Which place is cheaper, Dahab or Haifa?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Haifa or Dahab?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Haifa and Dahab. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Haifa or Dahab?
Haifa
Located on the northern Mediterranean coast of Israel, Haifa is Israel's third largest city. It is also a beautiful and strategically located city near the border with Lebanon. The population of Haifa, which is approximately 300,000, is surprisingly diverse. There are Jews, Muslim, and Christian Arabs throughout the city. While Haifa is an industrial city with a strong work ethic and a good job base, it is also a beautiful city with many gardens and a stunning coastline. Today the job base has increasingly become technology based with some large companies such as Google and Microsoft offering employment in the area. Haifa University is also the country's top technology university.
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.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Sightseeing Tours in Israel, The Best Cultural 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 dayHaifa $124Dahab $13
The average daily cost (per person) in Haifa is $124, while the average daily cost in Dahab is $13. 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 Haifa and Dahab in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personHaifa $75Dahab $6.03
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomHaifa $150Dahab $12
Compare Hotels in Haifa and Dahab
Looking for a hotel in Haifa or Dahab? 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: Haifa Hotel Prices and Dahab Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Haifa $5.00Dahab $1.90
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Haifa
Also for Haifa, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfers all over the Holyland: Haifa, TLV, Airport, JLM, Jordan: $195
- Private Transfer from Haifa Cruise Port to Tel Aviv City: $173
- Private Transfer from Haifa Cruise Port to Tel Aviv Airport (TLV): $173
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Dahab
Also for Dahab, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Sharm el-Sheikh: 1-Way or Round-Trip Transfer to Dahab: $38
- Private Transfer from Hotel in Dahab To Sharm el Sheikh Airport: $55
- Private Transfer from Dahab to Sharm El Sheikh (SSH) Airport: $109
- Private Transfer From Dahab To Taba border group from 1 to 12: $220
- Private Pickup Transfers from Dahab to Taba: $120
- Private Pickup Transfers From Dahab To Cairo: $260
- Private Sharm El Sheikh Airport (SSH) Transfer: $71
- Dahab Private Transfer To/From Sharm el sheikh ( One Way Transfer ): $30
Is it cheaper to fly into Haifa or Dahab?
Prices for flights to both Dahab and Haifa 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 dayHaifa $45Dahab $4.78
Typical Food Prices in Haifa
For Haifa, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Dinner$27
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)$1.98
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Juice$0.10
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Breakfast for Two$0.63
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Dahab
For Dahab, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Bedouin Dinner in the Mountains In Dahab: $30
- Bedouin Dinner in the Mountains In Dahab: $36
- Dahab Desert Safari and Bedouin Dinner: $40
- Stargazer + Camel riding + Bedouin dinner from Dahab : $90
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Haifa $5.77Dahab $4.55
Tours and Activities in Haifa
For Haifa, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Romantic Walking Tour In Haifa for Couples: $290
- Caesarea, Haifa, Acre, Rosh Hanikra Private Day Tour: $705
- Christianity Day Tour: Haifa Port to Nazareth and Sea of Galilee : $295
- From Tel Aviv: Caesarea, Haifa & Akko Guided Tour: $1,300
- From Tel Aviv: Northern Israel Coast Private Tour: $999
- Full Day Tour to Nazareth and the Sea of Galilee: $290
- Haifa Port Shore Excursion: Nazareth and Sea of Galilee Day Tour from Haifa Port: $120
- Haifa Port: Full-Day Christianity Cruise to Galilee: $400
- Haifa Private Tour: $161
- Haifa, Acre & Rosh Anikra Grottos Haifa Port FullDay Shared Tour: $231
- Haifa, Acre and Rosh Anikra for Cruises with Licensed Guide: $417
- Jerusalem & Bethlehem Tour from Haifa Port 2024 - Small Group: $255
Tours and Activities in Dahab
For Dahab, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 2- Day Tour Exploring the Hidden Gems of Serabit el Khadim: $200
- 4x4 Jeep Adventure from Dahab: $39
- Adventure Quad Biking Tour in Dahab: $50
- Adventure Safari By Horse In Dahab At Laguna Beach: $65
- Blue Hole Snorkeling Tour with lunch from Dahab: $28
- Camel Ride + Blue Hole Snorkeling + Quad Bike Tour With Lunch From Dahab: $45
- Dahab Windsurfing Adventure in Red Sea Waves: $30
- Royal Seascope Submarine Guided Boat Tour : $38
- Royal seascope Semi-Submarine Cruise: $33
- luxury Snorkeling cruise with buffet lunch: $41
- From Three Pools Guided Snorkeling Tour with Lunch: $28
- Full Day Climbing and Hiking Tour in Canyon with Pickup: $40
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayHaifa $13Dahab $2.61
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Haifa and Dahab, we can see that Haifa is more expensive. And not only is Dahab much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Haifa 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 Haifa would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Haifa than you might in Dahab.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Haifa Expensive? and Is Dahab Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Haifa or Dahab?
Haifa has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Dahab. When comparing the sizes of Haifa and Dahab, 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.
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.