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

Should you visit Dahab or Soweto?

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 Soweto 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 Soweto?

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.

Soweto

The name Soweto is an acronym for South Western Townships, first used in 1963 to describe the groups of townships to the south west of Johannesburg. It is a city of contrasts, featuring anything from tin shanties to luxurious mansions, and is probably best known for being the home of two Nobel Prize winners.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Egypt, The Best Historical Tours in Egypt, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Cape Town, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Cape Town.


Which place is cheaper, Soweto 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 Soweto is $61. 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 Soweto in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Dahab $6.09
    Soweto $31
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Dahab $12
    Soweto $62
Compare Hotels in Dahab and Soweto

Looking for a hotel in Dahab or Soweto? 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 Soweto


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.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Dahab $1.92
    Soweto $12

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: $54
  • Private Transfer From Dahab To Taba border group from 1 to 4: $90
  • 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 To/from Sharm El Sheikh Private Transfer : $40

Is it cheaper to fly into Dahab or Soweto?

Prices for flights to both Soweto 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
    Soweto $20
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
    Soweto $16

Tours and Activities in Dahab

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

  • Camel Trek Desert and Beach Experience Private Tour in Dahab: $45
  • 2 Day Private Desert Experience in Sinai: $239
  • 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 Adventure in Dahab: $40
  • 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

Tours and Activities in Soweto

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

  • Johannesburg: Soweto Half-Day Tour: $57
  • Johannesburg: Soweto Night Tour: $92
  • Johannesburg: Soweto Tour with Lunch: $67
  • Visit Gospel service with additional Bicycle Tour of Soweto: $44

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Dahab $2.63
    Soweto $8.10


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


Which is Bigger, Dahab or Soweto?

Soweto has a larger population, and is about 210 times larger than the population of Dahab. When comparing the sizes of Dahab and Soweto, 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.