Which place is cheaper, Zurich or Cairo?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
Jump to 
Should you visit Cairo or Zurich?
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 Zurich 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 Zurich?
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.
Zurich
Zurich has the biggest connection for trains in Switzerland. It also has the country's biggest and busiest airport. Because of its importance as a transportation center, it is likely to be the first place you visit in Switzerland. It is the financial capital of the country (although, contrary to what you may have thought, not the political capital). It has many international companies, and is home to the country's stock exchange.
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 Switzerland, and The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Switzerland.
-
Cairo Prices
Egypt PricesZurich Prices
Switzerland Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCairo $30Zurich $346
The average daily cost (per person) in Cairo is $30, while the average daily cost in Zurich is $346. 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 Zurich in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCairo $10Zurich $187
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCairo $20Zurich $374
Compare Hotels in Cairo and Zurich
Looking for a hotel in Cairo or Zurich? 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 Zurich Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Cairo $3.46Zurich $39
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Cairo
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Cairo are as follows:
-
Metro Ride$0.08
-
Taxi Ride$0.29
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cairo
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cairo:
- VIP Meet and assist with transfer from Cairo and SPX Airport: $7.50
- Private Arrival Transfer From Cairo Airport: $8.80
- Cairo CAI Airport Private Transfer to/from Cairo/El Omraniya: $8.82
- Cairo Airport (CAI) Private Transfer From or To All Cairo Hotells: $9.16
- Private Transfer To/From Cairo Airport: $10
- Private Transfer from Cairo Airport to Hotel in Cairo& Giza: $10
- Private Transfer from Cairo Airport to Hotel Vise Versa: $10
- Private Cairo Airport Transfer to City Center: $11
- Private Transfer from Cairo Airport: $12
- VIP Private Cairo Airport Transfer To Or From Cairo , Giza Hotels: $12
- Private Pickup transfer from Osiris Hotel to Cairo airport: $12
- Private Pickup transfer from InterContinental Cairo Citystars to Cairo airport: $12
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Zurich
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Zurich:
-
City Pass (2)$31
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Zurich
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Zurich:
- Arrival Private Transfer from Zurich Airport ZRH to Zurich City by Luxury Van: $100
- Arrival Transfer: Zurich Airport ZRH to Zurich by Luxury Van: $97
- Arrival Transfer from Zurich Airport ZRH to Zurich City in Private Car/Van: $100
- Departure Transfer from Zurich City to Zurich Airport ZRH in Private Car/Van: $100
- Hotel Transfers: Zurich Airport to/from Lucerne: $166
- Premium Private Transfer Zurich to Luzern or (Vice Versa): $284
- Premium Transfer from Zürich Airport to Zurich city or Zürich city to Airport: $121
- Privat Transfer Lucerne to Zurich Airport: $447
- Private Executive Transfers in Zurich Airport and Zurich City: $147
- Private One-way Airport Transfer from Zurich Airport to Zurich: $69
- Private One-way Airport Transfer from Zurich to Zurich Airport: $69
- Private Transfer From Hotel To Zurich Airport or Vice Versa: $62
Is it cheaper to fly into Cairo or Zurich?
Prices for flights to both Zurich 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 $16Zurich $118
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.
- Giza Pyramids Sphinx , ATV, camel ride Plus Nile Dinner Cruise: $3.00
- Explore Giza Pyramids with Camel, ATV, Dinner Cruise, & Shopping: $5.00
- 2 Hour Cairo Dinner Cruise on Nile river with live band: $7.00
- Night Dinner Nile cruise with belly dancer and folklore show: $7.00
- Cairo Dinner Nile Cruise with Belly Dancer Show on Nile River: $7.00
- Quad Bike ATV ,Camel Ride ,Nile Dinner Cruise Belly dancer show: $7.00
- Private Nile Cruise with Dinner and Folk Show from Cairo: $7.50
- Giza pyramids, sphinx &ATV +Nile Dinner cruise: $8.00
- 2-hours night dinner cruise show : Eat , Dance and Sing: $8.00
- Cairo Nile Dinner Cruise Belly Dancer Tanora Show Dinner Buffet: $8.00
- Cairo (Dance, Sing and Eat ) Nile Dinner Cruise Show &Open Buffet: $8.00
- Private Giza Pyramids, Sphinx, Quad Bike, Camel Ride, Nile Dinner Cruise: $8.00
Typical Food Prices in Zurich
Some typical examples of dining costs in Zurich are as follows:
-
Breakfast for 2$15
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Zurich
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Zurich.
- Zurich Food Tour with 10 Local Delicacies, Cheeses & Chocolates: $172
- Taste Zurich – A Full Food Tour of Swiss Flavors by Do Eat Better: $182
- Zurich Christmas Market and Old Town Food Tour: $245
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Cairo $8.29Zurich $39
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$0.77
-
Egyptian Museum Entry for Two$5.90
Tours and Activities in Cairo
Here are a few actual costs in Cairo for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Top Day 5 Hours Day Tour Pyramid Saqqar Pyramid Memphis City: $2.00
- Private VIP Giza Tour+ New Musuem + Market: $3.59
- Shopping Tour to all the Egyptian governments shops handmade: $4.00
- Best-Selling Giza Pyramids Tour: Camel Ride, Lunch &Private Guide: $4.00
- Half Day Tour Giza Pyramids,Sphinx,Lunch with Private Tour Guide: $5.00
- ViP Private Tour Giza Pyramids,camel ride , inside 3rd Pyramid: $5.00
- Shopping tour In Governmental Bazaars include guide's advisor: $5.00
- All Inclusive Tour Pyramids of Giza , Sphinx and Lunch: $5.00
- Private Giza Pyramids Sphinx and Grand Egyptian Museum Tour: $5.00
- Cairo shopping advisor tour papyrus ,perfume ,golden cartouche , Egyptian cotton: $5.00
- Cairo Shopping Tour from Cairo airport or Cairo Giza hotel: $5.00
- Luxury Private Pyramids half day tour: $5.00
Tours and Activities in Zurich
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Zurich are as follows:
- Schaffhausen Self-Guided City Walking Tour & Scavenger Hunt: $8.63
- Historical Zürich: A Self-Guided Audio Tour Through the city of 1,000 Fountains: $15
- Zurich Open Top Bus Sightseeing Tour with Optional Boat Cruise: $27
- A Dark Tour of Zurich: $31
- Zurichs Powerful Women Tour: $31
- Zurich Old Town Walking Tour: $31
- Swiss Chocolate Walking Tour of Zurich: $38
- Old Town Tour with Cathedral and Collegiate Library: $41
- Dada at 110 Guided Tour Through Zurich: $43
- Zurich Walking Tour: Explore Top Sights & Hidden Gems: $45
- City e-bike tour: $48
- FIFA Museum Interactive Football Experience Ticket Zurich: $49
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayCairo $1.35Zurich $32
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: $69
- Cairo Autumn Downtown Food & Bar Crawl with Drinks: $109
Sample the Local Flavors in Zurich
Also in Zurich, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Turicum Distillery Tour: $80
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Cairo and Zurich, we can see that Zurich 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 Zurich 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 Zurich would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Zurich 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 Zurich Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Cairo or Zurich?
Cairo has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Zurich. When comparing the sizes of Cairo and Zurich, 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 Zurich?
Zurich 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 Zurich in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Cairo and Zurich. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Cairo year-round. Also, many travelers come to Zurich for the music scene and the family-friendly experiences.
In the summer, Cairo is a little warmer than Zurich. Typically, the summer temperatures in Cairo in July average around 28°C (82°F), and Zurich averages at about 21°C (70°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Zurich this time of the year. In Cairo, it's very sunny this time of the year. Cairo usually receives more sunshine than Zurich during summer. Cairo gets 350 hours of sunny skies, while Zurich receives 241 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Cairo usually receives less rain than Zurich. Cairo gets 1 mm (0 in) of rain, while Zurich receives 89 mm (3.5 in) of rain each month for the summer.
-
Summer Average Temperatures JulyCairo 28°C (82°F)Zurich 21°C (70°F)
Should I visit Cairo or Zurich in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Cairo as well as Zurich. Cairo attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, many visitors come to Zurich in the autumn for the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
In October, Cairo is generally much warmer than Zurich. Daily temperatures in Cairo average around 23°C (73°F), and Zurich fluctuates around 13°C (56°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Cairo this time of the year. In the autumn, Cairo often gets more sunshine than Zurich. Cairo gets 290 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Zurich receives 120 hours of full sun.
Cairo usually gets less rain in October than Zurich. Cairo gets 5 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Zurich receives 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
-
Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberCairo 23°C (73°F)Zurich 13°C (56°F)
Should I visit Cairo or Zurich in the Winter?
Both Zurich 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, most visitors come to Zurich for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.
Zurich can be very cold during winter. Cairo is much warmer than Zurich in the winter. The daily temperature in Cairo averages around 14°C (57°F) in January, and Zurich fluctuates around 3°C (37°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Cairo. Cairo usually receives more sunshine than Zurich during winter. Cairo gets 221 hours of sunny skies, while Zurich receives 55 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Cairo usually receives less rain than Zurich. Cairo gets 15 mm (0.6 in) of rain, while Zurich receives 77 mm (3 in) of rain each month for the winter.
-
Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryCairo 14°C (57°F)Zurich 3°C (37°F)
Should I visit Cairo or Zurich in the Spring?
Both Zurich 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, the spring months attract visitors to Zurich because of the natural beauty.
In the spring, Cairo is much warmer than Zurich. Typically, the spring temperatures in Cairo in April average around 21°C (70°F), and Zurich averages at about 12°C (53°F).
It's quite sunny in Cairo. In the spring, Cairo often gets more sunshine than Zurich. Cairo gets 276 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Zurich receives 150 hours of full sun.
Cairo usually gets less rain in April than Zurich. Cairo gets 7 mm (0.3 in) of rain, while Zurich receives 79 mm (3.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
-
Spring Average Temperatures AprilCairo 21°C (70°F)Zurich 12°C (53°F)
Typical Weather for Zurich and Cairo
| Cairo | Zurich | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 14°C (57°F) | 15 mm (0.6 in) | 3°C (37°F) | 77 mm (3 in) |
| Feb | 14°C (57°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) | 5°C (40°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Mar | 17°C (63°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) |
| Apr | 21°C (70°F) | 7 mm (0.3 in) | 12°C (53°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) |
| May | 25°C (77°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 16°C (60°F) | 101 mm (4 in) |
| Jun | 27°C (81°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 1 mm (0 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 89 mm (3.5 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 21°C (69°F) | 104 mm (4.1 in) |
| Sep | 26°C (79°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) |
| Oct | 23°C (73°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) | 13°C (56°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Nov | 19°C (66°F) | 1 mm (0 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) |
| Dec | 15°C (59°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) | 4°C (39°F) | 83 mm (3.3 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.