Which place is cheaper, Sintra or Cairo?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Cairo or Sintra?
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 Sintra 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 Sintra?
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.
Sintra
Located just 28 kilometers from Lisbon, Sintra is a town that was, for a long time, home to Portuguese royalty leading up to the 1910 revolution. In town you will find a Royal Palace and in the surrounding area there is a Moorish Castle, and the Pena Palace, which dates back to the 19th century. The town is on the Estoril Coast near the Sintra Mountains, making its setting very dramatic, beautiful and picturesque. The surrounding hills are actually designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site because they offer a great combination of both cultural importance and natural beauty.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Egypt, The Best Historical Tours in Egypt, The Best Budget Tours to Portugal, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Portugal.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCairo $17Sintra $124
The average daily cost (per person) in Cairo is $17, while the average daily cost in Sintra is $124. 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 Sintra in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCairo $9.36Sintra $61
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCairo $19Sintra $122
Compare Hotels in Cairo and Sintra
Looking for a hotel in Cairo or Sintra? 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 Sintra Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Cairo $2.99Sintra $22
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:
- Private Departure Transfer from Cairo or Giza Hotels to Cairo Airport: $5.00
- Private transfer from Cairo Airport to the hotel in Cairo or Giza: $9.00
- Private Transfer to Cairo and Giza from Cairo Airport: $9.00
- Private Arrival or Departure Cairo Airport Transfer: $9.50
- Pickup transfer from Radisson Blu Hotel, Cairo Heliopolis to Cairo airport: $9.60
- Private transfer from Cairo Airport to Windsor Hotel Cairo: $9.60
- Private Pickup transfer from Royal Maxim Palace Kempinski to Cairo airport: $9.60
- Private Pickup transfer from Novotel Cairo El Borg to Cairo airport: $9.60
- Private Pickup transfer from Cairo Pyramids Hotel to Cairo airport: $9.60
- Private Pickup transfer from Osiris Hotel to Cairo airport: $9.60
- Private transfer from Cairo Airport to Hotel Royal: $9.60
- Private transfer from Cairo Airport to Cairo Paradise Hotel: $9.60
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Sintra
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Sintra:
- Algarve vs Lisbon: Private Transfer to/from Algarve /Lisbon: $513
- Estoril, Cascais or Sintra Private Transfer to Lisbon: $27
- Lisbon Airport Transfer to Cascais / Sintra / Estoril: $51
- Lisbon Airport: Cascais/Estoril/Sintra Private Transfer: $57
- Lisbon transfer, national and Iberian trips: $86
- Private Guided Transfer in Sintra and Lisbon: $87
- Private Transfer Lisbon & Cascais by Van or Car: $73
- Private transfer from Sintra to Porto with 2 hours for sightseeing: $289
- TRANSFER Cascais to Lisbon Airport: $82
- Tours and Transfers: $89
- Transfer Cascais to Lisbon(3pax): $98
- Transfer Cascais to Lisbon(8pax): $109
Is it cheaper to fly into Cairo or Sintra?
Prices for flights to both Sintra 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 $4.75Sintra $45
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.
- 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 Sintra
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Sintra.
- Private Portuguese Cooking Lesson and Meal with a Lisbon Local: $220
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Cairo $5.75Sintra $25
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$6.49
Tours and Activities in Cairo
Here are a few actual costs in Cairo for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Dahshur Pyramids Entry Tickets: $4.25
- Baron Palace Entry Tickets : $4.60
- Cairo Shopping tour Private Papyrus Essential oils Bazar Cotton : $4.70
- Prince Mohamed Ali Palace Entry Ticket: $4.80
- 3-Hour Private Tour of Papyrus and Perfumes in Ancient Egypt: $5.00
- All Inclusive Tour to Giza Pyramids, Sphinx, Memphis, and Saqqara: $5.00
- New Grand Egyptian Museum Tour with optional the pyramids tour..: $5.00
- Mosque and Madrasa of Sultan Hasan Entry Ticket: $5.10
- Baron Empain Palace Entry Tickets: $5.15
- Serapeum Of Saqqara Entry Tickets: $7.00
- Cairo Shopping Tour.: $7.00
- El Sultan Hassan Mosque Entry Ticket: $7.08
Tours and Activities in Sintra
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Sintra are as follows:
- Discover Enchanted A Fairy-Tale Free Tour: $1.28
- Self-Guided Highlights Scavenger Hunt & Walking Tour: $3.74
- Sintra Myths and Legends Interpretative Center Entry Ticket: $4.28
- City Exploration Game and Tour: $6.42
- Pena Palace In-app Audio Tour (WITHOUT A TICKET): $7.44
- Sintra Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $7.65
- Monserrate Palace and Park Skip-the-Line Ticket: $13
- Sintra Sightseeing Train Tour: $13
- National Palace of Sintra and Gardens Fast Track Ticket: $14
- National Sintra Palace Ticket & Optional Audio Guide: $16
- Hop-on Hop-off Tour in Sintra: $16
- Castle of the Moors E-Ticket & Optional Audio Guide: $18
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayCairo $1.17Sintra $19
Sample the Local Flavors in Sintra
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Sintra:
- Half-Day Tour in Cascais / Sintra with Brunch and Wine Tasting: $60
- Hiking and Wine Tasting Experience: $71
- Half Day in Sintra and Cabo da Roca with Wine Tasting: $82
- Wine Tasting Tour: $82
- Private tour wine tasting in Setubal: $96
- Excursion from Lisbon to Setúbal: Nature, Beach and Wine Tasting: $125
- Private Tour Sétubal, Palmela, Arrábida with wine tasting: $175
- Hidden Gems: Sintra & Cascais Private Tour with Wine Tasting: $181
- From Lisbon Private Tour to Porto with Port Wine Tasting: $235
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Cairo and Sintra, we can see that Sintra 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 Sintra 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 Sintra would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Sintra 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 Sintra Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Cairo or Sintra?
Cairo has a larger population, and is about 300 times larger than the population of Sintra. When comparing the sizes of Cairo and Sintra, 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 Sintra?
Sintra 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 Sintra in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Cairo and Sintra. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Cairo year-round.
Cairo is a little warmer than Sintra in the summer. The daily temperature in Cairo averages around 28°C (82°F) in July, and Sintra fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Sintra this time of the year. In Cairo, it's very sunny this time of the year. Cairo usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Sintra during summer. Cairo gets 350 hours of sunny skies, while Sintra receives 352 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Cairo usually receives less rain than Sintra. Cairo gets 1 mm (0 in) of rain, while Sintra receives 5 mm (0.2 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyCairo 28°C (82°F)Sintra 23°C (73°F)
Should I visit Cairo or Sintra in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Cairo as well as Sintra. Cairo attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In the autumn, Cairo is a little warmer than Sintra. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Cairo in October average around 23°C (73°F), and Sintra averages at about 19°C (66°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Sintra. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Cairo this time of the year. In the autumn, Cairo often gets more sunshine than Sintra. Cairo gets 290 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Sintra receives 213 hours of full sun.
Cairo usually gets less rain in October than Sintra. Cairo gets 5 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Sintra receives 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberCairo 23°C (73°F)Sintra 19°C (66°F)
Should I visit Cairo or Sintra in the Winter?
Both Sintra and Cairo are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Cairo throughout the year.
In January, Cairo is generally a little warmer than Sintra. Daily temperatures in Cairo average around 14°C (57°F), and Sintra fluctuates around 12°C (53°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Cairo. Cairo usually receives more sunshine than Sintra during winter. Cairo gets 221 hours of sunny skies, while Sintra receives 144 hours of full sun in the winter.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Sintra. In January, Cairo usually receives less rain than Sintra. Cairo gets 15 mm (0.6 in) of rain, while Sintra receives 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryCairo 14°C (57°F)Sintra 12°C (53°F)
Should I visit Cairo or Sintra in the Spring?
Both Sintra and Cairo during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Cairo because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
Cairo is a little warmer than Sintra in the spring. The daily temperature in Cairo averages around 21°C (70°F) in April, and Sintra fluctuates around 16°C (60°F).
In Sintra, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Cairo. In the spring, Cairo often gets more sunshine than Sintra. Cairo gets 276 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Sintra receives 235 hours of full sun.
Cairo usually gets less rain in April than Sintra. Cairo gets 7 mm (0.3 in) of rain, while Sintra receives 64 mm (2.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilCairo 21°C (70°F)Sintra 16°C (60°F)
Typical Weather for Sintra and Cairo
| Cairo | Sintra | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 14°C (57°F) | 15 mm (0.6 in) | 12°C (53°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) |
| Feb | 14°C (57°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 111 mm (4.4 in) |
| Mar | 17°C (63°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) | 14°C (58°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) |
| Apr | 21°C (70°F) | 7 mm (0.3 in) | 16°C (60°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) |
| May | 25°C (77°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) |
| Jun | 27°C (81°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 21°C (69°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 1 mm (0 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 23°C (74°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) |
| Sep | 26°C (79°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 26 mm (1 in) |
| Oct | 23°C (73°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Nov | 19°C (66°F) | 1 mm (0 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 114 mm (4.5 in) |
| Dec | 15°C (59°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 108 mm (4.3 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.