Which place is cheaper, Reykjavik or Aswan?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
Jump to 
Should you visit Aswan or Reykjavik?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Aswan or Reykjavik? 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 Reykjavik?
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.
Reykjavik
Reykjavik is the capital and largest city in the country of Iceland. The city is where the vast majority of the country's population resides and the urban area has about 200,000 residents. The city is sprawling, with a large area covered in suburbs. The the city center is quite compact, with many interesting and colorful houses. There are a lot of things that attract tourists to this city, including an interesting culture and history as well as plenty of shopping and dining opportunities.
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 Budget Tours to Iceland, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Iceland.
-
Aswan Prices
Egypt PricesReykjavik Prices
Iceland Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAswan $31Reykjavik $307
The average daily cost (per person) in Aswan is $31, while the average daily cost in Reykjavik is $307. 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 Reykjavik in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAswan $10Reykjavik $160
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAswan $20Reykjavik $320
Compare Hotels in Aswan and Reykjavik
Looking for a hotel in Aswan or Reykjavik? 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 Reykjavik Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Aswan $5.70Reykjavik $52
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Aswan
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Aswan:
- VIP Express Exclusive Aswan Airport Transfer: $50
- Transfer to Luxor from Aswan with 2stops in Komombo& EdfuTemples : $52
- Transfer from Aswan to Luxor: $69
- Transfer from Aswan to Hurghada : $95
- Transfer from Aswan to Abu Simbel: $107
- Sunset Departure Evening Aswan Airport Transfer: $32
- Private transfer from your Hotel or Cruise to Aswan Airport: $25
- Private transfer from aswan to luxor with visits: $93
- Private transfer from Aswan to Luxor: $35
- Private transfer from Aswan to Aswan Airport: $8.00
- Private transfer from Aswan Airport to Aswan Hotels: $78
- Private Transfers from Aswan Airport to your Hotel or Cruise: $25
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Reykjavik
Also for Reykjavik, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Iceland: Airport Transfers between Keflavík and Reykjavik Center: $31
- Airport Transfer in Iceland from Keflavik Airport to Reykjavik City one way: $31
- Airport Express Shared Departure transfer from Reykjavik City to Keflavik Airport: $31
- Iceland: Airport Transfers between Keflavik and Reykjavik Hotels: $40
- Airport Transfer in Iceland from Reykjavik City to Keflavik Airport with Hotel Pick Up: $42
- Private Transfers in Iceland: $45
- Private Transfer to Sky Lagoon from Reykjavik Keflavik: $49
- Blue Lagoon Return Bus Transfer from Reykjavik: $51
- Blue Lagoon Transfer from/to Keflavik International Airport: $58
- Reykjavik Airport (RKV) to Skálafell - Arrival Private Transfer: $62
- Skálafell to Reykjavik Airport (RKV) - Departure Private Transfer: $62
- Reykjavík/Keflavík–Blue Lagoon, Silica & Retreat Transfer: $67
Is it cheaper to fly into Aswan or Reykjavik?
Prices for flights to both Reykjavik 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 dayAswan $16Reykjavik $60
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Aswan
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Aswan.
- Savor Nubian Cuisine: Lunch or Dinner in a Local Village: $50
- Nubian Dinner at Nubian Village: $51
- Nubian Dinner at Nubian Village: $60
- Private 3-Hour Nubian Party with Dinner and Pickup in Aswan: $77
- Aswan Sunset Dinner Cruise: $80
- Your Grandmothers Cooking Class In Aswan : $90
- Experience the Magic of Aswan in One Day Food Tour with Guide: $177
Typical Food Prices in Reykjavik
For Reykjavik, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
-
Dinner (Fish Market)$204
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Reykjavik
For Reykjavik, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Weekend Reykjavik Food Tour with a stop at the Reykjavik Flea Market: $143
- The Reykjavik Harbor Food Tour: $145
- 3 Hour Shared Christmas Food Tour with Guide in Reykjavik: $149
- Private Vegetarian Reykjavik Food Tour: $195
- Private Reykjavik Christmas Food Tour: $215
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Aswan $9.77Reykjavik $83
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 Temple from Aswan private full day tour: $80
- Abu Simbel Temples Full Day Tour From Aswan With Entry Tickets : $99
- Aswan Luxury Car Tour: $75
- Aswan OR Luxor : Full Day Private Guided Tour to Kom Ombo and Edfu temples: $99
- High Dam, Unfinished Obelisk, & Philae Private Tour: $20
- Kalabsha Temple and Nubian Museum Tour: $89
- Kayak Tour around the Temple of Philae & Heissa Island : $30
- Nubian Village Day Tour In Aswan: $25
- Nubian Village and Philae Temple Private Guided Tour From Aswan: $29
- Philae Temple and Aswan High Dam Tour: $95
- Private Abu Simbel Temple tour : $123
- Private Day Tour to Abu Simble Temple from Aswan: $29
Typical Entertainment Prices in Reykjavik
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Reykjavik's activities, tours, and tickets:
-
Art Museum$12
-
Wine and Spa$34
Tours and Activities in Reykjavik
For Reykjavik, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Reykjavik Viking Roots to Modern Marvels Self Guided Walking Tour: $9.75
- Settlement and Egils Saga Exhibition Ticket: $30
- Northern Lights: Aurora Basecamp Observatory Guided Experience: $30
- Self-Guided Audio Driving Tour of the Snæfellsnes Peninsula: $32
- Saga Museum - Entrance ticket: $32
- Reykjanes Peninsula and Blue Lagoon Self-Guided Driving Tour: $34
- Reykjavik Escape Game Experience - Prison Break 1: $45
- Reykjavík Shared Tuk Tuk Tour: $50
- Walking tour of Reykjavik city: $51
- Lava Show Reykjavik Admission Ticket - Optional Premium Upgrade : $55
- Reykjavik Folklore Walking Tour: Meet the Elves, Trolls & Ghosts of Iceland: $55
- Classic Puffin Watching Cruise from Downtown Reykjavík: $60
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayAswan $1.12Reykjavik $32
Typical Alcohol Prices in Reykjavik
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Reykjavik are as follows:
-
Beer$10
Sample the Local Flavors in Reykjavik
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Reykjavik:
- Gin Distillery tour and tasting with Master Distiller: $35
- Flóki Whisky Distillery Tour & Tasting in Reykjavík: $49
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Aswan and Reykjavik, we can see that Reykjavik 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 Reykjavik 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 Reykjavik would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Reykjavik 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 Reykjavik Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Aswan or Reykjavik?
Aswan has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Reykjavik. When comparing the sizes of Aswan and Reykjavik, 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.