A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Cairo vs. Antananarivo for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Cairo or Antananarivo?

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 Antananarivo 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 Antananarivo?

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.

Antananarivo

Antananarivo is the capital of Madagascar; it is also sometimes referred to as Tana. This city is the cultural and political center of Madagascar as a whole. There are multiple universities, museums, and other social venues in the city, as well as a national rugby team. This city has a very apparent French influence.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Egypt, The Best Historical Tours in Egypt, The Best Wildlife Tours to Madagascar, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Madagascar.


Which place is cheaper, Antananarivo or Cairo?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Cairo is $17, while the average daily cost in Antananarivo is $71. 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 Antananarivo in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Cairo $9.27
    Antananarivo $29
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Cairo $19
    Antananarivo $58
Compare Hotels in Cairo and Antananarivo

Looking for a hotel in Cairo or Antananarivo? 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 Cairo


Hotels in Antananarivo


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 Antananarivo Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Cairo $2.96
    Antananarivo $14
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Cairo

Some typical examples of transportation costs in Cairo are as follows:


  • Metro Ride
    $0.08
  • Taxi Ride
    $0.31

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cairo

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cairo:

  • Airport Transfer Service With Meeting And Greeting: $7.50
  • Private Transfer from Cairo Airport to Hotel Vise Versa: $8.00
  • Private Day Trip To Egyptian Museum, Citadel & Old Cairo By Private Transfers: $8.00
  • Private Transfer to Cairo and Giza from Cairo Airport: $9.00
  • Private transfer from Cairo Airport to the hotel in Cairo or Giza: $9.00
  • Private Arrival or Departure Cairo Airport Transfer: $9.50
  • Cairo Airport Private Arrival Transfer to Anywhere in Cairo: $10
  • Private Airport Transfer to Cairo and Giza Hotels: $10
  • Cairo Airport Private Transfer ( One-Way comfort ride ): $10
  • Private Transfer: Cairo Airport Arrival to any hotel in Cairo or Giza: $10
  • Private Transfer from Cairo Airport: $12
  • Private Departure Transfer from Cairo City to Cairo Airport: $12

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Antananarivo

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Antananarivo:

  • Madagascar: Airport Ivato transfer to hotel: $33
  • Private Airport Transfert Ivato Antananarivo: $58
  • Private Airport Transfert Ivato Antananarivo: $76

Is it cheaper to fly into Cairo or Antananarivo?

Prices for flights to both Antananarivo 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 $4.70
    Antananarivo $28
Typical Food Prices in Cairo

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Cairo:


  • 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 Dinner Cruise With Belly Dancer Show: $10
  • Giza Dinner Cruise With Belly Dancer Show: $10
  • Cairo Nile dinner cruise night show with belly dancer: $10
  • Dinner Nile Cruise belly dancer open buffer tanora show sailing on Nile: $11
  • Food Tour in Local Cairo Life with Egyptian tea: $11
  • 2-hours night dinner cruise show : Eat , Dance and Sing : $13
  • night-tour Nile dinner cruise with open buffet and belly dancer: $13
  • Private "Cairo Sunset Dinner Cruise on the Nile" with Pickup: $13
  • Private Cairo food tour and Egyptian tea: $14
  • food tour private tour from cairo or giza hotel: $14
  • Experience Magic A 4Star Cairo Dinner Cruise with Belly Dancer: $15
  • Local Oriental Food Tour from Cairo or Giza hotels: $15

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Antananarivo

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

  • Private City and food tour in Antananarivo: $98
  • Cooking And Cuisine Tasting From Tana-Malagasy Fine Foodie Madagascar Tour: $245

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Cairo $5.69
    Antananarivo $24
Typical Entertainment Prices in Cairo

Here are a few typical costs in Cairo for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:


  • Entry to Camel Market for Two
    $0.83
  • Egyptian Museum Entry for Two
    $6.43

Tours and Activities in Cairo

Here are a few actual costs in Cairo for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Dahshur Pyramids Entry Tickets: $4.37
  • Baron Palace Entry Tickets : $4.60
  • Prince Mohamed Ali Palace Entry Ticket: $4.80
  • 3-Hour Private Tour of Papyrus and Perfumes in Ancient Egypt: $5.00
  • Full Day Tour to Giza Pyramids, Sphinx, Memphis, and Saqqara: $5.00
  • Coptic Museum Entry Ticket : $5.20
  • Entry Ticket to the Prince Mohamed Ali Palace : $5.57
  • Private Tour to Giza Pyramids, Sphinx : $6.00
  • Cairo Museum of Islamic Arts Entry Ticket: $7.00
  • Baron Palace Skip the line Access Entry Tickets: $7.11
  • Museum of Islamic Art Entry Ticket : $7.35
  • TOP Half Day Tour To Explore Coptic Cairo Visit Ben Ezra Synagogue: $8.00

Tours and Activities in Antananarivo

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

  • Antanavario: Private custom tour with a local guide: $24
  • Antananarivo Like a Local: Customized Guided Tour: $25
  • Private Walking Tour with a Local Guide: $30
  • Antananarivo : Custom Walking Tour With A Guide (Private Tour): $36
  • Guided Tour and sunset in queen's palace: $43
  • Private Ambohimanga and Ironwork Shop Tour from Antananarivo: $88
  • Private Tour Through the Wildlife of Madagascar and the Kingdom of Rova: $139
  • Day - Tour Ampefy: $147
  • Half-Day Private Tour in Lemur's Park: $150
  • 4-Hours Night Tour of Antananarivo: $200
  • Full Day Private Tour in Antananarivo: $205
  • Lemur Day Tour at Andasibe Rainforest and Vakona Lodge Reserve: $299

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Cairo $1.16
    Antananarivo $9.48


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Cairo and Antananarivo, we can see that Antananarivo is more expensive. And not only is Cairo much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. 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 Antananarivo would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Antananarivo 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 Antananarivo Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Cairo or Antananarivo?

Cairo has a larger population, and is about 6 times larger than the population of Antananarivo. When comparing the sizes of Cairo and Antananarivo, 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.