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

Should you visit Cairo or Marbella?

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 Marbella 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 Marbella?

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.

Marbella

Marbella is a city in southern Spain in the province of Malaga. It is part of the Costa del Sol (Coast of the Sun) and is located on the Mediterranean Sea between Malaga and the Strait of Gibraltar. It is one of the most important tourist cities in the area and receives many national and international tourists year round due to its climate and tourism structures. Marbella is a bit of a glamorous city due to its beauty and resort-type environment. The old town with its narrow cobbled streets and flower-filled plazas is packed with shops and art galleries selling boutique clothes and accessories, and handmade wares. The city has significant archaeological and historical heritage and many events and performances throughout the year.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Egypt, The Best Historical Tours in Egypt, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Spain, and The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Spain.


Which place is cheaper, Marbella 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 Marbella is $125. 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 Marbella in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Cairo $9.36
    Marbella $66
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Cairo $19
    Marbella $132
Compare Hotels in Cairo and Marbella

Looking for a hotel in Cairo or Marbella? 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 Marbella


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 Marbella Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Cairo $2.99
    Marbella $26
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:

  • transfer from Cairo airport to the hotel in Cairo or Giza: $20
  • private transfer from or to cairo international Airport: $15
  • private tour to Abusimble transfer to Luxor and visiting Edfu : $175
  • VIP Meet and Assist at Cairo Airport with Private Hotel Transfer: $35
  • Two-Day Private City Tour of Cairo, Giza Pyramids and Saqqara+Airport Transfer: $220
  • Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer service in Cairo HTL-APT (CAI): $33
  • Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer service in Cairo APT-HTL (CAI): $33
  • Transfer your private departure from your hotel to Cairo Airport: $20
  • Transfer from Hurghada to Luxor (sharing ): $109
  • Transfer from Hurghada to Cairo by van : $235
  • Transfer from Cairo to Ain El Sokhna : $70
  • Transfer from Cairo or Giza Hotels to Cairo Airport: $11

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Marbella

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

  • Costa del Sol: Private 1-Way Transfer to/from Malaga Airport: $75
  • From Malaga: Private Transfer Malaga Airport to Marbella: $235
  • Private Transfer from Algarrobo to Malaga (AGP) Airport: $109
  • Private Transfer from Alhaurín El Grande to Malaga (AGP) Airport: $67
  • Private Transfer from Benahavís to Malaga (AGP) Airport: $131
  • Private Transfer from Benajarafe to Malaga (AGP) Airport: $70
  • Private Transfer from Benamargosa to Malaga (AGP) Airport: $120
  • Private Transfer from Benaoján to Malaga (AGP) Airport: $214
  • Private Transfer from Estepona to Malaga (AGP) airport: $155
  • Private Transfer from Fuengirola to Malaga (AGP) airport: $64
  • Private Transfer from Guadalmina to Malaga (AGP) Airport: $131
  • Private Transfer from La Quinta Golf Resort to Malaga (AGP) Airport: $132

Is it cheaper to fly into Cairo or Marbella?

Prices for flights to both Marbella 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 $4.75
    Marbella $41
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/Giza: Nile Sunset, Dinner Cruise, Show & Private Transfer : $9.63
  • Cairo Dinner Cruise, Belly Dancer Show With Pickup Service: $11
  • Dinner Cruise on the Nile River: $12
  • Nile Sunset, Dinner Cruise, Show and Private Transfer: $16
  • VIP tour Giza pyramids ,Sphinx, Quad bike ,Camel, Dinner cruise : $19
  • Private Expert tour Giza Pyramids ,Sphinx ,Nile Dinner Cruise & Belly Dancer: $19
  • food tour private tour from cairo or giza hotel: $19
  • Giza Pyramids, Camel Ride, Quad Bike, Night and Dinner Cruise on Nile: $19
  • Private Cairo Food Tour : $20
  • All inclusive Tour to Giza Pyramids, Sphinx & ATV &Dinner cruise : $20
  • Giza pyramids and Nile dinner cruise private tour from Cairo Giza hotels: $22
  • Private Cairo food tour and Egyptian tea: $22

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Marbella

For Marbella, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Food Tour: $87
  • Gourmet Cooking Class & Culture in the rural Montes de Malaga.: $190

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Cairo $5.75
    Marbella $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
    $6.49

Tours and Activities in Cairo

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

  • ( Stopover Tour Of Cairo ) Private All Inc.Pyramids,Camel Ride,Museum& Lunch: $180
  • 2 Days 1 Nights Tour package to Saint-Catherine from Cairo : $300
  • 2-Day Ancient Egypt Tour with Pyramids and Museums: $219
  • 2-Days Tour at Cairo & Giza: $86
  • 3-Day Private Tour in Cairo : $196
  • 3-Day Tour at Cairo & Giza : $200
  • 3-Days Tour at Cairo (Customized Package): $229
  • 4-Day Tours at Cairo & Giza & Alexandria: $209
  • 8-Hour Private Tour Giza Pyramids, Egyptian Museum and local Bazaars: $26
  • 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: $79
  • All Inclusive day tour to Giza pyramids, Egyptian museum and Felucca : $88

Tours and Activities in Marbella

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

  • Discover the Old Town through a Self-Guided Tour: $4.60
  • Marbella Old Town Walking Tour : $15
  • Sightseeing Walking Tour: $21
  • Guided tour and olive oil tasting in Alhaurin el Grande (Málaga) : $22
  • Marbella Old Town: Group Tour with a True Local: $24
  • Marbella Old Town group tour with a True Local: $24
  • group walking Tour: $26
  • Explore Marbella Old Town: Tapas Tasting Adventure: $27
  • Marbella like a Local: Customized Guided Tour: $32
  • Bike City Tour Marbella: $32
  • Dolphin Watching Adventure in Estepona Bay: $38
  • Canyoning Experience Near Marbella (Benahavís River Walk): $43

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Cairo $1.17
    Marbella $6.12

Sample the Local Flavors in Marbella

Also in Marbella, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:

  • Manilva & Gaucin Wine Tour from the Costa del Sol: $152
  • From Manilva Sunset Wine Tasting Tour with Tapas: $159
  • Ronda Full Day Wine Tour from Marbella: $195
  • From Antequera Wine Tour with Tastings and Lunch: $213
  • From Axarquia Wine Tour with Wine Pairing Lunch: $234
  • Full-Day Private Ronda Wine Tour Experience from Marbella: $262
  • VIP Ronda Wine Tour and Tasting and Gourmet Lunch Experience with Winemaker: $271


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


Which is Bigger, Cairo or Marbella?

Cairo has a larger population, and is about 60 times larger than the population of Marbella. When comparing the sizes of Cairo and Marbella, 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 Marbella?

Marbella 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 Marbella in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Cairo as well as Marbella. Cairo attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, the summer months attract visitors to Marbella because of the beaches, snorkeling, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Cairo is a little warmer than Marbella. Typically, the summer temperatures in Cairo in July average around 28°C (82°F), and Marbella averages at about 25°C (77°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Marbella. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Cairo this time of the year. In the summer, Cairo often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Marbella. Cairo gets 350 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Marbella receives 348 hours of full sun.

Cairo usually gets less rain in July than Marbella. Cairo gets 1 mm (0 in) of rain, while Marbella receives 2 mm (0.1 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Cairo 28°C (82°F) 
    Marbella 25°C (77°F)

Should I visit Cairo or Marbella in the Autumn?

Both Marbella and Cairo are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Cairo throughout the year. Also, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Marbella this time of year.

In October, Cairo is generally a little warmer than Marbella. Daily temperatures in Cairo average around 23°C (73°F), and Marbella fluctuates around 19°C (67°F).

It's quite sunny in Marbella. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Cairo. Cairo usually receives more sunshine than Marbella during autumn. Cairo gets 290 hours of sunny skies, while Marbella receives 213 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Cairo usually receives less rain than Marbella. Cairo gets 5 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Marbella receives 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Cairo 23°C (73°F) 
    Marbella 19°C (67°F)

Should I visit Cairo or Marbella in the Winter?

Both Marbella and Cairo during the winter are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Cairo because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Furthermore, many travelers come to Marbella for the shopping scene and the cuisine.

Cairo is a little warmer than Marbella in the winter. The daily temperature in Cairo averages around 14°C (57°F) in January, and Marbella fluctuates around 12°C (54°F).

It's quite sunny in Cairo. In the winter, Cairo often gets more sunshine than Marbella. Cairo gets 221 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Marbella receives 171 hours of full sun.

Cairo usually gets less rain in January than Marbella. Cairo gets 15 mm (0.6 in) of rain, while Marbella receives 83 mm (3.3 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Cairo 14°C (57°F) 
    Marbella 12°C (54°F)

Should I visit Cairo or Marbella in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Cairo and Marbella. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Cairo year-round. Furthermore, many visitors come to Marbella in the spring for the beaches and the natural beauty.

In the spring, Cairo is a little warmer than Marbella. Typically, the spring temperatures in Cairo in April average around 21°C (70°F), and Marbella averages at about 16°C (60°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Marbella this time of the year. In Cairo, it's very sunny this time of the year. Cairo usually receives more sunshine than Marbella during spring. Cairo gets 276 hours of sunny skies, while Marbella receives 220 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Cairo usually receives less rain than Marbella. Cairo gets 7 mm (0.3 in) of rain, while Marbella receives 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain each month for the spring.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Cairo 21°C (70°F) 
    Marbella 16°C (60°F)

Typical Weather for Marbella and Cairo

Cairo Marbella
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 14°C (57°F) 15 mm (0.6 in) 12°C (54°F) 83 mm (3.3 in)
Feb 14°C (57°F) 4 mm (0.2 in) 13°C (55°F) 75 mm (3 in)
Mar 17°C (63°F) 8 mm (0.3 in) 14°C (57°F) 59 mm (2.3 in)
Apr 21°C (70°F) 7 mm (0.3 in) 16°C (60°F) 40 mm (1.6 in)
May 25°C (77°F) 0 mm (0 in) 19°C (66°F) 24 mm (0.9 in)
Jun 27°C (81°F) 0 mm (0 in) 22°C (72°F) 13 mm (0.5 in)
Jul 28°C (82°F) 1 mm (0 in) 25°C (77°F) 2 mm (0.1 in)
Aug 28°C (82°F) 0 mm (0 in) 25°C (78°F) 5 mm (0.2 in)
Sep 26°C (79°F) 5 mm (0.2 in) 23°C (74°F) 15 mm (0.6 in)
Oct 23°C (73°F) 5 mm (0.2 in) 19°C (67°F) 54 mm (2.1 in)
Nov 19°C (66°F) 1 mm (0 in) 15°C (60°F) 115 mm (4.5 in)
Dec 15°C (59°F) 3 mm (0.1 in) 13°C (55°F) 102 mm (4 in)