Should you visit Eilat or Dahab?
Should I visit Eilat or Dahab? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into 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 $132, while the average daily cost in Dahab is $32. 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. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Eilat and Dahab in more detail.
Accommodation
An average hotel room with basic furnishings costs about $176 in Eilat For the most convenient locations and nicer amenities you can expect to pay a bit more.
Travelers usually pay around $30 for a double occupancy room in Dahab If you want to be in a premiere location or have high end amenities, you can expect to pay a bit more.
Food
Eilat food costs typically run travelers around $33 per day. Eating every meal in a nicer restaurant will drive the cost up, and grabbing fast food or casual meals will help you save money.
On average, meal and food prices in Dahab cost around $12 per person, per day. While this price can vary widely by location, the type of restaurant, and the amount of food ordered, a typical meal often costs around $4.80.
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Food
Meals for one day
Eilat $33
Dahab $12
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)
$6.05
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Juice
$0.32
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Breakfast for Two
$1.91
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Dahab
For Dahab, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
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Beduine Dinner In Dahab:
$29
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Bedouin Dinner in the Mountains In Dahab:
$36
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Bedouin Dinner With Camel Ride In Dahab:
$39
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Stargazer+ Camel riding + Bedouin dinner from Dahab:
$90
Local Transportation
Eilat's transportation costs can vary by the type of transport chosen by visitors. Naturally, taxis and private drivers cost much more than public transportation options. On average, visitors spend $12 per person, per day on transportation in Eilat.
To get around in Dahab, the average visitor spends $4.64 per day, per person. This includes the costs of taxi rides and private drivers as well as public transportation, which tends to be much more affordable.
Typical Local Transportation prices in Eilat
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Eilat:
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Eilat
Also for Eilat, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Ultra - Eilat Private Airport Transfer from Eilat City Centre to Ramon Airport:
$8.71
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Transfer to Eilat from Ben Gurion Airport:
$700
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PrivateTransfer fromTaba Border to Sharm El Sheikh ( Group of (1- 4 ):
$125
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Private transfer from Taba border to Sharm el Sheikh:
$160
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Private Transfer Airport Ramon to Taba Border:
$60
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Private Transfer Airport Ramon to Eilat:
$45
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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:
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Private transfer from your Hotel in Dahab to Sharm el sheikh airport:
$64
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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.
Entertainment
Sightseeing, admission tickets, things to do, and other entertainment expenses in Eilat can vary widely by price. On average, visitors spend around $15 per person, per day on entertainment and sightseeing here.
In Dahab, the costs for things to do, activities, admission tickets, and other sightseeing expenses are on average $11 per person, per day.
Tours and Activities in Eilat
For Eilat, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
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02 Days with 01 overnight Petra and Wadi Rum Tour from Eilat Border:
$587
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03 Days - 02 Nights Petra & Wadi Rum Tour from Eilat Border:
$630
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1-Day Cairo Tour from Eilat:
$253
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2 Day Small Group Cairo Tour from Eilat:
$370
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2 Day in Petra include overnight in Petra tour from Eilat:
$250
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2 day tour to Petra from Eilat:
$299
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3 Day Petra And Wadi Rum Tour from Eilat:
$280
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3 Day Tour to Petra and Cairo:
$584
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Daily tour to Jerusalem from Eilat:
$89
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Day Tour to Petra from Eilat:
$199
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Dead Sea & Masada at Sunrise Tour from Eilat:
$82
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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:
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1-Day Tour To Cairo by Bus From Dahab:
$144
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4x4 Jeep Adventure from Dahab:
$44
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Blue Hole - Abu Galum -Blue Lagoon Tour and Lunch From Dahab:
$45
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Cairo Day Tour from Dahab by Flight:
$364
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Camel Ride + Blue Hole Snorkel + Quad Bike Tour With Lunch From Dahab:
$50
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From Full-day Ancient Wonders of Cairo Tour:
$656
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Jerusalem Bethlehem and Dead Sea Day Tour from Dahab:
$225
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Mount Moses & St. Catherine (Sunset) Tour from Dahab:
$60
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Mt Sinai Sunrise and St Catherine Monastery Tour from Dahab:
$46
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Nabq National Park Day Tour from Dahab:
$92
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Petra 1 Day Tour From Dahab:
$298
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Petra 1-Day Tour from Dahab:
$290
Alcohol
Typically, people visiting Eilat spend on average $25 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
Typically, people visiting Dahab spend on average $6.35 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
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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