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

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Should you visit Eilat or Dahab?

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

Should I visit Eilat or Dahab? 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.

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.

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.

Which city is cheaper, Dahab or Eilat?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Eilat is $124, while the average daily cost in Dahab is $27. 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 city. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Eilat and Dahab in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Eilat $83
    Dahab $12
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Eilat $166
    Dahab $24

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Eilat $12
    Dahab $3.90
Typical Local Transportation prices in Eilat

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


  • Local Bus
    $4.12

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Eilat

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

  • Ultra - Eilat Private Airport Transfer from Eilat City Centre to Ramon Airport: $8.71
  • Transfer to Eilat from Ben Gurion Airport: $700
  • PrivateTransfer fromTaba Border to Sharm El Sheikh ( Group of (1- 4 ): $125
  • Private transfer from Taba border to Sharm el Sheikh: $160
  • Private Transfer Airport Ramon to Taba Border: $60
  • Private Transfer Airport Ramon to Eilat: $45
  • Private Departure Transfer from Eilat City to Eilat ETM Airport: $50

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Dahab

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

  • Private transfer from your Hotel in Dahab to Sharm el sheikh airport: $64
  • Private Transfer from Dahab to Sharm El Sheikh (SSH) Airport: $124

Is it cheaper to fly into Eilat or Dahab?

Prices for flights to both Dahab 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 $31
    Dahab $9.79

Typical Food prices in Dahab

For Dahab, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:


  • Seafood Dinner (for 2)
    $5.08
  • Juice
    $0.27
  • Breakfast for Two
    $1.60

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Dahab

For Dahab, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Beduine Dinner In Dahab: $29
  • Bedouin Dinner in the Mountains In Dahab: $36
  • Bedouin Dinner With Camel Ride In Dahab: $39
  • Stargazer+ Camel riding + Bedouin dinner from Dahab: $90

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Eilat $14
    Dahab $9.33

Tours and Activities in Eilat

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

  • 02 Days with 01 overnight Petra and Wadi Rum Tour from Eilat Border: $587
  • 03 Days - 02 Nights Petra & Wadi Rum Tour from Eilat Border: $630
  • 1-Day Cairo Tour from Eilat: $253
  • 2 Day Small Group Cairo Tour from Eilat: $370
  • 2 Day in Petra include overnight in Petra tour from Eilat: $250
  • 2 day tour to Petra from Eilat: $299
  • 3 Day Petra And Wadi Rum Tour from Eilat: $280
  • 3 Day Tour to Petra and Cairo: $584
  • Daily tour to Jerusalem from Eilat: $89
  • Day Tour to Petra from Eilat: $199
  • Dead Sea & Masada at Sunrise Tour from Eilat: $82
  • Dead Sea Shuttle Tour from Eilat: $49

Tours and Activities in Dahab

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

  • 1-Day Tour To Cairo by Bus From Dahab: $144
  • 4x4 Jeep Adventure from Dahab: $44
  • Blue Hole - Abu Galum -Blue Lagoon Tour and Lunch From Dahab: $45
  • Cairo Day Tour from Dahab by Flight: $364
  • Camel Ride + Blue Hole Snorkel + Quad Bike Tour With Lunch From Dahab: $50
  • From Sharm or Blue Hole & Canyon Sea Dive Experience: $193
  • Jerusalem Bethlehem and Dead Sea Day Tour from Dahab: $225
  • Mount Moses & St. Catherine (Sunset) Tour from Dahab: $60
  • Mt Sinai Sunrise and St Catherine Monastery Tour from Dahab: $46
  • Nabq National Park Day Tour from Dahab: $92
  • Petra 1 Day Tour From Dahab: $298
  • Petra 1-Day Tour from Dahab: $290

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Eilat $24
    Dahab $5.34

About these numbers

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Eilat and Dahab, we can see that Eilat is more expensive. And not only is Dahab much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Eilat is in Middle East and Dahab 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 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 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 Dahab.

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Eilat vs. Dahab Travel Comparison

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