Which place is cheaper, Aswan or Dahab?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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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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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayDahab $13Aswan $16
The average daily cost (per person) in Dahab is $13, while the average daily cost in Aswan is $16. 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 $6.02Aswan $6.67
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomDahab $12Aswan $13
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 $1.90Aswan $4.29
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Dahab
Also for Dahab, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Dahab Private Transfer To/From Sharm el sheikh ( One Way Transfer ): $30
- Dahab To/from Sharm El Sheikh Private Transfer : $40
- Private Transfer from Hotel in Dahab To Sharm el Sheikh Airport: $55
- Private Transfer From Dahab To Taba border group from 1 to 4: $90
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Aswan
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Aswan:
- luxor Airport Private Transfer: $6.00
- VIP Aswan Airport Transfer to Luxury Retreats: $35
- Transfer from Aswan to Hurghada : $100
- Transfer from Aswan to Abu Simbel: $75
- Transfer from Aswan Train Station to your hotel or the opposite : $30
- Transfer from Aswan Airport to Hotels or Nile Cruise in Aswan: $8.00
- Transfer from Aswan Airport to Anywhere in Aswan: $25
- Station Aswan Transfer To hotel: $8.00
- Shared Transfer from Aswan Airport to Hotels : $20
- Private transfer from anywhere Aswan to Aswan Airport: $13
- Private transfer from Aswan to Aswan Airport: $8.00
- Private transfer from Aswan to Aswan Airport: $10
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 $4.77Aswan $5.67
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)$1.98
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Juice$0.10
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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: $30
- Bedouin Dinner in the Mountains In Dahab: $36
- Bedouin Dinner in the Mountains In Dahab: $39
- Dahab Desert Safari and Bedouin Dinner: $40
- Stargazer + Camel riding + Bedouin dinner from Dahab : $90
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Aswan
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Aswan.
- Nubian Dinner in Nubian Village Of Aswan: $40
- Nubian Dinner at Nubian Village: $51
- Dinner on board a cruise on the Nile: $59
- Your Grandmothers Cooking Class In Aswan : $90
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Dahab $4.55Aswan $6.04
Tours and Activities in Dahab
For Dahab, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Dahab's Kept Secrets 5 Adventures in 1 Tour: $25
- Blue Hole Snorkeling Tour with lunch from Dahab: $28
- Dahab Windsurfing Adventure in Red Sea Waves: $30
- Half Day Tour to the Blue Hole with Snorkeling: $35
- Royal Seascope Submarine Guided Boat Tour : $39
- 4x4 Jeep Adventure from Dahab: $40
- Astronomy and Bedouin Culture Private Tour in Dahab with Pickup: $40
- Seascope Submarine Tour from Dahab: $45
- Camel Trek Desert and Beach Experience Private Tour in Dahab: $45
- Camel Ride + Blue Hole Snorkeling + Quad Bike Tour With Lunch From Dahab: $45
- Adventure Quad Biking Tour in Dahab: $50
- Mount Sinai Sunrise and St Catherine Monastery Tour from Dahab: $50
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$1.25
Tours and Activities in Aswan
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Aswan are as follows:
- Abu Simbel Day tour from Aswan: $50
- Abu Simbel Temples Full Day Tour From Aswan With Entry Tickets : $99
- Aswan OR Luxor : Full Day Private Guided Tour to Kom Ombo and Edfu temples: $99
- Day Tour To Luxor From Aswan by Car: $60
- Exploration of Philae Temple and High Dam in Aswan Private Tour: $45
- Full Day Tour to Abu Simbel Temples from Aswan: $22
- Full Day Tour to Luxor from Aswan by Car: $190
- Full-Day Private Tour to Abu Simbel Temples in Aswan With Guide : $100
- Guided Tour of Philae Temple in Aswan Egypt: $22
- Kayak Tour around the Temple of Philae & Heissa Island : $28
- Nubian Village Day Tour In Aswan: $25
- Nubian Village Tour in Aswan: $36
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayDahab $2.60Aswan $1.23
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.