Which place is cheaper, Cairo or Luxor?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Luxor or Cairo?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Luxor or Cairo? 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: Luxor or Cairo?
Luxor
Egypt is surely on the top of every history lover's bucket list. Nowhere is the history more engrossing than in Luxor. From amazing monuments dating back to ancient Thebes to rows of temples up the Nile, this remarkable city is full the stories of past greatness.
The East Bank – or the central part of Luxor Township – is the hotbed for tourism. This is where most of the hotels and resorts are, while the West Bank is home to the ancient ruins and archaeological wonders you'll want to explore.
Before traveling to Egypt, be sure to check on the current affairs and political climate. It could have a major effect on the amount of tourists visiting, and, if conditions are too dangerous, you may want to reschedule. Also note, ladies, to avoid any issues, dress modestly. This is a very conservative region of the world. The less skin showing, the better.
Cairo
Cairo is the chaotic capital city of Egypt. With a population of more than 16 million, it is one of the largest cities in both Africa and the Middle East. As a traveler, you're likely to arrive and leave from here and you'll get your first orientation to the area during the chaotic and congestion filled taxi ride from the airport.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Sightseeing Tours in Egypt, The Best Luxury Tours to Egypt, The Best Budget Tours to Egypt, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Egypt.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayLuxor $17Cairo $17
The average daily cost (per person) in Luxor is $17, while the average daily cost in Cairo is $17. 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 Luxor and Cairo in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personLuxor $7.54Cairo $9.27
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomLuxor $15Cairo $19
Compare Hotels in Luxor and Cairo
Looking for a hotel in Luxor or Cairo? 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: Luxor Hotel Prices and Cairo Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Luxor $3.87Cairo $2.96
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Luxor
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Luxor:
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Taxi Ride$0.42
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Luxor
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Luxor:
- Horus, Kom Ombo and Khnum Temples from Luxor with Transfers : $65
- Hotel Transfer to Luxor International Airport: $30
- Luxor Airport Private transfer to your hotel or vice versa: $8.00
- Luxor Airport Transfer : $15
- Private Transfer Service from Luxor to Aswan: $74
- Private Transfer from Luxor Airport to Luxor Hotels: $56
- Private Transfer from Luxor Hotels or Cruise to Luxor Airport: $15
- Private Transfers From Luxor to Hurghada: $135
- Private Transfers From Luxor to Hurghada : $60
- Transfer Luxor to hurghada ( Private ): $60
- Transfer from Luxor Hotel to Luxor Airport: $25
- 4 Hours Private Transfer in Luxor: $46
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Cairo
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Cairo are as follows:
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Metro Ride$0.08
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Taxi Ride$0.31
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cairo
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cairo:
- Cairo Airport Arrival Transfer: $20
- Cairo Airport Departure Transfer : $25
- Cairo Airport Transfer to Hotel: $20
- Private Pickup transfer from Windsor Hotel Cairo to Cairo airport: $12
- Private Tour Giza Pyramids and Great Sphinx With Transfers : $55
- Private airport Transfer: $15
- Private transfer from The Nile Ritz-Carlton, Cairo to Cairo airport: $12
- Pyramids of Giza and Great Sphinx Half Day Tour With Private Guide & Transfers : $135
- Round-Trip Airport Transfer in Cairo or Giza: $46
- Skip-the-line to Great Sphinx and Pyramids of Giza with Transfer: $24
- 01 way Private Transfer from your Hotel in Cairo to Cairo Airport: $13
- 01 way Transfer from Cairo airport to your Hotel in Giza: $13
Is it cheaper to fly into Luxor or Cairo?
Prices for flights to both Cairo and Luxor 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 dayLuxor $5.77Cairo $4.70
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Luxor
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Luxor.
- Tourist market,local food tour,the gym and coffee in Luxor: $19
- Sunset Dinner at a Traditional Egyptian House of Luxor: $30
- Eat Like a Local:Traditional Egyptian Food / Dinner at Local Family Home - Luxor: $36
- 3 Hours Culinary Journey with Family Food Tour in Luxor: $40
- Sunset Dinner at a Traditional Egyptian House in Luxor: $40
- Riding a felucca at Sunset and Dinner an Egyptian House in Luxor: $40
- Dinner Cruise on the Nile River: $43
- 4 Hours Culinary Journey with Local Family Food Tour in Luxor: $50
- Sunset Dinner Cruise on the Nile in Luxor: $50
- Romantic BBQ Dinner on Sandy Islan in the Nile with Private Fluka: $52
- Felucca Ride at Sunset and Dinner at an Egyptian House in Luxor: $55
- Luxor Nile Cruise Dinner: $60
Typical Food Prices in Cairo
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Cairo:
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Juice$0.04
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cairo
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Cairo.
- Cairo Nile dinner cruise night show with belly dancer: $8.00
- Dinner Nile Cruise belly dancer open buffer tanora show sailing on Nile: $8.80
- Private Nile Cruise with Dinner and Folk Show from Cairo: $10
- night-tour Nile dinner cruise with open buffet and belly dancer: $10
- Food Tour in Local Cairo Life with Egyptian tea: $11
- Dinner evening in the heart of the Nile for 3 hours: $11
- Dinner Cruise on the Nile River with Buffet belly dancer performance: $12
- Private Dinner Cruise on the Nile River in Cairo with Pickup: $12
- dance, sing and eat on Cairo Dinner Nile Cruise on Nile river: $12
- 5 Star Dinner Nile Cruise in Cairo Night Tour : $13
- 2-hours night dinner cruise show : Eat , Dance and Sing : $13
- food tour private tour from cairo or giza hotel: $14
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Luxor $6.67Cairo $5.69
Typical Entertainment Prices in Luxor
Here are a few typical costs in Luxor for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Boat Ride (for 2)$0.56
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Temple Karnak for Two$2.71
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Camel Ride for Two$1.25
Tours and Activities in Luxor
Here are a few actual costs in Luxor for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Entry Ticket To Valley of the Queens: $4.60
- Valley Of The Kings Entry Ticket: $4.60
- Karnak Temple Private Guided Tour: $5.00
- Private Tour Shopping in Luxor City : $6.00
- Private Tour Shopping in Luxor: $7.00
- Luxor Museum Entry Ticket: $7.60
- Historical Day Tour To Luxor And Mummification Museums: $8.00
- Tour To Discover Fully West Bank In Luxor: $8.00
- Luxor Private Guided Tours to East & West Bank: $8.00
- Luxor Day Tour visit East and West Nile Banks: $8.00
- Day Tour In Luxor To East And West Bank Of The Nile: $8.00
- Private Tour Shopping in Luxor Exploring Workshops and Markets: $8.00
Typical Entertainment Prices in Cairo
Here are a few typical costs in Cairo for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Entry to Camel Market for Two$0.83
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Egyptian Museum Entry for Two$6.43
Tours and Activities in Cairo
Here are a few actual costs in Cairo for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Dahshur Pyramids Entry Tickets: $4.37
- El Sultan Hassan Mosque Entry Ticket : $4.56
- Baron Palace Entry Tickets : $4.60
- The Baron Empain Palace Entry Ticket: $4.60
- Prince Mohamed Ali Palace Entry Ticket: $4.80
- Full Day Tour to Giza Pyramids, Sphinx, Memphis, and Saqqara: $5.00
- Entry Ticket to the Prince Mohamed Ali Palace : $5.54
- Wonder Tour To Khufu, Khafre, Menkaure Pyramids and Great Sphinx : $5.76
- Private Tour to Giza Pyramids, Sphinx : $6.00
- Skip The Line To Coptic Museum of Cairo Entry Ticket: $6.01
- Skip The Line with Memphis Museum Entry Ticket: $6.77
- Museum of Islamic Arts Cairo Entry Ticket: $7.00
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayLuxor $2.24Cairo $1.16
When comparing the travel costs between Luxor and Cairo, we can see that Cairo is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Africa, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Luxor Expensive? and Is Cairo Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Luxor or Cairo?
Cairo has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Luxor. When comparing the sizes of Luxor and Cairo, 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 Luxor or Cairo?
Both destinations experience a warmer climate with nice weather most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season.
Should I visit Luxor or Cairo in the Summer?
Both Cairo and Luxor are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Luxor throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Cairo because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In July, Luxor usually receives less rain than Cairo. Luxor gets 0 mm (0 in) of rain, while Cairo receives 1 mm (0 in) of rain each month for the summer.
Luxor can become quite hot in the summer. In July, Luxor is generally a little warmer than Cairo. Daily temperatures in Luxor average around 33°C (91°F), and Cairo fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyLuxor 33°C (91°F)Cairo 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Luxor or Cairo in the Autumn?
Both Cairo and Luxor during the autumn are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Luxor because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Cairo year-round.
Luxor usually gets less rain in October than Cairo. Luxor gets 1 mm (0 in) of rain, while Cairo receives 5 mm (0.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
Luxor is around the same temperature as Cairo in the autumn. The daily temperature in Luxor averages around 25°C (77°F) in October, and Cairo fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberLuxor 25°C (77°F)Cairo 23°C (73°F)
Should I visit Luxor or Cairo in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Luxor and Cairo. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Luxor year-round. Cairo attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In January, Luxor usually receives less rain than Cairo. Luxor gets 0 mm (0 in) of rain, while Cairo receives 15 mm (0.6 in) of rain each month for the winter.
In the winter, Luxor is around the same temperature as Cairo. Typically, the winter temperatures in Luxor in January average around 14°C (57°F), and Cairo averages at about 14°C (57°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryLuxor 14°C (57°F)Cairo 14°C (57°F)
Should I visit Luxor or Cairo in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Luxor as well as Cairo. Luxor attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Cairo throughout the year.
Luxor usually gets less rain in April than Cairo. Luxor gets 0 mm (0 in) of rain, while Cairo receives 7 mm (0.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
In April, Luxor is generally a little warmer than Cairo. Daily temperatures in Luxor average around 25°C (77°F), and Cairo fluctuates around 21°C (70°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilLuxor 25°C (77°F)Cairo 21°C (70°F)
Typical Weather for Cairo and Luxor
| Luxor | Cairo | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 14°C (57°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 15 mm (0.6 in) |
| Feb | 15°C (59°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Mar | 20°C (68°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) |
| Apr | 25°C (77°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 7 mm (0.3 in) |
| May | 30°C (86°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 0 mm (0 in) |
| Jun | 32°C (90°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 0 mm (0 in) |
| Jul | 33°C (91°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 1 mm (0 in) |
| Aug | 31°C (88°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 0 mm (0 in) |
| Sep | 30°C (86°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) |
| Oct | 25°C (77°F) | 1 mm (0 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) |
| Nov | 20°C (68°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 1 mm (0 in) |
| Dec | 15°C (59°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 3 mm (0.1 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.