Which place is cheaper, Ottawa or Cairo?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit Cairo or Ottawa?
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 Ottawa 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 Ottawa?
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.
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital city of Canada, located on the Ontario side of the Ottawa River. A city of many ethnic populations, Ottawa is uniquely bilingual with English as the first language of the population's majority and French as a close second. It is best known as the nation's capital, which is centered on Parliament Hill, an architectural landmark as well as the seat of government.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Egypt, The Best Historical Tours in Egypt, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Canada, and The Best Coach Bus Tours in Canada.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCairo $17Ottawa $123
The average daily cost (per person) in Cairo is $17, while the average daily cost in Ottawa is $123. 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 Ottawa in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCairo $9.27Ottawa $18
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCairo $19Ottawa $36
Compare Hotels in Cairo and Ottawa
Looking for a hotel in Cairo or Ottawa? 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 Ottawa Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Cairo $2.96Ottawa $7.27
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Cairo
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Cairo are as follows:
-
Metro Ride$0.08
-
Taxi Ride$0.31
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cairo
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cairo:
- transfer from Cairo airport, Cairo & Giza hotels to Alexandria: $50
- transfer from Cairo airport to the hotel in Cairo or Giza: $20
- private transfer from or to cairo international Airport: $15
- VIP Meet and Assist in Cairo Airport with Private Transfer to Cairo Hotels: $49
- 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 to Cairo & Giza Hotels From Cairo Airport: $35
- Transfer from Luxor to Hurghada : $112
- Transfer from Hurghada to Luxor (sharing ): $109
- Transfer from Hurghada to Cairo by van : $235
- Transfer from Cairo to Ain El Sokhna : $70
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ottawa
Also for Ottawa, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier Airport YOW Private Arrival/Departure Shuttle Transfer : $52
- Ottawa to Ottawa Macdonald–Cartier Airport (YOW) - Departure Private Transfer: $66
- Private Arrival Transfer from Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier Airport YOW: $40
Is it cheaper to fly into Cairo or Ottawa?
Prices for flights to both Ottawa 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 dayCairo $4.70Ottawa $17
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 Dinner Cruise With Belly Dancer Show: $10
- Giza Dinner Cruise With Belly Dancer Show: $10
- Cairo Dinner Cruise, Belly Dancer Show With Pickup Service: $11
- Dinner Cruise on the Nile River: $13
- Nile Sunset, Dinner Cruise, Show and Private Transfer: $16
- 2-Hour Nile River Night Dinner Cruise from Cairo: $16
- Super Safari Quad Bike Jeep Safari Buggy and Dinner in Hurghada: $18
- Private Expert tour Giza Pyramids ,Sphinx ,Nile Dinner Cruise & Belly Dancer: $19
- food tour private tour from cairo or giza hotel: $19
- Dinner Cruise Cairo With Belly Dancer Show in The Nile River: $20
- Giza Pyramids, Camel Ride, ATV, shopping Tour and Dinner cruise: $20
- Giza pyramids and Nile dinner cruise private tour from Cairo Giza hotels: $22
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Ottawa
For Ottawa, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Oh Canada Eh!? Dinner Musical : $71
- Taste of the ByWard Market Food Tour: $79
- Evening Taste of the ByWard Market Food Tour: $82
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Cairo $5.69Ottawa $40
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$6.43
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-Day Private Tour of Cairo with Accommodation and Entrance Fees: $165
- 2-Days Tour at Cairo & Giza: $86
- 2-Days Tours at Cairo & Giza : $143
- 3-Day Cairo Top Attractions Exploration Tour: $180
- 3-Day Private Tour in Cairo : $196
- 3-Days Tour at Cairo (Customized Package): $229
- 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 Ottawa
For Ottawa, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $3.23
- City Exploration Game and Tour: $6.46
- Self-Guided Highlights Scavenger Hunt & Walking Tour: $6.46
- Ottawa Scavenger Hunt and Best Landmarks Self-Guided Tour: $6.55
- Explore Canada Through Ottawa's Eyes with Walking Tours Through The City: $6.68
- Ottawa's Hidden History: A Self Guided Audio Tour: $6.99
- A Self Guided Audio Tour of Ottawa's Hidden History: $6.99
- Ottawa Self-Guided Audio Tour: $9.00
- Scavenger Hunt Adventure in Ottawa by Wacky Walks: $10
- Unique Scavenger Hunt Experience in Ottawa by Operation City Quest: $10
- Scavenger Hunt Adventure in Ottawa by Crazy Dash: $10
- Self-Guided Audio Tour: $11
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayCairo $1.16Ottawa $18
Sample the Local Flavors in Ottawa
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Ottawa:
- Epic Ottawa Bar Crawl: By Let’s Roam: $12
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Cairo and Ottawa, we can see that Ottawa 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 Ottawa 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 Ottawa would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Ottawa 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 Ottawa Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Cairo or Ottawa?
Cairo has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Ottawa. When comparing the sizes of Cairo and Ottawa, 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 Ottawa?
Ottawa 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 Ottawa in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Cairo as well as Ottawa. Cairo attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In July, Cairo is generally a little warmer than Ottawa. Daily temperatures in Cairo average around 28°C (82°F), and Ottawa fluctuates around 21°C (71°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Ottawa. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Cairo this time of the year. In the summer, Cairo often gets more sunshine than Ottawa. Cairo gets 350 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Ottawa receives 268 hours of full sun.
Cairo usually gets less rain in July than Ottawa. Cairo gets 1 mm (0 in) of rain, while Ottawa receives 87 mm (3.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
-
Summer Average Temperatures JulyCairo 28°C (82°F)Ottawa 21°C (71°F)
Should I visit Cairo or Ottawa in the Autumn?
Both Ottawa and Cairo are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Cairo throughout the year.
Cairo is much warmer than Ottawa in the autumn. The daily temperature in Cairo averages around 23°C (73°F) in October, and Ottawa fluctuates around 9°C (48°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Cairo. Cairo usually receives more sunshine than Ottawa during autumn. Cairo gets 290 hours of sunny skies, while Ottawa receives 116 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Cairo usually receives less rain than Ottawa. Cairo gets 5 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Ottawa receives 75 mm (3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
-
Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberCairo 23°C (73°F)Ottawa 9°C (48°F)
Should I visit Cairo or Ottawa in the Winter?
Both Ottawa 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.
The weather in Ottawa can be very cold. In the winter, Cairo is much warmer than Ottawa. Typically, the winter temperatures in Cairo in January average around 14°C (57°F), and Ottawa averages at about -10°C (14°F).
It's quite sunny in Cairo. In the winter, Cairo often gets more sunshine than Ottawa. Cairo gets 221 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Ottawa receives 93 hours of full sun.
Cairo usually gets less rain in January than Ottawa. Cairo gets 15 mm (0.6 in) of rain, while Ottawa receives 51 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.
-
Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryCairo 14°C (57°F)Ottawa -10°C (14°F)
Should I visit Cairo or Ottawa in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Cairo and Ottawa. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Cairo year-round.
In April, Cairo is generally much warmer than Ottawa. Daily temperatures in Cairo average around 21°C (70°F), and Ottawa fluctuates around 6°C (44°F).
In Cairo, it's very sunny this time of the year. Cairo usually receives more sunshine than Ottawa during spring. Cairo gets 276 hours of sunny skies, while Ottawa receives 180 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Cairo usually receives less rain than Ottawa. Cairo gets 7 mm (0.3 in) of rain, while Ottawa receives 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain each month for the spring.
-
Spring Average Temperatures AprilCairo 21°C (70°F)Ottawa 6°C (44°F)
Typical Weather for Ottawa and Cairo
| Cairo | Ottawa | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 14°C (57°F) | 15 mm (0.6 in) | -10°C (14°F) | 51 mm (2 in) |
| Feb | 14°C (57°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) | -9°C (16°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| Mar | 17°C (63°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) | -2°C (28°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) |
| Apr | 21°C (70°F) | 7 mm (0.3 in) | 6°C (44°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) |
| May | 25°C (77°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 13°C (56°F) | 77 mm (3 in) |
| Jun | 27°C (81°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 19°C (65°F) | 84 mm (3.3 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 1 mm (0 in) | 21°C (71°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 88 mm (3.5 in) |
| Sep | 26°C (79°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 84 mm (3.3 in) |
| Oct | 23°C (73°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 75 mm (3 in) |
| Nov | 19°C (66°F) | 1 mm (0 in) | 2°C (36°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) |
| Dec | 15°C (59°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) | -7°C (20°F) | 73 mm (2.9 in) |
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.