Which place is cheaper, Johannesburg or Dahab?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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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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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayDahab $13Johannesburg $94
The average daily cost (per person) in Dahab is $13, while the average daily cost in Johannesburg is $94. 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 $6.09Johannesburg $54
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomDahab $12Johannesburg $108
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 $1.92Johannesburg $16
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: $38
- Dahab To/from Sharm El Sheikh Private Transfer : $40
- Private Transfer from Hotel in Dahab To Sharm el Sheikh Airport: $54
- Private Sharm El Sheikh Airport (SSH) Transfer: $71
- Private Transfer From Dahab To Taba border group from 1 to 4: $90
- 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
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$3.19
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Johannesburg
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Johannesburg:
- Transfers Between OR Tambo and Pilanesburg : $174
- Suncity Transfer: $186
- Private executive transfer to sun city or airport/hotels : $115
- Private Van Airport Transfers : Johannesburg, Sandton, Pretoria: $71
- Private Transfer: Tambo Airport JNB to Johannesburg in Sedan Car: $61
- Private Transfer: Tambo Airport JNB to Johannesburg in Luxury Van: $71
- Private Transfer: Tambo Airport JNB to Johannesburg in Luxury Car: $102
- Private Transfer: Johannesburg to Tambo Airport JNB in Luxury Van: $71
- Private Transfer from Johannesburg To Pilanesberg: $214
- Private Transfer from Johannesburg OR Tambo Airport (JNB) to Pretoria hotels: $163
- Private Transfer from Johannesburg O.R.Tambo Airport(JNB) to Johannesburg hotels: $114
- Private Transfer JNB Airport to Johannesburg Pretoria or SunCity by Business Car: $76
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 $4.82Johannesburg $17
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 Johannesburg
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Johannesburg.
- Maboneng Street Art and Street Food Tour: $40
- Taste of Africa Food Tour: $51
- A Private Traditional Cape Malay Cooking Class, with a MKR Finalist: $95
- Johannesburg Culture and food tour: $96
- Pan-African Cooking & Dinning Experience: $213
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Dahab $4.60Johannesburg $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
- Full Day Climbing and Hiking Tour in Canyon with Pickup: $40
- Blue Hole Snorkeling Adventure in Dahab: $40
- Three Pools snorkeling and Quad Bike full-day tour in Dahab: $40
- luxury Snorkeling cruise with buffet lunch: $41
- Seascope Submarine Tour from Dahab: $45
Tours and Activities in Johannesburg
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Johannesburg are as follows:
- Golf Tour, Sun City , Gary Player Course - Rated the Best: $219
- Private Full Day Johannesburg Historical Tour : $190
- Rhino and Lion Park Safari Tour : $95
- Soweto half day tour including Mandela House.Private transport: $68
- (Meet the Artist)Art Gallery & Street Art tour with lunch: $29
- 10 Days Overland Tour-Johannesburg and Cape Town: $2,665
- 15 Days Johannesburg, Kruger National Park – Cape Town Tour: $3,998
- 3 Day Kruger National Park Tour from Johannesburg: $847
- 3 Days 2 Nights Panorama Tour & Kruger National park Safari: $821
- 3 Days Big 5 Kruger National Park Tour from Johannesburg: $1,274
- 4-Day Private Tour Johannesburg and Pretoria - See everything in 4 days : $209
- 4-Days Overnight Experience in The Panorama Route & Safari: $1,711
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayDahab $2.63Johannesburg $4.65
Sample the Local Flavors in Johannesburg
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Johannesburg:
- Wine Tasting Experience in Johannesburg: $8.02
- Wine Tasting and Cableway Half Day Tour: $112
- Experience Johannesburg Wine Tour Views and Luxury: $225
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.