Which place is cheaper, Dahab or Dar es Salaam?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Dar es Salaam or Dahab?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Dar es Salaam and Dahab can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Dar es Salaam or Dahab?
Dar es Salaam
Having grown from a fishing village, Dar es Salaam is now a major city and commercial port on Tanzania's Indian Ocean coast. While it is mainly used as a stopping point on the way to Zanzibar, it has a few unique treasures of its own such as the Kariakoo Market, National Museum, and the open-air Village Museum.
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.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Safaris in Tanzania, The Best Safaris in Tanzania, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Egypt, and The Best Historical Tours in Egypt.
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Dar es Salaam Prices
Tanzania PricesDahab Prices
Egypt Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayDar es Salaam $452Dahab $16
The average daily cost (per person) in Dar es Salaam is $452, while the average daily cost in Dahab is $16. 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 Dar es Salaam and Dahab in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personDar es Salaam $415Dahab $5.69
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomDar es Salaam $830Dahab $11
Compare Hotels in Dar es Salaam and Dahab
Looking for a hotel in Dar es Salaam or Dahab? 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: Dar es Salaam Hotel Prices and Dahab Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Dar es Salaam $13Dahab $1.80
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Dar es Salaam
Also for Dar es Salaam, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer/Airport pick up and drop off: $192
- Transfer from dar es salaam to morogoro: $203
- Private Transfer from Dar El Salaam to Julius Nyerere Airport (DAR): $101
- Ferry Tickets to Zanzibar with Transfers.: $120
- Dar es salaam-Morogoro-Dar es salaam transfer with comfortable car: $192
- Private Layover Tour with Airport Transfer: $120
- Dar es Salaam Airport Transfers Comfortable Ride to Your Hotel: $60
- Dar Es Salaam Transfer from Airport Hotel Ferry or Train : $55
- Dar Es Salaam City Tour. All Must See Things (private Guide And Transfer) 9 Hrs : $190
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Dahab
Also for Dahab, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Pickup Transfers From Dahab To Cairo: $260
- Private Transfer From Dahab To Taba border group from 1 to 12: $220
- Private Pickup Transfers from Dahab to Taba: $120
- Private Transfer from Dahab to Sharm El Sheikh (SSH) Airport: $115
- Private Transfer From Dahab To Taba border group from 1 to 4: $90
- Private Transfer From/To Nuweibaa City To Sharm El Sheikh Hotels : $57
- Dahab Private Transfer To/From Sharm el sheikh ( One Way Transfer ): $44
- Sharm el-Sheikh: 1-Way or Round-Trip Transfer to Dahab: $42
- Private transfer From/To Dahab City To Sharm El Sheikh Hotels: $33
- Private Transfer from & to Nuweibaa City to Sharm ElSheikh Hotels: $4.75
Is it cheaper to fly into Dar es Salaam or Dahab?
Prices for flights to both Dahab and Dar es Salaam 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 dayDar es Salaam $30Dahab $7.80
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Dar es Salaam
For Dar es Salaam, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Market Tour & Cooking Class in Morogoro including Hotel Transfers: $98
- Dar es Salaam Tuk-Tuk Food Tour: Taste the City’s Flavors!: $120
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)$1.87
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Juice$0.10
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Breakfast for Two$0.59
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Dahab
For Dahab, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Dahab Desert Safari and Bedouin Dinner: $95
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Dar es Salaam -Dahab $4.30
Tours and Activities in Dar es Salaam
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Dar es Salaam.
- Dar Es Salaam City Tour (Full Day With Private Guide And Car): $155
- Bagamoyo Historical Tour - Everyday: $199
- Bird Watching Tour to Tegetero Forest 2days 1 night: $205
- Dar es Salaam City Full Day Adventure Tour(Private ): $165
- Dar es Salaam City Tour - Everyday: $97
- Dar es Salaam City Tour - Visit all attractive places: $117
- Dar es Salaam History and Architectural Tours: $150
- Daressalaam city sightseeing private tour: $175
- Full Day Bagamoyo City & Ruins Tour : $250
- Full Day Private Tour in Dar es Salaam City: $90
- Full-Day Private Tour of Dar es Salaam: $160
- Mnemba island snorkeling tour: $100
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: $140
- Full-Day Guided Bus Tour Luxor Egypt From Sahl Hasheesh: $163
- 4x4 Jeep Adventure from Dahab: $42
- Adventure Quad Biking Tour in Dahab: $50
- Blue Hole Snorkeling Adventure in Dahab: $195
- Blue Hole Snorkeling Tour with lunch from Dahab: $28
- Camel Ride + Blue Hole Snorkeling + Quad Bike Tour With Lunch From Dahab: $49
- Royal seascope Semi-Submarine Cruise: $33
- luxury Snorkeling cruise with buffet lunch: $41
- Full Day Dahab Highlights Tour with Pickup: $150
- Full-Day Hike Tour at St. Catherine's Monastery: $30
- Jeep Safari to Canyon Salama Day Tour from Dahab: $20
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayDar es Salaam $7.32Dahab $2.46
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Dar es Salaam and Dahab, we can see that Dar es Salaam 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 Dar es Salaam would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Dar es Salaam 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 Dar es Salaam Expensive? and Is Dahab Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Dar es Salaam or Dahab?
Dar es Salaam has a larger population, and is about 340 times larger than the population of Dahab. When comparing the sizes of Dar es Salaam and Dahab, 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.