Which place is cheaper, Tulum 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 Tulum?
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 Tulum 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 Tulum?
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.
Tulum
When you think of ancient ruins you probably picture dusty archaeological digs surrounded by sand and professors in khaki shorts. What if I told you there is a way to see ancient ruins and visit a tropical beach? That's exactly what you find in Tulum, Mexico.
Built near the end of Mayan era, the ruins of Tulum served as a port before the arrival of the Spanish. It may have been called Zama, meaning City of Dawn, given that these ruins face the sunrise. Because of Tulum's access to both land and sea routes, this spot was an important hub for the trade industry. It may have had another claim to fame, too. According to some murals and other works around the site, it seems this spot was an important site for the worship of the Diving or Descending God. Today, the area is the third most visited archaeological site in all of Mexico with daily tour buses dropping off visitors.
This area is usually packed with people looking to get a glimpse of the seaside ruins. To avoid crowds and capture the best view of the day, try to arrive as early as possible.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Egypt, The Best Historical Tours in Egypt, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Mexico, and The Best Historical Tours in Mexico.
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Cairo Prices
Egypt PricesTulum Prices
Mexico Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCairo $33Tulum $133
The average daily cost (per person) in Cairo is $33, while the average daily cost in Tulum is $133. 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 Tulum in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCairo $11Tulum $54
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCairo $22Tulum $108
Compare Hotels in Cairo and Tulum
Looking for a hotel in Cairo or Tulum? 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 Tulum Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Cairo $3.80Tulum $25
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 transfer from Cairo Airport to the hotel in Cairo or Giza: $9.00
- Private Transfer: Cairo Airport Arrival to any hotel in Cairo or Giza: $9.00
- Cairo Airport Private Transfer ( One-Way comfort ride ): $10
- Private Transfer from Cairo Airport to Hotel Vise Versa: $10
- Private Transfer from Cairo Airport to Your Hotel: $10
- Private Transfer from Cairo Airport to Hotels within Cairo and Giza: $10
- Private Transfer from Cairo International Airport to Cairo &Giza : $10
- Private Transfer from Cairo International Airport to Cairo Center : $11
- Departure Airport Transfer from Cairo or Giza to Cairo Airport: $12
- Private transfer from Cairo Airport to InterContinental Cairo Citystars: $12
- Private Pickup transfer from InterContinental Cairo Citystars to Cairo airport: $12
- Private transfer from Cairo Airport to Novotel Cairo El Borg: $12
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Tulum
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Tulum are as follows:
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Scooter Rental$16
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Tulum
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Tulum:
- Airport Transfer One Way - Cancun / Tulum - Private or Luxury: $140
- Economy Private Transfer from Tulum to Cancun Airport – Safe: $139
- Luxury Mercedes Benz Private Transfer–Riviera Maya-Cancun Airport: $161
- Luxury SUV Private Transfer from Riviera Maya to Cancun Airport: $261
- Luxury Tulum Transfer from Tulum Airport: $220
- One Way Private Transfer Tulum Zone - Cancun Int Airport: $170
- One Way Private Tulum Transfers to or from Cancun Airport: $145
- One way private transfer Bahia Principe area: $165
- Private Airport Transfer to Tulum: $117
- Private Luxury SUV Transfers from Tulum Airport : $195
- Private Luxury Transfer Tulum to Cancun Airport: $220
- Private Roundtrip Transfer from Tulum Airport (TQO): $135
Is it cheaper to fly into Cairo or Tulum?
Prices for flights to both Tulum 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 $18Tulum $54
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.
- Great tour toThe Grand Museum of Giza and Nile River DinnerCruise: $5.00
- Dinner Nile cruise with belly dancer show on Nile river: $5.00
- 2 Hour Cairo Dinner Cruise on Nile river with live band: $7.00
- Cairo dinner Nile cruise with belly dancer show on Nile river: $7.00
- Cairo Food Tour with Nile Felucca Ride : $7.00
- Private Nile Cruise with Dinner and Folk Show from Cairo: $7.50
- night-tour Nile dinner cruise with open buffet and belly dancer: $8.00
- Private Giza Pyramids, Sphinx, Quad Bike, Camel Ride, Nile Dinner Cruise: $9.00
- food tour private tour from cairo or giza hotel: $9.00
- Cairo Food Tour in local places & Egyptian Mint Tea: $9.00
- 2-hours night dinner cruise show : Eat , Dance and Sing : $9.00
- Cairo Dinner Cruise show with belly dancer show on Nile river: $9.00
Typical Food Prices in Tulum
Some typical examples of dining costs in Tulum are as follows:
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Lunch$2.72
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Tulum
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Tulum.
- Salsa Class with Mezcalita Workshop & Mexican Dinner in Tulum: $71
- Mexican Cooking from Scratch in a Local Home in Tulum: $87
- Tulum Local Walking Food Tour: $88
- Tulum Vegan Food Tour: $92
- Temazcal Mayan Ritual Tour and Cenote Swim with Yucatecan Dinner: $120
- Mexican Cooking class experience in Tulum: $131
- Private Authentic Mayan Cooking Class with Tulum Hotel Transfers: $280
- Private Mayan Food Cooking Class, Cenote and Coba Ruins : $289
- Private transfer for 5 hours (go dinner,cenotes, shopping and more) : $299
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Cairo $9.09Tulum $29
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$6.47
Tours and Activities in Cairo
Here are a few actual costs in Cairo for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- ViP Private Tour Giza Pyramids,camel ride , inside 3rd Pyramid: $1.00
- Cheap Day tour to Giza Pyramids Sphinx With Camel Rid : $2.00
- Cheap Day tour to Giza Pyramids Sphinx With Camel Rid With lunch: $2.50
- Best Egypt Tour Giza Pyramids Sphinx lunch fees camel 9rd pyramid: $3.50
- VIP privatr tour Giza pyramids sphins &Saqqara and Memphis : $3.50
- Chep Day Tour Pyramids Giza, Memphis, Saqqara and Camel: $4.00
- All inclusive Tour To Giza Pyramids, Sphinx, Camel Ride, Lunch: $4.50
- Private Tour in Pyramids of Giza with Lunch and Camel Ride: $4.50
- Egyptian Spicy Shop and Egyptian Cotton Shopping Private Tour: $5.00
- Full Experience Giza pyramids,Sphinx,Camel ride&inside Pyramid : $5.00
- Shopping Tour Discover Khan El Khalili & More: $5.00
- Private shopping tours from Cairo/Giza hotel with expert guide : $5.00
Tours and Activities in Tulum
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Tulum are as follows:
- Ruins in Tulum Walking Tour with Audioguide (no ticket): $8.35
- Coba Ruins: Self-Guided Walking Audio Tour in Mexico: $9.99
- Self-Guided Audio Tour - The Return Home: $10
- Entrance tickets to swim in 4 Cenotes in Casa Tortuga Park: $22
- Salsa Dance Experience at Tulum Beach: $22
- Coba Mayan Ruins and Cenote Swim Tour: $25
- Snorkel 2 reef point, 1 hour 20 minutes tour : $29
- ATV Cenote and Ziplines Adventure in Tulum from Riviera Maya: $30
- Tulum Jungle Experience with ATV, Ziplines, and Cenote: $35
- Tulum Wild Adventure Tour with ATV, Ziplining and Cenote : $35
- Tulum Extreme Mayan Adventure with ATV, Zipline and Cenote: $38
- Guided Day Tour to Chichén Itzá, Cenote Swim and Valladolid: $38
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayCairo $1.48Tulum $23
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: $70
Sample the Local Flavors in Tulum
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Tulum:
- 30 Minutes Brewery Tour in Tulum: $39
- Beer Tasting and Brewery Tour: $69
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Cairo and Tulum, we can see that Tulum 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 Tulum 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 Tulum would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Tulum 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 Tulum Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Cairo or Tulum?
Cairo has a larger population, and is about 920 times larger than the population of Tulum. When comparing the sizes of Cairo and Tulum, 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 Tulum?
Tulum 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 Tulum in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Cairo and Tulum. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Cairo year-round. Also, the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Tulum this time of year.
Cairo is around the same temperature as Tulum in the summer. The daily temperature in Cairo averages around 28°C (82°F) in July, and Tulum fluctuates around 28°C (83°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Tulum this time of the year. In Cairo, it's very sunny this time of the year. Cairo usually receives more sunshine than Tulum during summer. Cairo gets 350 hours of sunny skies, while Tulum receives 232 hours of full sun in the summer.
Tulum receives a lot of rain in the summer. In July, Cairo usually receives less rain than Tulum. Cairo gets 1 mm (0 in) of rain, while Tulum receives 145 mm (5.7 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyCairo 28°C (82°F)Tulum 28°C (83°F)
Should I visit Cairo or Tulum in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Cairo as well as Tulum. Cairo attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, many travelers come to Tulum for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
In the autumn, Cairo is cooler than Tulum. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Cairo in October average around 23°C (73°F), and Tulum averages at about 27°C (81°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Tulum. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Cairo this time of the year. In the autumn, Cairo often gets more sunshine than Tulum. Cairo gets 290 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Tulum receives 216 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Tulum. Cairo usually gets less rain in October than Tulum. Cairo gets 5 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Tulum receives 173 mm (6.8 in) of rain this time of the year. Also, November to April in Tulum is the dry season. June to October in Tulum is the rainy season. Also, the hurricane season in Tulum is June to October.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberCairo 23°C (73°F)Tulum 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Cairo or Tulum in the Winter?
Both Tulum and Cairo are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Cairo throughout the year. Also, many visitors come to Tulum in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
In January, Cairo is generally much colder than Tulum. Daily temperatures in Cairo average around 14°C (57°F), and Tulum fluctuates around 23°C (74°F).
It's quite sunny in Tulum. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Cairo. Cairo usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Tulum during winter. Cairo gets 221 hours of sunny skies, while Tulum receives 213 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Cairo usually receives less rain than Tulum. Cairo gets 15 mm (0.6 in) of rain, while Tulum receives 56 mm (2.2 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryCairo 14°C (57°F)Tulum 23°C (74°F)
Should I visit Cairo or Tulum in the Spring?
Both Tulum 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. Furthermore, most visitors come to Tulum for the beaches and the natural beauty during these months.
Cairo is cooler than Tulum in the spring. The daily temperature in Cairo averages around 21°C (70°F) in April, and Tulum fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
In Tulum, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Cairo. In the spring, Cairo often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Tulum. Cairo gets 276 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Tulum receives 273 hours of full sun.
Cairo usually gets less rain in April than Tulum. Cairo gets 7 mm (0.3 in) of rain, while Tulum receives 39 mm (1.5 in) of rain this time of the year. November to April is the dry season in Tulum. June to October is the rainy season in Tulum. Keep in mind that June to October is the hurricane season in Tulum.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilCairo 21°C (70°F)Tulum 27°C (81°F)
Typical Weather for Tulum and Cairo
| Cairo | Tulum | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 14°C (57°F) | 15 mm (0.6 in) | 23°C (74°F) | 56 mm (2.2 in) |
| Feb | 14°C (57°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Mar | 17°C (63°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) | 25°C (78°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) |
| Apr | 21°C (70°F) | 7 mm (0.3 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) |
| May | 25°C (77°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 101 mm (4 in) |
| Jun | 27°C (81°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 192 mm (7.6 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 1 mm (0 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 145 mm (5.7 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 167 mm (6.6 in) |
| Sep | 26°C (79°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 228 mm (9 in) |
| Oct | 23°C (73°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 173 mm (6.8 in) |
| Nov | 19°C (66°F) | 1 mm (0 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 103 mm (4.1 in) |
| Dec | 15°C (59°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) | 24°C (74°F) | 72 mm (2.8 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.