A Travel Price Comparison for Egypt Dahab vs. Cairo for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Dahab or Cairo?

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 Cairo 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 Cairo?

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.

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.

Which place is cheaper, Cairo or Dahab?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Dahab is $21, while the average daily cost in Cairo is $27. 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 Cairo in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Dahab $9.34
    Cairo $14
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Dahab $19
    Cairo $28
Compare Hotels in Dahab and Cairo

Looking for a hotel in Dahab or Cairo? 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.

Hotels in Dahab


Hotels in Cairo


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 Cairo Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Dahab $2.95
    Cairo $4.58

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Dahab

Also for Dahab, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Private Sharm El Sheikh Airport (SSH) Transfer: $75
  • Pickup transfer from Dahab To Sharm El Sheikh airport: $70
  • Private Pickup Transfer From Dahab To St. Catherine: $75
  • Private Pickup Transfers From Dahab To Cairo: $260
  • Private Pickup Transfers from Dahab to Taba: $120
  • Private Transfer From Dahab To Taba border group from 1 to 4: $90
  • Private Transfer from Dahab to Sharm El Sheikh (SSH) Airport: $109
  • Sharm el-Sheikh: 1-Way or Round-Trip Transfer to Dahab: $38

Typical Local Transportation prices in Cairo

Some typical examples of transportation costs in Cairo are as follows:


  • Metro Ride
    $0.13
  • Taxi Ride
    $0.49

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cairo

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cairo:

  • private transfer from Cairo to Alexandria: $130
  • one transfer from airport to Cairo Giza hotels or hotels to Cairo airport: $27
  • VIP Meet and Assist upon arrival at Cairo Airport- (with Hotel Private Transfer): $37
  • VIP Meet and Assist in Cairo Airport with Private Transfer to Cairo Hotels: $49
  • 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 to Cairo & Giza Hotels From Cairo Airport: $35
  • Transfer from Hurghada to Cairo by van : $235
  • Transfer from Hurghada To Luxor: $110
  • Transfer from Hurghada Airport To Hotels in El Qusier: $99
  • Transfer from Cairo to Ain El Sokhna : $70
  • Transfer from Cairo or Giza Hotels to Cairo Airport: $9.90

Is it cheaper to fly into Dahab or Cairo?

Prices for flights to both Cairo 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Dahab $7.41
    Cairo $7.29
Typical Food prices in Dahab

For Dahab, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:


  • Seafood Dinner (for 2)
    $3.07
  • Juice
    $0.16
  • Breakfast for Two
    $0.97

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
  • Sinai Desert Stargazing Evening Tour with Dinner: $85
  • Stargazer + Camel riding + Bedouin dinner from Dahab : $90

Typical Food prices in Cairo

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Cairo:


  • Juice
    $0.06

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cairo

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Cairo.

  • Unusual Cairo Food Tour : $15
  • Delicious food tour in Cairo: $15
  • 2-Hour Nile River Night Dinner Cruise from Cairo: $16
  • Family Safari, ATV Quad Bike, Buggy, Dinner, Transfer - Hurghada: $16
  • Dinner Cruise on the Nile with Private Transfer from Cairo: $16
  • Super Safari ATV , Drive Buggy Car, Camel Ride, Dinner, Show-Hurghada: $19
  • Dinner Cruise Cairo With Belly Dancer Show in The Nile River: $20
  • Buffet Dinner Cruise with Folkloric Show: $21
  • Royal Safari Jeep - Quad - Buggy - Show and dinner from Hurghada: $22
  • local oriental food tour from Cairo or Giza hotels: $23
  • Private Cairo Nile Cruise with Dinner : $23
  • Food Tour in Local Cairo Life with Egyptian tea: $23

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Dahab $7.06
    Cairo $8.83

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: $15
  • From Three Pools Guided Snorkeling Tour with Lunch: $27
  • Blue Hole Snorkeling Tour with lunch from Dahab: $28
  • Desert Quad Bike Tour at Sunset with Bedouin Tea: $30
  • Royal seascope Semi-Submarine Cruise: $35
  • 4x4 Jeep Adventure from Dahab: $39
  • Three Pools snorkeling and Quad Bike full-day tour in Dahab: $40
  • Mount Sinai Sunrise Tour Small-Group Tour: $40
  • Seascope Submarine Tour from Dahab: $45
  • luxury Snorkeling cruise with buffet lunch: $45
  • Camel Ride + Blue Hole Snorkeling + Quad Bike Tour With Lunch From Dahab: $45
  • Adventure Quad Biking Tour in Dahab: $50

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
    $1.29
  • Egyptian Museum Entry for Two
    $9.97

Tours and Activities in Cairo

Here are a few actual costs in Cairo for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • ( Stopover Tour Of Cairo ) Private All Inc.Pyramids,Camel Ride,Museum& Lunch: $180
  • 2 Days 1 Nights Tour package to Saint-Catherine from Cairo : $300
  • 2 Days White Desert and Bahariya Oasis Tour: $231
  • 2 Days White Desert and Bahariya Oasis Tour: $279
  • 2 Days in Cairo & Giza Private Tour : $80
  • 2 Nights Cruise Aswan to Luxor INC Balloon by Flight from Cairo: $745
  • 2 days Tour To Luxor From Cairo By Flight With Hot air Balloon : $670
  • 2-Day Cairo Giza Highlights Guided Tour including Camel Ride All inclusive : $40
  • 2-Day Egypt Desert Rose Tour: $329
  • 2-Day Tours at Cairo & Giza: $90
  • 2-Days Tour at Cairo & Giza: $86
  • 2-Days Tours at Cairo & Giza : $143

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Dahab $4.04
    Cairo $1.80

Sample the Local Flavors in Cairo

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Cairo:

  • Pub Crawl and Speakeasy Bar Tour with 1 Free Drink: $52


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Dahab and Cairo, we can see that Cairo 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 Cairo would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Cairo than you might in Dahab.

Which is Bigger, Dahab or Cairo?

Cairo is bigger, and its population is about 966.8 times larger than the population of Dahab. When comparing the population of Dahab vs. Cairo, 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 and the activities 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.
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Dahab vs. Cairo Travel Comparison

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