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

Should you visit Jinja or Aswan?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Jinja 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: Jinja or Aswan?

Jinja

Jinja is a city located at the source of the Nile in Uganda, Africa. Many backpackers travel to Jinja, as it is known for its white water rafting. This city is the third largest economy in all of the East African Community. It has a population of about 72,000 people.

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 Wildlife Tours to Uganda, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Uganda, The Best 10-Day Tours in Egypt, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Egypt.


Which place is cheaper, Aswan or Jinja?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Jinja is $92, while the average daily cost in Aswan 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 Jinja and Aswan in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Jinja $44
    Aswan $6.75
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Jinja $88
    Aswan $14
Compare Hotels in Jinja and Aswan

Looking for a hotel in Jinja 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 Jinja


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: Jinja Hotel Prices and Aswan Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Jinja $22
    Aswan $4.34

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Aswan

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Aswan:

  • Private Aswan Airport Transfer To Hotel : $10
  • Private Transfer from Aswan to Luxor: $78
  • Private transfer from Aswan to Luxor: $28
  • 3-Days Travel Into The History to Aswan, Abu Simbel & Luxor with all Transfers: $299
  • Abu Simbel from Aswan in Egypt - Private Tour (guide and transfers Included): $209
  • Aswan Airport Arrival Transfer: $16
  • Aswan Airport Private Departure Transfer: $19
  • Aswan Airport Private Transfer: $24
  • Aswan Airport Private Transfer: $6.00
  • Aswan Airport Transfer: $24
  • Aswan Airport Transfer: $20
  • Aswan Airport Transfer to Hotels : $20

Is it cheaper to fly into Jinja or Aswan?

Prices for flights to both Aswan and Jinja 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
    Jinja $28
    Aswan $5.73

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Aswan

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

  • Dinner at Soleih restaurant by vehicle: $33
  • Nubian Dinner in Nubian Village Of Aswan: $40
  • Nubian lunch Or Dinner at Nubian village : $75
  • Private 3-Hour Nubian Party with Dinner and Pickup in Aswan: $77
  • Your Grandmothers Cooking Class In Aswan : $90
  • Dinner In Nile Cruise in Aswan: $150

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Jinja $29
    Aswan $6.11

Tours and Activities in Jinja

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

  • Half-Day Banana Kayak Experience in Bubugo with Lunch: $25
  • Half-Day Jinja Walking Tour: Source of Nile & Boat Ride Options: $31
  • Guided Walking Tour with Optional Source of the Nile: $31
  • David's Shared Walking Tour in Jinja with a Local Cultural Meal: $40
  • Three days source of the nile & sipi falls tour: $760
  • White Water Rafting & Source of the Nile Adventure: $760
  • 3days jinja and sipi falls tour: $800
  • Uganda: 4 Day Jinja City Tour Uganda: $1,655
  • 18 Days African Jungle Safari Tour: $9,433

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
    $1.26

Tours and Activities in Aswan

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

  • The High Dam In Aswan Entry Ticket: $2.53
  • Unfinished Obelisk Entry Ticket: $5.60
  • Philae Temple Entry Ticket: $11
  • Aswan High Dam Entry Tickets Included Pickup And Drop Off: $13
  • Philae Temple Complex Skip the Line Entry Ticket: $13
  • Temple Of Kalabsha Entry Tickets Included Pickup And Drop Off: $14
  • Day Trip to Nubian Village with Camel Tour: $15
  • Philae temple entry ticket: $16
  • City Tour in Aswan by Bicycle : $16
  • Private Day Tour to Phalie Temple, High Dam, Unfinished Obelisk: $17
  • Unfinished Obelisk Entry Tickets Included Pickup And Drop Off: $17
  • Kom Ombo Entry Tickets Included Pickup And Drop Off From Aswan: $19

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Jinja $13
    Aswan $1.24


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


Which is Bigger, Jinja or Aswan?

Aswan has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Jinja. When comparing the sizes of Jinja 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.