Which place is cheaper, Durban or Dahab?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Dahab or Durban?
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 Durban 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 Durban?
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.
Durban
The third largest city in South Africa, Durban sits on the east coast of the country in the province of KwaZulu-Natal. The city also has the country's most active port. The city's comfortable weather and vast beaches make it one of the country's major tourist centers. There's a population of about 3.5 million in the entire metropolitan area that spreads over 2,295 square kilometers.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Egypt, The Best Historical Tours in Egypt, The Best Overlanding Trips in South Africa, and The Best Adventure Tours to South Africa.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayDahab $13Durban $52
The average daily cost (per person) in Dahab is $13, while the average daily cost in Durban is $52. 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 Durban in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personDahab $6.09Durban $24
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomDahab $12Durban $48
Compare Hotels in Dahab and Durban
Looking for a hotel in Dahab or Durban? 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 Durban Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Dahab $1.92Durban $13
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Dahab
Also for Dahab, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Pickup Transfers From Dahab To Cairo: $260
- Private Transfer From Dahab To Taba border group from 1 to 12: $220
- Private Pickup Transfers from Dahab to Taba: $120
- Private Transfer From Dahab To Taba border group from 1 to 4: $90
- Private Sharm El Sheikh Airport (SSH) Transfer: $71
- Private Transfer from Hotel in Dahab To Sharm el Sheikh Airport: $54
- Dahab To/from Sharm El Sheikh Private Transfer : $40
- Sharm el-Sheikh: 1-Way or Round-Trip Transfer to Dahab: $38
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Durban
Also for Durban, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private transfers from King Shaka Airport: $106
- From Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Overnight Safari w/ Transfer: $500
- Durban to Durban King Airport (DUR) - Departure Private Transfer: $27
- Durban King Airport (DUR) to Durban - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $55
- Durban Airport (DUR) to Durban - Arrival Private Transfer: $27
- Arrival Private Transfer from Durban Airport DUR to Durban City by Minivan: $84
- 1-3 Passenger Private Durban - Airport Transfer: $45
Is it cheaper to fly into Dahab or Durban?
Prices for flights to both Durban 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 $4.82Durban $16
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)$2.00
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Juice$0.11
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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 Durban
For Durban, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Half Day Guided Taste of Africa Food Tour in Durban: $40
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Dahab $4.60Durban $16
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: $45
- 2 Day Private Desert Experience in Sinai: $239
- 4x4 Jeep Adventure from Dahab: $39
- Adventure Quad Biking Tour in Dahab: $50
- Adventure Safari By Horse In Dahab At Laguna Beach: $65
- Blue Hole Snorkeling Adventure in Dahab: $40
- Blue Hole Snorkeling Tour with lunch from Dahab: $28
- Camel Ride + Blue Hole Snorkeling + Quad Bike Tour With Lunch From Dahab: $45
- Dahab Windsurfing Adventure in Red Sea Waves: $30
- Royal Seascope Submarine Guided Boat Tour : $38
- Royal seascope Semi-Submarine Cruise: $33
- luxury Snorkeling cruise with buffet lunch: $41
Tours and Activities in Durban
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Durban.
- 1/2 Day Durban City & Phezulu Tour From Durban: $149
- 1/2 Day Durban City Tour: $155
- 1/2 Day Durban City Tour: $122
- 1/2 Day Durban City Tour & Phezulu Tour: $145
- 1/2 Day Phezulu Safari Tour from Durban: $149
- 1/2 Day Tala Game Reserve & Lion Park Tour From Durban: $151
- 1/2 Day Tala Game Reserve & Natal Lion Park Tour from Durban: $151
- 1/2 Day Tour to Drakensberg Mountains & Hiking from Durban: $150
- 1/2 Tala Game Reserve & Phezulu Safari Park Tour: $152
- 12 Days Best Of South Africa Tour - Johannesburg to CapeTown: $3,353
- 15 Day Tour Cape Town to Johannesburg: $3,257
- 2 Day Hluhluwe Imfolo & Isimangaliso W/Park Tour from Durban: $634
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayDahab $2.63Durban $13
Sample the Local Flavors in Durban
Also in Durban, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Bar Crawl in Durban : $36
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Dahab and Durban, we can see that Durban 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 Durban would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Durban 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 Durban Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Dahab or Durban?
Durban has a larger population, and is about 390 times larger than the population of Dahab. When comparing the sizes of Dahab and Durban, 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.