Which place is cheaper, Portofino or Dahab?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit Dahab or Portofino?
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 Portofino 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 Portofino?
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.
Portofino
Located on the Italian Riviera coastline just southeast of Genoa, Portofino is known first and foremost as a resort town and popular yachting destination. The half-moon village sits in pastels, curving into a beautiful harbor of fishing boats and luxury yachts. A castle on a hill overlooks it all, while shops, restaurants, cafes, and luxury hotels make up the spread down below. Portofino also has opportunities for hiking, diving, and boating.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Egypt, The Best Historical Tours in Egypt, The Best Historical Tours in Italy, and The Best 10-Day Tours in Italy.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayDahab $13Portofino $349
The average daily cost (per person) in Dahab is $13, while the average daily cost in Portofino is $349. 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 Portofino in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personDahab $6.09Portofino $203
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomDahab $12Portofino $406
Compare Hotels in Dahab and Portofino
Looking for a hotel in Dahab or Portofino? 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 Portofino Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Dahab $1.92Portofino $24
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
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Portofino
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Portofino:
- Private Transfer from Portofino Cruise Port to Genoa city hotels: $49
- Private Transfer from Portofino Cruise Port to Genoa Airport(GOA): $49
- Private Transfer from Portofino Cruise Port to Florence hotels: $158
- Private Transfer - Portofino Cruise Port to Florence Airport(FLR): $158
- Portofino hotels to Genoa Airport (GOA) - Departure Private Transfer: $54
- CAR 3 PAX TRANSFER TO AIRPORT MILANO MALPENSA: $876
Is it cheaper to fly into Dahab or Portofino?
Prices for flights to both Portofino 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 dayDahab $4.82Portofino $126
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
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Portofino
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Portofino.
- Portofino Boat and Walking Tour with Pesto Cooking & Lunch: $246
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Dahab $4.60Portofino $29
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 Portofino
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Portofino are as follows:
- 1-Hour Snorkeling Tour in Paraggi Bay, Portofino: $42
- Easy Kayak Tour to Portofino with Optional Snorkeling: $52
- Paddle Boarding Experience in Portofino: $54
- Portofino Kayak Tour: $54
- Portofino Private Walking Tour: $267
- Portofino Stand Up Paddleboard Experience: $52
- Portofino and San Fruttuoso Boat Experience: $107
- Coasteering Tour: $74
- Private Sunset Boat Tour with Aperitif of Ligurian goods: $481
- Private Tour of Genoa and Portofino from Genoa: $713
- Snorkel Tour in Paraggi Bay: $43
- White Boat Tour Tigullio Portofino: $449
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayDahab $2.63Portofino $18
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Dahab and Portofino, we can see that Portofino 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 Portofino 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 Portofino would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Portofino 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 Portofino Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Dahab or Portofino?
Dahab has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Portofino. When comparing the sizes of Dahab and Portofino, 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.