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

Should you visit Aswan or Seoul?

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

Should I visit Aswan or Seoul? 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 Seoul?

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.

Seoul

With a population of more than 11 million, Seoul is easily the largest city in South Korea. It is also the financial, political, and cultural capital of the country and has much to offer open minded travelers. It is often overlooked by travelers who instead head to Tokyo or Shanghai, but Seoul has a wide range of cultural experiences, food options, and historical sights. Seoul is a city of contrasts with ancient traditions, flashy technology, religious temples and a modern youth culture. It is also more affordable than many of the other Asian metropolis' to which it is often compared. If you're looking for an interesting and different experience that is a little off the tourist trail, Seoul can definitely offer that opportunity.

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 Family-Friendly Tours to South Korea, and The Best Adventure Tours to South Korea.


Which place is cheaper, Seoul 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 $28, while the average daily cost in Seoul is $118. 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 Seoul in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Aswan $9.45
    Seoul $50
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Aswan $19
    Seoul $100
Compare Hotels in Aswan and Seoul

Looking for a hotel in Aswan or Seoul? 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 Seoul


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 Seoul Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Aswan $5.18
    Seoul $14

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Aswan

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Aswan:

  • Private transfer from/to Aswan train station: $7.00
  • Airport Arrival/Departure One Way Private Transfer: $7.00
  • Private Airport Arrival/Departure One Way Transfer: $7.00
  • Private transfer from Aswan to Aswan Airport: $8.00
  • Transfer from Aswan Airport to Hotels or Nile Cruise in Aswan: $8.00
  • Private Aswan Airport Arrival/Departure One Way Transfer: $10
  • Private transfer from Aswan to Aswan Airport: $10
  • Private Airport Transfer in Aswan: $13
  • Private Transfer from Aswan Airport to Aswan: $13
  • Private Transfer Service From Hotel To Aswan Airport: $14
  • luxor Airport Private Transfer: $14
  • Private Tour to Philae Temple Sound & Light Show with Transfers: $15

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Seoul

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Seoul:


  • Subway Card
    $3.32
  • Short Taxi Ride
    $4.64
  • Metro Ride
    $0.90
  • Seoul City Pass Plus
    $6.63

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Seoul

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Seoul:

  • Seoul Private Transfer Airport Gangneung Jeonju Gyeongju Busan: $13
  • Private One-Way Transfers to/from Incheon Airport(ICN): $39
  • Night Views Tour with Guide and Transfers: $41
  • From Round-Trip Transfer to Dae Jang Geum Park: $50
  • Private Airport Transfer: Hotel in Seoul → Gimpo Airport: $57
  • Seoul Gimpo Airport (GMP) Transfer to Seoul/Suwon/Seongnam/Yongin: $60
  • Seoul Incheon Airport (ICN) to Seoul - Arrival Private Transfer: $64
  • Seoul to Seoul Incheon Airport (ICN) Departure Private Transfer: $64
  • Private Airport Transfer:Seoul City Incheon ⇄Airport: $67
  • Incheon Airport (ICN) Transfer to Seoul/Suwon/Seongnam/Yongin: $68
  • Private Airport Transfer: Gimpo Airport → Hotel in the City: $75
  • Private Airport Transfer : Gimpo airport to/from Seoul (1~7pax): $89

Is it cheaper to fly into Aswan or Seoul?

Prices for flights to both Seoul 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 $14
    Seoul $47

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
  • Cairo Nile Dinner Cruise with Entertainment: $66
  • Private Evening Dinner Cruise in Cairo: $75
  • Your Grandmothers Cooking Class In Aswan: $90

Typical Food Prices in Seoul

Some typical examples of dining costs in Seoul are as follows:


  • Rice with Kimchi & Bacon
    $3.98
  • Waffle
    $0.66
  • Dippin' Dots
    $1.33
  • Chicken Fried Rice
    $3.65
  • Chicken Stick
    $1.33
  • Drinking Yoghurt & Mi Chew
    $1.26
  • Lunch Buffet
    $3.98
  • Donut
    $0.66
  • Mushroom Burger
    $3.45
  • Green Tea Ice Cream
    $2.19
  • Udon & Sushi
    $4.64
  • Fresh Burger
    $3.18
  • Soba Noodles Lunch
    $2.98
  • Bibimbap Lunch
    $3.32
  • Fried Rice
    $3.65
  • Vietnamese Dinner
    $6.30
  • Breakfast and Coffee for 2
    $6.30
  • Donut
    $1.66

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Seoul

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

  • Guided Street Food Tour at Namdaemun Market: $45
  • Seoul Night Run for Local-Favorite Korean BBQ Dinner: $50
  • [Wine & K-BBQ] A Perfect Pairing Dinner in Sinchon: $51
  • Korean Grandma Cooking Class l Gimbap & Kimchi Pancake l Seoul: $52
  • Mangwon Market Food tour By Locals;Cheap Eats to Fancy Feast: $57
  • Sunset Walking Tour in Naksan Park with Dinner: $58
  • Wine & K-BBQ: A Perfect Pairing Dinner: $59
  • Dinner at a Local's Hanok & Seoul's Night Life: $60
  • Kimchi Dishes Cooking Class with Wine Pairing: $61
  • Gwangjang Market Netflix Food Tour: $64
  • Incheon Full-Day Sunset and Sea Food Tour: $65
  • Guided City Wall Sunset Hike with Korean Dinner: $67

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Aswan $8.88
    Seoul $24
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
    $1.15

Tours and Activities in Aswan

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

  • Shared Half-Day tour of The Nubian Village: $10
  • Day Trip to Nubian Village with Camel Tour: $15
  • Private Tour in Aswan : Felucca and Nubian village: $18
  • 2 Hours Tour in Philae Temple: $19
  • Philae Temple and Aswan High-Dam Half-day tour: $20
  • Felucca Nile Cruise in Aswan: $20
  • Private 6 Hours Tour In Aswan: $24
  • Philae Temple Guided Half-Day Group Tour: $25
  • Full Day Tour to Abu Simbel Temples from Aswan: $25
  • 3 or 2 or 1 Nights Mighty Nile Felucca Adventure: $25
  • Nubian Village Tour: $25
  • Aswan City Tour By Horse And Carriage: $25

Typical Entertainment Prices in Seoul

Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Seoul are as follows:


  • Palace Tickets
    $5.30
  • Movie Ticket
    $5.30
  • Kimchi Museum
    $1.99

Tours and Activities in Seoul

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

  • K-Culture Adventure in Seoul Self-Guided Walking Tour: $3.53
  • Seoul Walking Tour 3h30 and 19 audio reviews: $6.72
  • Changdeokgung Palace Hanbok Rental Experience in Seoul: $7.00
  • Gyeongbokgung Palace Hanbok Rental Experience in Seoul: $7.00
  • Gyeongbokgung Palace Hanbok Rental Experience Hanboknam (내국인불가): $7.00
  • Seoul Changdeokgung Palace Hanbok Experience Hanboknam (내국인불가): $7.10
  • Gwanghwamun Tour l 120 Minutes to Understand South Korea: $10
  • Street Hustle Adventure in Seoul: $10
  • Rabbithole Drag Show Entry Ticket: $10
  • Bukchon Hanok Village Seoul Walking Tour with Audioguide: $12
  • Seoul : Essential History Walking Tour for Visitor: $13
  • K-Beauty Scalp Spa Experience in Hongdae: $13

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Aswan $1.01
    Seoul $11

Sample the Local Flavors in Seoul

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

  • Seoul Pub Crawl by Absolute: $20
  • Pub Crawl: $25
  • The Seoul Pub Crawl [official]: $26
  • LGBTQ+ Pub Crawl and Drag Show with Local Drag Queen: $28
  • Rice Wine Tasting with Sommelier - Finest Makgeolli (& Soju): $46
  • Soju Tasting at Distillery: $51
  • Premium Pub Crawl with Open Bottles: $57
  • Craft Makgeolli Brewery Tour & Tasting Experience: $67
  • Learn and Craft Makgeolli in a Traditional Brewery: $78
  • Gangnam Premium Pub Crawl with VIP Bottle Service: $81
  • From Yeongdong Day Trip with Wine Tasting and Janggu: $91


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


Which is Bigger, Aswan or Seoul?

Seoul has a larger population, and is about 40 times larger than the population of Aswan. When comparing the sizes of Aswan and Seoul, 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.