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

Should you visit Cairo or Bodh Gaya?

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 Bodh Gaya 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 Bodh Gaya?

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.

Bodh Gaya

Located in the state of Bihar in the northeast of India, Bodh Gaya is the most respected place and pilgrimage destination for Buddhists. Bodh Gaya is believed to be the site where Buddha Shakyamuni achieved enlightenment while meditating under the famous Bodhi tree.

Prince Gautama Siddartha was born in the sixth century, B.C. in what is modern-day Nepal. Siddartha lived a comfortable life of extravagance as he was born the son of King Suddhodana of the Sakya clan, but after witnessing human suffering, Siddartha decided to give up all of his possessions and embarked upon a quest to seek knowledge and the solution to such suffering. It is underneath a Pipal tree near the city of Gaya, that it is believed he began to meditate until he became enlightened. Today, a descendent of the original Bodhi Tree is located in the Mahabodhi Temple Complex in the city of Bodh Gaya.

Weather in Bodhgaya is generally warm throughout the year, with daytime highs in the 90s during summer and nighttime lows in the high 40s during winter. Because Bodhgaya is centered around religious sites, pack light layers and plan to dress modestly. Remember that you'll be expected to take shoes off at all temples, so sandals may be easier to wear and a good time-saver.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Egypt, The Best Historical Tours in Egypt, The Best Cultural Tours in India, and The Best Food and Culinary Tours in India.


Which place is cheaper, Bodh Gaya 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
    Bodh Gaya Prices
    India Prices
  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    Cairo $29
    Bodh Gaya $56

The average daily cost (per person) in Cairo is $29, while the average daily cost in Bodh Gaya is $56. 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 Bodh Gaya in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Cairo $9.74
    Bodh Gaya $20
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Cairo $19
    Bodh Gaya $40
Compare Hotels in Cairo and Bodh Gaya

Looking for a hotel in Cairo or Bodh Gaya? 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 Bodh Gaya


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 Bodh Gaya Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Cairo $3.28
    Bodh Gaya $20
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Cairo

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


  • Metro Ride
    $0.07
  • Taxi Ride
    $0.27

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cairo

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cairo:

  • transfer from Cairo airport, Cairo & Giza hotels to Alexandria: $55
  • private Airport Transfer from any destination in Cairo or Giza: $35
  • Visit Mall of Egypt with Hotel Transfer: $47
  • VIP Private Cairo Airport Transfer To Or From Cairo , Giza Hotels: $15
  • VIP Meet and assist with transfer from Cairo and SPX Airport: $10
  • VIP Meet and Assist in Cairo Airport with Private Transfer to Cairo Hotels: $49
  • VIP Meet and Assist at Cairo Airport with Private Hotel Transfer: $35
  • VIP Luxury Airport Transfer: Mercedes E-Class Meet & Greet: $50
  • VIP Ain Sokhna Red Sea Day Trip from Cairo with Private Transfer: $90
  • Two-Day Private City Tour of Cairo, Giza Pyramids and Saqqara+Airport Transfer: $220
  • Transfers From Cairo Airport: $13
  • Transfer your private departure from your hotel to Cairo Airport: $20

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bodh Gaya

Also for Bodh Gaya, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • 3 Day Private Bodhgaya Sightseeing Tour with Transfer: $120
  • Affordable Bodh Gaya Airport Transfer: $15
  • From Varanasi: Bodhgaya Day Trip with Private Transfer: $106
  • Gaya Airport (GAY) Private Transfer to Gaya City/Hotels: $25
  • Gaya: Create Your Own Itinerary - Private Tour & Transfer: $51
  • Private Airport Transfer Gaya to or from Bodhgaya Hotel: $25
  • Private Transfer from Bodhgaya Hotel to Gaya Airport: $13

Is it cheaper to fly into Cairo or Bodh Gaya?

Prices for flights to both Bodh Gaya 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 $15
    Bodh Gaya $24
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.

  • Giza Pyramids Sphinx , ATV, camel ride Plus Nile Dinner Cruise: $3.00
  • Giza Pyramids,Sphinx,Camel Ride,ATV Bike,Shopping, Dinner cruise: $4.50
  • Night Dinner Nile cruise with belly dancer and folklore show: $7.00
  • Cairo Dinner Nile Cruise with Belly Dancer Show on Nile River: $7.00
  • Quad Bike ATV ,Camel Ride ,Nile Dinner Cruise Belly dancer show: $7.00
  • Giza Pyramids Sphinx and Nile River Dinner Cruise Cairo Tour: $7.20
  • Cairo Dinner Cruise in Nile River With Belly Dancer & Tanora show: $8.00
  • Food Tour Private Tour from Cairo or Giza Hotel: $8.00
  • Cairo Dinner Cruise show with belly dancer show on Nile river: $8.00
  • Private Giza Pyramids, Sphinx, Quad Bike, Camel Ride, Nile Dinner Cruise: $8.00
  • Cairo Food Tour – Discover Hidden Downtown Gems: $8.00
  • Giza Pyramids,Sphinx,Camel Ride,ATV Bike,Shopping,Dinner cruiseII: $8.00

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Cairo $7.85
    Bodh Gaya $8.65
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
    $0.73
  • Egyptian Museum Entry for Two
    $5.59

Tours and Activities in Cairo

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

  • “Cairo Private Tour: Giza Pyramids, Sphinx & GEM Museum”: $69
  • ( Stopover Tour Of Cairo ) Private All Inc.Pyramids,Camel Ride,Museum& Lunch: $180
  • (Egypt jewel) Day Tour To Giza Pyramids, Museum, Mosque &Felucca: $55
  • 01 Day Tour to Alexandria from Cairo: $246
  • 1 Day Private Tour from Hurghada to Cairo: $219
  • 1 Day Private Tour to Alexandria from Cairo: $100
  • 1 Day tour to Alexandria from Cairo: $30
  • 1 Day tour to Giza pyramids Memphis city Dahshur and Saqqara pyramids: $15
  • 1 Hour Adventure In The Nile River By Nile Taxi In Cairo: $60
  • 1 Hour adventure in the Nile River By Nile Taxi In Cairo: $60
  • 1-Hour Private Felucca Boat Tour on the Nile: $7.00
  • 1-Hour Private Felucca Boat Tour on the Nile: $9.00

Tours and Activities in Bodh Gaya

For Bodh Gaya, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Multilingual Private Day Tour of Temple & Buddha Sites: $26
  • Guided Virtual Tour of Bodhgaya: $27
  • Full Day Tour in Bodhgaya Hotel pick up: $31
  • Gaya and Bodh Gaya Full-Day Private Tour: $44
  • Bodhgaya Day Tour (Hotel Pickup): $44
  • Full-Day Private Guided Bodhgaya Tour with Pick Up: $49
  • Private Guided Tour of Bodhgaya with Hotel Pickup: $50
  • Bodhgaya and Gaya Pilgrimage Tour: $52
  • BODHGAYA FULL DAY TOUR: $56
  • Bodhgaya Full Day Tour: $63
  • Private Tour of Bodhgaya and Gaya Including Vishnupad Temple: $70
  • Half Day Private Guided Tour in Bodh Gaya & Dungeshwari Caves: $88

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Cairo $1.28
    Bodh Gaya $4.97

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: $69
  • Cairo Pub Crawl and Speakeasy Bar Tour: $75
  • Cairo Autumn Downtown Food & Bar Crawl with Drinks: $108


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Cairo and Bodh Gaya, we can see that Bodh Gaya 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 Bodh Gaya 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 Bodh Gaya would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Bodh Gaya 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 Bodh Gaya Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Cairo or Bodh Gaya?

Cairo has a larger population, and is about 220 times larger than the population of Bodh Gaya. When comparing the sizes of Cairo and Bodh Gaya, 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.