Which place is cheaper, Cairo or Luxor?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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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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Luxor Prices
Egypt PricesCairo Prices
Egypt Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayLuxor $20Cairo $19
The average daily cost (per person) in Luxor is $20, while the average daily cost in Cairo 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 Luxor and Cairo in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personLuxor $7.12Cairo $8.75
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomLuxor $14Cairo $18
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 $3.65Cairo $2.79
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$0.39
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Luxor
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Luxor:
- Luxor Airport Transfer : $15
- Luxor airport transfer : $35
- Private Transfer From Luxor to Aswan: $55
- Private Transfer Luxor International Airport to Luxor Hotels: $20
- Private Transfer Service from Luxor to Aswan: $51
- Private Transfer from Luxor Airport to Luxor Hotels: $30
- Private Transfer from Luxor Hotels or Cruise to Luxor Airport: $15
- Private Transfer from Luxor to Aswan or vice versa: $145
- Private Transfer from Luxor to Hurghada (optional stop Dendera): $55
- Private Transfers From Luxor to Hurghada: $70
- Sunrise Hot Air Balloons in Luxor (transfer including): $65
- Transfer from Luxor Airport to Nile Cruise: $17
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$0.30
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cairo
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cairo:
- Private Pickup transfer from Cairo Paradise Hotel to Cairo airport: $12
- Private Tour Giza Pyramids and Great Sphinx With Transfers : $150
- Private Transfer from Hotel in Cairo to Cairo Airport: $25
- Private transfer from Cairo Airport to Sonesta Hotel Tower : $12
- Private transfer from The Nile Ritz-Carlton, Cairo to Cairo airport: $12
- Transfers From Cairo Airport: $13
- 01 way Private Transfer from Cairo Airport to Your Hotel in Cairo: $13
- 01 way Transfer from Cairo airport to your Hotel in Giza: $13
- 01 way Transfer from hotel in Cairo to Alexandria: $35
- 1 Day Aswan Abu Simple Tour with Transfer Included: $170
- 2 Days Private Guided Tours of Cairo and Giza with Free Cairo Airport Transfers: $170
- 2 Days and 2 Evenings Private Tour in Cairo include airport transfer and M&A: $280
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 $9.43Cairo $7.68
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
- Dinner on the River Nile with Belly Dancing in luxor: $28
- Luxor West Bank By Night and Alabaster Museum Tour with Dinner : $34
- Eat Like a Local:Traditional Egyptian Food / Dinner at Local Family Home - Luxor: $36
- Enjoy Dinner or Lunch on board the Luxor Nile River.: $50
- Sunset Dinner Cruise on the Nile in Luxor: $50
- Luxor City Private Walking and Food Tour: $50
- Saray El Nile restaurant Dinner : $60
- Karnak Sound And Light Show With Dinner, Felucca : $64
- Luxor & Mummification Museums & City Tour by H. Carriage & Dinner: $67
- Tour Quad Bike + Dinner in the desert in Luxor: $88
- Luxor Karnak Temple Sound and Light Show with Dinner and Transfers: $95
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.
- Quad Bike ATV and Nile Dinner Cruise with Belly dancer show: $5.00
- Dinner Nile cruise with belly dancer show on Nile river: $5.00
- Nile Sunset, Dinner Cruise, Show and Private Transfer: $6.66
- Dinner Cruise on the Nile River: $6.66
- Quad Bike ATV ,Camel Ride ,Nile Dinner Cruise Belly dancer show: $7.00
- 2 Hour Cairo Dinner Cruise on Nile river with live band: $7.00
- Cairo Dinner Cruise in Nile River With Belly Dancer & Tanora show: $7.50
- Private Nile Cruise with Dinner and Folk Show from Cairo: $7.50
- 5 Star Dinner Nile Cruise in Cairo Night Tour : $7.50
- VIP Giza Pyramids,Sphinx,ATV bike,CamelRide,Shopping&DinnerCruise: $8.00
- Night Dinner Nile cruise with belly dancer and folklore show: $8.00
- Private Tour Giza Pyramids , Sphinx & Dinner Nile cruise Show: $9.00
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Luxor $6.30Cairo $5.38
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)$0.53
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Temple Karnak for Two$2.56
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Camel Ride for Two$1.18
Tours and Activities in Luxor
Here are a few actual costs in Luxor for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Full tour to Karnak and Luxor temples, and felucca: $5.00
- Souvenir Shopping Tour, Luxor: $5.13
- Private Tour Shopping in Luxor City : $6.00
- Day Tour To Habu Temple Valley Of Workers And Queens: $8.00
- Half day tour Luxor:West Bank Valley of Kings,Hatshepsut&Memnon : $9.00
- Half Day Tour: Valley of the Kings and Hatshepsut Temple & Mamnon: $9.00
- Mummification Museum Private Guided Tour: $9.00
- Luxor East Bank: Karnak and Luxor Temples Tour: $9.00
- Exploring Souvenir Shopping with a Private Tour in Luxor: $10
- Luxor Day Tour: Explore Valley of Kings, Queens, Hatshepsut& More: $10
- Half Day Tour in Karnak Temple From East Bank of Luxor : $10
- Luxor City Tour by Horse Carriage Visit Local: $10
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$0.79
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Egyptian Museum Entry for Two$6.07
Tours and Activities in Cairo
Here are a few actual costs in Cairo for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Half day tour in Giza pyramids , sphinx , panorama: $2.50
- Private Tour in Pyramids of Giza with Lunch and Camel Ride: $3.75
- Top Half Day Tour To Giza Pyramids And Sphinx: $4.00
- Cheap Day tour to Giza Pyramids Sphinx With Camel Rid With lunch: $4.00
- Cairo Shopping Tours and Buy Cheap Egyptian Souvenirs with Hassle free: $4.00
- Private Day tour to Giza pyramids and Sphinx : $4.00
- Cairo Highlights Tours Visit Giza Pyramids and Sphinx: $4.00
- Cairo Half day tours to Giza Pyramids and Sphinx: $4.00
- Grand Egyptian Museum Magnificent Half Day Tour and Lunch: $4.50
- Private Yacht Tour in the Heart of Red Sea : $4.50
- Private Giza Pyramids Tour, Sphinx with Camel Ride and Lunch : $5.00
- Half Day Tour to Giza Pyramid,Sphinx,Camel,lunch, inside pyramid: $5.00
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayLuxor $2.12Cairo $1.10
Sample the Local Flavors in Cairo
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Cairo:
- Pub Crawl and Speakeasy Bar Tour with 2 Free Drinks: $61
When comparing the travel costs between Luxor and Cairo, we can see that Luxor 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.