Should you visit Petra or Beirut?
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 Beirut can help you decide which place is right for you.
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.
Beirut
Some travelers are seeking the hustle, bustle and posh atmosphere that only comes from a big city. Those travelers should have Beirut, Lebanon at the top of their list. The capital city is jam packed with 2.1 million people that are constantly on the go. As the commercial and financial hub of Lebanon, this city is fast-paced, fashion conscious and always ready for a night on the town.
Which city is cheaper, Beirut or Petra?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Petra is $100, while the average daily cost in Beirut is $107. 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 city. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Petra and Beirut in more detail.
Accommodation
Petra's average price for two people sharing a typical double-occupancy hotel room is $94. A typical place to stay for one person, per day is $47.
For a normal double-occupancy room in Beirut, $120 is the average cost for a hotel room. Also in Beirut, the typical price for a place to stay for one person is $60, such as in a hostel.
Food
While meal prices in Petra can vary, the average travelers spends about $30 per day on food. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out, an average meal in Petra should cost around $12 per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in Petra is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.
The average traveler spends about $34 per day in Beirut for food, but obviously this is dependent on the type of restaurant and the amount of food ordered. To save money you can grab a lighter lunch or dinner, or you can try fast food or street food.
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Food
Meals for one day
Petra $30
Beirut $34
Typical Food prices in Petra
Some typical examples of dining costs in Petra are as follows:
-
Dinner for Two
$12
-
Juice
$1.76
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Beirut
For Beirut, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
-
Traveling Spoon Lebanese Mezze Private Online Cooking Class:
$27
-
Seafood dinner with a sea view in Beirut:
$58
-
Private, Traditional Lebanese Cooking Class with a Contemporary Twist:
$72
-
Authentic Lebanese Cooking Lesson and Meal with Tania's Family in Beirut:
$90
-
Private Lebanese Cooking Class in Beirut with Amal and Hotel Transfers:
$113
Local Transportation
While taxis and private drivers typically cost much more than public transportation, people usually spend around $18 per day to get around in Petra.
Public transportation tends to be much less expensive in Beirut than paying for a taxi or private car service, as is expected. Typically, people spend $21 on transportation in Beirut on average per day.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Beirut
Also for Beirut, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
-
Private Airport Transfer in Beirut:
$10
-
Private Transfer from Beirut Hotels to the Beirut Airport:
$10
-
Departure Transfer:From Hotel To Beirut-Rafic Hariri International Airport (BEY):
$11
-
BEY Airport to Hotel: Skip-the-Line Private Arrival Transfer:
$13
-
Airport Departure Transfer From Your Beirut Hotel:
$15
-
Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Beirut International Airport:
$15
-
Airport Arrival Transfer to Your Beirut Hotel:
$15
-
Private Arrival Transfer: Beirut International Airport to Hotel:
$18
-
Private Departure Transfer: From your hotel in Beirut to Airport:
$18
-
Private Arrival Transfer: From Airport to your hotel in Beirut:
$20
-
Beirut airport transfer:
$23
-
Beirut to Damascus Taxi Transfer ( Syrian Border ):
$50
Is it cheaper to fly into Petra or Beirut?
Prices for flights to both Beirut 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.
Entertainment
Activities, things to do, and other forms of entertainment usually cost around $38 per person, per day in Petra. This cost includes the price of admission tickets to attractions and museums as well as daily tours.
Sightseeing expenses in Beirut, including the cost of admission tickets for day tours, museums, and attractions, usually cost an average of $12 per day, per person.
Typical Entertainment prices in Petra
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Petra are as follows:
-
Entry to Petra for One
$71
Tours and Activities in Beirut
For Beirut, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
-
One Hour Self-guided Audio Tour of the Green Line by VoiceMap:
$5.13
-
City Sightseeing Beirut Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour:
$30
-
Beirut 3 museums + mini walking tour:
$30
-
Beirut Like a Local: Customized Private Tour:
$31
-
Jeita Grotto, Harissa and Byblos with a Group Tour from Beirut:
$35
-
Small-Group Adventure Tour to Jeita Grotto,Harissa&Byblos Day Trip from Beirut:
$38
-
Small-Group Adventure Tour to Sidon Tyre Maghdouche - Day Trip from Beirut:
$39
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Small-Group Guided tour of Beirut:
$40
-
Small-Group Beirut Historical Tour:
$40
-
Beirut Full Day Walking Tour:
$40
-
Small Daily Tours in Beirut City:
$40
-
Beirut Small Group Historical Tour:
$40
Alcohol
The average person spends about $12 on alcoholic beverages in Petra per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
Typically, people visiting Beirut spend on average $11 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
Sample the Local Flavors in Beirut
Also in Beirut, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
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Lebanon Wine Tasting Tour:
$52
-
Full-Day Private Wine Tour in Bekaa Valley with Tasting:
$60
-
Budget Wine Tasting Tour at the Bekaa Valley Wineries:
$60
-
Private Wine Tasting Tour:
$65
-
Private Wine Tasting Day Tour from Beirut:
$75
-
Full-Day Private Wine Tasting Tour at Chateau Musar and Ixsir:
$75
-
Full-Day Wine Tasting Tour in The Bekaa Valley:
$75
-
Full-Day Private Wine Tasting Tour:
$82
-
Full-Day Private Wine Tasting Trip to Chateau Musar and Ixsir from Beirut:
$85
-
Full-Day Private Wine Tasting Tour:
$85
-
Wine Tasting and Culture:
$85
-
Half-Day Private Tour to Baalbek With Wine Tasting and Lunch Included:
$100
When comparing the travel costs between Petra and Beirut, we can see that Beirut 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 Middle East, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
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