Which place is cheaper, Chicago or Cairo?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Cairo or Chicago?
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 Chicago 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 Chicago?
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.
Chicago
Located in the Midwest, Chicago is the third largest city in the United States. It has a population of almost 3 million and a metropolitan area that covers more than 10,000 square kilometers. It is also a hub for music, comedy and theater. It's skyline is beautiful with modern skyscrapers and Lake Michigan as a backdrop. It is easy to stay entertained in Chicago for weeks. There are world class museums, upscale or eclectic shopping opportunities, and impressive architecture.
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 San Francisco, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Los Angeles.
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Cairo Prices
Egypt PricesChicago Prices
USA Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCairo $33Chicago $323
The average daily cost (per person) in Cairo is $33, while the average daily cost in Chicago is $323. 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 Chicago in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCairo $11Chicago $198
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCairo $22Chicago $396
Compare Hotels in Cairo and Chicago
Looking for a hotel in Cairo or Chicago? 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 Chicago Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Cairo $3.80Chicago $37
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Cairo
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Cairo are as follows:
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Metro Ride$0.08
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Taxi Ride$0.32
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cairo
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cairo:
- 2-Days Trip in Cairo & Giza (Including Free Transfer from the Airport): $143
- Private Tour Giza Pyramids,Sphinx With Camel Ride,Lunch and Hotels Transfers: $13
- Private Transfer from Cairo to Sharm El Sheikh : $290
- Private transfer from Cairo Airport to The Nile Ritz-Carlton Hotel: $12
- Private transfer from Sonesta Hotel, Tower& Casino Cairo to Cairo airport: $12
- Pyramids of Giza and Great Sphinx Half Day Tour With Private Guide & Transfers : $135
- Round-Trip Airport Transfer in Cairo or Giza: $50
- 01 way Private Transfer from your Hotel in Cairo to Cairo Airport: $13
- 1 Day Aswan Abu Simple Tour with Transfer Included: $300
- 1 Hour ATV Quad Bike Ride At Giza Pyramids With Private Transfer : $30
- 1 Way Pick up transfer from Cairo to Hurghada by private Car: $60
- 2 Day Cairo Tour upon arrival day with airport transfer: $160
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Chicago
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Chicago:
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Parking$19
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Taxi Ride$10
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Taxi from Airport$45
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Chicago
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Chicago:
- Chicago Private Airport Transfer (ORD) to City: $99
- Chicago to Chicago O'Hare Airport (ORD): Departure Transfer: $103
- Airport Transfer: O'Hare Airport ORD to Chicago by Luxury SUV: $222
- Airport transfer between Chicago O'Hare and Milwaukee: $38
- Arrival Private Transfer: O'Hare Airport ORD to Chicago in Business Car: $165
- Arrival Private Transfer: O'Hare Airport ORD to Chicago in Luxury Car: $255
- Arrival Transfer: O'Hare Airport ORD to Chicago by Luxury SUV: $177
- Chicago ↔ Midway Airport, Top Rated Private Sedan Transfer: $133
- Chicago Airport (MDW) to Chicago - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $150
- Chicago Airport Transfer: Chicago to O'Hare Airport ORD in Business Car: $167
- Chicago Airport Transfer: Chicago to O'Hare Airport ORD in Luxury SUV: $222
- Chicago Airport Transfer: Chicago to O'Hare Airport in Luxury SUV: $150
Is it cheaper to fly into Cairo or Chicago?
Prices for flights to both Chicago 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
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Food Meals for one dayCairo $18Chicago $85
Typical Food Prices in Cairo
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Cairo:
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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 Chicago
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Chicago:
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Dinner for 1$24
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Dinner for 3$118
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Chicago
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Chicago.
- Traveling Spoon Chicago-Style Deep Dish Pizza Private Online Cooking Class : $59
- Downtown Pizza Guided Walking Tour with Tastings: $73
- Sushi Making Cooking Class at a Local Distillery in Chicago: $75
- Pasta Making Cooking Class at a Local Distillery: $75
- Sushi Making Cooking Class at a Local Distillery: $75
- Pasta Making Cooking Class at a Local Distillery in Chicago: $75
- Downtown Family Food Tour by Bike with Sightseeing: $80
- Chicago Food Tour & Solve a Murder: Interactive True Crime Tour: $82
- Taste of Chicago's Chinatown Food Tours: $85
- Vito's Vault Chicago finest dinner theatre speakeasy: $85
- Downtown Classics Food Tour: Deep Dish, Beef Sandwich & More: $89
- City Cruises Lake Michigan Lunch or Dinner Cruise: $93
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Cairo $9.09Chicago $47
Typical Entertainment Prices in Cairo
Here are a few typical costs in Cairo for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Entry to Camel Market for Two$0.84
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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:
- Private Tour in Pyramids of Giza with Lunch and Camel Ride: $1.00
- Egyptian Museum Tour Cave Church Old Cairo Saladin Citadel: $1.00
- Best Day TourTo Giza Pyramids,Sphinx,Egyptian Museum, Bazar,Lunch: $1.75
- Cheap Day tour to Giza Pyramids Sphinx With Camel Rid : $2.00
- Best Egypt Tour Giza Pyramids Sphinx lunch fees camel 9rd pyramid: $3.50
- VIP privatr tour Giza pyramids sphins &Saqqara and Memphis : $3.50
- Explore Giza Pyramids on a Private ATV or Camel Tour: $4.00
- Chep Day Tour Pyramids Giza, Memphis, Saqqara and Camel: $4.00
- Private Half Day Pyramids Tour with Felucca: $4.50
- All inclusive Tour To Giza Pyramids, Sphinx, Camel Ride, Lunch: $4.50
- Private Tour in Iconic Giza Pyramids From Cairo: $5.00
- Cairo Highlights Tours Visit Giza Pyramids and Sphinx: $5.00
Typical Entertainment Prices in Chicago
Here are a few typical costs in Chicago for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Sears Tower (family of 4)$102
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Aquarium for 4$118
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Water Taxi (family of 4)$22
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IMAX Movie for Two$35
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Shakespeare Play (2)$116
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Art Institute (2)$36
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U-Boat Tour (2)$8.00
Tours and Activities in Chicago
Here are a few actual costs in Chicago for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Eastside Chicago The Heist Exploration Game and Tour: $7.13
- Dragon Kings Quest Experience in Chinatown Chicago: $7.13
- Haunted Chicago Exploration Game and Tour: $7.13
- Chicago Scavenger Hunt and Highlights Self-Guided Tour: $7.82
- Chicago Chocolate Tour: $8.00
- Lincoln Park Zoo Adventure: $8.00
- Chicago Self-Guided Audio Tour: $9.00
- Chicago’s Millennium Park Self Guided Audio GPS Walking Tour: $9.75
- Chicago Haunted Ghost Tour GPS Self-Guided Walking Tour: $9.75
- Chicago’s Ragtime & Jazz Eras: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $9.99
- Illinois Holocaust Museum presents Experience360 Ticket: $12
- Chicago Millennium Park Self-Guided Walking Tour: $13
For more ideas for your next trip, check out The Best Free Things to Do in Chicago, Chicago Bucket List: The Best Places to See, and The Best Museums in Chicago.
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayCairo $1.48Chicago $25
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
Sample the Local Flavors in Chicago
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Chicago:
- Chicago Bar Crawl: Chi-Town Showdown: $15
- Chicago Local Brewery Expedition with Homemade Guacamole: $63
- Chicago Craft Brewery Barrel Bus Tour: $100
- Craft Brewery Tour by Barrel Bus: $100
- Chicago:Milwaukee City Highlights Day Trip with Brewery Tour: $106
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Cairo and Chicago, we can see that Chicago 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 Chicago is in North 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 Chicago would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Chicago 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 Chicago Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Cairo or Chicago?
Cairo has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Chicago. When comparing the sizes of Cairo and Chicago, 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 Chicago?
Chicago has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Cairo experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Cairo or Chicago in the Summer?
Both Chicago and Cairo are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Cairo throughout the year. Also, most visitors come to Chicago for the beaches, the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences during these months.
In July, Cairo is generally a little warmer than Chicago. Daily temperatures in Cairo average around 28°C (82°F), and Chicago fluctuates around 77°F (25°C).
It's quite sunny in Chicago. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Cairo. Cairo usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Chicago during summer. Cairo gets 350 hours of sunny skies, while Chicago receives 326 hours of full sun in the summer.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Chicago. In July, Cairo usually receives less rain than Chicago. Cairo gets 1 mm (0 in) of rain, while Chicago receives 3.9 inches (100 mm) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyCairo 28°C (82°F)Chicago 77°F (25°C)
Should I visit Cairo or Chicago in the Autumn?
Both Chicago and Cairo during the autumn are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Cairo because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Chicago because of the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
Cairo is much warmer than Chicago in the autumn. The daily temperature in Cairo averages around 23°C (73°F) in October, and Chicago fluctuates around 56°F (14°C).
It's quite sunny in Cairo. In the autumn, Cairo often gets more sunshine than Chicago. Cairo gets 290 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Chicago receives 195 hours of full sun.
Cairo usually gets less rain in October than Chicago. Cairo gets 5 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Chicago receives 2.2 inches (56 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberCairo 23°C (73°F)Chicago 56°F (14°C)
Should I visit Cairo or Chicago in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Cairo and Chicago. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Cairo year-round. Also, the museums, the Christmas ambience, the shopping scene, the theater shows, and the cuisine are the main draw to Chicago this time of year.
It's quite cold in Chicago in the winter. In the winter, Cairo is much warmer than Chicago. Typically, the winter temperatures in Cairo in January average around 14°C (57°F), and Chicago averages at about 25°F (-4°C).
In Cairo, it's very sunny this time of the year. Cairo usually receives more sunshine than Chicago during winter. Cairo gets 221 hours of sunny skies, while Chicago receives 134 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Cairo usually receives less rain than Chicago. Cairo gets 15 mm (0.6 in) of rain, while Chicago receives 1.9 inches (47 mm) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryCairo 14°C (57°F)Chicago 25°F (-4°C)
Should I visit Cairo or Chicago in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Cairo as well as Chicago. Cairo attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, many travelers come to Chicago for the beaches, the activities around the city, and the natural beauty.
In April, Cairo is generally much warmer than Chicago. Daily temperatures in Cairo average around 21°C (70°F), and Chicago fluctuates around 52°F (11°C).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Chicago. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Cairo this time of the year. In the spring, Cairo often gets more sunshine than Chicago. Cairo gets 276 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Chicago receives 218 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Chicago. Cairo usually gets less rain in April than Chicago. Cairo gets 7 mm (0.3 in) of rain, while Chicago receives 4.3 inches (108 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilCairo 21°C (70°F)Chicago 52°F (11°C)
Typical Weather for Chicago and Cairo
| Cairo | Chicago | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 14°C (57°F) | 15 mm (0.6 in) | 25°F (-4°C) | 1.9 inches (47 mm) |
| Feb | 14°C (57°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) | 29°F (-2°C) | 1.4 inches (35 mm) |
| Mar | 17°C (63°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) | 41°F (5°C) | 3.7 inches (93 mm) |
| Apr | 21°C (70°F) | 7 mm (0.3 in) | 52°F (11°C) | 4.3 inches (108 mm) |
| May | 25°C (77°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 63°F (17°C) | 3 inches (75 mm) |
| Jun | 27°C (81°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 73°F (23°C) | 3.9 inches (100 mm) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 1 mm (0 in) | 77°F (25°C) | 3.9 inches (100 mm) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 76°F (24°C) | 3.5 inches (90 mm) |
| Sep | 26°C (79°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) | 68°F (20°C) | 3.8 inches (96 mm) |
| Oct | 23°C (73°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) | 56°F (14°C) | 2.2 inches (56 mm) |
| Nov | 19°C (66°F) | 1 mm (0 in) | 44°F (7°C) | 2.2 inches (56 mm) |
| Dec | 15°C (59°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) | 31°F (-1°C) | 2.8 inches (71 mm) |
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.