A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Izmir vs. Dahab for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Izmir 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 Izmir 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: Izmir or Dahab?

Izmir

Izmir is a metropolitan city of Turkey and the second most populous city on the Aegean Sea after Athens, Greece. Known as Smyrna in antiquity, it was founded by the Greeks, taken over by the Romans, and rebuilt by Alexander the Great before becoming part of the Ottoman Empire in the 15th century. Most remnants of this past are gone; however, there are a few archaeological sites in addition to beaches, bustling city streets, and colorful markets.

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 G Adventures Tours to Turkey, The Best 3-Day Tours from Istanbul, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Egypt, and The Best Historical Tours in Egypt.


Which place is cheaper, Dahab or Izmir?

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 Izmir is $85, while the average daily cost in Dahab is $24. 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 Izmir and Dahab in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Izmir $42
    Dahab $8.87
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Izmir $84
    Dahab $18
Compare Hotels in Izmir and Dahab

Looking for a hotel in Izmir 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.

Hotels in Izmir


Hotels in Dahab


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: Izmir Hotel Prices and Dahab Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Izmir $21
    Dahab $2.96

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Izmir

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Izmir:

  • İzmir Airport Transfer to Bodrum, Didim, Kusadasi, Cesme, Fethiye: $50
  • İzmir Airport Private Transfer Service: $75
  • izmir kusadasi transfer: $70
  • Vip Airport Transfer: $70
  • VIP Private Transfer | Izmir Airport to Kusadasi or Selcuk: $170
  • VIP Mercedes Vito Transfers in Izmir or Intercity: $59
  • Transfer İzmir Airport to/from Kusadasi City Center Area: $80
  • Transfer to Izmir airport from Kusadasi: $81
  • Transfer from Izmir to Selimiye: $234
  • Transfer from Izmir to Marmaris: $234
  • Transfer from Izmir to Didim: $280
  • Transfer From izmir Adnan Menderes Airport to Selcuk Ephesus: $87

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Dahab

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

  • Private Pickup Transfers From Dahab To Cairo: $195
  • Private Transfer Between Nuweibaa City and Sharm El Sheikh Hotels: $60
  • Private Transfer From Dahab To Taba border group from 1 to 4: $100
  • Private Transfer from Dahab to Sharm El Sheikh Airport (SSH): $35
  • Sharm el-Sheikh: 1-Way or Round-Trip Transfer to Dahab: $42

Is it cheaper to fly into Izmir or Dahab?

Prices for flights to both Dahab and Izmir 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
    Izmir $29
    Dahab $12

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Izmir

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

  • Authentic Turkish Home Cooking Class with Locals: $76
  • Authentic Dinner Cooking with a Local Family in İzmir: $90
  • Private Food tour in Europe and Asian Side of Istanbul: $293

Typical Food Prices in Dahab

For Dahab, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:


  • Seafood Dinner (for 2)
    $1.90
  • Juice
    $0.10
  • Breakfast for Two
    $0.60

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Izmir $14
    Dahab $6.24

Tours and Activities in Izmir

Here are a few actual costs in Izmir for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Alaçatı & Çeşme Chill Tour: Vibes, Streets & Snapshots: $120
  • BEST SELLER Small Group Ephesus Tour from Izmir: $115
  • Best of Ephesus and Virgin Mary Tour From Port/Hotel/Airport: $225
  • Best of Private Walking Tour with a Local: $66
  • Budget - Friendly Ephesus Tour from Izmir: $41
  • Cesme-Alacati Tour from Izmir: $70
  • Customized Ephesus Private Tour / FOR CRUISE GUESTS ONLY: $170
  • Customized Ephesus Tour with Lunch: $187
  • Daily Ephesus & Virgin Mary House Tour from Izmir: $158
  • EPHESUS PRIVATE TOUR From Izmir Port: $116
  • Ephesus & Sirince Village Tour from İzmir: $145
  • Ephesus Ancient City Tour from Izmir Explore Historic Landmarks: $160

Tours and Activities in Dahab

For Dahab, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Full-Day Hike Tour at St. Catherine's Monastery: $30
  • Royal seascope Semi-Submarine Cruise: $33
  • Adventure Quad Biking Tour in Dahab: $40
  • luxury Snorkeling cruise with buffet lunch: $41
  • Royal Seascope Submarine Guided Boat Tour: $41
  • 4x4 Jeep Adventure from Dahab: $42
  • Blue Hole Snorkeling Tour with lunch from Dahab: $43
  • Seascope Submarine Tour from Dahab: $45
  • Camel Ride + Blue Hole Snorkeling + Quad Bike Tour With Lunch From Dahab: $50
  • Mount Sinai Sunrise and St Catherine Monastery Tour from Dahab: $50
  • Private Day Tour To Blue Lagoon And Ras Abu Galum From Dahab: $65
  • Adventure Safari By Horse In Dahab At Laguna Beach: $65

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Izmir $6.18
    Dahab $3.70

Sample the Local Flavors in Izmir

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Izmir:

  • Wine Tour with Metropolis Ancient City: $122
  • Wine Tasting Tour at Two Wineries in Urla Turkey: $275


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


Which is Bigger, Izmir or Dahab?

Izmir has a larger population, and is about 310 times larger than the population of Dahab. When comparing the sizes of Izmir 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.