Which place is cheaper, Cairo or Ephesus?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Ephesus or Cairo?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Ephesus or Cairo, 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 Cairo?
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).
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 Cultural Tours in Turkey, The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Turkey, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Egypt, and The Best Historical Tours in Egypt.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayEphesus $143Cairo $17
The average daily cost (per person) in Ephesus 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 Ephesus and Cairo in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personEphesus $70Cairo $9.36
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomEphesus $140Cairo $19
Compare Hotels in Ephesus and Cairo
Looking for a hotel in Ephesus 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: Ephesus Hotel Prices and Cairo Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Ephesus $51Cairo $2.99
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ephesus
Also for Ephesus, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Akbuk Hotels to Izmir Airport ADB Transfers: $164
- Didim (Altinkum) Hotels to Bodrum Airport BJV Transfers: $115
- Ephesus Private Guided Tour with Lunch and Transfers: $80
- From-to Izmir AirPort to-from Kusadası Private Airport Transfer: $75
- Izmir Adnan Menderes Airport (ADB) Transfer to OR from Kusadasi: $100
- Izmir Adnan Menderes Airport - Kusadasi Centrum (All hotels, home...) transfers: $65
- Kusadasi Boat Trip With Lunch And Hotel Transfer: $40
- Kusadasi Buggy Car Safari With Free Hotel Transfer Service: $40
- Kusadasi Half Day Quad Safari Experience With Free Hotel Transfer: $50
- Kusadasi Hotels to Bodrum Airport BJV Transfers: $169
- Kusadasi Hotels to Izmir Airport ADB Transfers: $93
- Kusadasi International Golf Hotels to Izmir Airport ADB Transfers: $93
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$0.32
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cairo
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cairo:
- From Private Day Trip to Luxor w/ Transfer & Flights: $659
- 3 Private Full-Day Tours to Cairo Top Attractions+One Airport Transfer: $300
- Private Transfer from Cairo to Sharm El Sheikh : $290
- Cairo - Sharm El Sheikh: One-Way or Return Private Transfer: $290
- Full-Day Private Trip to Fayoum from Cairo, with Transfer: $286
- 2 Days and 2 Evenings Private Tour in Cairo include airport transfer and M&A: $280
- From One-Way Private Transfer To Luxor: $275
- Private Transfer from El Cairo (CAI) Airport to Hurghada: $264
- Private 3 Days in Giza Cairo and Alexandria including Free airport transfers: $250
- Cairo To El Gouna Private Transfer: $248
- Overnight camping White Desert (Baharaya Oasis) & Cairo Private Transfers: $240
- Day Trip to Luxor East and West Bank from Cairo with private airport transfer and lunch included: $235
Is it cheaper to fly into Ephesus or Cairo?
Prices for flights to both Cairo 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
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Food Meals for one dayEphesus $33Cairo $4.75
Typical Food Prices in Ephesus
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Ephesus:
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Sandwiches$0.15
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Dessert$0.17
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Lunch at Beach (for 2)$0.59
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Snacks$0.25
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Ephesus
For Ephesus, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Cooking Class in Kusadasi Ephesus: $110
- Ephesus Tour with Cooking Class in the Village: $149
- Taste of Traditional Turkish Cuisine | Small Group Kusadasi Food Tour: $211
- Cooking Class in Ephesus Selcuk Town: $228
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/Giza: Nile Sunset, Dinner Cruise, Show & Private Transfer : $9.63
- Cairo Dinner Cruise, Belly Dancer Show With Pickup Service: $11
- Dinner Cruise on the Nile River: $12
- Nile Sunset, Dinner Cruise, Show and Private Transfer: $16
- VIP tour Giza pyramids ,Sphinx, Quad bike ,Camel, Dinner cruise : $19
- Private Expert tour Giza Pyramids ,Sphinx ,Nile Dinner Cruise & Belly Dancer: $19
- food tour private tour from cairo or giza hotel: $19
- Giza Pyramids, Camel Ride, Quad Bike, Night and Dinner Cruise on Nile: $19
- Private Cairo Food Tour : $20
- All inclusive Tour to Giza Pyramids, Sphinx & ATV &Dinner cruise : $20
- Giza pyramids and Nile dinner cruise private tour from Cairo Giza hotels: $22
- Private Cairo food tour and Egyptian tea: $22
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Ephesus $59Cairo $5.75
Tours and Activities in Ephesus
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Ephesus.
- For Cruisers: Skip-the-line Private Free Ephesus Tour : $0.05
- Self-guided Virtual Tour of The Highlights: $6.53
- Entry Free: Drive by Ephesus and Ancient Wonder Tour: $12
- Self-guided Virtual Tour of the ancient pearl of the Mediterranean: $17
- Kusadasi Traditional Turkish Bath Hamam Experience : $17
- SKIP THE LINE :Best Seller Ephesus Private Tour For Cruiser Guest: $19
- Private & Mini Group Classical Ephesus Tour For Cruisers: $19
- Skip the Line - Best of Ephesus: $19
- Time Travel in Affordable and Spectacular Experience: $20
- Best of Ephesus Guided Tour For Cruise Guest : $20
- Kusadasi Scuba Diving Tour By Local Experts: $20
- Kusadasi Quad Safari Adventure: $20
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$0.84
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Egyptian Museum Entry for Two$6.49
Tours and Activities in Cairo
Here are a few actual costs in Cairo for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- ( Stopover Tour Of Cairo ) Private All Inc.Pyramids,Camel Ride,Museum& Lunch: $180
- 2 Days 1 Nights Tour package to Saint-Catherine from Cairo : $300
- 2-Day Ancient Egypt Tour with Pyramids and Museums: $219
- 2-Days Tour at Cairo & Giza: $86
- 3-Day Private Tour in Cairo : $196
- 3-Day Tour at Cairo & Giza : $200
- 3-Days Tour at Cairo (Customized Package): $229
- 4-Day Tours at Cairo & Giza & Alexandria: $209
- 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
- All Inclusive Full-Day Tour to Pyramids, Museum, mosque and Felucca: $79
- All Inclusive day tour to Giza pyramids, Egyptian museum and Felucca : $88
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayEphesus $15Cairo $1.17
Typical Alcohol Prices in Ephesus
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Ephesus from other travelers:
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Beer$0.12
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 & Wine Tasting Tour From Kusadasi Port: $53
- Ephesus port tours and Wine Tasting Tours : $70
- Ephesus&Sirince Village with Wine Tasting Shore Ex: $100
- Ephesus and Sirince with Wine tasting Private Half Day Shore Excursion: $100
- Ancient Ephesus tour with Wine Tasting in the village and visit to Mother's Mary House: $130
- Private Ephesus Tour with Wine Tasting: $134
- Virgin Mary Bread and Wine Tour included Lunch: $300
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Ephesus and Cairo, we can see that Ephesus is more expensive. And not only is Cairo much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Ephesus is in Europe 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 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 Cairo.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Ephesus Expensive? and Is Cairo Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Ephesus or Cairo?
Cairo has a larger population, and is about 120 times larger than the population of Ephesus. When comparing the sizes of Ephesus 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 Ephesus or Cairo?
Ephesus has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Cairo experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Ephesus or Cairo in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Ephesus as well as Cairo. The warm climate attracts visitors to Cairo throughout the year.
In July, Ephesus is generally around the same temperature as Cairo. Daily temperatures in Ephesus average around 27°C (81°F), and Cairo fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Cairo. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Ephesus this time of the year. In the summer, Ephesus often gets more sunshine than Cairo. Ephesus gets 378 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Cairo receives 350 hours of full sun.
Ephesus usually gets around the same amount of rain in July as Cairo. Ephesus gets 1 mm (0 in) of rain, while Cairo receives 1 mm (0 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyEphesus 27°C (81°F)Cairo 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Ephesus or Cairo in the Autumn?
Both Cairo and Ephesus are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Plenty of visitors come to Cairo because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
Ephesus is cooler than Cairo in the autumn. The daily temperature in Ephesus averages around 19°C (66°F) in October, and Cairo fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).
It's quite sunny in Cairo. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Ephesus. Ephesus usually receives less sunshine than Cairo during autumn. Ephesus gets 232 hours of sunny skies, while Cairo receives 290 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Ephesus usually receives more rain than Cairo. Ephesus gets 29 mm (1.1 in) of rain, while Cairo receives 5 mm (0.2 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberEphesus 19°C (66°F)Cairo 23°C (73°F)
Should I visit Ephesus or Cairo in the Winter?
Both Cairo and Ephesus during the winter are popular places to visit. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Cairo year-round.
In the winter, Ephesus is cooler than Cairo. Typically, the winter temperatures in Ephesus in January average around 10°C (50°F), and Cairo averages at about 14°C (57°F).
In Cairo, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the winter, Ephesus often gets less sunshine than Cairo. Ephesus gets 131 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Cairo receives 221 hours of full sun.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Ephesus. Ephesus usually gets more rain in January than Cairo. Ephesus gets 149 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while Cairo receives 15 mm (0.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryEphesus 10°C (50°F)Cairo 14°C (57°F)
Should I visit Ephesus or Cairo in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Ephesus and Cairo. Cairo attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In April, Ephesus is generally cooler than Cairo. Daily temperatures in Ephesus average around 15°C (59°F), and Cairo fluctuates around 21°C (70°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Cairo this time of the year. In Ephesus, it's very sunny this time of the year. Ephesus usually receives less sunshine than Cairo during spring. Ephesus gets 231 hours of sunny skies, while Cairo receives 276 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Ephesus usually receives more rain than Cairo. Ephesus gets 32 mm (1.3 in) of rain, while Cairo receives 7 mm (0.3 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilEphesus 15°C (59°F)Cairo 21°C (70°F)
Typical Weather for Cairo and Ephesus
| Ephesus | Cairo | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 10°C (50°F) | 149 mm (5.9 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 15 mm (0.6 in) |
| Feb | 10°C (50°F) | 103 mm (4.1 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Mar | 12°C (53°F) | 86 mm (3.4 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) |
| Apr | 15°C (59°F) | 32 mm (1.3 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 7 mm (0.3 in) |
| May | 19°C (67°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 0 mm (0 in) |
| Jun | 24°C (75°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 0 mm (0 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 1 mm (0 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 1 mm (0 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 1 mm (0 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 0 mm (0 in) |
| Sep | 24°C (75°F) | 23 mm (0.9 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) |
| Oct | 19°C (66°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) |
| Nov | 14°C (58°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 1 mm (0 in) |
| Dec | 12°C (53°F) | 164 mm (6.5 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.