Should you visit Cairo or Agra?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Cairo and Agra can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Cairo or Agra?
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.
Agra
In the north of India, in the state of Uttar Pradesh is the city of Agra. This land is home to great tales of emperors and majestic temples. It is the home to a magnificent past and the greatest symbol of love known to man, the Taj Mahal.
While this incredible structure is the main draw to this area, there is much more to see. Once the capital of the Mughal Empire, Agra can claim three different UNESCO World Heritage sites - the Taj Mahal, the Agra Fort and the abandoned city of Fatehpur Sikiri.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Egypt, The Best Historical Tours in Egypt, The Best 2-Week Tours from Mumbai, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to India.
Which place is cheaper, Agra or Cairo?
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 Cairo is $33, while the average daily cost in Agra is $53. 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 Cairo and Agra in more detail.
Accommodation
Looking for a hotel in Cairo or Agra? 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:
Cairo Hotel Prices and
Agra Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Cairo
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Cairo are as follows:
-
Metro Ride
$0.08
-
Taxi Ride
$0.32
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cairo
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cairo:
-
From Guided 4 Day Cairo & Red Sea Tour with Transfer:
$1,440
-
Private Day Trip to Luxor with Transfers and Flights:
$791
-
Cairo To Marsa Alam Private Transfer:
$511
-
From One-Way Private Transfer To Luxor:
$489
-
3 Private Full-Day Tours to Cairo Top Attractions+One Airport Transfer:
$300
-
1 Day Aswan Abu Simple Tour with Transfer Included:
$300
-
Private One-Way Transfer to/from Sharm El-Sheikh:
$292
-
Private One-Way Transfer to/from Hurghada:
$292
-
Private Transfer from Cairo to Sharm El Sheikh :
$290
-
Private Transfer from Cairo City Hotels to Suez Canal Cruise Port:
$287
-
PrivateTransfer from Cairo Airport(CAI) to Suez Canal Cruise Port:
$287
-
Private Transfer from Cairo Airport (CAI) to Ain Sokhna Port :
$287
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Agra
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Agra:
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Agra
Also for Agra, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
-
A Taste of Agra for Foodies with Private Transfer:
$114
-
Affordable transfer from Agra to Jaipur via Fatehpur Sikri:
$33
-
Affordable transfer from Agra to Lucknow:
$60
-
Agra : Private Transfer Agra to Delhi:
$50
-
Agra : Transfer To Jaipur Via Chand Baori & Fatehpur Sikri:
$50
-
Agra Airport / Agra Train Station to Hotel Transfer:
$8.45
-
Agra to Delhi Private Luxury Transfer:
$76
-
Agra to Delhi airport transfer by air-conditioned car:
$67
-
Agra to Delhi airport transfer by air-conditioned car:
$130
-
Agra to Jaipur (one-way shared transfer):
$67
-
Agra to Jaipur Transfer via Chand Bawdi & Fatehpur Sikri:
$47
-
Agra to New Delhi One Way Transfer by Private Car:
$60
Is it cheaper to fly into Cairo or Agra?
Prices for flights to both Agra and Cairo 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
Cairo $18
Agra $26
Typical Food Prices in Cairo
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Cairo:
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cairo
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Cairo.
-
Great tour toThe Grand Museum of Giza and Nile River DinnerCruise:
$5.00
-
Dinner Nile cruise with belly dancer show on Nile river:
$5.00
-
2 Hour Cairo Dinner Cruise on Nile river with live band:
$7.00
-
Cairo dinner Nile cruise with belly dancer show on Nile river:
$7.00
-
Cairo Food Tour with Nile Felucca Ride :
$7.00
-
Private Nile Cruise with Dinner and Folk Show from Cairo:
$7.50
-
night-tour Nile dinner cruise with open buffet and belly dancer:
$8.00
-
Private Giza Pyramids, Sphinx, Quad Bike, Camel Ride, Nile Dinner Cruise:
$9.00
-
food tour private tour from cairo or giza hotel:
$9.00
-
Cairo Food Tour in local places & Egyptian Mint Tea:
$9.00
-
2-hours night dinner cruise show : Eat , Dance and Sing :
$9.00
-
Cairo Dinner Cruise show with belly dancer show on Nile river:
$9.00
Typical Food Prices in Agra
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Agra:
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Agra
For Agra, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
-
Cooking class with taj:
$5.64
-
Old Agra Market & Street Food Tour by Tuk-Tuk:
$15
-
Street Food Tour with Spice Market on Tuk-Tuk Ride:
$18
-
Agra Cooking Classes (Pick up and Drop available):
$18
-
Local Food Tour with Cooking Class in Home Agra:
$20
-
Dine In Indian, home cooked food Agra Food tour My Magic Kitchen:
$21
-
Indian Food Private Cooking Class:
$21
-
Old City & Street Food Tour in Car, Tuk Tuk or Bike:
$21
-
AI Cooking Class and Much More in a Local Family Home:
$27
-
Jaisalmer: Thar Desert Camel Safari with Dinner:
$28
-
Cooking Workshop and Vegetarian Dinner in Agra with Family:
$28
-
Private Indian Cooking Demonstration and In-Home Meal Minutes from the Taj Mahal:
$33
Entertainment
Typical Entertainment Prices in Cairo
Here are a few typical costs in Cairo for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
Tours and Activities in Cairo
Here are a few actual costs in Cairo for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
-
2 Days 1 Nights Tour package to Saint-Catherine from Cairo :
$300
-
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
-
3 Days Private Tour in Giza, Cairo, and Alexandria:
$70
-
3-Day Private Tour in Cairo :
$196
-
8-Hour Private Tour Giza Pyramids, Egyptian Museum and local Bazaars:
$14
-
Alexandria day tour :
$75
-
All Inclusive day tour to Giza pyramids, Egyptian museum and Felucca :
$95
-
Ancient Wonders Unveiled: Memphis, Saqqara & Dahshur Adventure:
$50
-
Antiquities in the Grande Egyptian Museum with Private Tour :
$35
-
Best Day Tour Visit Giza Pyramids, and Sakkara&Memphis Pyramids :
$70
Typical Entertainment Prices in Agra
For Agra, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
Tours and Activities in Agra
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Agra.
-
Private Taj Mahal Tour with 5* Lunch from Delhi/Jaipur:
$1.69
-
Taj Mahal and Agra Private Guided Tour from Delhi by AC Car:
$2.00
-
Taj Mahal Tour Fast-Track Entry with Tickets:
$2.21
-
Taj Mahal & Agra Day Tour by Car from Delhi:
$2.25
-
Agra:Taj Mahal Skip-The-Line Guided Tour with Breakfast:
$2.25
-
Skip the Line Taj Mahal with photographer & Dress Rent:
$2.25
-
Taj Mahal & Mausoleum Skip-the-Line Tour with Options:
$2.25
-
From Delhi: Taj Mahal Sunrise , Agra Fort & Baby Taj Tour:
$2.25
-
Taj Mahal Budget Tour for Backpackers:
$2.25
-
Taj Mahal Skip-the-Line Guided Tour with Optional Add-ons:
$2.25
-
Taj Mahal and Mausoleum Guided Tour with Skip-the-Line:
$2.25
-
Taj Mahal Skip-the-Line Ticket: Sunrise & Daytime Options:
$2.34
Alcohol
Sample the Local Flavors in Cairo
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Cairo:
-
Pub Crawl and Speakeasy Bar Tour with 2 Free Drinks:
$70
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Cairo and Agra, we can see that Agra is more expensive. And not only is Cairo much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Cairo is in Africa and Agra 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 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 Agra would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Agra 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 Cairo Expensive? and Is Agra Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Cairo or Agra?
Cairo has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Agra. When comparing the sizes of Cairo and Agra, 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.
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