Which place is cheaper, Dharamsala 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 Dharamsala?
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 Dharamsala 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 Dharamsala?
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.
Dharamsala
With a name that literally means "a spiritual dwelling," Dharamsala roughly translates as a shelter or rest house for pilgrims and travelers. Home to the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan Government in Exile, Dharamsala is today a popular destination for foreigners on vacation, backpackers seeking the surrounding mountains, as well as students of Buddhism.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Egypt, The Best Historical Tours in Egypt, The Best Religious Tours in India, and The Best Yoga Tours and Retreats in India.
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Cairo Prices
Egypt PricesDharamsala Prices
India Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCairo $29Dharamsala $36
The average daily cost (per person) in Cairo is $29, while the average daily cost in Dharamsala is $36. 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 Dharamsala in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCairo $9.74Dharamsala $20
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCairo $19Dharamsala $40
Compare Hotels in Cairo and Dharamsala
Looking for a hotel in Cairo or Dharamsala? 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 Dharamsala Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Cairo $3.28Dharamsala $4.51
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Cairo
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Cairo are as follows:
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Metro Ride$0.07
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Taxi Ride$0.27
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cairo
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cairo:
- Transfer from Cairo Airport to Hotel at Cairo or Giza: $6.00
- Cairo CAI Airport Private Transfer to/from Cairo/El Omraniya: $8.82
- Cairo Airport (CAI) Private Transfer From or To All Cairo Hotells: $9.08
- Private Transfer To/From Cairo Airport: $10
- VIP Meet and assist with transfer from Cairo and SPX Airport: $10
- Private Transfer from Cairo Airport to Hotel Vise Versa: $10
- Private Arrival Transfer From Cairo Airport: $11
- Private Transfer from Cairo Airport: $12
- Private Pickup transfer from Cairo Pyramids Hotel to Cairo airport: $12
- Private transfer from Cairo Airport to Hilton Cairo Heliopolis: $12
- Private Transfer in Cairo to Explore the City and Beyond: $12
- Private Pickup transfer from JW Marriott Hotel Cairo to Cairo airport: $12
Is it cheaper to fly into Cairo or Dharamsala?
Prices for flights to both Dharamsala 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 $15Dharamsala $13
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.
- 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
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Cairo $7.85Dharamsala $4.89
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$0.73
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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:
- Luxury private tour Giza Pyramids, grand Egyptian Museum, kingTut: $3.50
- Private Half-Day Giza Pyramids & Sphinx Tour with Camel Ride: $4.00
- Best ViP Private Tour Giza Pyramids,Sphinx, inside Pyramids: $4.00
- Cairo tour to Giza Pyramids Sphinx Grand Egyptian museum (GEM ): $4.50
- Private Giza Pyramids, Sphinx & Grand Egyptian Museum Tour: $5.00
- Egyptian Spicy Shop and Egyptian Cotton Shopping Private Tour: $5.00
- Private Tour in Iconic Giza Pyramids From Cairo: $5.00
- Private Giza Pyramids & Sphinx Tour with Licensed Egyptian Guide: $5.00
- Cairo shopping advisor tour papyrus ,perfume ,golden cartouche , Egyptian cotton: $5.00
- Half Day Private Guided Shopping Tour in Cairo: $5.00
- Private Tour in Pyramids of Giza with Lunch and Camel Ride: $5.00
- Luxury Private Pyramids Tour with Lunch and Camel Ride: $5.00
Tours and Activities in Dharamsala
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Dharamsala are as follows:
- The Spiritual Trails of Dharamshala(Guided Walking Tour): $14
- Guided Cycling tour in Dharamshala: $26
- Dharamshala Street Food Crawl ( Guided Food Tasting Tour): $27
- Hiking Day Tour to Triund from Dharamshala: $36
- Guided Kora Circuit & Walking Tour Around McLeod Ganj: $36
- Private 6 hrs Mcleodganj & Dharamshala City Tour: $58
- Discover Dharamshala in a Day: Guided Tour with Hotel Pickup: $73
- Dharamshala: Full-Day Sightseeing Tour with Lunch: $89
- Private 2-Days McLeodGanj & Dharamshala Guided Tour: $90
- Historical Tour, Kangra fort &Rock cut temple from Dharmasla: $99
- Dharamshala: 2-Day Guided Tour with Waterfall Hike: $208
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayCairo $1.28Dharamsala $4.89
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 Dharamsala, we can see that Dharamsala 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 Dharamsala 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 Dharamsala would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Dharamsala 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 Dharamsala Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Cairo or Dharamsala?
Cairo has a larger population, and is about 400 times larger than the population of Dharamsala. When comparing the sizes of Cairo and Dharamsala, 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.
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.