrow cobbled streets and flower-filled plazas is packed with shops and art galleries selling boutique clothes and accessories, and handmade wares. The city has significant archaeological and historical heritage and many events and performances throughout the year.

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 Sightseeing Tours in Spain, and The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Spain.


Which place is cheaper, Marbella or Aswan?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Aswan is $16, while the average daily cost in Marbella is $125. 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 Marbella in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Aswan $6.75
    Marbella $66
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Aswan $14
    Marbella $132
Compare Hotels in Aswan and Marbella

Looking for a hotel in Aswan or Marbella? 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 Marbella


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 Marbella Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Aswan $4.34
    Marbella $26

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Aswan

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Aswan:

  • VIP Aswan Airport Transfer to Luxury Retreats: $35
  • Transfer to Luxor from Aswan and visit Kom Ombo and Edfu Temples: $64
  • Transfer from Aswan to Luxor: $79
  • Transfer from Aswan Train Station to your hotel or the opposite : $30
  • Transfer from Aswan Airport to Hotels or Nile Cruise in Aswan: $8.00
  • Sunset Departure Evening Aswan Airport Transfer: $32
  • Station Aswan Transfer To hotel: $8.00
  • Shared Transfer from Aswan Airport to Hotels : $20
  • Private transfer from aswan to luxor with visits: $93
  • Private transfer from anywhere Aswan to Aswan Airport: $13
  • Private transfer from Aswan to Aswan Airport: $10
  • Private transfer from Aswan to Aswan Airport: $6.40

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Marbella

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

  • Vip Transfer from Malaga Airport to Fuengirola or Marbella: $21
  • Private Transfer from Fuengirola to Malaga (AGP) airport: $64
  • Private Transfer from Alhaurín El Grande to Malaga (AGP) Airport: $68
  • Costa del Sol: Private 1-Way Transfer to/from Malaga Airport: $75
  • Private Transfer from Coín to Malaga (AGP) Airport: $80
  • Private Transfer from Torre del Mar to Malaga (AGP) Airport: $97
  • Private Transfer from Lomas De Cabopino to Malaga (AGP) Airport: $97
  • Private Transfer from Marbesa to Malaga (AGP) Airport: $97
  • Private Transfer from Vélez-Málaga to Malaga (AGP) Airport: $97
  • TRANSFER MALAGA AIRPORT from OR to MARBELLA-PRICE ALL INCLUSIVE: $104
  • Private Transfer from Los Monteros to Malaga (AGP) Airport: $107
  • Private Transfer from Algarrobo to Malaga (AGP) Airport: $109

Is it cheaper to fly into Aswan or Marbella?

Prices for flights to both Marbella 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 $5.73
    Marbella $41

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 Marbella

For Marbella, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Food Tour: $87
  • The Mediterranean Diet & Lifestyle Cooking Class.: $180
  • Gourmet Cooking Class & Culture in the rural Montes de Malaga.: $191

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Aswan $6.11
    Marbella $21
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
    $1.26

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 Marbella

For Marbella, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Discover the Old Town through a Self-Guided Tour: $4.60
  • Marbella Old Town Walking Tour : $15
  • Sightseeing Walking Tour: $21
  • Guided tour and olive oil tasting in Alhaurin el Grande (Málaga) : $22
  • Marbella Old Town: Group Tour with a True Local: $24
  • Marbella Old Town group tour with a True Local: $24
  • group walking Tour: $26
  • Explore Marbella Old Town: Tapas Tasting Adventure: $27
  • Marbella like a Local: Customized Guided Tour: $32
  • Bike City Tour Marbella: $32
  • Dolphin Watching Adventure in Estepona Bay: $38
  • 2 h Estepona Bay Tour: $47

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Aswan $1.24
    Marbella $6.12

Sample the Local Flavors in Marbella

Also in Marbella, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:

  • Manilva & Gaucin Wine Tour from the Costa del Sol: $152
  • From Manilva Sunset Wine Tasting Tour with Tapas: $159
  • Ronda Full Day Wine Tour from Marbella: $195
  • From Antequera Wine Tour with Tastings and Lunch: $213
  • From Axarquia Wine Tour with Wine Pairing Lunch: $234
  • Full-Day Private Ronda Wine Tour Experience from Marbella: $262
  • VIP Ronda Wine Tour and Tasting and Gourmet Lunch Experience with Winemaker: $272


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


Which is Bigger, Aswan or Marbella?

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