A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Dahab vs. Catania for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Dahab or Catania?

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 Catania 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 Catania?

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.

Catania

Located on the east coast of Sicily, Catania is at the base of Mount Etna, which is the largest volcano in Europe. It's also the island's second largest city and a major transportation center for the area. With almost one million residents in the metropolitan area, the city serves as an important economic base and university town for Sicily. It's a vibrant city with a young population, a lively downtown, and an excellent nightlife. The city has an abundance of Sicilian Baroque architecture and the downtown area, where much of it is this architecture is concentrated, has been declared a World Heritage Site.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Egypt, The Best Historical Tours in Egypt, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Italy, and The Best Walking Tours in Italy.


Which place is cheaper, Catania or Dahab?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Dahab is $13, while the average daily cost in Catania is $130. 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 Catania in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Dahab $6.09
    Catania $70
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Dahab $12
    Catania $140
Compare Hotels in Dahab and Catania

Looking for a hotel in Dahab or Catania? 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 Catania


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 Catania Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Dahab $1.92
    Catania $22

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
  • Sharm el-Sheikh: 1-Way or Round-Trip Transfer to Dahab: $38
  • Private Transfer from Hotel in Dahab To Sharm el Sheikh Airport: $55
  • Private Sharm El Sheikh Airport (SSH) Transfer: $71
  • Private Transfer from Dahab to Sharm El Sheikh (SSH) Airport: $109
  • Private Pickup Transfers from Dahab to Taba: $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 Catania

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Catania:

  • airport transfers throughout Sicily: $163
  • Transfers from Catania airport to Noto : $105
  • Transfer servizio taxi da Catania aeroporto/città a Scicli: $198
  • Transfer service from Catania to Ispica or surrounding area: $188
  • Transfer from Catania Airport to Syracuse-Ortigia: $158
  • Transfer Catania to Agrigento : $187
  • Transfer Catania / Agrigento Airport: $196
  • Taxi transfer from CATANIA (everywhere) to MILAZZO (or viceversa): $147
  • Taxi Transfer from Catania to Giardini Naxos (or viceversa): $154
  • TAXI Transfer service from Catania to Marzamemi or viceversa: $214
  • TAXI Transfer from CATANIA to Capo d'Orlando (or vice versa): $421
  • Sicily: Catania Airport Bus Transfer to Licata: $9.84

Is it cheaper to fly into Dahab or Catania?

Prices for flights to both Catania 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 $4.82
    Catania $44
Typical Food Prices in Dahab

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


  • Seafood Dinner (for 2)
    $2.00
  • Juice
    $0.11
  • 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
  • Dahab Desert Safari and Bedouin Dinner: $40
  • Stargazer + Camel riding + Bedouin dinner from Dahab : $90

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Catania

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

  • Catania Street Food Tour: Fish Market & City Centre: $38
  • Catania Street Food Tour: $52
  • Cooking class & visit to the Catania Historical market: $59
  • Patisserie Food tour: $60
  • Guided Street Food Tour with Tastings: $63
  • Food tour of Catania by night: $64
  • Catania Street Food Tour: $67
  • Guided Street Food Tour with Tastings: $73
  • Aci Trezza boat tour with dinner on board: $85
  • Cooking Class Tiramisù: $95
  • Cooking Class Arancini in Catania: $96
  • Cooking class Pizza: $96

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Dahab $4.60
    Catania $21

Tours and Activities in Dahab

For Dahab, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Saint Catherine's Monastery Half Day Tour From Dahab: $24
  • From Three Pools Guided Snorkeling Tour with Lunch: $28
  • Blue Hole Snorkeling Tour with lunch from Dahab: $28
  • Dahab Windsurfing Adventure in Red Sea Waves: $30
  • Royal seascope Semi-Submarine Cruise: $33
  • Royal Seascope Submarine Guided Boat Tour : $38
  • 4x4 Jeep Adventure from Dahab: $39
  • Three Pools snorkeling and Quad Bike full-day tour in Dahab: $40
  • Full Day Climbing and Hiking Tour in Canyon with Pickup: $40
  • luxury Snorkeling cruise with buffet lunch: $41
  • Camel Ride + Blue Hole Snorkeling + Quad Bike Tour With Lunch From Dahab: $45
  • Seascope Submarine Tour from Dahab: $45

Tours and Activities in Catania

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Catania are as follows:

  • From Catania, Syracuse and Taormina: fly fishing experience: $240
  • Taormina and Castelmola private tour with traditional lunch: $272
  • 2 hours guided tour of Catania: $40
  • 3-Hour Catania Segway PT Authorized Tour: $118
  • Agrigento and Piazza Armerina day tour: $131
  • BOAT TOUR WITH APERITIF ON BOARD IN THE CYCLOPS ISLANDS: $64
  • Baroque shades of Sicily (Noto, Modica and Ragusa day tour): $120
  • Benedictine Monastery of Guided tour in English: $11
  • Boat tour to the Ulysses caves with swimming guide: $84
  • Boat trip and tour Savoca and Taormina: $142
  • Catania : Private Custom Walking Tour with a Local Guide: $49
  • Catania Bike Tour with Tasting food: $182

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Dahab $2.63
    Catania $19

Sample the Local Flavors in Catania

Also in Catania, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:

  • Volcanic Wine Tasting in a Metropolitan Market: $48
  • Wine Tasting in the South Slope of Etna: $50
  • Etna: Urban Winery, Vineyards Walk & Wine Tasting at Sunset: $62
  • Wine tour in Catania: $102
  • Mt Etna and Wine tasting tour from Catania: $116
  • Full-Day Etna and Wine Tour from Catania: $126
  • From Mt.Etna picnic and wine tasting: $128
  • Guided Tour of Etna with Wine Tasting & Appetizers: $139
  • Etna trekking and wine tasting: $147
  • Tour Etna & Wine Tasting: $158
  • Etna Tour and Lunch in a Winery with Wine Tasting: $265
  • From Catania/Taormina: Mount Etna Private Wine Tasting Tour: $433


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Dahab and Catania, we can see that Catania is more expensive. And not only is Dahab much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Dahab is in Africa and Catania is in Europe, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. 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 Catania would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Catania 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 Catania Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Dahab or Catania?

Catania has a larger population, and is about 40 times larger than the population of Dahab. When comparing the sizes of Dahab and Catania, 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.