Which place is cheaper, Luxor or Masai Mara?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Masai Mara or Luxor?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Masai Mara and Luxor. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Masai Mara or Luxor?
Masai Mara
Masai Mara National Reserve is a beautiful, scenic, nature reserve in southwest Kenya, just west of the capital city, Nairobi. The reserve belongs to the Masai people and was created in order to protect the land and the people and animals living on it. Masai Mara is considered to be one of the best reserves in all of Africa, offering the quintessential African safari experience.
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.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Safaris in Kenya, The Best Luxury Tours to Kenya, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Egypt, and The Best Luxury Tours to Egypt.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMasai Mara $111Luxor $17
The average daily cost (per person) in Masai Mara is $111, while the average daily cost in Luxor 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 Masai Mara and Luxor in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMasai Mara $38Luxor $7.62
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMasai Mara $76Luxor $15
Compare Hotels in Masai Mara and Luxor
Looking for a hotel in Masai Mara or Luxor? 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: Masai Mara Hotel Prices and Luxor Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Masai Mara $48Luxor $3.91
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Masai Mara
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Masai Mara:
- Airport Transfers: $40
- Private One-Way Nairobi Airport Transfer: $29
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:
- Luxor Airport Private Transfer: $6.00
- Private Transfer from & to Luxor Airport from Any Hotel in Luxor: $6.00
- Departure Transfer from Luxor Hotels to Luxor airport: $6.40
- private Transfer From Luxor Hotel To The Airport Or Vice Versa : $7.00
- Transfers from Luxor Airport to Hotels or to Nile Cruise: $7.00
- Luxor Airport Departure: Convenient Private Hotel Transfer: $7.02
- Luxor Airport Private Luxury Transfer (Arrival or Departure): $7.20
- Pick up Transfers From Luxor Airport To Luxor Hotels: $7.50
- Pickup Transfers And Taxi Services From Hotel In Luxor To Luxor Airport: $7.50
- Luxor Private Transfer From East&west Banks hotels to the Airport: $8.00
- Private Transfer from Luxor Airport to Luxor Hotels: $8.00
- Luxor Private Transfer East Bank hotels to Airport or vice versa: $8.00
Is it cheaper to fly into Masai Mara or Luxor?
Prices for flights to both Luxor and Masai Mara 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 dayMasai Mara $34Luxor $5.83
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Masai Mara
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Masai Mara.
- Safari Park Dinner with Safari Cats Dance Show: $91
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Luxor
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Luxor.
- Dinner on the River Nile with Belly Dancing: $35
- Eat Like a Local:Traditional Egyptian Food / Dinner at Local Family Home - Luxor: $36
- Luxor Sunset Felucca Ride and Banana Island with Lunch or Dinner: $38
- Dinner Cruise on the Nile River: $43
- Sunset Felucca Ride and Banana Island with Lunch or Dinner Luxor: $45
- Private Half Day Felucca Ride and Banana Island with Lunch or Dinner From Luxor: $52
- Karnak Sound And Light Show With Dinner, Felucca : $64
- Luxor & Mummification Museums & City Tour by H. Carriage & Dinner: $70
- Enjoy Half Day Sunset Felucca Ride and Banana Island with Lunch or Dinner: $90
- Full day trip west Bank, Dandara and dinner on a boat.: $128
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Masai Mara $61Luxor $6.74
Tours and Activities in Masai Mara
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Masai Mara are as follows:
- Half Day Giraffe Center,Baby Elephant&Karen Blixxen Guided Tour: $35
- Half Day Tour Elephant Orphanage,Giraffe CenterKobe Beads Factory: $38
- 1Day Tour Nairobi Park ,Giraffe Center,karen Blixxen Guided tour: $45
- A day tour to Nairobi National Park and Giraffe Center: $52
- Nairobi African Shopping Tour: $55
- Nairobi City Tour: $68
- Lake Nakuru National Park; Admission Ticket: $75
- Lake Nakuru National Park Day Tour from Nairobi: $75
- Karen Blixen Museum & Giraffe Centre Half day tour: $90
- Day tour to Hell's gate and optional boat ride at lake naivasha : $98
- Giraffe Center, Elephant Orphanage, Beads Center & Bomas of Kenya Tour Nairobi: $115
- Day trip - Lake Nakuru National Park Tour From Nairobi: $130
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)$0.57
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Temple Karnak for Two$2.74
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Camel Ride for Two$1.26
Tours and Activities in Luxor
Here are a few actual costs in Luxor for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Ramesseum Mortuary Temple of Ramses II Entry Ticket: $4.56
- Valley Of The Kings Entry Ticket: $4.60
- Entry Ticket To Valley of the Queens: $4.60
- Valley Of The Queens Entry Ticket: $4.60
- Mummification Museum Entry Ticket: $5.10
- Souvenir Shopping Tour, Luxor: $5.13
- Luxor Museum Entry Ticket: $7.60
- See the Valley of the Kings & More: Shared Tour (All-Inclusive): $8.80
- Karnak Temple And Luxor Temple Private Day Tour : $8.95
- Explore Luxor temple and City Private Tour by Flucca: $9.00
- Temple of Queen Hatshepsut Entry Tickets : $9.20
- Temple Of Queen Hatshepsut Entry Ticket: $9.20
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMasai Mara $27Luxor $2.26
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Masai Mara and Luxor, we can see that Masai Mara is more expensive. And not only is Luxor much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Luxor would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Luxor 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 Masai Mara would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Masai Mara than you might in Luxor.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Masai Mara Expensive? and Is Luxor Expensive?.
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.