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

Should you visit Ephesus or Aswan?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Ephesus or Aswan, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Where Should I go: Ephesus or Aswan?

Ephesus

The ancient city of Ephesus was famed for the Temple of Artemis (completed around 550 BC). It is one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. The temple was destroyed in 401 AD and rebuilt by Emperor Constantine I along with new public baths. The town was again partially destroyed by an earthquake in 614 AD. The city's importance as a commercial center declined as the harbor was slowly silted up by the Cayster River (Kucuk Menderes).

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 Cultural Tours in Turkey, The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Turkey, The Best 10-Day Tours in Egypt, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Egypt.


Which place is cheaper, Aswan or Ephesus?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in Ephesus is $117, while the average daily cost in Aswan is $30. 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 Ephesus and Aswan in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Ephesus $49
    Aswan $9.89
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Ephesus $98
    Aswan $20
Compare Hotels in Ephesus and Aswan

Looking for a hotel in Ephesus 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 Ephesus


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: Ephesus Hotel Prices and Aswan Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Ephesus $36
    Aswan $5.43

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ephesus

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

  • Kusadasi Quad Safari Adventure Included Transfer: $24
  • Kuşadası: Turkish Bath Experience with Transfer: $37
  • Kusadasi Half Day Quad Safari Experience With Free Hotel Transfer: $38
  • Kusadasi & National Park Boat Tours with Lunch and Transfer: $38
  • Kusadasi Quad Safari with Hotel Transfer: $43
  • Kusadasi Buggy Car Safari With Free Hotel Transfer Service: $45
  • Horse Riding Experience in Kusadasi for Everyone with Transfers: $45
  • Kuşadası Full Day Aegean Boat Cruise with Lunch and Transfers: $52
  • Kusadasi Boat trip with Lunch & Roundtrip Transfer: $53
  • Private Transfer from Kusadasi Cruise Port to Kusadasi hotels: $54
  • Private Transfer from Kusadasi hotels to Kusadasi Cruise Port: $54
  • Kusadasi Boat Trip With Lunch And Hotel Transfer: $55

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Aswan

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Aswan:

  • Private Transfer from Aswan to Hurghada – Travel in Comfort: $275
  • Private Transfer from Aswan to Hurghada in AC Cars Local Driver: $230
  • Private Transfer From Aswan Airport or Hotel to Hurghada by Car: $200
  • Private Transfer from Aswan to Hurghada: $187
  • Marvel 3-Days Unique Guided Tours Aswan, Abu Simbel & Luxor with all Transfers: $167
  • Private Transfer from Aswan to Luxor: $160
  • Private Transfer from Aswan to Luxor: $160
  • Private Aswan to Luxor Transfer with Custom Temple Stops: $150
  • Aswan to Hurghada Private Door to Door Transfer: $140
  • Private Transfer from Aswan to Marsa Alam: $130
  • Edfu and Kom Ombo Day Tour with Luxor Transfer: $115
  • Private Transfer Aswan to Luxor: $105

Is it cheaper to fly into Ephesus or Aswan?

Prices for flights to both Aswan and Ephesus 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
    Ephesus $40
    Aswan $15
Typical Food Prices in Ephesus

Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Ephesus:


  • Sandwiches
    $0.11
  • Dessert
    $0.12
  • Lunch at Beach (for 2)
    $0.41
  • Snacks
    $0.17

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Ephesus

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

  • FOR CRUISERS: Ephesus, Selcuk City Stroll, and Street Food Tour: $92
  • Private Ephesus Tour & Cooking Experience with locals: $160
  • Kusadasi Selcuk Ephesus Gourmet and Street Food Tour: $233
  • Cooking Class in Ephesus Selcuk Town: $296

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Aswan

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

  • Nubian Dinner in Nubian Village Of Aswan: $40
  • Dinner on board a cruise on the Nile: $59
  • Cairo Nile Dinner Cruise with Entertainment: $65
  • Private Evening Dinner Cruise in Cairo: $75

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Ephesus $41
    Aswan $9.30

Tours and Activities in Ephesus

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Ephesus.

  • Best-Seller PRIVATE EPHESUS & SHOPPING Tour FOR CRUISERS: $5.83
  • Private Ephesus Tour from Cruise Port - Lunch & Skip The Lines: $7.00
  • Small Group Tour Ephesus and House of Mary with Lunch: $10
  • FOR CRUISERS: Best of Ephesus Tour from Kusadasi port: $11
  • FOR CRUISERS: Biblical Ephesus Shore Excursion from Kusadasi Port: $11
  • Ephesus and Sirince Village Tour For Cruisers: $11
  • Ephesus Shopping Tour: $11
  • Kusadasi Walking City Tour from Kusadasi Port Turkiye: $12
  • Kusadasi Walking City and Shopping Tour from Kusadasi Port: $12
  • Skip-the-Line Private Ephesus Tour for Cruisers with Opt Tickets: $13
  • Private Ephesus Shore Excursion from Kusadasi with Ticket Option: $13
  • FOR CRUISERS: 4 Hour Ephesus PRIVATE Tour from Kusadasi Port: $14

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
    $1.20

Tours and Activities in Aswan

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

  • 2 Day Aswan Tour+Hotel Includ:Abu Simbel, Philae& Nubian Village: $190
  • 2 Hours Private Sound and Light Show Tour in Philae Temple: $85
  • 2 Hours Tour in Philae Temple: $19
  • 2 Night Nile Cruise from Aswan to Luxor: $270
  • 2-Night Nile Cruise from Aswan to Luxor – Including Abu Simbel: $250
  • 3 Days and 2 Nights Nile Cruise from Aswan to Luxor: $299
  • 3 Hour Private Tour, Ancient Wonders in Philae Temple Tour: $55
  • 3 Hours Private Tour in Nubian Village from Aswan: $33
  • 3 or 2 or 1 Nights Mighty Nile Felucca Adventure: $25
  • 3-Day Guided tour to Aswan, Abu Simbel and Luxor from Cairo: $285
  • 4 Day 3 Nights Nile Cruise From Aswan to Luxor: $1,273
  • 4 Days Nile Cruise from Aswan to Luxor including Abu Simbel and Hot Air Balloon: $284

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Ephesus $10
    Aswan $1.06
Typical Alcohol Prices in Ephesus

Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Ephesus from other travelers:


  • Beer
    $0.09

Sample the Local Flavors in Ephesus

Also in Ephesus, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:

  • Skip-the-Line: Ephesus Shore Excursion & Wine Tasting: $21
  • PRIVATE & GROUP: EPHESUS TOUR with Wine Tasting (SKIP-THE-LINE): $29
  • LGBTQ+ Friendly Ephesus Shore Excursion & Local Wine Tasting: $30
  • FOR CRUISERS: Ephesus & Wine Tasting Tour From Kusadasi Port: $34
  • Ephesus Shore Excursion & Wine Tasting + Lunch - Opt Turkish Bath: $35
  • FOR CRUISERS:Kusadasi Port Private Wine Tasting and Ephesus Tour: $45
  • POTTERY PAINTING & WINE TASTING Tour from Kusadasi Port: $49
  • Wine Tasting-Village Shore Excursion from Kusadasi Port: $50
  • Sirince Village and Wine Tour with Artemis Temple: $57
  • Kusadasi Shore Excursions Ephesus and Wine Tasting Tours: $70
  • Ephesus & Şirince Village with Lunch& Wine Tasting (Fixed Price): $115
  • Ephesus Tour with Wine Tasting and Traditional Turkish Lunch: $130


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Ephesus and Aswan, we can see that Ephesus is more expensive. And not only is Aswan much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Ephesus is in Europe 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 Ephesus would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Ephesus 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 Ephesus Expensive? and Is Aswan Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Ephesus or Aswan?

Aswan has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Ephesus. When comparing the sizes of Ephesus 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.