Which place is cheaper, Cairo or Athens?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Athens or Cairo?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Athens and Cairo. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Athens or Cairo?
Athens
Athens is the capital city of Greece and is home to a population of over 3.7 million people. It's most famous as the birthplace of Classical Greece and the history in the city is incomparable to that found anywhere. It became the national capital of the modern Greek State in the 1830s, before which it was just a small village with a very impressive history. The city was redesigned by architects and city planners and incorporated large public squares, lots of green space, and wide avenues. The city has had its ups and downs both economically and politically, but it remains a beautiful and impressive place to explore.
Cairo
Cairo is the chaotic capital city of Egypt. With a population of more than 16 million, it is one of the largest cities in both Africa and the Middle East. As a traveler, you're likely to arrive and leave from here and you'll get your first orientation to the area during the chaotic and congestion filled taxi ride from the airport.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 3-Day Tours from Athens, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Athens, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Egypt, and The Best Historical Tours in Egypt.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAthens €127Cairo €16
The average daily cost (per person) in Athens is €127, while the average daily cost in Cairo is €16. 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 Athens and Cairo in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAthens €63Cairo €8.55
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAthens €126Cairo €17
Compare Hotels in Athens and Cairo
Looking for a hotel in Athens or Cairo? 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: Athens Hotel Prices and Cairo Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Athens €27Cairo €2.73
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Athens
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Athens:
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Airport Bus for Two€6.40
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Metro€1.50
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Metro€2.00
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Metro from Airport to City Center€8.00
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Taxi from Airport€35
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Athens
Also for Athens, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Athens Airport Private Arrival Transfer: $36
- Athens Airport To Piraeus Port / Hotel Private Luxury Transfer : $44
- Athens to Piraeus (Athens) Cruise Port - Departure Private Transfer: $33
- Private Athens International Airport to Piraeus Port Transfer: $77
- Private Transfer from /to Athens International Airport: $32
- Santorini Airport JTR Private Transfer with Wi-Fi: $33
- "Luxurious Transfer": $48
- Accessible Private Transfer WAV from Athens Airport to Port Rafina: $43
- Airport Transfer: Athens Airport ATH to Athens by Luxury Car: $136
- Airport Transfer: Athens to Athens Airport ATH by Business Car: $88
- Airport Transfer: Athens to Athens Airport ATH by Luxury Van: $121
- Arrival Private Transfer from Athens Airport ATH to Athens City by Luxury car: $108
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Cairo
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Cairo are as follows:
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Metro Ride€0.08
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Taxi Ride€0.29
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cairo
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cairo:
- 3 Private Full-Day Tours to Cairo Top Attractions+One Airport Transfer: $300
- Full-Day Private Trip to Fayoum from Cairo, with Transfer: $286
- Cairo : Marvel the Camping in the White & Black Deserts & Cairo Private Transfer: $250
- 2-Day Camping Tour in The Bahariya Oasis with Private Transfer: $250
- Overnight camping White Desert (Baharaya Oasis) & Cairo Private Transfers: $240
- 2-Day Ancient Egypt and Old Cairo Highlights Tour with Free Airport Transfers: $240
- Day Trip to Luxor East and West Bank from Cairo with private airport transfer and lunch included: $235
- Transfer from Hurghada to Cairo by van : $235
- Cairo Pyramids and Alexandria in 2 Days with airport transfers: $230
- Transfer from Luxor to Hurghada : $226
- 3-Days Private Guided Tour Package Covering all Cairo,Lunch and Airport Transfer: $225
- Private Transfer Cairo To Soma Bay: $225
Is it cheaper to fly into Athens or Cairo?
Prices for flights to both Cairo and Athens 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 dayAthens €37Cairo €4.33
Typical Food Prices in Athens
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Athens:
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Ice cream€3.00
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Souvlaki€2.20
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Athens
For Athens, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Hard Rock Cafe Athens with Set Lunch or Dinner: $27
- Foodies’ Favorite Food tour: $47
- Athens walking and tasting food tour.: $55
- Street Food Tour - Sample the Food the Locals Love: $66
- Street Food Tour with 7 Tastings: $66
- Eat like an Athenian food tour of Athens: $66
- Greek Traditional Vegan Cooking Classes in Athina: $66
- Athens, Greek food tour including market visit: $69
- Traditional Greek Cooking Class and Organic Lunch on Poros: $72
- Small Group, Delicious Athens Food Tour: $75
- Athens Evening Food Tour: $78
- Taste of Athens Small-Group Food Tour: $78
Typical Food Prices in Cairo
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Cairo:
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Juice€0.04
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cairo
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Cairo.
- Cairo Nile dinner cruise night show with belly dancer: $8.00
- Dinner Nile Cruise belly dancer open buffer tanora show sailing on Nile: $8.80
- Private Nile Cruise with Dinner and Folk Show from Cairo: $10
- night-tour Nile dinner cruise with open buffet and belly dancer: $10
- Food Tour in Local Cairo Life with Egyptian tea: $11
- Dinner evening in the heart of the Nile for 3 hours: $11
- Dinner Cruise on the Nile River with Buffet belly dancer performance: $12
- Private Dinner Cruise on the Nile River in Cairo with Pickup: $12
- dance, sing and eat on Cairo Dinner Nile Cruise on Nile river: $12
- 5 Star Dinner Nile Cruise in Cairo Night Tour : $13
- 2-hours night dinner cruise show : Eat , Dance and Sing : $13
- food tour private tour from cairo or giza hotel: $14
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Athens €36Cairo €5.25
Tours and Activities in Athens
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Athens.
- Acropolis Highlights Self-Guided Audio Tour: $4.79
- Ancient Athens Quest Experience: $6.12
- Private Audio Guided Walking Tour in Athens: $6.67
- Athens Scavenger Hunt and Best Landmarks Self-Guided Tour: $6.69
- The Best of Piraeus: A Self-Guided Walking Tour: $6.99
- Greek Mythology Quest Experience in Athens: $7.23
- Neighborhood of the Gods Smarthphone GPS APP Audio Walking Tour: $7.50
- Athens Olympic Museum ticket: $7.80
- Temple of Olympian Zeus: Self-Guided Audio Tour on your Phone (without ticket): $8.90
- On the prowl- Cats of Athens Plaka, Self-Guided audio tour on your Phone: $8.90
- Private Self-Guided Audio City-Tour in Athens: $8.91
- Ancient Agora of A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $8.99
Typical Entertainment Prices in Cairo
Here are a few typical costs in Cairo for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Entry to Camel Market for Two€0.77
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Egyptian Museum Entry for Two€5.93
Tours and Activities in Cairo
Here are a few actual costs in Cairo for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 2 Days in Cairo & Giza Private Tour : $80
- 2-Day Ancient Egypt Tour with Pyramids and Museums: $253
- 2-Day Private Tour of Cairo with Accommodation and Entrance Fees: $165
- 2-Days Tour at Cairo & Giza: $86
- 2-Days Tours at Cairo & Giza : $143
- 3-Day Tour at Cairo & Giza : $200
- 3-Days Tour at Cairo (Customized Package): $229
- 3-Days Tour in Siwa Oasis from Cairo : $217
- 4-Day Tours at Cairo & Giza & Alexandria: $209
- 8 Hours Private Cairo Tour: A Journey Back in Time: $45
- 8-Hour Private Tour Giza Pyramids, Egyptian Museum and local Bazaars: $26
- All Inclusive 2-Day Private Tour to All Pyramids and Cairo and 2 evenings: $299
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAthens €23Cairo €1.07
Sample the Local Flavors in Athens
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Athens:
- The NightCrawlers | Athens Bar Hopping | Pub Crawl: $18
- Pub Crawl with Unlimited Drinks & Nightclub Access: $20
- Greek Wine Tasting: $23
- Friday Night Bar Crawl in Athens, Greece: $25
- Greek Wine Tasting with Acropolis view: $55
- Best rated Acropolis Wine Tasting : $55
- 1 Hour Private Four Greek Wine Tasting and Food Pairing in Athens: $56
- Wine Tasting and Storytelling in a Historical Square in Athina: $61
- Small-Group Wine Tour in Athens with Tasting: $81
- Premium Santorini Wine Tasting: $105
- Santorini Wine Tasting and Wine Museum: $110
- Santorini Half Day Wine Tasting & Winery Tour with Pickup: $166
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Athens and Cairo, we can see that Athens is more expensive. And not only is Cairo much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Athens is in Europe and Cairo is in Africa, 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 Cairo would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Cairo 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 Athens would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Athens than you might in Cairo.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Athens Expensive? and Is Cairo Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Athens or Cairo?
Cairo has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Athens. When comparing the sizes of Athens and Cairo, 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.
When is the best time to visit Athens or Cairo?
Athens has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Cairo experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Athens or Cairo in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Athens as well as Cairo. Most visitors come to Athens for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences during these months. The warm climate attracts visitors to Cairo throughout the year.
In the summer, Athens is around the same temperature as Cairo. Typically, the summer temperatures in Athens in July average around 27°C (81°F), and Cairo averages at about 28°C (82°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Cairo. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Athens this time of the year. In the summer, Athens often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Cairo. Athens gets 357 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Cairo receives 350 hours of full sun.
Athens usually gets more rain in July than Cairo. Athens gets 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Cairo receives 1 mm (0 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyAthens 27°C (81°F)Cairo 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Athens or Cairo in the Autumn?
Both Cairo and Athens are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The autumn months attract visitors to Athens because of the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area. Plenty of visitors come to Cairo because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In October, Athens is generally cooler than Cairo. Daily temperatures in Athens average around 19°C (67°F), and Cairo fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).
It's quite sunny in Cairo. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Athens. Athens usually receives less sunshine than Cairo during autumn. Athens gets 206 hours of sunny skies, while Cairo receives 290 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Athens usually receives more rain than Cairo. Athens gets 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Cairo receives 5 mm (0.2 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberAthens 19°C (67°F)Cairo 23°C (73°F)
Should I visit Athens or Cairo in the Winter?
Both Cairo and Athens during the winter are popular places to visit. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Athens this time of year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Cairo year-round.
Athens is cooler than Cairo in the winter. The daily temperature in Athens averages around 10°C (51°F) in January, and Cairo fluctuates around 14°C (57°F).
In Cairo, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the winter, Athens often gets less sunshine than Cairo. Athens gets 143 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Cairo receives 221 hours of full sun.
Athens usually gets more rain in January than Cairo. Athens gets 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Cairo receives 15 mm (0.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryAthens 10°C (51°F)Cairo 14°C (57°F)
Should I visit Athens or Cairo in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Athens and Cairo. Many travelers come to Athens for the activities around the city and the natural beauty. Cairo attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In the spring, Athens is cooler than Cairo. Typically, the spring temperatures in Athens in April average around 16°C (60°F), and Cairo averages at about 21°C (70°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Cairo this time of the year. In Athens, it's very sunny this time of the year. Athens usually receives less sunshine than Cairo during spring. Athens gets 226 hours of sunny skies, while Cairo receives 276 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Athens usually receives more rain than Cairo. Athens gets 25 mm (1 in) of rain, while Cairo receives 7 mm (0.3 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilAthens 16°C (60°F)Cairo 21°C (70°F)
Typical Weather for Cairo and Athens
| Athens | Cairo | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 10°C (51°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 15 mm (0.6 in) |
| Feb | 11°C (51°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Mar | 12°C (54°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) |
| Apr | 16°C (60°F) | 25 mm (1 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 7 mm (0.3 in) |
| May | 20°C (68°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 0 mm (0 in) |
| Jun | 24°C (76°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 0 mm (0 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 1 mm (0 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 0 mm (0 in) |
| Sep | 24°C (76°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) |
| Oct | 19°C (67°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) |
| Nov | 16°C (60°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 1 mm (0 in) |
| Dec | 12°C (54°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
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.