Which place is cheaper, Pondicherry 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 Pondicherry?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Aswan or Pondicherry? 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 Pondicherry?
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.
Pondicherry
Located on the eastern coast of India in the state of Tamil Nadu, Pondicherry has a long and interesting history of trade and war as the largest French colony in India. Today the French influence in the city remains, especially in the old quarters. This being said, Pondicherry very much embodies and east-meets-west culture.
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 Bicycle Tours in India, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in India.
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Aswan Prices
Egypt PricesPondicherry Prices
India Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAswan $30Pondicherry $37
The average daily cost (per person) in Aswan is $30, while the average daily cost in Pondicherry is $37. 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 Pondicherry in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAswan $9.89Pondicherry $14
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAswan $20Pondicherry $28
Compare Hotels in Aswan and Pondicherry
Looking for a hotel in Aswan or Pondicherry? 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 Pondicherry Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Aswan $5.43Pondicherry $5.02
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Aswan
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Aswan:
- luxor Airport Private Transfer: $14
- Transfer to Luxor from Aswan with 2stops in Komombo& EdfuTemples: $55
- Transfer from Aswan to Luxor: $79
- Transfer from Aswan Airport to Hotels or Nile Cruise in Aswan: $8.00
- Shared Transfer: Aswan Airport to Hotels: $30
- Private transfer from aswan to luxor with visits: $93
- Private transfer from Aswan to Luxor: $35
- Private transfer from Aswan to Luxor: $55
- Private transfer from Aswan to Aswan Airport: $8.00
- Private transfer from Aswan to Aswan Airport: $10
- Private transfer - Aswan to Abu Simbel and return: $80
- Private Transfers From Aswan To Luxor: $55
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Pondicherry
Also for Pondicherry, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer: Pondicherry Hotels to Chennai Airport (MAA): $85
Is it cheaper to fly into Aswan or Pondicherry?
Prices for flights to both Pondicherry 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 $15Pondicherry $17
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
- Dinner on board a cruise on the Nile: $59
- Cairo Nile Dinner Cruise with Entertainment: $65
- Private Evening Dinner Cruise in Cairo: $75
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Pondicherry
For Pondicherry, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Indian Cooking Class in Pondicherry: $28
- French-Creole Cooking Class in Pondicherry with a Local Family: $99
- South Indian Dinner With A Local Family In Pondicherry: $141
- Cooking class in Pondicherry (with Lunch or Dinner): $268
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Aswan $9.30Pondicherry $9.88
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$1.20
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: $190
- 2 Hours Private Sound and Light Show Tour in Philae Temple: $85
- 2 Hours Tour in Philae Temple: $19
- 2 Night Nile Cruise from Aswan to Luxor: $270
- 2-Night Nile Cruise from Aswan to Luxor – Including Abu Simbel: $250
- 3 Days and 2 Nights Nile Cruise from Aswan to Luxor: $299
- 3 Hour Private Tour, Ancient Wonders in Philae Temple Tour: $55
- 3 Hours Private Tour in Nubian Village from Aswan: $33
- 3 or 2 or 1 Nights Mighty Nile Felucca Adventure: $25
- 3-Day Guided tour to Aswan, Abu Simbel and Luxor from Cairo: $285
- 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
Tours and Activities in Pondicherry
For Pondicherry, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Promenade Through A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.99
- Magical Pondicherry Markets Tour: $12
- Spiritual Walk Tour Pondicherry: $12
- Pondicherry Art Trails (2 Hours Guided Walking Tours): $12
- Heritage & Cultural Walking Tour of Pondicherry: $13
- The Unique Pondicherry City Bike Tour: $20
- Experience Hands on Pottery Workshop: $20
- Pondicherry Heritage Walking Tour of French Quarters: $26
- Private Day Tour from Pondicherry to Tranquebar Treasures: $46
- Guided City Tour in Pondicherry with complimentary refreshments: $47
- The Best of A Private Sightseeing Tour: $58
- Pondicherry Private Day Tour with Car Guide and Cycle Ride: $66
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAswan $1.06Pondicherry $6.11
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Aswan and Pondicherry, we can see that Pondicherry 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 Pondicherry 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 Pondicherry would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Pondicherry 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 Pondicherry Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Aswan or Pondicherry?
Aswan has a larger population, and is about 6% larger than the population of Pondicherry. When comparing the sizes of Aswan and Pondicherry, 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.