Which place is cheaper, Dahab or Kampala?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit Kampala or Dahab?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Kampala or Dahab? 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 Dahab?
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.
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 Camping Tours in Uganda, The Best Safaris in Uganda, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Egypt, and The Best Historical Tours in Egypt.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKampala $69Dahab $13
The average daily cost (per person) in Kampala is $69, 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 Kampala and Dahab in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKampala $59Dahab $6.09
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKampala $118Dahab $12
Compare Hotels in Kampala and Dahab
Looking for a hotel in Kampala 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: Kampala Hotel Prices and Dahab Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Kampala $2.48Dahab $1.92
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Kampala
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Kampala are as follows:
-
Taxi around town$3.96
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kampala
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kampala:
- Private Transfer from Entebbe Airport (EBB) Uganda to Kampala: $128
- Full-Day Kampala Trip with Lunch and Hotel Transfers: $200
- From 3-Day Murchison Falls Safari with Transfer: $2,200
- Entebbe Airport taxi. For a safe, affordable and reliable 24/7 airport transfer.: $45
- Entebbe Airport Transfers: $80
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Dahab
Also for Dahab, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Dahab To/from Sharm El Sheikh Private Transfer : $40
- Private Sharm El Sheikh Airport (SSH) Transfer: $71
- Private Pickup Transfers From Dahab To Cairo: $260
- Private Pickup Transfers from Dahab to Taba: $120
- Private Transfer From Dahab To Taba border group from 1 to 12: $220
- Private Transfer From Dahab To Taba border group from 1 to 4: $90
- Private Transfer from Hotel in Dahab To Sharm el Sheikh Airport: $54
- Sharm el-Sheikh: 1-Way or Round-Trip Transfer to Dahab: $38
Is it cheaper to fly into Kampala or Dahab?
Prices for flights to both Dahab 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 dayKampala $8.33Dahab $4.82
Typical Food Prices in Kampala
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Kampala:
-
Lunch for 2$1.58
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
- Cooking Class for Typical Ugandan Food in Kampala: $31
- Three-Hour Food Tour: $41
- Private Cooking Class with a Local Host: $47
- Momma Ida's Ugandan Cuisine Cooking Tour: $75
- Kampala City Walking Food Tour: $77
- Night-time Boda Boda Street Food Tour: $91
- Amazing Race - Food Tour: $103
- uganda fun time (bed,breakfast, lunch and dinner ) : $154
- Kampala food tour: $205
Typical Food Prices in Dahab
For Dahab, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
-
Seafood Dinner (for 2)$2.00
-
Juice$0.11
-
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
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Kampala -Dahab $4.60
Tours and Activities in Kampala
Here are a few actual costs in Kampala for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Equator Tour: $100
- 1 Day Jinja source of the Nile tour: $290
- 1 Day Kampala City Tour: $150
- 1 Day Ngamba Island chimpanzee tour: $270
- 1 Day Uganda Cultural & Farm Experience: $460
- 1 day Jinja Day trip and Source of R. Nile tour: $261
- 1Day Jinja Tour & source of the Nile River Experience : $193
- 2 Days Birding Tour in Entebbe: $246
- 3 Hours Guided Cycling Tour Across Lake Victoria: $60
- 6 Hour Kampala Small Group Guided Walking Tour: $60
- 6 Hours Walking Tour in Kampala : $47
- 7 Hours Guided Cycling Tour to Sezibwa Waterfalls: $74
Tours and Activities in Dahab
For Dahab, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Saint Catherine's Monastery Half Day Tour From Dahab: $24
- From Three Pools Guided Snorkeling Tour with Lunch: $28
- Blue Hole Snorkeling Tour with lunch from Dahab: $28
- Dahab Windsurfing Adventure in Red Sea Waves: $30
- Royal seascope Semi-Submarine Cruise: $33
- Royal Seascope Submarine Guided Boat Tour : $38
- 4x4 Jeep Adventure from Dahab: $39
- Full Day Climbing and Hiking Tour in Canyon with Pickup: $40
- Blue Hole Snorkeling Adventure in Dahab: $40
- Three Pools snorkeling and Quad Bike full-day tour in Dahab: $40
- luxury Snorkeling cruise with buffet lunch: $41
- Seascope Submarine Tour from Dahab: $45
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayKampala -Dahab $2.63
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
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kampala and Dahab, we can see that Kampala is more expensive. And not only is Dahab much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. 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 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 Dahab.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Kampala Expensive? and Is Dahab Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Kampala or Dahab?
Kampala has a larger population, and is about 170 times larger than the population of Dahab. When comparing the sizes of Kampala 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.