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.
Jump to 
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.
-
Dahab Prices
Egypt PricesCape Town Prices
South Africa Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayDahab $23Cape Town $191
The average daily cost (per person) in Dahab is $23, while the average daily cost in Cape Town is $191. 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
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personDahab $8.47Cape Town $89
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomDahab $17Cape Town $178
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
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Dahab $2.82Cape Town $19
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Dahab
Also for Dahab, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Sharm el-Sheikh: 1-Way or Round-Trip Transfer to Dahab: $42
- Private Transfer from Dahab to Sharm El Sheikh Airport (SSH): $35
- Private Transfer from Dahab to Sharm El Sheikh (SSH) Airport: $117
- Private Transfer From Dahab To Taba border group from 1 to 4: $100
- Private Pickup Transfers from Dahab to Taba: $120
- Dahab to Sharm El-Sheikh: Private Door-to-Door Transfer: $63
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cape Town
Also for Cape Town, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- West Coast Wonders Full Day Tour with Private Transfer: $292
- Van for 1-7 Passenger Cape Town - Airport Transfer: $50
- Unguided Hermanus Wine Tour (Full Day Incl Cape Town Transfers): $175
- Transfer from Cape Town International Airport to Cape Town Areas: $22
- Transfer To Safari- Aquila From Cape Town Excluding Entry Fees Full Day: $156
- Table Mountain Tour with Round Trip Transfers: $61
- Table Mountain Tour Tickets and Transfers: $99
- Table Mountain Guided with Cable Car Tickets & Hotel Transfers: $116
- Table Mountain Cable Car Tour with Tickets & Hotel Transfers: $78
- Swift Ride Airport Transfers: $63
- Shopping Mall Transfers-Hassle-Free Ride: $38
- Safari Game Drive, Lunch & Transfers from Cape Town: $178
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
-
Food Meals for one dayDahab $12Cape Town $82
Typical Food Prices in Dahab
For Dahab, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
-
Seafood Dinner (for 2)$1.82
-
Juice$0.10
-
Breakfast for Two$0.57
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:
- From African Dinner and Drumming Experience: $62
- Authentic African Cuisine Cooking Experience: $63
- Private Indonesian & Cape Malay Cultural Cooking Class: $75
- South African Cooking Class in Cape Town with a Local Family: $82
- African Dinner Experience from Cape Town: $86
- Sunset At Signal and Dinner Privat: $88
- Cruise and Dine Dinner / Sunset Champagne Cruise and 3-Course Dinner: $97
- Cape Town Historic Centre Food Tour with 15 Local Dishes and Wine: $97
- Half Day Cape Town African Dinner Restaurant with Live Music Show: $100
- Private Cape Malay Cooking Class in Lorette’s Cape Town Home: $100
- Cape Town Best Street Food Tour With A Local Guide: $102
- Cape Malay/Creole Cooking Class and Local Shopping in Salt River: $113
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Dahab $5.96Cape Town $26
Tours and Activities in Dahab
For Dahab, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 4x4 Jeep Adventure from Dahab: $42
- Adventure Quad Biking Tour in Dahab: $40
- Adventure Safari By Horse In Dahab At Laguna Beach: $65
- Blue Hole Snorkeling Tour with lunch from Dahab: $43
- Camel Ride + Blue Hole Snorkeling + Quad Bike Tour With Lunch From Dahab: $50
- Camel Trek Desert and Beach Experience Private Tour in Dahab: $70
- Royal Seascope Submarine Guided Boat Tour: $41
- Royal seascope Semi-Submarine Cruise: $33
- luxury Snorkeling cruise with buffet lunch: $41
- Full-Day Hike Tour at St. Catherine's Monastery: $30
- Jerusalem Bethlehem and Dead Sea 1-Day Tour from Dahab: $270
- Jerusalem Bethlehem and Dead Sea 1-Day Tour from Dahab: $260
Tours and Activities in Cape Town
For Cape Town, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- #1 Boulders Penguins & Cape Point Full Day Tour From Cape Town: $39
- ( Cape town ) Private Winelands Tasting Full Day Tour: $256
- 1 Hour Coastal Catamaran Cruise from Cape Town: $26
- 1- Hour Catamaran Cruise Cape Town: $21
- 1-Hour Table Mountain Abseiling Experience: $69
- 10 Day South Africa Tour Johannesburg to Cape Town: $2,657
- 10 Day Ultra Budget South Africa Tour: $1,809
- 100 % Catch Rate Cape Town Wild Tours: $82
- 12 Day South Africa Tour Johannesburg to Cape Town: $2,854
- 2 Day Cape Escape: Whale Coast, Penguins & Zipline Adventure: $291
- 2-Day Cape Town Big 6 Pre-Booked Attraction Tickets: $203
- 3 Hours private Cape Town Historical Walking Tour: $91
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayDahab $3.54Cape Town $23
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:
- Experience South African Craft Rum tasting and distillery tour in Cape Town: $14
- Craft Gin Tasting Experience and Distillery Tour: $15
- Urban Wine Tasting: $31
- Cape Town Hop- On Hop -Off Tour and Groot Constantia Wine Tasting: $34
- Indigenous Food and Wine Tasting: $38
- Cape Point, Penguins & Wine Tasting In Constantia Full Day Tour: $47
- Cape Town Hostel Pub Crawl & LinkUps: $53
- Wine Tour: Paarl, Franschhoek & Stellenbosch incl 3 wineries: $56
- Uncork the Cape : Stellenboch Half Day Wine Tour: $56
- From CapeTown: Stellenbosch Half Day Wine Tour: $58
- Full-Day Stellenbosch Wine Tasting Tour: $60
- Wine Tasting, Lion Park and Giraffe House Tour: $65
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.