Which place is cheaper, Cairo or Eilat?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Eilat or Cairo?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Eilat or Cairo? 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 Cairo?
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.
Cairo
Cairo is the chaotic capital city of Egypt. With a population of more than 16 million, it is one of the largest cities in both Africa and the Middle East. As a traveler, you're likely to arrive and leave from here and you'll get your first orientation to the area during the chaotic and congestion filled taxi ride from the airport.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Israel, The Best 2-Week Tours in Israel, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Egypt, and The Best Historical Tours in Egypt.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayEilat $143Cairo $17
The average daily cost (per person) in Eilat is $143, while the average daily cost in Cairo is $17. 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 Cairo in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personEilat $95Cairo $9.27
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomEilat $190Cairo $19
Compare Hotels in Eilat and Cairo
Looking for a hotel in Eilat or Cairo? 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: Eilat Hotel Prices and Cairo Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Eilat $13Cairo $2.96
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Eilat
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Eilat:
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Local Bus$3.79
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
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Cairo
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Cairo are as follows:
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Metro Ride$0.08
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Taxi Ride$0.31
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cairo
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cairo:
- transfer from Cairo airport, Cairo & Giza hotels to Alexandria: $50
- transfer from Cairo airport to the hotel in Cairo or Giza: $20
- private transfer from Cairo to Alexandria: $70
- private tour to Abusimble transfer to Luxor and visiting Edfu : $175
- one transfer from airport to Cairo Giza hotels or hotels to Cairo airport: $22
- VIP Meet and Greet Private Hotel Transfer from Cairo Airport: $38
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer service in Cairo HTL-APT (CAI): $33
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer service in Cairo APT-HTL (CAI): $33
- Transfer to Cairo & Giza Hotels From Cairo Airport: $35
- Transfer from Luxor to Hurghada : $226
- Transfer from Hurghada to Luxor city by private Cars : $170
- Transfer from Hurghada to Luxor (sharing ): $126
Is it cheaper to fly into Eilat or Cairo?
Prices for flights to both Cairo 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
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Food Meals for one dayEilat $36Cairo $4.70
Typical Food Prices in Cairo
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Cairo:
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Juice$0.04
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cairo
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Cairo.
- Cairo Nile dinner cruise night show with belly dancer: $8.00
- Dinner Nile Cruise belly dancer open buffer tanora show sailing on Nile: $8.80
- Private Nile Cruise with Dinner and Folk Show from Cairo: $10
- night-tour Nile dinner cruise with open buffet and belly dancer: $10
- Food Tour in Local Cairo Life with Egyptian tea: $11
- Dinner evening in the heart of the Nile for 3 hours: $11
- Dinner Cruise on the Nile River with Buffet belly dancer performance: $12
- Private Dinner Cruise on the Nile River in Cairo with Pickup: $12
- dance, sing and eat on Cairo Dinner Nile Cruise on Nile river: $12
- 5 Star Dinner Nile Cruise in Cairo Night Tour : $13
- 2-hours night dinner cruise show : Eat , Dance and Sing : $13
- food tour private tour from cairo or giza hotel: $14
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Eilat $16Cairo $5.69
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
- Summer night jeep tour in Eilat mountains: $55
- Timna park Jeep tour adventure: $70
- Timna Park Tour from Eilat: $150
- Private Jeep Tour in Eilat Red Canyon: $155
- Saint Catherine Monastery Tour from Eilat(Sinai): $195
- Full-Day Tour of Petra from Eilat: $199
- Petra 1-Day Tour from Eilat + FREE Traditional Lunch: $199
- 1 Day Tour to Petra From Eilat: $217
- Day Tour to Petra from Eilat: $219
- Private Scuba Diving Tour with Transportation and Guide : $220
Typical Entertainment Prices in Cairo
Here are a few typical costs in Cairo for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Entry to Camel Market for Two$0.83
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Egyptian Museum Entry for Two$6.43
Tours and Activities in Cairo
Here are a few actual costs in Cairo for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 2 Days in Cairo & Giza Private Tour : $80
- 2-Day Ancient Egypt Tour with Pyramids and Museums: $253
- 2-Day Private Tour of Cairo with Accommodation and Entrance Fees: $165
- 2-Days Tour at Cairo & Giza: $86
- 2-Days Tours at Cairo & Giza : $143
- 3-Day Tour at Cairo & Giza : $200
- 3-Days Tour at Cairo (Customized Package): $229
- 3-Days Tour in Siwa Oasis from Cairo : $217
- 4-Day Tours at Cairo & Giza & Alexandria: $209
- 8 Hours Private Cairo Tour: A Journey Back in Time: $45
- 8-Hour Private Tour Giza Pyramids, Egyptian Museum and local Bazaars: $26
- All Inclusive 2-Day Private Tour to All Pyramids and Cairo and 2 evenings: $299
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayEilat $27Cairo $1.16
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Eilat and Cairo, we can see that Eilat is more expensive. And not only is Cairo much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Eilat is in Middle East and Cairo 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 Cairo would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Cairo 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 Cairo.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Eilat Expensive? and Is Cairo Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Eilat or Cairo?
Cairo has a larger population, and is about 170 times larger than the population of Eilat. When comparing the sizes of Eilat and Cairo, 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.
When is the best time to visit Eilat or Cairo?
Both destinations experience a warmer climate most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season. Although in the rainy season, it doesn't necessarily rain every day.
Should I visit Eilat or Cairo in the Summer?
Both Cairo and Eilat during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Eilat because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Cairo year-round.
Eilat usually gets less rain in July than Cairo. Eilat gets 0 mm (0 in) of rain, while Cairo receives 1 mm (0 in) of rain this time of the year.
In Cairo, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Eilat. In the summer, Eilat often gets more sunshine than Cairo. Eilat gets 384 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Cairo receives 350 hours of full sun.
The heat can be very extreme in Eilat. In the summer, Eilat is a little warmer than Cairo. Typically, the summer temperatures in Eilat in July average around 33°C (91°F), and Cairo averages at about 28°C (82°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyEilat 33°C (91°F)Cairo 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Eilat or Cairo in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Eilat and Cairo. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Eilat year-round. Cairo attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In October, Eilat usually receives less rain than Cairo. Eilat gets 1 mm (0 in) of rain, while Cairo receives 5 mm (0.2 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Cairo this time of the year. In Eilat, it's very sunny this time of the year. Eilat usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Cairo during autumn. Eilat gets 295 hours of sunny skies, while Cairo receives 290 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Eilat is generally a little warmer than Cairo. Daily temperatures in Eilat average around 26°C (79°F), and Cairo fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberEilat 26°C (79°F)Cairo 23°C (73°F)
Should I visit Eilat or Cairo in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Eilat as well as Cairo. Eilat attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Cairo throughout the year.
Eilat usually gets less rain in January than Cairo. Eilat gets 2 mm (0.1 in) of rain, while Cairo receives 15 mm (0.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Cairo. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Eilat this time of the year. In the winter, Eilat often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Cairo. Eilat gets 234 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Cairo receives 221 hours of full sun.
Eilat is around the same temperature as Cairo in the winter. The daily temperature in Eilat averages around 14°C (57°F) in January, and Cairo fluctuates around 14°C (57°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryEilat 14°C (57°F)Cairo 14°C (57°F)
Should I visit Eilat or Cairo in the Spring?
Both Cairo and Eilat are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Eilat throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Cairo because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In April, Eilat usually receives less rain than Cairo. Eilat gets 0 mm (0 in) of rain, while Cairo receives 7 mm (0.3 in) of rain each month for the spring.
It's quite sunny in Cairo. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Eilat. Eilat usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Cairo during spring. Eilat gets 282 hours of sunny skies, while Cairo receives 276 hours of full sun in the spring.
In the spring, Eilat is a little warmer than Cairo. Typically, the spring temperatures in Eilat in April average around 24°C (75°F), and Cairo averages at about 21°C (70°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilEilat 24°C (75°F)Cairo 21°C (70°F)
Typical Weather for Cairo and Eilat
| Eilat | Cairo | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 14°C (57°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 15 mm (0.6 in) |
| Feb | 16°C (61°F) | 1 mm (0 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Mar | 19°C (66°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) |
| Apr | 24°C (75°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 7 mm (0.3 in) |
| May | 27°C (81°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 0 mm (0 in) |
| Jun | 31°C (88°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 0 mm (0 in) |
| Jul | 33°C (91°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 1 mm (0 in) |
| Aug | 33°C (91°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 0 mm (0 in) |
| Sep | 31°C (88°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) |
| Oct | 26°C (79°F) | 1 mm (0 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) |
| Nov | 20°C (68°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 1 mm (0 in) |
| Dec | 15°C (59°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
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.