A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Eilat vs. Aswan for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Eilat or Aswan?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Should I visit Eilat or Aswan? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Where Should I go: Eilat or Aswan?

Eilat

Eilat serves as the gateway to Israel from Egypt. It's located at the southern tip of the country and sits on the Red Sea with views of the Gulf of Aqaba. It's location in the Negev Desert along the beautiful coast make it appealing to both domestic and international vacationers.

Eilat is a resort town with many dive shops and snorkeling opportunities. The population of about 50,000 can easily be overshadowed by vacationers. With no shortage of sun, entertainment, bars, and partying, you will find both Israeli and international tourists looking for an oasis of fun and relaxation.

Although the area's coral reefs were being damaged by overuse, the removal of contraversial fish cages in 2008 has led to a slow recovery and an improvement in the quality of diving and snorkeling in the area. There are also less crowds than you will find in Sharm el-Sheikh or Dahab, Egypt.

Eilat has a hot desert climate. The summers are hot and dry and the winters are warm and dry. Temperatures in the winter can range from 52 to 73 degrees Fahrenheit and summer temperatures are usually between 79 and 104 degrees Fahrenheit.

Aswan

Lounging along the Nile like Egyptian royalty is a fantasy for most world travelers. If you want to do it without the hustle and bustle of Cairo, there's always Aswan. This city in the south of Egypt is the smallest of the three major cities on the Nile. Located just below the Aswan Dam and Lake Nasser, Aswan's 275,00 people include a large portion of Nubians – mostly resettled from their flooded homeland.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours in Israel, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Israel, The Best 10-Day Tours in Egypt, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Egypt.


Which place is cheaper, Aswan or Eilat?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Eilat is $140, while the average daily cost in Aswan 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 Eilat and Aswan in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Eilat $93
    Aswan $6.75
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Eilat $186
    Aswan $14
Compare Hotels in Eilat and Aswan

Looking for a hotel in Eilat or Aswan? 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 Eilat


Hotels in Aswan


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: Eilat Hotel Prices and Aswan Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Eilat $13
    Aswan $4.34
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Eilat

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


  • Local Bus
    $3.71

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Eilat

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

  • Private Transfer From Ramon airport Eilat to Eilat Hotels or Arava Border : $70
  • From Jerusalem: One-Way Shuttle Transfer to Eilat: $90

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Aswan

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Aswan:

  • VIP Aswan Airport Transfer to Luxury Retreats: $35
  • Transfer to Luxor from Aswan and visit Kom Ombo and Edfu Temples: $64
  • Transfer from Aswan to Luxor: $63
  • Transfer from Aswan To Luxor: $114
  • Transfer from Aswan Airport to Hotels or Nile Cruise in Aswan : $13
  • Tour To Kom Ombo And Edfu Temples From Aswan With Transfers : $60
  • Station Aswan Transfer To hotel: $8.00
  • Shared Transfer from Aswan Airport to Hotels : $20
  • Private transfer from aswan to luxor with visits: $93
  • Private transfer from Aswan to Aswan Airport: $6.40
  • Private transfer from Aswan to Aswan Airport: $10
  • Private transfer from Aswan Airport to Aswan Hotels: $71

Is it cheaper to fly into Eilat or Aswan?

Prices for flights to both Aswan and Eilat 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
    Eilat $35
    Aswan $5.73

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Aswan

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Aswan.

  • Private Aswan Nubian Cooking Class and Market Tour: $30
  • Dinner at Soleih restaurant by vehicle: $33
  • Nubian Dinner in Nubian Village Of Aswan: $40
  • Dinner In Nile Cruise in Aswan: $150

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Eilat $16
    Aswan $6.11

Tours and Activities in Eilat

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

  • Glass Bottom Boat Cruise in Eilat: $30
  • Jeep tour adventure Eilat mountains: $55
  • From Timna Park Guided Jeep Tour: $64
  • Red canyon jeep tour in Eilat: $70
  • Timna park Jeep tour adventure: $70
  • Park Timna: Small Group Photo Tour: $130
  • Red Canyon: Small Group Photo Tour: $130
  • Timna Park Tour from Eilat: $150
  • Petra 1-Day Tour from Eilat + FREE Traditional Lunch: $199
  • Full-Day Tour of Petra from Eilat: $199
  • 1 Day Tour to Petra From Eilat: $217
  • Day Tour to Petra from Eilat: $219

Typical Entertainment Prices in Aswan

Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Aswan are as follows:


  • Temple Kom Ombo for Two
    $1.26

Tours and Activities in Aswan

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

  • 2-DaysTour from Aswan Philae the High Dam the Unfinished Obelisk and Abu Simbel: $90
  • 3 Hour Private Tour, Ancient Wonders in Philae Temple Tour : $55
  • Abu Simbel Day tour from Aswan: $50
  • Abu Simbel Temples Full Day Tour From Aswan With Entry Tickets : $99
  • Aswan : Full Day Private Guided Tour to the Legend of Abu Simbel Temples: $125
  • Exploration of Philae Temple and High Dam in Aswan Private Tour: $45
  • Full-Day Private Tour of Aswan, Philae Temple and Obelisk: $95
  • Full-Day Private Tour to Abu Simbel Temples in Aswan With Guide : $100
  • Guided Tour of Philae Temple in Aswan Egypt: $49
  • Kalabsha Temple and Nubian Museum Tour: $89
  • Nubian Village Tour - Animalia : $84
  • Nubian Village Tour in Aswan: $36

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Eilat $27
    Aswan $1.24


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Eilat and Aswan, we can see that Eilat is more expensive. And not only is Aswan much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Eilat is in Middle East and Aswan is in Africa, 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 Aswan would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Aswan 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 Eilat would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Eilat than you might in Aswan.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Eilat Expensive? and Is Aswan Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Eilat or Aswan?

Aswan has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Eilat. When comparing the sizes of Eilat and Aswan, 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.