Which place is cheaper, Luxor or Dahab?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Dahab or Luxor?
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 Luxor 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 Luxor?
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.
Luxor
Egypt is surely on the top of every history lover's bucket list. Nowhere is the history more engrossing than in Luxor. From amazing monuments dating back to ancient Thebes to rows of temples up the Nile, this remarkable city is full the stories of past greatness.
The East Bank – or the central part of Luxor Township – is the hotbed for tourism. This is where most of the hotels and resorts are, while the West Bank is home to the ancient ruins and archaeological wonders you'll want to explore.
Before traveling to Egypt, be sure to check on the current affairs and political climate. It could have a major effect on the amount of tourists visiting, and, if conditions are too dangerous, you may want to reschedule. Also note, ladies, to avoid any issues, dress modestly. This is a very conservative region of the world. The less skin showing, the better.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Egypt, The Best Historical Tours in Egypt, The Best 10-Day Tours in Egypt, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Egypt.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayDahab $13Luxor $17
The average daily cost (per person) in Dahab is $13, while the average daily cost in Luxor is $17. 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 Luxor in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personDahab $6.09Luxor $7.62
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomDahab $12Luxor $15
Compare Hotels in Dahab and Luxor
Looking for a hotel in Dahab or Luxor? 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 Luxor Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Dahab $1.92Luxor $3.91
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Dahab
Also for Dahab, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Dahab To/from Sharm El Sheikh Private Transfer : $40
- Private Sharm El Sheikh Airport (SSH) Transfer: $71
- Private Pickup Transfers From Dahab To Cairo: $260
- Private Pickup Transfers from Dahab to Taba: $120
- Private Transfer From Dahab To Taba border group from 1 to 12: $220
- Private Transfer From Dahab To Taba border group from 1 to 4: $90
- Private Transfer from Hotel in Dahab To Sharm el Sheikh Airport: $54
- Sharm el-Sheikh: 1-Way or Round-Trip Transfer to Dahab: $38
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Luxor
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Luxor:
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Taxi Ride$0.42
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Luxor
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Luxor:
- private Transfer from Luxor to Marsa alam by a modern car: $70
- private Transfer from Luxor to Hurghada: $110
- VIP Luxor to Hurghada Transfer Luxury and Style: $125
- VIP Luxor Airport Transfer: $15
- VIP Luxor Airport Private Transfer: $25
- Transfers from Luxor Airport to Hotels or to Nile Cruise: $7.00
- Transfer from luxor to marsa alam : $150
- Transfer from Luxor to Marsa alam: $99
- Transfer from Luxor to Hurghada or vice versa ( optional Denderh): $50
- Transfer from Luxor to Hurghada / Hurghada Luxor in AC vehicle. : $120
- Transfer from Luxor to Hurghada: $64
- Transfer from Luxor to Hurghada: $91
Is it cheaper to fly into Dahab or Luxor?
Prices for flights to both Luxor 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 $4.82Luxor $5.83
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 Luxor
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Luxor.
- Dinner on the River Nile with Belly Dancing: $35
- Eat Like a Local:Traditional Egyptian Food / Dinner at Local Family Home - Luxor: $36
- Luxor Sunset Felucca Ride and Banana Island with Lunch or Dinner: $38
- Dinner Cruise on the Nile River: $43
- Luxor Sunset Felucca Ride and Banana Island with Lunch or Dinner : $50
- Private Half Day Felucca Ride and Banana Island with Lunch or Dinner From Luxor: $52
- Luxor Nile Cruise Dinner: $60
- Karnak Sound And Light Show With Dinner, Felucca : $64
- Luxor & Mummification Museums & City Tour by H. Carriage & Dinner: $70
- private day in west bank & dendera with dinner on boat: $86
- Enjoy Half Day Sunset Felucca Ride and Banana Island with Lunch or Dinner: $90
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Dahab $4.60Luxor $6.74
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
Typical Entertainment Prices in Luxor
Here are a few typical costs in Luxor for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Boat Ride (for 2)$0.57
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Temple Karnak for Two$2.74
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Camel Ride for Two$1.26
Tours and Activities in Luxor
Here are a few actual costs in Luxor for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Daily Tour at The East & West Bank of the Nile: $108
- Day Tour to East and West Banks From Luxor: $24
- Day Tour to Karnak temple and luxor temple from luxor: $77
- Day Tour to Madinet Habu Temple & the Workers Tombs: $53
- Day tour to Aswan from Luxo visit Edfu,Kom Ombo,Phila Temples & Aswan dam.: $276
- Dendera Temple Half Day Tour from Luxor: $29
- Dendera and Abydos Temples Day Tour from Luxor with Lunch: $75
- Dendera and Abydos Temples Tour from Luxor: $123
- East and West Banks of Full Day Tour from Hurghada: $205
- From Hurghada: Privete Day Tour to Luxor and Valley of the Kings: $148
- Full Day Private Tour of Luxor East and West Banks: $22
- Full Day Tour to Best Monuments of Luxor from Luxor: $130
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayDahab $2.63Luxor $2.26
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Dahab and Luxor, we can see that Luxor 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 Luxor would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Luxor 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 Luxor Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Dahab or Luxor?
Luxor has a larger population, and is about 50 times larger than the population of Dahab. When comparing the sizes of Dahab and Luxor, 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.