Which place is cheaper, Soweto 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 Soweto?
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 Soweto 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 Soweto?
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.
Soweto
The name Soweto is an acronym for South Western Townships, first used in 1963 to describe the groups of townships to the south west of Johannesburg. It is a city of contrasts, featuring anything from tin shanties to luxurious mansions, and is probably best known for being the home of two Nobel Prize winners.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Egypt, The Best Historical Tours in Egypt, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Cape Town, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Cape Town.
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Cairo Prices
Egypt PricesSoweto Prices
South Africa Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCairo $19Soweto $76
The average daily cost (per person) in Cairo is $19, while the average daily cost in Soweto is $76. 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 Soweto in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCairo $8.75Soweto $32
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCairo $18Soweto $64
Compare Hotels in Cairo and Soweto
Looking for a hotel in Cairo or Soweto? 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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Cairo $2.79Soweto $12
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$0.30
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cairo
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cairo:
- transfer from Cairo airport, Cairo & Giza hotels to Alexandria: $50
- 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
- Transfer your private departure from your hotel to Cairo Airport: $20
- Transfer within Cairo from Cairo Airport (Private): $70
- Transfer to Cairo & Giza Hotels From Cairo Airport: $35
- Transfer from Luxor to Hurghada : $226
- Transfer from Hurghada to Luxor city by private Cars : $170
- Transfer from Hurghada to Luxor (sharing ): $126
- Transfer from Cairo, Giza or Cairo airport to Ain Sokhna: $60
- Transfer from Cairo Int. Airport to Cairo/Giza hotels: $21
Is it cheaper to fly into Cairo or Soweto?
Prices for flights to both Soweto 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 $7.68Soweto $35
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.
- Quad Bike ATV and Nile Dinner Cruise with Belly dancer show: $5.00
- Dinner Nile cruise with belly dancer show on Nile river: $5.00
- Nile Sunset, Dinner Cruise, Show and Private Transfer: $6.64
- Dinner Cruise on the Nile River: $6.64
- 2 Hour Cairo Dinner Cruise on Nile river with live band: $7.00
- Quad Bike ATV ,Camel Ride ,Nile Dinner Cruise Belly dancer show: $7.00
- 5 Star Dinner Nile Cruise in Cairo Night Tour : $7.50
- Private Nile Cruise with Dinner and Folk Show from Cairo: $7.50
- Night Dinner Nile cruise with belly dancer and folklore show: $8.00
- 2-hours night dinner cruise show : Eat , Dance and Sing : $8.00
- Cairo Dinner Cruise With Belly Dancer Show With Pickup : $9.00
- Private Tour Giza Pyramids , Sphinx & Dinner Nile cruise Show: $9.00
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Cairo $5.38Soweto $16
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$0.79
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Egyptian Museum Entry for Two$6.07
Tours and Activities in Cairo
Here are a few actual costs in Cairo for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 2-Day Private Tour of Cairo with Accommodation and Entrance Fees: $165
- 2-Days Tours at Cairo & Giza : $143
- 3-Days Tour at Cairo (Customized Package): $229
- 4-Day Tours at Cairo & Giza & Alexandria: $209
- 8-Hour Private Tour to Giza Pyramids, Memphis and Sakkara: $79
- Adventure in the White Desert: $135
- Alexandria day tour : $75
- All Inclusive 2-Day Private Tour to All Pyramids and Cairo and 2 evenings: $299
- All Inclusive day tour to Giza pyramids, Egyptian museum and Felucca : $93
- Ancient Wonders Unveiled: Memphis, Saqqara & Dahshur Adventure: $50
- Best Day Tour Visit Giza Pyramids, and Sakkara&Memphis Pyramids : $70
- Cairo City Tour: $40
Tours and Activities in Soweto
For Soweto, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Johannesburg: Soweto Half-Day Tour: $60
- Johannesburg: Soweto Tour with Lunch: $70
- Johannesburg: Soweto Night Tour: $97
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayCairo $1.10Soweto $8.16
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: $61
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Cairo and Soweto, we can see that Soweto is more expensive. And not only is Cairo much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. 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 Soweto would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Soweto 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 Soweto Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Cairo or Soweto?
Cairo has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Soweto. When comparing the sizes of Cairo and Soweto, 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.