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

Should you visit Dahab or Dakar?

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 Dakar 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 Dakar?

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.

Dakar

Located in West Africa, Dakar is the capital city of Senegal and an Atlantic port on the Cap-Vert peninsula. Main attractions include the city's markets, the Dakar Grand Mosque, Goree Island, the IFAN Museum, the African Renaissance Monument, beaches, and the Senegal Zoo.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Egypt, The Best Historical Tours in Egypt, The Best Adventure Tours to Senegal, and The Best Luxury Tours to Senegal.


Which place is cheaper, Dakar or Dahab?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in Dahab is $23, while the average daily cost in Dakar is $82. 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 Dakar in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Dahab $8.47
    Dakar $35
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Dahab $17
    Dakar $70
Compare Hotels in Dahab and Dakar

Looking for a hotel in Dahab or Dakar? 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 Dakar


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.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Dahab $2.82
    Dakar $5.80

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Dahab

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

  • Dahab to Sharm El-Sheikh: Private Door-to-Door Transfer: $63
  • Private Pickup Transfers from Dahab to Taba: $120
  • Private Transfer From Dahab To Taba border group from 1 to 4: $100
  • Private Transfer from Dahab to Sharm El Sheikh (SSH) Airport: $117
  • Private Transfer from Dahab to Sharm El Sheikh Airport (SSH): $35
  • Sharm el-Sheikh: 1-Way or Round-Trip Transfer to Dahab: $42

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Dakar

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Dakar:

  • Transfer - DSS Airport Saint-Louis (One way): $284
  • Transfer - DSS Airport Dakar (One way): $71
  • Private Transfer, Airport, Hotels, Dakar, Saly and Surrounding Areas: $72
  • Private Transfer from Dakar to Blaise Diagne Airport (DSS): $210
  • Private Transfer from Blaise Diagne Airport (DSS) to Dakar: $213
  • Private Transfer DSS AIBD Airport - Riu Baobab Hotel (two ways): $101
  • Private Transfer DSS AIBD Airport - Dakar (two directions): $101
  • Dakar hotels to Blaise Diagne Intl Airport (DSS) - Departure Private Transfer: $73
  • DSS Airport to Saly Private Transfer: $65
  • DSS Airport Transfer Saly (One way): $71
  • DSS Airport Transfer Dakar (Return): $130
  • DSS Airport Riu Baobab Hotel Premium Private Transfer: $76

Is it cheaper to fly into Dahab or Dakar?

Prices for flights to both Dakar 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 $12
    Dakar $37
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

Typical Food Prices in Dakar

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


  • Breakfast
    $4.44

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Dakar

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

  • Authentic Jollof Cooking Class: $99
  • Senegalese Street Food Tour in Dakar: $115

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Dahab $5.96
    Dakar $15

Tours and Activities in Dahab

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

  • Full-Day Hike Tour at St. Catherine's Monastery: $30
  • Royal seascope Semi-Submarine Cruise: $33
  • Adventure Quad Biking Tour in Dahab: $40
  • luxury Snorkeling cruise with buffet lunch: $41
  • Royal Seascope Submarine Guided Boat Tour: $41
  • 4x4 Jeep Adventure from Dahab: $42
  • Blue Hole Snorkeling Tour with lunch from Dahab: $43
  • Seascope Submarine Tour from Dahab: $45
  • Camel Ride + Blue Hole Snorkeling + Quad Bike Tour With Lunch From Dahab: $50
  • Mount Sinai Sunrise and St Catherine Monastery Tour from Dahab: $50
  • Private Day Tour To Blue Lagoon And Ras Abu Galum From Dahab: $65
  • Private City Tour In Sharm El Sheikh From Dahab: $65

Tours and Activities in Dakar

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

  • 2 days tour Pink lake- desert of Lompoul 2 people minimum: $260
  • Dakar City Tour – Markets, Highlights & Local Guide: $142
  • Dakar City Tour and Goree Island: $162
  • Dakar City Tour and Goree island (from 3 people): $142
  • Dakar Senegalese Culture and History 4 Hour Tour: $120
  • Dakar in 3h: Full tour by traditional fast coach: $36
  • Pink Lake and Turtle Village Half-Day Tour: $200
  • Private City Tour: $117
  • Private Custom Tour with a Local Guide: $33
  • Private custom tour with a local guide: $33
  • prepare the thieboudienne for the ultimate local experience: $55
  • private tour "move, eat, act like a local": $82

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Dahab $3.54
    Dakar $9.73


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


Which is Bigger, Dahab or Dakar?

Dakar has a larger population, and is about 310 times larger than the population of Dahab. When comparing the sizes of Dahab and Dakar, 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.