Which place is cheaper, Alexandria or Heraklion?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Heraklion or Alexandria?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Heraklion and Alexandria can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Heraklion or Alexandria?
Heraklion
The largest city on the island of Crete, Heraklion on first glance is almost completely modern - a frenzy of traffic, concrete, and dust. Do not expect pristine beaches and glittering waves (those can be found on other parts of Crete). Heraklion is first and foremost a city. Once you get past its grittiness, you will find that there are some attractive features beneath first impressions. The antiquity of the place lies embedded in the modern and is presented in one of the best museums in Greece, the food is excellent, and the people are friendly and welcoming. And though the sea is not great for swimming, its presence along the Venetian port will take you to another time if you need a break from Heraklion's bustling center.
Alexandria
There are few cities in the world with a history as rich, deep, tragic and fascinating than Alexandria, Egypt. Founded by Alexander the Great in 331 BC, Egypt's second largest city has seen the most extreme ups and extreme downs. The city watched the beautiful and iconic Alexandria Lighthouse crumble to the ground after several natural disasters. The Alexandria Library housed their most sacred and historical documents only to be burned to the ground. These structures may be physically gone, but the history remains. Alexandria is a city with an ancient allure that draws in visitors from all over the world. Alexandria is a survivor city ready for a comeback.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours in Greece, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Greece, The Best Luxury Tours to Egypt, and The Best Budget Tours to Egypt.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayHeraklion €158Alexandria €16
The average daily cost (per person) in Heraklion is €158, while the average daily cost in Alexandria is €16. 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 Heraklion and Alexandria in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personHeraklion €81Alexandria €7.49
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomHeraklion €162Alexandria €15
Compare Hotels in Heraklion and Alexandria
Looking for a hotel in Heraklion or Alexandria? 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: Heraklion Hotel Prices and Alexandria Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Heraklion €31Alexandria €2.33
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Heraklion
Also for Heraklion, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Acqua Plus Water Park Admission with Optional Transfer: $32
- Crete Private Taxi Transfer from Heraklion Airport to Bali: $95
- Crete Private Taxi and Transfer from Heraklion Airport to Malia: $81
- Crete Private Taxi and Transfer from Heraklion Airport to Panormo: $103
- Crete Private Taxi and Transfer from Heraklion to Agios Nikolaos: $122
- Crete Private Transfer from Heraklion to Hersonissos: $51
- Day Cruise from Heraklion with Catamaran & Transfer service: $123
- From Airport to Elounda Private Transfer: $107
- From Private Helicopter Transfer to Greek Islands: $4,021
- Heraklion Airport (HER): Private Transfer to Heraklion Port: $105
- Heraklion Cruise Port: Private Transfer to Heraklion city: $137
- Heraklion Int Airport (HER): Transfer to Heraklion hotels: $137
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Alexandria
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Alexandria:
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Taxi to Train Station€0.08
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Alexandria
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Alexandria:
- Private transfer from Luxor to Alexandria: $243
- Private Transfer from Alexandria to Cairo/Giza Hotels or Cairo./Giza to Alexandr: $65
- Private Transfer from Alexandria to Cairo : $73
- Private Transfer from Alexandria Port to Cairo Int Airport (CAI): $71
- Private Transfer from Alexandria Port to Alexandria City Hotels: $16
- Private Transfer from Alexandria Airport (HBE) to Alexandria: $26
- Private Transfer from 6 of October City to El Cairo (CAI) Airport: $52
- Private Pickup Transfer From A Hotel In Alexandria To Borg Al Arab Airport: $50
- Private One Way Transfer from Alexandria Hotels to Cairo and Giza Hotels: $68
- From Private Transfer to Luxor: $251
- From Private One-Way Transfer to Cairo: $75
- Borg El Arab Arrival & Departure Transfers: $40
Is it cheaper to fly into Heraklion or Alexandria?
Prices for flights to both Alexandria and Heraklion 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 dayHeraklion €52Alexandria €6.05
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Heraklion
For Heraklion, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Troy Dinner-Show: $33
- Spectacular Dinner-Show: $44
- From Village Cretan Night, Live Dancers & dinner: $48
- Cretan Night with Dinner & Live Show: $49
- Crete: Olive Oil Festival, Farm Dinner, Live Show & Pickup: $59
- Cretan Farm with scenic view: Olive Mill Festival & dinner: $64
- Amazing Sunset Safari Route with Dinner: $84
- Cook with Locals | Cretan cooking Class at Archanes (transfer - lunch included): $86
- Crete: Land Rover Safari with Sunset Viewing, Dinner, & Wine: $90
- Full-Day Jeep Safari Tour with Cooking Lesson: $97
- Food tour tasting walking tour: $123
- E-bike Food Tour Tasting in Heraklion : $125
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Alexandria
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Alexandria.
- Half-Day Food Tour in Alexandria, Egypt: $35
- Alexandria Food Tour: $50
- From Giza: Sound&light show, Giza pyramids and Dinner on the Nile: $94
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Heraklion €38Alexandria €3.28
Tours and Activities in Heraklion
For Heraklion, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Heraklion Area: CRETAquarium Admission Ticket: $8.56
- CRETAquarium Entrance Ticket in Crete: $8.73
- Mobile Self-Guided Audio Sightseeing Tour: $11
- Self-Guided Audio Tour: $11
- Crete: Palace of Knossos E-Ticket and Optional Audio Guide: $11
- Herakleion: City Self-Guided Game & Tour: $12
- Heraklion Market & CretAquarium *Skip the line: $16
- Heraklion City Tour - Aquarium: $17
- Knossos Palace: E-ticket with Audio and Heraklion City Tour: $18
- Party Bike 1 hour Experience in Malia : $19
- Knossos Self-Guided Treasure Hunt & Tour KIDS: $21
- Minoan Day Experience: $22
Tours and Activities in Alexandria
Here are a few actual costs in Alexandria for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Day Tour to Alamein and Alexandria: $169
- National Museum and Egyptian museum Private Tour in Egypt: $258
- Tour to The Qaitbay Citadel in Alexandria: $16
- 10-Hour Historical Pyramids Tour from Alexandria Port: $130
- 2 Day Tour Visit the Top Attractions of Alexandria City: $174
- 2 Day Tour Visit the Top Attractions of Alexandria City: $155
- 6-Hour Day Tour to Alexandria Attractions with Pickup Included: $78
- 6-Hour Private Day Tour to Rashid from Alexandria: $100
- 8 Days Ultra Luxury Cairo, Alexandria & Nile cruise: $4,190
- Alamein full day tour from Alexandria: $95
- Alexandria : Rosetta Day Tour from Alexandria: $117
- Alexandria : Tour to WadiElNatroun Monastery from Alexandria: $135
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayHeraklion €26Alexandria €1.26
Sample the Local Flavors in Heraklion
Also in Heraklion, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Wine Tasting E-Bike Tour: $95
- Ecobike Wine Tasting Tour in Heraklion: $115
- Ecobike Tour with Wine Tasting: $118
- Luxury Private Wine Tasting Experience in Haralabakis Winery: $119
- Half Day Small Group Wine Tour with wine Tastings: $125
- Half Day Semi Private Wine Tour with Tastings: $134
- Semi Private Heraklion Valley Wine Tour with Lunch: $159
- The Gourmet Wine Tour of Heraklion area: $180
- Private SUV Wine Tour with Lunch: $183
- Full Day Private Crete Wine Tour Experience from Heraklion : $190
- Full day Knossos Palace, Local Distillery, Lunch @ Archanes: $192
- Knossos, Olive Mill, Winery - Distillery with Tastings & Lunch : $196
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Heraklion and Alexandria, we can see that Heraklion is more expensive. And not only is Alexandria much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Heraklion is in Europe and Alexandria 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 Alexandria would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Alexandria 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 Heraklion would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Heraklion than you might in Alexandria.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Heraklion Expensive? and Is Alexandria Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Heraklion or Alexandria?
Alexandria has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Heraklion. When comparing the sizes of Heraklion and Alexandria, 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 Heraklion or Alexandria?
Heraklion has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Alexandria experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Heraklion or Alexandria in the Summer?
Both Alexandria and Heraklion during the summer are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Heraklion in the summer for the beaches, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Alexandria year-round.
In the summer, Heraklion is around the same temperature as Alexandria. Typically, the summer temperatures in Heraklion in July average around 25°C (78°F), and Alexandria averages at about 26°C (79°F).
Heraklion usually gets less rain in July than Alexandria. Heraklion gets 1 mm (0 in) of rain, while Alexandria receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyHeraklion 25°C (78°F)Alexandria 26°C (79°F)
Should I visit Heraklion or Alexandria in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Heraklion and Alexandria. Most visitors come to Heraklion for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene during these months. Alexandria attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In October, Heraklion is generally around the same temperature as Alexandria. Daily temperatures in Heraklion average around 20°C (68°F), and Alexandria fluctuates around 22°C (72°F).
In October, Heraklion usually receives more rain than Alexandria. Heraklion gets 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain, while Alexandria receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberHeraklion 20°C (68°F)Alexandria 22°C (72°F)
Should I visit Heraklion or Alexandria in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Heraklion as well as Alexandria. The winter months attract visitors to Heraklion because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. The warm climate attracts visitors to Alexandria throughout the year.
Heraklion is around the same temperature as Alexandria in the winter. The daily temperature in Heraklion averages around 12°C (54°F) in January, and Alexandria fluctuates around 13°C (55°F).
Heraklion usually gets more rain in January than Alexandria. Heraklion gets 92 mm (3.6 in) of rain, while Alexandria receives 50 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryHeraklion 12°C (54°F)Alexandria 13°C (55°F)
Should I visit Heraklion or Alexandria in the Spring?
Both Alexandria and Heraklion are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The beaches and the activities around the city are the main draw to Heraklion this time of year. Plenty of visitors come to Alexandria because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In the spring, Heraklion is cooler than Alexandria. Typically, the spring temperatures in Heraklion in April average around 16°C (61°F), and Alexandria averages at about 19°C (66°F).
In April, Heraklion usually receives more rain than Alexandria. Heraklion gets 30 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while Alexandria receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilHeraklion 16°C (61°F)Alexandria 19°C (66°F)
Typical Weather for Alexandria and Heraklion
| Heraklion | Alexandria | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 12°C (54°F) | 92 mm (3.6 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| Feb | 12°C (54°F) | 77 mm (3 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Mar | 14°C (56°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) |
| Apr | 16°C (61°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| May | 19°C (67°F) | 15 mm (0.6 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Jun | 23°C (74°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Jul | 25°C (78°F) | 1 mm (0 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Aug | 25°C (77°F) | 1 mm (0 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Sep | 23°C (73°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Oct | 20°C (68°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Nov | 17°C (63°F) | 59 mm (2.3 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Dec | 14°C (58°F) | 77 mm (3 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 50 mm (2 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.