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

Should you visit Kampala or Aswan?

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

Should I visit Kampala or Aswan? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Where Should I go: Kampala or Aswan?

Kampala

Kampala is the capital of Uganda in the South part of the country near Lake Victoria. It is the largest city in Uganda, with a population of over two million people. This city is very safe and the locals are known to be very kind and approachable.

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 Camping Tours in Uganda, The Best Safaris 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 Kampala?

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 Kampala is $76, while the average daily cost in Aswan is $19. 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 Kampala and Aswan in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Kampala $60
    Aswan $6.34
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Kampala $120
    Aswan $13
Compare Hotels in Kampala and Aswan

Looking for a hotel in Kampala 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 Kampala


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: Kampala Hotel Prices and Aswan Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Kampala $2.52
    Aswan $4.07
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Kampala

Some typical examples of transportation costs in Kampala are as follows:


  • Taxi around town
    $4.03

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kampala

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kampala:

  • Airport Transfer from Entebbe to Kampala: $30
  • Entebbe Kampala Airport Transfer: $45
  • Entebbe Airport pickup (Entebbe - Kampala) reliable 24/7 transfer: $48
  • Private Transfer from Kampala to Entebbe Airport (EBB) Uganda: $70
  • Private Transfer from Entebbe Airport (EBB) Uganda to Kampala: $70
  • Entebbe Airport Transfers: $80
  • Guided City Tour with Private Transfers: $145
  • Full-Day Kampala Trip with Lunch and Hotel Transfers: $200

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Aswan

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Aswan:

  • Abu Simbel Day Trip from Aswan with transfers : $45
  • Arrival Transfer from Aswan Airport to Hotels or Nile Cruise: $40
  • Aswan Airport Arrival Transfer: $16
  • Aswan Airport Private Arrival Transfer: $28
  • Aswan Airport Private Departure Transfer: $28
  • Aswan Airport Private Transfer: $24
  • Aswan Airport Transfer To Hotel: $13
  • Aswan Airport Transfer to Hotels : $35
  • Aswan Airport VIP Transfer to Hotels - Mercedes Luxury Car : $35
  • Aswan Airport private arrival transfer: $29
  • Aswan Port Private Departure Transfer: $24
  • Aswan Private Airport Transfer To Hotel: $70

Is it cheaper to fly into Kampala or Aswan?

Prices for flights to both Aswan and Kampala 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
    Kampala $15
    Aswan $9.31
Typical Food Prices in Kampala

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Kampala:


  • Lunch for 2
    $1.61

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Kampala

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

  • Like a local cooking Tours: $26
  • Private Cooking Class with a Local Host: $47
  • Cooking Class With a Local (Kampala, Jinja, Entebbe - 4 Hours): $56
  • Three-Hour Food Tour: $71
  • Momma Ida's Ugandan Cuisine Cooking Tour: $75
  • Kampala City Walking Food Tour: $77
  • Fishing Village Food Tour & Luwombo Stop: $102
  • Kampala cooking tour: $133

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Aswan

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

  • Private Nubian Dinner at Nubian Village in Aswan: $44
  • Nubian Dinner at the Nubian village : $47
  • Nubian Dinner at Nubian Village: $49
  • Private Aswan Nubian Cooking Class and Market Tour: $50
  • Dinner on board a cruise on the Nile: $59
  • Private 3-Hour Nubian Party with Dinner and Pickup in Aswan: $77
  • Aswan Sunset Dinner Cruise: $80

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Kampala -
    Aswan $5.74

Tours and Activities in Kampala

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

  • Katanga Slum Guided Walking Tour: $10
  • African Fabric Market Tour : $13
  • Uganda Community Tour: $15
  • Small Group City Center Guided Walking tour: $15
  • Complete Kampala Tour Experience: $20
  • Kampala Half-Day Walking Tour with Local Female Guides: $20
  • Kampala's walking city Tour Experience : $23
  • 3-Hour Walking Tour with Optional Gaddafi Mosque: $24
  • Best Kampala group Walking Tour.: $25
  • Kampala:Guided walking tour: $25
  • Entebbe Walking Tour (3 Hours) with Zoo and Botanical Gardens Options: $25
  • Tombs, King’s palace and Gaddafi mosque walk tours: $26

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
    $1.19

Tours and Activities in Aswan

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

  • Temple Of Kalabsha Entry Tickets: $3.80
  • Unfinished Obelisk Entry Ticket: $5.60
  • Kom Ombo Temple Entry Ticket: $9.12
  • High Dam Aswan Entry Tickets With Pickup And Drop Off: $13
  • Philae Temple Complex Skip the Line Entry Ticket: $13
  • Day Trip to Nubian Village with Camel Tour: $15
  • Unfinished Obelisk Entry Tickets Included Pickup And Drop Off: $16
  • Adventure Felucca Ride in Aswan ( Private boat ): $17
  • Day Trip to Nubian Village with Camel Tour from Aswan: $20
  • Horse Carriage Ride with a Private Tour in Aswan: $20
  • Nubian Museum Magic: Private Tour in Aswan's Heart: $20
  • High Dam, Unfinished Obelisk, & Philae Private Tour: $20

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Kampala -
    Aswan $1.17

Sample the Local Flavors in Kampala

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Kampala:

  • Entebbe and club,pub and bar crawl experiences: $35
  • Kampala Pub Crawl | Uganda | 4 hours: $65
  • Kampala Bar Crawl, Beer Tasting and Street Food (6 Hours): $71


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kampala and Aswan, we can see that Kampala 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 Kampala would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Kampala 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 Kampala Expensive? and Is Aswan Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Kampala or Aswan?

Kampala has a larger population, and is about 6 times larger than the population of Aswan. When comparing the sizes of Kampala 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.