Which place is cheaper, Aswan or Petra?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Petra or Aswan?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Petra and Aswan can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Petra or Aswan?
Petra
Whether you're checking off the Seven Wonders of the World, or you're just a huge Indiana Jones fan, the city of Petra must be on your bucket list. The "rose red city, half as old as time," was the capital of the Nabataean kingdom in the 6th century BC. It was the center for trade and commerce until an earthquake took out buildings and destroyed their water management system. After this destruction, the city of Petra seemed to be lost to western civilization.
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 Historical Tours in Jordan, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Jordan, The Best 10-Day Tours in Egypt, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Egypt.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPetra $125Aswan $16
The average daily cost (per person) in Petra is $125, while the average daily cost in Aswan is $16. 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 Petra and Aswan in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPetra $59Aswan $6.75
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPetra $118Aswan $14
Compare Hotels in Petra and Aswan
Looking for a hotel in Petra 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.
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: Petra Hotel Prices and Aswan Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Petra $23Aswan $4.34
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Petra
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Petra:
- Petra to Aqaba King Hussein Airport - Departure Private Transfer: $52
- Petra to Wadi Rum Private Transfer: $80
- Private Departure Transfer: Petra Hotels to Amman Airport: $93
- Private Transfer from Petra City Hotels to Aqaba Airport: $93
- Private Transfer From Petra to Amman or Airport With Optional : $99
- Petra Private Transfer to or from Aqaba: $105
- Petra to Aqaba South Beach Hotels Private Transfer: $110
- Private transfer Petra to/from Wadi Rum: $118
- Private Transfer Amman Airport to Petra or vice versa via the King's Highway: $120
- Private Transfer Petra to/from Wadi Rum: $135
- Petra to Madaba Private Transfer: $140
- Petra to Ma'in Hot Springs Private Transfer: $140
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Aswan
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Aswan:
- Private Transfer from Aswan Airport to Aswan: $5.00
- Private transfer from Aswan to Aswan Airport: $6.40
- Private Transfer from Aswan Hotels to Aswan Airport: $8.00
- Station Aswan Transfer To hotel: $8.00
- Private Airport Arrival/Departure One Way Transfer: $10
- Airport Arrival/Departure One Way Private Transfer: $10
- Private Aswan Airport Arrival/Departure One Way Transfer: $10
- Private transfer from Aswan to Aswan Airport: $10
- Private transfer from Aswan to Aswan Airport: $10
- Private Transfer from Aswan Airport to Anywhere in Aswan: $10
- Private transfer from/to Aswan train station: $10
- Aswan airport transfer : $11
Is it cheaper to fly into Petra or Aswan?
Prices for flights to both Aswan and Petra 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 dayPetra $38Aswan $5.73
Typical Food Prices in Petra
Some typical examples of dining costs in Petra are as follows:
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Dinner for Two$12
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Juice$1.76
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Petra
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Petra.
- Cooking outside in little Petra between the Mountains. : $45
- Private Outdoor bedouin Dinner in Petra: $300
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Aswan
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Aswan.
- Dinner at Soleih restaurant by vehicle: $33
- Nubian Dinner in Nubian Village Of Aswan: $40
- Your Grandmothers Cooking Class In Aswan : $90
- Dinner In Nile Cruise in Aswan: $150
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Petra $47Aswan $6.11
Typical Entertainment Prices in Petra
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Petra are as follows:
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Entry to Petra for One$71
Tours and Activities in Petra
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Petra are as follows:
- 3-hour Private Guided Tour In Petra with hotel pick up.: $75
- Private Indiana-Jones Archeological Trail Tour: $90
- Private Half-Day Tour of Petra with Lunch: $120
- Wadi Rum Day Tour from Petra ending in Aqaba: $138
- Private Petra Back Entrance Tour with Guide .: $140
- 3 Hour Horse Riding Adventure around the Petra Area: $145
- Wadi Rum Private Tour from Petra with Martian and Star Wars Film Site: $173
- Petra Back Entrance Private Walking Tour: $215
- Private Full-Day Tour to Petra and Wadi Rum from Dead Sea: $269
Typical Entertainment Prices in Aswan
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Aswan are as follows:
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Temple Kom Ombo for Two$1.26
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 in Aswan Entry Ticket: $6.28
- Philae Temple Entry Ticket: $11
- Aswan High Dam Entry Tickets Included Pickup And Drop Off: $13
- Day Trip to Nubian Village with Camel Tour: $15
- Unfinished Obelisk Entry Tickets Included Pickup And Drop Off: $16
- Philae temple entry ticket: $16
- City Tour in Aswan by Bicycle : $16
- Private Day Tour to Phalie Temple, High Dam, Unfinished Obelisk: $17
- Unfinished Obelisk Entry Tickets Included Pickup And Drop Off: $18
- Kom Ombo Entry Tickets Included Pickup And Drop Off From Aswan: $19
- 2 Hours Tour in Philae Temple: $19
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPetra $15Aswan $1.24
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Petra and Aswan, we can see that Petra is more expensive. And not only is Aswan much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Petra is in Middle East and Aswan is in Africa, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. 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 Petra would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Petra 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 Petra Expensive? and Is Aswan Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Petra or Aswan?
Aswan has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Petra. When comparing the sizes of Petra 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.
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.