Which place is cheaper, Cape Town 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 Cape Town?
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 Cape Town 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 Cape Town?
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.
Cape Town
Picture your travel bucket list. Is Cape Town on it? Yes, most people dream of visiting the "Mother City" of South Africa. As one of the most iconic places in the world, Cape Town is a world-class cosmopolitan city full of bustling nightlife, historical backdrops and a large gay community.
Cape Town is the most southern city in Africa with seasons turned upside down. In the southern hemisphere they experience the summer from December to February. During these months days can be hot and dry so be sure to gather in the shade and wear plenty of sunscreen. The winter from June to August is full of rainy days and cold nights.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Egypt, The Best Historical Tours in Egypt, The Best Camping Tours in South Africa, and The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in South Africa.
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Dahab Prices
Egypt PricesCape Town Prices
South Africa Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayDahab $16Cape Town $172
The average daily cost (per person) in Dahab is $16, while the average daily cost in Cape Town is $172. 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 Cape Town in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personDahab $5.76Cape Town $80
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomDahab $12Cape Town $160
Compare Hotels in Dahab and Cape Town
Looking for a hotel in Dahab or Cape Town? 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 Cape Town Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Dahab $1.82Cape Town $18
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Dahab
Also for Dahab, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private transfer From/To Dahab City To Sharm El Sheikh Hotels: $33
- Private Transfer from Dahab to Sharm El Sheikh (SSH) Airport: $116
- Private Transfer from & to Nuweibaa City to Sharm ElSheikh Hotels: $4.75
- Private Transfer From/To Nuweibaa City To Sharm El Sheikh Hotels : $57
- Private Transfer From Dahab To Taba border group from 1 to 4: $90
- Private Transfer From Dahab To Taba border group from 1 to 12: $220
- Private Pickup Transfers From Dahab To Cairo: $260
- Dahab To/from Sharm El Sheikh Private Transfer : $45
- Dahab Private Transfer To/From Sharm el sheikh ( One Way Transfer ): $44
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cape Town
Also for Cape Town, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- VIP Airport Transfer: $85
- Try find your better than us! Airport transfer service in Cape Town HTL-APT(CPT): $44
- Try find your better than us! Airport transfer service in Cape Town APT-HTL(CPT): $44
- Transfer from Cape Town City Center to Cape Town Airport: $18
- Table Mountain Tour with Cable Car Tickets and Transfers: $85
- Table Mountain Cable Car Ticket with Transfer: $82
- Stellenbosch Winelands Connoisseur Day Tour with Private Transfer: $262
- Shopping Mall Transfers: $23
- Shark Diving Full Day Guided Return Transfer to Gansbaai from Cape Town: $154
- Shared Transfers to and from Safari Game Reserve (excluding entrance fees): $87
- Robben Island Museum Tour with Transfer and Ferry Tickets.: $74
- Robben Island Experience: Pre-Booked Ticket & Return Transfers: $60
Is it cheaper to fly into Dahab or Cape Town?
Prices for flights to both Cape Town 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 $7.90Cape Town $74
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)$1.90
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Juice$0.10
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Breakfast for Two$0.60
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Dahab
For Dahab, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Dahab Desert Safari and Bedouin Dinner: $95
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cape Town
For Cape Town, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- African Cooking with a Chef Founder: $29
- Cape Malay Cooking Class in Bo-Kaap: $41
- Malay Cooking Class and Lunch in Bo-Kaap: $44
- Authentic African Cuisine Cooking Experience: $57
- Bo-Kapp Walking Tour and Malay Cooking Class: $60
- Sunset At Signal Hill Constantia Wine Tasting and Dinner: $62
- Sunset Champagne Cruise and 3-Course Dinner: $62
- Authentic African Cuisine Cooking Experience: $63
- Taste of African Food Tour with a Local Guide: $66
- From CapeTown: African Dinner and Drumming Experience: $70
- African Dinner, Drumming Experience with Transfer: $70
- African Dinner Experience from Cape Town: $72
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Dahab $4.35Cape Town $24
Tours and Activities in Dahab
For Dahab, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Camel Trek Desert and Beach Experience Private Tour in Dahab: $140
- 2 Day Hiking Canyoning Tour Colored and Wishwashi in Sinai: $69
- 2- Day Tour Exploring the Hidden Gems of Serabit el Khadim: $200
- 4x4 Jeep Adventure from Dahab: $42
- Adventure Quad Biking Tour in Dahab: $50
- Astronomy and Bedouin Culture group Tour in sharm with Pickup: $140
- Blue Hole Snorkeling Adventure in Dahab: $195
- Blue Hole Snorkeling Tour with lunch from Dahab: $43
- Cairo 1-Day Tour by Bus From Dahab: $130
- Camel Ride + Blue Hole Snorkeling + Quad Bike Tour With Lunch From Dahab: $49
- Dahab Windsurfing Adventure in Red Sea Waves: $60
- Dahab's Kept Secrets 5 Adventures in 1 Tour: $25
Tours and Activities in Cape Town
For Cape Town, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 3 Wineries Private Tour in Stellenbosch, Paarl Tasting Included: $142
- Best of the Cape Tour - Cape Peninsular and Winelands: $275
- Big 5 Safari aquila Day Tour wine testing and Lunch included: $159
- Cape Agulhas Full Day Private Tour: $199
- Cape Peninsula &Penguin Sightseeing in Private Car Full Day Tour: $256
- Cape Point Full Day Tour: $199
- Cape Point and Cape of Good Hope day tour Up to 10 persons: $68
- Cape Town - Kirstenbosch Botanic Gardens and City Tour: $300
- Cape Town Champagne Sunset Cruise Table mountain kirstenbosch : $299
- Cape Town Table Mountain Cable Car & Afrogem Half-Day Tour: $105
- Cape Town Woodstock Street Art Walking Tour: $31
- Cape Winelands From Cape Town Private Day Tour: $168
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayDahab $2.49Cape Town $21
Sample the Local Flavors in Cape Town
Also in Cape Town, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Whale Watching Wine Tasting and Penguins From Cape Town - Private Tour: $2.56
- Stellenbosch Small Group Wine Tasting Tour From Cape Town: $2.56
- Distillery Tour, rum and gin tasting: $9.67
- Experience South African Craft Rum tasting and distillery tour in Cape Town: $13
- Deep South Distillery Gin Tasting Experience: $13
- Indigenous Food and Wine Tasting: $25
- Drumstruck at Silvermist. Live African Drum Show & Wine tasting: $27
- Wine Tasting & Storytelling with SA Tapas add-on: $29
- Franschhoek, Stellenbosch and Babylonstoren Wine Tour: $37
- Stellenbosch and Paarl Half-Day Wine Tour: $38
- Wine Tour at Stellenbosch, Franschhoek, and Paarl: $40
- Private Cape Town Wine Tour 3 Tastings, Lunch and Expert Guide: $41
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Dahab and Cape Town, we can see that Cape Town 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 Cape Town would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Cape Town 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 Cape Town Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Dahab or Cape Town?
Cape Town has a larger population, and is about 430 times larger than the population of Dahab. When comparing the sizes of Dahab and Cape Town, 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.