Which place is cheaper, Kathmandu 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 Kathmandu?
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 Kathmandu 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 Kathmandu?
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.
Kathmandu
Kathmandu is the capital and largest city in the country of Nepal. Its metropolitan area forms one large urban area that includes the area of Patan to the south. As of 2011 there were 2.5 million residents in the Kathmandu metropolis and over 3 million in the entire metropolitan area. Kathmandu is likely to be your entry point into Nepal and is a great place to pick up supplies and arrange the details for any treks you hope to do. Many travelers rush through Kathmandu, turned off by the pollution and crowds, but to skip Kathmandu is to miss a major cultural, financial, and influential part of what defines the country of Nepal. The city itself is quite fun to explore if you allow it enough time and an open mind.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Egypt, The Best Historical Tours in Egypt, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Nepal, and The Best 10-Day Tours in Nepal.
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Dahab Prices
Egypt PricesKathmandu Prices
Nepal Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayDahab $23Kathmandu $55
The average daily cost (per person) in Dahab is $23, while the average daily cost in Kathmandu is $55. 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 Kathmandu in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personDahab $8.47Kathmandu $35
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomDahab $17Kathmandu $70
Compare Hotels in Dahab and Kathmandu
Looking for a hotel in Dahab or Kathmandu? 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 Kathmandu Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Dahab $2.82Kathmandu $6.09
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): $36
- Sharm el-Sheikh: 1-Way or Round-Trip Transfer to Dahab: $42
- Dahab to Sharm El-Sheikh: Private Door-to-Door Transfer: $63
- Private Transfer From Dahab To Taba border group from 1 to 4: $100
- Private Transfer from Dahab to Sharm El Sheikh (SSH) Airport: $119
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Kathmandu
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Kathmandu:
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Taxi Ride$1.32
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kathmandu
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kathmandu:
- Yoga Experience Day Trip with Private Transfer From Kathmandu: $152
- Trishuli River Rafting Day Trip from Kathmandu with Transfers: $69
- Tribhuvan International Airport Transfer Service: $12
- Rent a Private Car with Driver for Kathmandu City Transfer: $25
- Private car transfer from Kathmandu Airport to hotels in Kathmandu: $15
- Private Transfer: Kathmandu to Chitwan Hotels: $210
- Private Transfer: Kathmandu Hotels to Domestic Airport Vehicle: $20
- Private Transfer to Bhaktapur from Kathmandu: $65
- Private Luxury Car Transfer all over Nepal: $88
- Private Car Transfer from Kathmandu to Pokhara or Chitwan or Vv: $90
- Pokhara:Paragliding & River Rafting Adventure with Transfers: $139
- Nagarkot to Kathmandu One Way Transfer by Private AC Car: $40
Is it cheaper to fly into Dahab or Kathmandu?
Prices for flights to both Kathmandu 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 $12Kathmandu $13
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
Typical Food Prices in Kathmandu
Some typical examples of dining costs in Kathmandu are as follows:
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Dessert$1.18
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Dinner for Two$2.63
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Kathmandu
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Kathmandu.
- Local Foodie Food Tour around Durbar Square: $15
- Cultural Stay in Kathmandu and experience dinner with family: $18
- Home Made Authentic Nepali Dinner (veg/non vegg): $18
- Local Women Lead Nepali Cooking & Momo-Making Class: $20
- Authentic Private Nepali Cooking Class in Kathmandu: $23
- Cook and Eat: Cooking Class in Kathmandu near Thamel: $24
- Best Nepali Cooking Class in Thamel with Local Market Trip: $30
- Momo Cooking Class -The Art Of Making MoMo with Home Chef: $35
- Walking Food Tour in Hidden Local Eateries of Kathmandu: $36
- Women Empowerment Project(Nepali cooking class & jewelry workshop: $50
- Cooking Class with HSJ: $60
- Half Day Nepal Cooking Class in Thamel: $60
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Dahab $5.96Kathmandu $7.04
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: $42
- 4x4 Jeep Adventure from Dahab: $43
- 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
- Dahab Windsurfing Adventure Tour: $55
- Private Day Tour To Blue Lagoon And Ras Abu Galum From Dahab: $65
Typical Entertainment Prices in Kathmandu
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Kathmandu are as follows:
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Monkey Temple for Two$1.32
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Patan Durbar Square Entrance for Two$3.29
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Swayambhunath Stupa$1.32
Tours and Activities in Kathmandu
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Kathmandu are as follows:
- "Off-The-Beaten-Path" Tour around Kathmandu: $70
- 1 Day Kathmandu Heritage 4 UNESCO Tour with Lunch: $99
- 1 Day Kathmandu Valley Sightseeing Tour: $35
- 1 Day Valley Rim Biking Tour in Kathmandu: $160
- 1 Night 2 Days Chitwan Jungle Safari Tour from Pokhara or Kathmandu: $141
- 1 Night 2 Days Daman Tour: $215
- 1 Nights 2 Days Private Nagarkot Tour Package from Kathmandu: $150
- 2 Day Kathmandu City with Nagarkot Sunrise, Changu Narayan and Bhaktapur Tour: $236
- 2 Day Poon Hill Trek with 2 Day Chitwan Jungle Safari Tour: $731
- 2 Days Hindu Pilgrimage Tour in Nepal: $146
- 2 Days and 1 Night Chitwan Safari Tour: $125
- 2 Nights 3 Days Chitwan Safari Tour from Kathmandu or Pokhara: $254
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayDahab $3.54Kathmandu $5.06
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Dahab and Kathmandu, we can see that Kathmandu 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 Kathmandu is in Asia, 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 Kathmandu would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Kathmandu 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 Kathmandu Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Dahab or Kathmandu?
Kathmandu has a larger population, and is about 180 times larger than the population of Dahab. When comparing the sizes of Dahab and Kathmandu, 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.