Which place is cheaper, Johannesburg 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 Johannesburg?
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 Johannesburg 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 Johannesburg?
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.
Johannesburg
Johannesburg is the largest city in South Africa with a population of over 3 million people. Most of the population is made up of South Africa's black residents, who predominately reside in the Soweto area. There are approximately half a million white residents and 300,000 residents of other descent. Half of the population live in the Soweto area as well as the nearby suburbs.
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 South Africa, and The Best Eco Tours in South Africa.
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Dahab Prices
Egypt PricesJohannesburg Prices
South Africa Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayDahab $23Johannesburg $120
The average daily cost (per person) in Dahab is $23, while the average daily cost in Johannesburg is $120. 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 Johannesburg in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personDahab $8.49Johannesburg $61
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomDahab $17Johannesburg $122
Compare Hotels in Dahab and Johannesburg
Looking for a hotel in Dahab or Johannesburg? 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 Johannesburg Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Dahab $2.83Johannesburg $18
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Dahab
Also for Dahab, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer from Dahab to Sharm El Sheikh Airport (SSH): $34
- Blue Hole Snorkeling Tour from Dahab with Lunch & Hotel Transfers: $45
- Private Transfer from Dahab to Sharm el Sheikh Airport or Hotels: $50
- Beginner Scuba Dive at Lighthouse w Photos & Transfer: $58
- Pickup transfer from Dahab To Sharm El Sheikh airport: $70
- Private Pickup Transfer From Dahab To St. Catherine: $75
- Private Transfer From Dahab To Taba border group from 1 to 4: $100
- Private Transfer from Dahab to Sharm El Sheikh (SSH) Airport: $114
- Private Pickup Transfers from Dahab to Taba: $120
- Private Pickup Transfers From Dahab To Cairo: $195
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Johannesburg
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Johannesburg:
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Taxi Ride$3.60
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Johannesburg
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Johannesburg:
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer in Johannesburg HTL-APT (JNB): $51
- Shuttle and Transfers to Johannesburg and Pretoria: $155
- Private Transfer: Johannesburg to Tambo Airport JNB in Luxury Van: $79
- Private Transfer in Johannesburg OR Tambo and Lanseria: $37
- Private Transfer from Johannesburg OR Tambo Airport (JNB) to Pretoria hotels: $172
- Private Airport and Hotel Transfers in Johannesburg: $61
- Private Airport Transfers to Sandton & Joburg CBD: $25
- Private Airport Transfer from OR Tambo Airport to Lesedi Village: $53
- Private Airport Transfer & Grounds to Sandton, Johannesburg & Pretoria 599: $49
- Pilanesberg Transfers: $121
- Pilanesberg Transfer from Johannesburg and Pretoria: $248
- One Way Airport Transfer: $49
Is it cheaper to fly into Dahab or Johannesburg?
Prices for flights to both Johannesburg 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 $12Johannesburg $32
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)$1.82
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Juice$0.10
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Breakfast for Two$0.57
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: $39
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Johannesburg
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Johannesburg.
- Street Food Tour: $74
- Pan-African Cooking class & Market visit: $95
- Johannesburg Culture and Food Tour: $105
- Johannesburg Culture and food tour: $112
- Pan African Cooking Class & Dinning Experience: $136
- Lesedi Cultural Village with lunch or dinner cultural food: $141
- Lesedi Cultural Village Tour with Lunch or Dinner: $149
- Soweto Township Tour With African food tour: $154
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Dahab $5.98Johannesburg $23
Tours and Activities in Dahab
For Dahab, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Royal seascope Semi-Submarine Cruise: $33
- Full-Day Hike Tour at St. Catherine's Monastery: $35
- Royal Seascope Submarine Guided Boat Tour: $40
- Adventure Quad Biking Tour in Dahab: $40
- luxury Snorkeling cruise with buffet lunch: $41
- Blue Hole Snorkeling Tour with lunch from Dahab: $43
- 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 City Tour In Sharm El Sheikh From Dahab: $65
- Adventure Safari By Horse In Dahab At Laguna Beach: $65
- Saint Catherine's Monastery half-day Tour with Lunch from Dahab: $70
- Private Guided Diving Experience in Dahab: $80
Tours and Activities in Johannesburg
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Johannesburg are as follows:
- 1-Day Authentic Johannesburg Experience: $279
- 2-Day Kruger National Park Safari Tour from Johannesburg: $1,138
- 3 Days Kruger National Park Safari and Panorama Route Tour: $1,599
- 3-Day Johannesburg, Pretoria, Cradle & Lesedi Tour: $799
- 3-Day Kruger Park and Manyeleti Safari Tour: $625
- 6 Days Johannesburg and Kruger National Park Tour: $1,845
- Alexandra Township Tour: Walking or Walk & Drive Experience: $58
- Amapiano & Afrobeats Nightlife Experience in Johannesburg: $115
- Apartheid Museum Tour: $80
- Apartheid Museum Tour from Johannesburg: $98
- Apartheid Museum and Nelson Mandela foundation Tour: $114
- Apartheid Museum and Soweto tour Guided Private: $137
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayDahab $3.55Johannesburg $5.26
Sample the Local Flavors in Johannesburg
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Johannesburg:
- Wine Tasting: $12
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Dahab and Johannesburg, we can see that Johannesburg 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 Johannesburg would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Johannesburg 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 Johannesburg Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Dahab or Johannesburg?
Johannesburg has a larger population, and is about 250 times larger than the population of Dahab. When comparing the sizes of Dahab and Johannesburg, 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.