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

Should you visit Cairo or Bocas del Toro?

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 Bocas del Toro 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 Bocas del Toro?

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.

Bocas del Toro

The capital of the Bocas del Toro province, this city of the same name sits in the Caribbean West region of Panama. Bocas del Toro, or Bocas Town, is in the district of Bocas del Toro, which also includes the towns of Bastimentos, Cauchero, Punta Laurel, and Tierra Oscura. The district has a population of about 17,000 and covers a total area of 433.2 square kilometers, and the town has a population of about 13,000. The area is a tourist destination for its beautiful beaches, excellent snorkeling and diving, and interesting culture.

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 Panama City, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Panama.


Which place is cheaper, Bocas del Toro or Cairo?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

  • Cairo Prices
    Egypt Prices
    Bocas del Toro Prices
    Panama Prices
  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    Cairo $33
    Bocas del Toro $96

The average daily cost (per person) in Cairo is $33, while the average daily cost in Bocas del Toro is $96. 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 Bocas del Toro in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Cairo $11
    Bocas del Toro $33
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Cairo $22
    Bocas del Toro $66
Compare Hotels in Cairo and Bocas del Toro

Looking for a hotel in Cairo or Bocas del Toro? 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 Bocas del Toro


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 Bocas del Toro Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Cairo $3.80
    Bocas del Toro $10
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 Hurghada: $292
  • Private One-Way Transfer to/from Sharm El-Sheikh: $292
  • Private Transfer from Cairo to Sharm El Sheikh : $290
  • Private Transfer Cairo to Hurghada: $290
  • Private Transfer From Cairo to Hurghada By Car: $280
  • 2 Days Private Guided Tours of Cairo and Giza with Free Cairo Airport Transfers: $280

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Bocas del Toro

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Bocas del Toro:


  • Water Taxi
    $3.00

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bocas del Toro

Also for Bocas del Toro, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Transfer from Bocas del Toro to Puerto Viejo: $54

Is it cheaper to fly into Cairo or Bocas del Toro?

Prices for flights to both Bocas del Toro 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
    Bocas del Toro $47
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.

  • Dinner Nile cruise with belly dancer show on Nile river: $5.00
  • Great tour toThe Grand Museum of Giza and Nile River DinnerCruise: $5.00
  • Quad Bike ATV ,Camel Ride ,Nile Dinner Cruise Belly dancer show: $7.00
  • Cairo Food Tour with Nile Felucca Ride : $7.00
  • Private Nile Cruise with Dinner and Folk Show from Cairo: $7.50
  • Night Dinner Nile cruise with belly dancer and folklore show: $8.00
  • night-tour Nile dinner cruise with open buffet and belly dancer: $8.00
  • Local Oriental Food Tour from Cairo or Giza hotels: $9.00
  • Cairo Dinner Cruise show with belly dancer show on Nile river: $9.00
  • Cairo Food Tour in local places & Egyptian Mint Tea: $9.00
  • food tour private tour from cairo or giza hotel: $9.00
  • Giza pyramids,Sphinx,ATV bike,Camel ride,Dinner cruise& shopping: $9.00

Typical Food Prices in Bocas del Toro

Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Bocas del Toro:


  • Lunch
    $15
  • Breakfast
    $14

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Cairo $9.09
    Bocas del Toro $21
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
    $0.84
  • Egyptian Museum Entry for Two
    $6.47

Tours and Activities in Cairo

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

  • 1 Day Private Tour in Cairo and Giza: $90
  • 2 Days in Cairo & Giza Private Tour : $80
  • 2-Day Ancient Egypt Tour with Pyramids and Museums: $253
  • 2-Day Tour Ancient Egypt and Old Cairo Highlights Tour: $290
  • 2-Days Tour at Cairo & Giza: $86
  • 2-Days Tours at Cairo & Giza : $143
  • 3 Days Private Tour in Giza, Cairo, and Alexandria: $70
  • 8-Hour Private Tour Giza Pyramids, Egyptian Museum and local Bazaars: $14
  • Alexandria Private Day Tour From Cairo: $95
  • Alexandria day tour : $75
  • All Inclusive 2-Day Private Tour to All Pyramids and Cairo and 2 evenings: $299
  • All Inclusive Full-Day Tour to Pyramids, Museum, mosque and Felucca: $39

Typical Entertainment Prices in Bocas del Toro

For Bocas del Toro, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:


  • Island Boat Tour
    $25
  • Starfish Island Boat Trip
    $20
  • Yoga Class
    $4.99

Tours and Activities in Bocas del Toro

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Bocas del Toro.

  • Zapatilla Island Hopping Day Tour: $49
  • Bioluminescence Tour - Bocas del Toro: $49
  • Bioluminescence Snorkeling and Boat Experience at Bocas del Toro: $50
  • Isla Colon Tour to Bird Island, Boca del Drago and Starfish Beach: $50
  • Bocas del Toro Island Hopping Day Tour in Zapatilla Beach: $51
  • From Isla Colon: Bocas del Toro Archipelago Boat Tour: $56
  • Stand Up Paddle Board Experience in Bahia Honda Bocas del Toro: $60
  • Speed Boat tour to Mangrove Point -Starfish Beach -Bocas del Drago and Birds Island: $65
  • Full-Day Speedboat Tour, Wildlife, and Snorkeling in Bocas del Toro in Panama: $68
  • Bocas Biodiversity: A Birds & Wildlife EcoTour Experience: $76

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Cairo $1.48
    Bocas del Toro $12

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 Bocas del Toro, we can see that Bocas del Toro 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 Bocas del Toro is in Central America, 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 Bocas del Toro would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Bocas del Toro 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 Bocas del Toro Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Cairo or Bocas del Toro?

Cairo has a larger population, and is about 780 times larger than the population of Bocas del Toro. When comparing the sizes of Cairo and Bocas del Toro, 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 Cairo or Bocas del Toro?

Both destinations experience a warmer climate most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season. Although in the rainy season, it doesn't necessarily rain every day.

Should I visit Cairo or Bocas del Toro in the Summer?

Both Bocas del Toro and Cairo during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Cairo because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Bocas del Toro year-round.

Bocas del Toro gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Cairo usually gets less rain in July than Bocas del Toro. Cairo gets 1 mm (0 in) of rain, while Bocas del Toro receives 408 mm (16.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

It's quite sunny in Cairo. In the summer, Cairo often gets more sunshine than Bocas del Toro. Cairo gets 350 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Bocas del Toro receives 124 hours of full sun.

In the summer, Cairo is around the same temperature as Bocas del Toro. Typically, the summer temperatures in Cairo in July average around 28°C (82°F), and Bocas del Toro averages at about 26°C (79°F).


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Cairo 28°C (82°F) 
    Bocas del Toro 26°C (79°F)

Should I visit Cairo or Bocas del Toro in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Cairo and Bocas del Toro. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Cairo year-round. Bocas del Toro attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

Bocas del Toro receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Cairo usually receives less rain than Bocas del Toro. Cairo gets 5 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Bocas del Toro receives 198 mm (7.8 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

In Cairo, it's very sunny this time of the year. Cairo usually receives more sunshine than Bocas del Toro during autumn. Cairo gets 290 hours of sunny skies, while Bocas del Toro receives 159 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Cairo is generally cooler than Bocas del Toro. Daily temperatures in Cairo average around 23°C (73°F), and Bocas del Toro fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Cairo 23°C (73°F) 
    Bocas del Toro 26°C (79°F)

Should I visit Cairo or Bocas del Toro in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Cairo as well as Bocas del Toro. Cairo attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Bocas del Toro throughout the year.

It's quite rainy in Bocas del Toro. Cairo usually gets less rain in January than Bocas del Toro. Cairo gets 15 mm (0.6 in) of rain, while Bocas del Toro receives 319 mm (12.6 in) of rain this time of the year.

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Cairo this time of the year. In the winter, Cairo often gets more sunshine than Bocas del Toro. Cairo gets 221 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Bocas del Toro receives 159 hours of full sun.

Cairo is much colder than Bocas del Toro in the winter. The daily temperature in Cairo averages around 14°C (57°F) in January, and Bocas del Toro fluctuates around 25°C (77°F).


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Cairo 14°C (57°F) 
    Bocas del Toro 25°C (77°F)

Should I visit Cairo or Bocas del Toro in the Spring?

Both Bocas del Toro and Cairo are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Cairo throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Bocas del Toro because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Bocas del Toro. In April, Cairo usually receives less rain than Bocas del Toro. Cairo gets 7 mm (0.3 in) of rain, while Bocas del Toro receives 287 mm (11.3 in) of rain each month for the spring.

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Cairo. Cairo usually receives more sunshine than Bocas del Toro during spring. Cairo gets 276 hours of sunny skies, while Bocas del Toro receives 172 hours of full sun in the spring.

In the spring, Cairo is cooler than Bocas del Toro. Typically, the spring temperatures in Cairo in April average around 21°C (70°F), and Bocas del Toro averages at about 26°C (79°F).


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Cairo 21°C (70°F) 
    Bocas del Toro 26°C (79°F)

Typical Weather for Bocas del Toro and Cairo

Cairo Bocas del Toro
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 14°C (57°F) 15 mm (0.6 in) 25°C (77°F) 319 mm (12.6 in)
Feb 14°C (57°F) 4 mm (0.2 in) 25°C (77°F) 201 mm (7.9 in)
Mar 17°C (63°F) 8 mm (0.3 in) 26°C (78°F) 193 mm (7.6 in)
Apr 21°C (70°F) 7 mm (0.3 in) 26°C (79°F) 287 mm (11.3 in)
May 25°C (77°F) 0 mm (0 in) 27°C (80°F) 281 mm (11.1 in)
Jun 27°C (81°F) 0 mm (0 in) 26°C (80°F) 276 mm (10.9 in)
Jul 28°C (82°F) 1 mm (0 in) 26°C (79°F) 408 mm (16.1 in)
Aug 28°C (82°F) 0 mm (0 in) 28°C (82°F) 255 mm (10 in)
Sep 26°C (79°F) 5 mm (0.2 in) 26°C (79°F) 163 mm (6.4 in)
Oct 23°C (73°F) 5 mm (0.2 in) 26°C (79°F) 198 mm (7.8 in)
Nov 19°C (66°F) 1 mm (0 in) 26°C (78°F) 367 mm (14.4 in)
Dec 15°C (59°F) 3 mm (0.1 in) 25°C (77°F) 402 mm (15.8 in)