Which place is cheaper, Aswan or Dahab?
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 Dahab or Aswan?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Dahab and Aswan 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: Dahab or Aswan?
Dahab
Dahab is a small town on the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt. It is located about 85 kilometers north of Sharm el-Sheikh and sits on the Gulf of Aqaba. It's a popular destination with divers and backpackers alike, and offers some of the best snorkeling and diving that you'll find in the Red Sea. It's a great alternative to the resort driven Sharm el-Sheikh, and is popular with independent travelers who are looking for affordable accommodation. There are some upmarket options however, predominantly in the Laguna area, but budget facilities are not hard to find.
Aswan
Lounging along the Nile like Egyptian royalty is a fantasy for most world travelers. If you want to do it without the hustle and bustle of Cairo, there's always Aswan. This city in the south of Egypt is the smallest of the three major cities on the Nile. Located just below the Aswan Dam and Lake Nasser, Aswan's 275,00 people include a large portion of Nubians – mostly resettled from their flooded homeland.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Egypt, The Best Historical Tours in Egypt, The Best 10-Day Tours in Egypt, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Egypt.
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Dahab Prices
Egypt PricesAswan Prices
Egypt Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayDahab $26Aswan $31
The average daily cost (per person) in Dahab is $26, while the average daily cost in Aswan is $31. 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 Dahab and Aswan in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personDahab $9.31Aswan $10
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomDahab $19Aswan $20
Compare Hotels in Dahab and Aswan
Looking for a hotel in Dahab or Aswan? 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: Dahab Hotel Prices and Aswan Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Dahab $3.10Aswan $5.70
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Dahab
Also for Dahab, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer Dahab Hotel to Sharm ElSheikh Airport : $32
- Sharm el-Sheikh: 1-Way or Round-Trip Transfer to Dahab: $42
- Private Transfer Between Nuweibaa City and Sharm El Sheikh Hotels: $60
- Private Transfer from & to Nuweibaa City to Sharm ElSheikh Hotels: $60
- Private Transfer To/From Nuweibaa City and Sharm El Sheikh Hotels: $68
- Saint paul and saint anthony monastery private transfer: $69
- Private Transfer From Dahab To Taba border group from 1 to 4: $90
- Private Transfer from Dahab to Sharm El Sheikh (SSH) Airport: $120
- Private Transfer From Dahab To Taba border group from 1 to 12: $220
- Private Pickup Transfers From Dahab To Cairo: $260
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Aswan
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Aswan:
- VIP Express Exclusive Aswan Airport Transfer: $50
- Transfer to Luxor from Aswan with 2stops in Komombo& EdfuTemples : $52
- Transfer from Aswan to Luxor: $69
- Transfer from Aswan to Hurghada : $95
- Transfer from Aswan to Abu Simbel: $107
- Sunset Departure Evening Aswan Airport Transfer: $32
- Private transfer from your Hotel or Cruise to Aswan Airport: $25
- Private transfer from aswan to luxor with visits: $93
- Private transfer from Aswan to Luxor: $35
- Private transfer from Aswan to Aswan Airport: $8.00
- Private transfer from Aswan Airport to Aswan Hotels: $78
- Private Transfers from Aswan Airport to your Hotel or Cruise: $25
Is it cheaper to fly into Dahab or Aswan?
Prices for flights to both Aswan and Dahab 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 dayDahab $13Aswan $16
Typical Food Prices in Dahab
For Dahab, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Seafood Dinner (for 2)$2.00
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Juice$0.11
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Breakfast for Two$0.63
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Dahab
For Dahab, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Bedouin Dinner in the Mountains In Dahab: $36
- Bedouin Dinner in the Mountains In Dahab: $39
- Dahab Desert Safari and Bedouin Dinner: $95
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Aswan
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Aswan.
- Savor Nubian Cuisine: Lunch or Dinner in a Local Village: $50
- Nubian Dinner at Nubian Village: $51
- Nubian Dinner at Nubian Village: $60
- Private 3-Hour Nubian Party with Dinner and Pickup in Aswan: $77
- Aswan Sunset Dinner Cruise: $80
- Your Grandmothers Cooking Class In Aswan : $90
- Experience the Magic of Aswan in One Day Food Tour with Guide: $177
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Dahab $6.56Aswan $9.77
Tours and Activities in Dahab
For Dahab, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Jeep Safari to Canyon Salama Day Tour from Dahab: $15
- Dahab's Kept Secrets 5 Adventures in 1 Tour: $25
- Saint Catherine's Monastery And Half Day Tour From Dahab : $30
- Full-Day Hike Tour at St. Catherine's Monastery: $33
- Royal seascope Semi-Submarine Cruise: $33
- luxury Snorkeling cruise with buffet lunch: $41
- Hurghada to Cairo tour Small group HurghadaToGo: $42
- Blue Hole Snorkeling Tour with lunch from Dahab: $43
- Camel Ride + Blue Hole Snorkeling + Quad Bike Tour With Lunch From Dahab: $49
- Adventure Quad Biking Tour in Dahab: $50
- Mount Sinai Sunrise and St Catherine Monastery Tour from Dahab: $50
- St. Catherine Tour from Sharm : $55
Typical Entertainment Prices in Aswan
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Aswan are as follows:
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Temple Kom Ombo for Two$1.26
Tours and Activities in Aswan
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Aswan are as follows:
- Abu Simbel Temple from Aswan private full day tour: $80
- Abu Simbel Temples Full Day Tour From Aswan With Entry Tickets : $99
- Aswan Luxury Car Tour: $75
- Aswan OR Luxor : Full Day Private Guided Tour to Kom Ombo and Edfu temples: $99
- High Dam, Unfinished Obelisk, & Philae Private Tour: $20
- Kalabsha Temple and Nubian Museum Tour: $89
- Kayak Tour around the Temple of Philae & Heissa Island : $30
- Nubian Village Day Tour In Aswan: $25
- Nubian Village and Philae Temple Private Guided Tour From Aswan: $29
- Philae Temple and Aswan High Dam Tour: $95
- Private Abu Simbel Temple tour : $123
- Private Day Tour to Abu Simble Temple from Aswan: $29
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayDahab $3.89Aswan $1.12
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Dahab and Aswan, we can see that Aswan is more expensive. And not only is Dahab much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Dahab would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Dahab 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 Aswan would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Aswan than you might in Dahab.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Dahab Expensive? and Is Aswan Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Dahab or Aswan?
Aswan has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Dahab. When comparing the sizes of Dahab and Aswan, 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.