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

Should you visit Dahab or Port Elizabeth?

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 Port Elizabeth 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 Port Elizabeth?

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.

Port Elizabeth

Located on the Indian Ocean coastline of South Africa, Port Elizabeth is a major sea port and tourist destination featuring a pleasant climate, opportunities for water sports, historical landmarks, wildlife areas, and clean beaches.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Egypt, The Best Historical Tours in Egypt, The Best 2-Week Tours in South Africa, and The Best Bicycle Tours in South Africa.


Which place is cheaper, Port Elizabeth 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 Port Elizabeth is $44. 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 Port Elizabeth in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Dahab $6.09
    Port Elizabeth $23
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Dahab $12
    Port Elizabeth $46
Compare Hotels in Dahab and Port Elizabeth

Looking for a hotel in Dahab or Port Elizabeth? 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 Port Elizabeth


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 Port Elizabeth Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Dahab $1.92
    Port Elizabeth $9.56

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Dahab

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

  • Dahab Private Transfer To/From Sharm el sheikh ( One Way Transfer ): $30
  • 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 Sharm El Sheikh Airport (SSH) Transfer: $71
  • Private Transfer from Dahab to Sharm El Sheikh (SSH) Airport: $109
  • 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

Is it cheaper to fly into Dahab or Port Elizabeth?

Prices for flights to both Port Elizabeth 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
    Port Elizabeth $14
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

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Dahab $4.60
    Port Elizabeth $9.37

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
  • Three Pools snorkeling and Quad Bike full-day tour in Dahab: $40
  • Full Day Climbing and Hiking Tour in Canyon with Pickup: $40
  • luxury Snorkeling cruise with buffet lunch: $41
  • Camel Ride + Blue Hole Snorkeling + Quad Bike Tour With Lunch From Dahab: $45
  • Seascope Submarine Tour from Dahab: $45

Tours and Activities in Port Elizabeth

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Port Elizabeth are as follows:

  • 7 Day Garden Route Tour- Durban to Cape Town via Addo N Park: $1,493
  • Addo Elephant Park Tours .: $180
  • From 5-Day Garden Route Tour to Cape Town: $349
  • Port Elizabeth City Walking Tour: $45
  • Port Elizabeth tuk-tuk tour, experience the natural beauty.: $72
  • Cape Recife Safari and City Sightseeing Tour: $144
  • Xhosa Township/Cultural Experience: $131

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Dahab $2.63
    Port Elizabeth $2.58


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


Which is Bigger, Dahab or Port Elizabeth?

Port Elizabeth has a larger population, and is about 120 times larger than the population of Dahab. When comparing the sizes of Dahab and Port Elizabeth, 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.