Should you visit Beirut or Eilat?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the prices of travel for Beirut and Eilat. 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. So, let's dig into it.
Beirut
Some travelers are seeking the hustle, bustle and posh atmosphere that only comes from a big city. Those travelers should have Beirut, Lebanon at the top of their list. The capital city is jam packed with 2.1 million people that are constantly on the go. As the commercial and financial hub of Lebanon, this city is fast-paced, fashion conscious and always ready for a night on the town.
Eilat
Eilat serves as the gateway to Israel from Egypt. It's located at the southern tip of the country and sits on the Red Sea with views of the Gulf of Aqaba. It's location in the Negev Desert along the beautiful coast make it appealing to both domestic and international vacationers.
Eilat is a resort town with many dive shops and snorkeling opportunities. The population of about 50,000 can easily be overshadowed by vacationers. With no shortage of sun, entertainment, bars, and partying, you will find both Israeli and international tourists looking for an oasis of fun and relaxation.
Although the area's coral reefs were being damaged by overuse, the removal of contraversial fish cages in 2008 has led to a slow recovery and an improvement in the quality of diving and snorkeling in the area. There are also less crowds than you will find in Sharm el-Sheikh or Dahab, Egypt.
Eilat has a hot desert climate. The summers are hot and dry and the winters are warm and dry. Temperatures in the winter can range from 52 to 73 degrees Fahrenheit and summer temperatures are usually between 79 and 104 degrees Fahrenheit.
Which city is cheaper, Eilat or Beirut?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Beirut is $107, while the average daily cost in Eilat is $132. 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 city. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Beirut and Eilat in more detail.
Accommodation
For a normal double-occupancy room in Beirut, $120 is the average cost for a hotel room. Also in Beirut, the typical price for a place to stay for one person is $60, such as in a hostel.
An average hotel room with basic furnishings costs about $176 in Eilat For the most convenient locations and nicer amenities you can expect to pay a bit more.
Food
The average traveler spends about $34 per day in Beirut for food, but obviously this is dependent on the type of restaurant and the amount of food ordered. To save money you can grab a lighter lunch or dinner, or you can try fast food or street food.
Eilat food costs typically run travelers around $33 per day. Eating every meal in a nicer restaurant will drive the cost up, and grabbing fast food or casual meals will help you save money.
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Food
Meals for one day
Beirut $34
Eilat $33
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Beirut
For Beirut, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
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Traveling Spoon Lebanese Mezze Private Online Cooking Class:
$27
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Seafood dinner with a sea view in Beirut:
$58
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Private, Traditional Lebanese Cooking Class with a Contemporary Twist:
$72
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Authentic Lebanese Cooking Lesson and Meal with Tania's Family in Beirut:
$90
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Private Lebanese Cooking Class in Beirut with Amal and Hotel Transfers:
$113
Local Transportation
Public transportation tends to be much less expensive in Beirut than paying for a taxi or private car service, as is expected. Typically, people spend $21 on transportation in Beirut on average per day.
Eilat's transportation costs can vary by the type of transport chosen by visitors. Naturally, taxis and private drivers cost much more than public transportation options. On average, visitors spend $12 per person, per day on transportation in Eilat.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Beirut
Also for Beirut, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Private Transfer: Beirut to Beirut Airport (BEY):
$622
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Private Transfer: Beirut Airport (BEY) to Beirut:
$622
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Private Transfer from Rafic Hariri (BEY) Airport to Beirut:
$52
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Private Transfer from Beirut to Rafic Hariri (BEY) Airport:
$52
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Private Transfer from Beirut Hotels to the Beirut Airport:
$10
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Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Beirut International Airport:
$15
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Private Departure Transfer: From your hotel in Beirut to Airport:
$18
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Private Arrival Transfer: From Airport to your hotel in Beirut:
$20
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Private Arrival Transfer: Beirut International Airport to Hotel:
$18
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Private Airport Transfer in Beirut:
$10
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Departure Transfer:From Hotel To Beirut-Rafic Hariri International Airport (BEY):
$11
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Beirut to Damascus Taxi Transfer ( Syrian Border ):
$50
Typical Local Transportation prices in Eilat
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Eilat:
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Eilat
Also for Eilat, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Ultra - Eilat Private Airport Transfer from Eilat City Centre to Ramon Airport:
$8.71
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Transfer to Eilat from Ben Gurion Airport:
$700
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PrivateTransfer fromTaba Border to Sharm El Sheikh ( Group of (1- 4 ):
$125
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Private transfer from Taba border to Sharm el Sheikh:
$160
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Private Transfer Airport Ramon to Taba Border:
$60
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Private Transfer Airport Ramon to Eilat:
$45
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Private Departure Transfer from Eilat City to Eilat ETM Airport:
$50
Is it cheaper to fly into Beirut or Eilat?
Prices for flights to both Eilat and Beirut 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.
Entertainment
Sightseeing expenses in Beirut, including the cost of admission tickets for day tours, museums, and attractions, usually cost an average of $12 per day, per person.
Sightseeing, admission tickets, things to do, and other entertainment expenses in Eilat can vary widely by price. On average, visitors spend around $15 per person, per day on entertainment and sightseeing here.
Tours and Activities in Beirut
For Beirut, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
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1 to 6 riders Private tour adventure qadeesha valley cedars of god baalbek ksara:
$205
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3-Day Tour Highlights of Lebanon from Beirut with Pickup:
$280
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4 Days Private Highlights Tour of Lebanon with Airport Pickup:
$490
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4-Day Tour Highlights of Lebanon from Beirut with Pickup:
$310
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5-Day Highlights of Lebanon Tour from Beirut with Pickup:
$425
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6-Day Highlights of Lebanon Tour from Beirut with Pickup:
$545
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6-Day Lebanon Private Tour with Airport Pickup:
$1,115
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7-Day Highlights of Lebanon Tour from Beirut with Pickup:
$665
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7-Day Lebanon Private Tour with Airport Pickup:
$1,445
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Anjar baalback & Ksara tour:
$144
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Baalback Roman temples tour:
$125
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Baalbek, Anjar and Ksara Group Tour:
$95
Tours and Activities in Eilat
For Eilat, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
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02 Days with 01 overnight Petra and Wadi Rum Tour from Eilat Border:
$587
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03 Days - 02 Nights Petra & Wadi Rum Tour from Eilat Border:
$630
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1-Day Cairo Tour from Eilat:
$253
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2 Day Small Group Cairo Tour from Eilat:
$370
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2 Day in Petra include overnight in Petra tour from Eilat:
$250
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2 day tour to Petra from Eilat:
$299
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3 Day Petra And Wadi Rum Tour from Eilat:
$280
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3 Day Tour to Petra and Cairo:
$584
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Daily tour to Jerusalem from Eilat:
$89
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Day Tour to Petra from Eilat:
$199
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Dead Sea & Masada at Sunrise Tour from Eilat:
$82
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Dead Sea Shuttle Tour from Eilat:
$49
Alcohol
Typically, people visiting Beirut spend on average $11 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
Typically, people visiting Eilat spend on average $25 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
Sample the Local Flavors in Beirut
Also in Beirut, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
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Lebanon Wine Tasting Tour:
$52
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Full-Day Private Wine Tour in Bekaa Valley with Tasting:
$60
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Budget Wine Tasting Tour at the Bekaa Valley Wineries:
$60
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Private Wine Tasting Tour:
$65
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Private Wine Tasting Day Tour from Beirut:
$75
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Full-Day Private Wine Tasting Tour at Chateau Musar and Ixsir:
$75
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Full-Day Wine Tasting Tour in The Bekaa Valley:
$75
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Full-Day Private Wine Tasting Tour:
$82
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Full-Day Private Wine Tasting Trip to Chateau Musar and Ixsir from Beirut:
$85
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Full-Day Private Wine Tasting Tour:
$85
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Wine Tasting and Culture:
$85
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Half-Day Private Tour to Baalbek With Wine Tasting and Lunch Included:
$100
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Beirut and Eilat, we can see that Eilat is more expensive. And not only is Beirut much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Beirut would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Beirut 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 Eilat would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Eilat than you might in Beirut.
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