Which place is cheaper, Pokhara 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 Pokhara?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Aswan or Pokhara? 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 Pokhara?
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.
Pokhara
Pokhara is the second largest city in Nepal and is strategically located near the popular Annapurna Circuit. The Annapurna Circuit, or the "Apple Pie Trail", is a popular trek through the Annapurna Valley that makes a circular route through stunning mountainous landscapes. Several other trekking options can be found in this region, too. Many people use Pohkara as a place to prepare or recover from their recently completed treks because it is less intimidating than the larger city of Kathmandu.
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 Hiking & Trekking Tours in Nepal, and The Best 10-Day Tours in Nepal.
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Aswan Prices
Egypt PricesPokhara Prices
Nepal Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAswan $29Pokhara $21
The average daily cost (per person) in Aswan is $29, while the average daily cost in Pokhara is $21. 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 Pokhara in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAswan $9.47Pokhara $3.37
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAswan $19Pokhara $6.74
Compare Hotels in Aswan and Pokhara
Looking for a hotel in Aswan or Pokhara? 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 Pokhara Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Aswan $5.20Pokhara $6.58
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Aswan
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Aswan:
- A transfer to Luxor from Aswan by car: $75
- Abu Simbel Shared Day Trip from Aswan with Round-Trip Transfers: $30
- Abu Simbel Shared Transfer: $37
- Abu Simbel from Aswan in Egypt - Private Tour (guide and transfers Included): $150
- Aswan Airport Arrival Private Transfer – Up to 8 Passengers: $24
- Aswan Airport Private Departure Transfer: $28
- Aswan Airport Transfer: $24
- Aswan Airport private arrival transfer: $19
- Aswan Private Transfer To Luxor city: $130
- Aswan Station Private Transfer – Arrival or Departure: $24
- Aswan airport transfer: $21
- Aswan to Luxor Private Transfer: $65
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Pokhara
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Pokhara:
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Short Taxi Ride$0.65
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Pokhara
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Pokhara:
- Airport Transfer by Private Car: $11
- Transfer To Kathmandu (VIP Sofa Tourist Bus) & Back: $12
- Pokhara Airport Shuttles & Private Transfer: $15
- Pokhara ↔️ Kathmandu: VIP Luxury Sofa Bus Transfer (Rainbow): $16
- Annapurna Foothills Day Hike with Transfers: $38
- From Private Car Transfer To Chitwan: $59
- Comfortable Private Transfer from Pokhara to Chitwan: $66
- Private Transfer:- Pokhara to Chitwan (Sauraha) by car: $68
- White Water Rafting Half Day with Hotel Transfers: $70
- One way transfer To or From Chitwan: $73
- Private Transfer: Kathmandu ↔ Pokhara by Car, Jeep & Hiace: $73
- Pokhara to Kathmandu One Way Transfer by Private AC Car: $80
Is it cheaper to fly into Aswan or Pokhara?
Prices for flights to both Pokhara 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 $14Pokhara $12
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
- Cairo Nile Dinner Cruise with Entertainment: $64
- Private Evening Dinner Cruise in Cairo: $75
Typical Food Prices in Pokhara
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Pokhara:
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Dinner for Two$3.88
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Dessert (for 2)$2.59
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Pastries$1.29
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Dinner$5.50
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Pokhara
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Pokhara.
- Nepali cultural dinner night in Pokhara: $21
- Nepali Nights: Dinner & Cultural Dance Delight in Pokhara: $26
- MoMo or Dal Bhat Cooking Class at Aama Kitchen in Pokhara: $29
- Nepalese Kitchen in Momos or Dal Bhat Cooking Class: $29
- 3 Hour MoMo cooking class: $31
- Nepali Cooking Class and Momo Making Workshop: $42
- 3 Hour Authentic Nepali Thakali Dish Cooking Class: $45
- Thakali food Cooking Class in Pokhara: $50
- Nepali Cooking Class in Pokhara with a Local Family: $60
- 1 Day Momo making cooking class: $75
- Tour with Dinner to Trout Fish Farm - Bhujung River: $98
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Aswan $8.91Pokhara $6.26
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:
- Private Shopping tour in Aswan Bazzars: $8.00
- Adventure Felucca Ride in Aswan ( Private boat ): $17
- 2 Hours Tour in Philae Temple: $19
- Aswan Engineering Marvels Private High Dam & Obelisk Tour: $20
- Felucca Nile Cruise in Aswan: $20
- Private Tour Sail on the Nile Aswan Felucca Ride: $25
- Aswan Highlights Tour Philae Temple High Dam Unfinished Obelisk: $25
- Full Day Tour to Abu Simbel Temples from Aswan: $25
- Aswan City Tour By Horse And Carriage: $25
- Shared Half-Day Tour to the Nubian Village: $25
- 3 or 2 or 1 Nights Mighty Nile Felucca Adventure: $25
- Nubian Village Tour: $25
Tours and Activities in Pokhara
Here are a few actual costs in Pokhara for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Sarangkot Sunrise with Half or Full-Day City Tour: $7.47
- From Sarangkot Sunrise Himalayas Tour: $7.84
- Pokhara to Chitwan Tourist Bus Sofa seater: $9.00
- Sarangkot Sunrise Himalayas: Tour 3 hour private tour: $9.16
- Quick Devi’s Water Fall Tour: $9.26
- Guided Evening Walking Tour in Lakeside: $9.52
- Visit Best Seven Tourist Destination by Sharing Bus: $9.52
- Paragliding, Bungy Jump and Zipline Combo Adventure: $10
- City Sightseeing Group Budget Bus Tour: $10
- Pokhara Places of Interest Tour by Sharing Bus: $10
- Sarangkot Sunrise & Private Full-Day Highlights Tour: $10
- Pokhara to Kathmandu Tourist Sofa Bus: $10
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAswan $1.02Pokhara $5.65
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Aswan and Pokhara, we can see that Aswan is more expensive. And not only is Pokhara much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Aswan is in Africa and Pokhara 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 Pokhara would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Pokhara 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 Aswan would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Aswan than you might in Pokhara.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Aswan Expensive? and Is Pokhara Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Aswan or Pokhara?
Aswan has a larger population, and is about 21% larger than the population of Pokhara. When comparing the sizes of Aswan and Pokhara, 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.