A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Dahab vs. Marseille for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Dahab or Marseille?

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 Marseille 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 Marseille?

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.

Marseille

Marseille is the second largest city in France and is the largest Mediterranean port in the region. For visitors, Marseille offers an authentic glimpse at France. It has many colorful markets, natural beauty such as the Calanques with its large, beautiful cliffs, and the old harbor area, which offers a glimpse at the areas working class history.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Egypt, The Best Historical Tours in Egypt, The Best Contiki Tours to France, and The Best G Adventures Tours to France.


Which place is cheaper, Marseille or Dahab?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Dahab is $13, while the average daily cost in Marseille is $158. 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 Marseille in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Dahab $6.09
    Marseille $76
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Dahab $12
    Marseille $152
Compare Hotels in Dahab and Marseille

Looking for a hotel in Dahab or Marseille? 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.

Hotels in Dahab


Hotels in Marseille


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 Marseille Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Dahab $1.92
    Marseille $30

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
  • Private Transfer from Hotel in Dahab To Sharm el Sheikh Airport: $55
  • Private Transfer from Dahab to Sharm El Sheikh (SSH) Airport: $109
  • Private Transfer From Dahab To Taba border group from 1 to 12: $220
  • Private Pickup Transfers from Dahab to Taba: $120
  • Private Pickup Transfers From Dahab To Cairo: $260
  • Private Sharm El Sheikh Airport (SSH) Transfer: $71
  • Dahab Private Transfer To/From Sharm el sheikh ( One Way Transfer ): $30

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Marseille

Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Marseille:


  • Metro Pass
    $3.21

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Marseille

Also for Marseille, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Transfert aéroport de Marseille -> Marseille centre/hôtels: $192
  • Transfert Aéroport Marseille vers : $225
  • Transfer from Marseille Provence Airport to Toulon Cruise Port: $117
  • Transfer from Marseille Airport to Train Station / Ports / Hotels: $164
  • Transfer between Marseille airport and Marseille city: $84
  • Transfer Marseille city center to Marseille Airport: $87
  • Transfer Marseille Airport to Marseille city center: $89
  • Transfer : $84
  • Taxi aéroport Marseille cassis transfer port Cruise: $150
  • Private transfer from Marseille Airport to Cavaillon: $279
  • Private transfer by car: Marseille airport to / from Cassis-La Ciotat: $184
  • Private transfer by car: Marseille airport from or to Avignon: $218

Is it cheaper to fly into Dahab or Marseille?

Prices for flights to both Marseille 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Dahab $4.82
    Marseille $45
Typical Food Prices in Dahab

For Dahab, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:


  • Seafood Dinner (for 2)
    $2.00
  • Juice
    $0.11
  • 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

Typical Food Prices in Marseille

For Marseille, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:


  • Orangina
    $2.68

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Marseille

For Marseille, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Web-cooking workshop / French cuisine or French pastry: $35
  • No Diet Club - Unique food tour in Marseille! (Cours Julien): $63
  • Sunset Cruise with Dinner: $74
  • Sunset Sailing Cruise with Dinner and Drinks: $86
  • Sunset Boat Cruise with Dinner and Drinks: $86
  • Bakeries, Chocolate & Patisseries Food Tour: $93
  • Sunset Apéro Food tour: $95
  • Walking Food Tour with Tastings: $97
  • Marseille Sunset Apéro Food tour: $97
  • Evening Food Tour with Tastings: $102
  • Sunset Sailing Dinner in the Frioul Archipelago: $102
  • Marseille Miam Miam Food tour: $104

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Dahab $4.60
    Marseille $41

Tours and Activities in Dahab

For Dahab, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • 2- Day Tour Exploring the Hidden Gems of Serabit el Khadim: $200
  • 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 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
  • From Three Pools Guided Snorkeling Tour with Lunch: $28
  • Full Day Climbing and Hiking Tour in Canyon with Pickup: $40

Tours and Activities in Marseille

For Marseille, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • "Old Marseille" district tour and treasure hunt: $29
  • 2H: City-Tour Marseille: $274
  • 3h Kayak Tour at Calanques National Park: $67
  • A Day in Provence Small Group Tour from Marseille: $180
  • Aix-en-Provence: Half-Day Shore Excursion Tour: $642
  • All Inclusive Food & History Tour of Marseille with Local Guide: $144
  • Beer tasting experience in Marseille: $43
  • Bookbinding experience in the Vieux Port: $93
  • Calanques National Park Guided Hiking Tour: $50
  • Calanques National Park Kayak Day Tour: $112
  • Calanques Trilogy Electric Bike Tour from Marseille: $65
  • Canyoning Half Day Tour from La Ciotat : $67

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Dahab $2.63
    Marseille $29

Sample the Local Flavors in Marseille

Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Marseille:

  • Marseille Bar Crawl Party with Free Shots and VIP Entry: $21
  • Marseille Riviera Bar Crawl Party with Free Shots and VIP Entry: $22
  • Marseille Pub Crawl : Meet, Drink & Party: $43
  • New Year's Eve Bar Crawl Marseille France: $96
  • Delicious Food and Wine Tour: $117
  • Bandol and Cassis: Full Day Wine Tour from Marseille: $143
  • Luberon: Full-Day Wine Tour from Marseille: $143
  • Full-day Wine Tour around Bandol & Cassis from Marseille: $146
  • Full-Day Wine Tour around Luberon from Marseille: $146
  • Côtes du Rhône Wine tour: Avignon, Palace of the Popes: $164
  • Small Group Marseille Shore Excursion : Avignon & Chateauneuf du Pape Wine Tour: $164
  • Marseille Shore Excursion - Full Day Wine Tour in Provence: $164


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Dahab and Marseille, we can see that Marseille 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 Marseille is in Europe, 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 Marseille would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Marseille 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 Marseille Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Dahab or Marseille?

Marseille has a larger population, and is about 100 times larger than the population of Dahab. When comparing the sizes of Dahab and Marseille, 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.