Which place is cheaper, Cairo or Petra?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Petra or Cairo?
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 Cairo can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Petra or Cairo?
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.
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 Historical Tours in Jordan, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Jordan, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Egypt, and The Best Historical Tours in Egypt.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPetra $125Cairo $17
The average daily cost (per person) in Petra is $125, 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 Petra and Cairo in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPetra $59Cairo $9.36
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPetra $118Cairo $19
Compare Hotels in Petra and Cairo
Looking for a hotel in Petra 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: Petra Hotel Prices and Cairo Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Petra $23Cairo $2.99
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Petra
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Petra:
- Petra Private Transfer to or from Aqaba: $105
- Petra to Aqaba King Hussein Airport - Departure Private Transfer: $52
- Petra to Aqaba South Beach Hotels Private Transfer: $110
- Petra to Ma'in Hot Springs Private Transfer: $140
- Petra to Madaba Private Transfer: $140
- Petra to Wadi Rum Private Transfer: $80
- Private Departure Transfer: Petra Hotels to Amman Airport: $93
- Private Transfer Amman Airport to Petra or vice versa via the King's Highway: $120
- Private Transfer From Petra to Amman or Airport With Optional : $99
- Private Transfer Petra to/from Wadi Rum: $135
- Private Transfer from Petra City Hotels to Aqaba Airport: $93
- Private transfer Petra to/from Wadi Rum: $118
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$0.32
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cairo
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cairo:
- Private Departure Transfer from Cairo or Giza Hotels to Cairo Airport: $5.00
- Private Transfer from Hotels in Cairo to Cairo Airport : $8.00
- Airport and Hotel Private Transfer in Cairo & Giza: $9.00
- Private transfer from Cairo Airport to Novotel Cairo El Borg: $9.60
- Private Pickup transfer from Hotel Longchamps to Cairo airport: $9.60
- Private transfer from Cairo Airport to Cairo Pyramids Hotel: $9.60
- Private transfer from Cairo Airport to Windsor Hotel Cairo: $9.60
- Private transfer from Cairo Airport to Osiris Hotel: $9.60
- Private Pickup transfer from Hilton Cairo Heliopolis to Cairo airport: $9.60
- Private Pickup transfer from InterContinental Cairo Citystars to Cairo airport: $9.60
- Private Pickup transfer from Cairo Pyramids Hotel to Cairo airport: $9.60
- Private Pickup transfer from Novotel Cairo El Borg to Cairo airport: $9.60
Is it cheaper to fly into Petra or Cairo?
Prices for flights to both Cairo 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 $38Cairo $4.75
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
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.
- Night Dinner Cruise, Belly Dancer Show on The Nile With Pickup: $8.00
- Dinner Cruise on the Nile River: $12
- Super Safari Quad Bike Jeep Safari Buggy and Dinner in Hurghada: $15
- Nile Sunset, Dinner Cruise, Show and Private Transfer: $16
- Cairo Food Tour with Nile Felucca Ride : $18
- VIP tour Giza pyramids ,Sphinx, Quad bike ,Camel, Dinner cruise : $19
- Private Expert tour Giza Pyramids ,Sphinx ,Nile Dinner Cruise & Belly Dancer: $19
- Giza Pyramids, Camel Ride, Quad Bike, Night and Dinner Cruise on Nile: $19
- food tour private tour from cairo or giza hotel: $19
- All inclusive Tour to Giza Pyramids, Sphinx & ATV &Dinner cruise : $20
- Private Cairo Food Tour : $20
- Cairo Private Food Tour and Egyptian Tea: $22
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Petra $47Cairo $5.75
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 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$0.84
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Egyptian Museum Entry for Two$6.49
Tours and Activities in Cairo
Here are a few actual costs in Cairo for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Dahshur Pyramids Entry Tickets: $4.26
- The Baron Empain Palace Entry Ticket: $4.60
- Cairo Shopping tour Private Papyrus Perfume, Bazar Cotton Shop : $4.70
- All Inclusive Tour to Giza Pyramids, Sphinx, Memphis, and Saqqara: $5.00
- New Grand Egyptian Museum Tour with optional the pyramids tour..: $5.00
- Shopping tour Private Papyrus Perfume, Bazar Cotton Shop in Cairo: $5.00
- Mosque and Madrasa of Sultan Hasan Entry Ticket: $5.11
- Entry Ticket to the Prince Mohamed Ali Palace : $5.38
- Wonder Tour To Khufu, Khafre, Menkaure Pyramids and Great Sphinx : $5.61
- Skip The Line To Coptic Museum of Cairo Entry Ticket: $5.83
- Skip The Line with Memphis Museum Entry Ticket: $6.67
- Private Tour Shopping in Cairo by Car and Guide: $7.00
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPetra $15Cairo $1.17
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: $59
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Petra and Cairo, we can see that Petra is more expensive. And not only is Cairo much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Petra is in Middle East and Cairo 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 Cairo would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Cairo 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 Cairo.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Petra Expensive? and Is Cairo Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Petra or Cairo?
Cairo has a larger population, and is about 550 times larger than the population of Petra. When comparing the sizes of Petra 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 Petra 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 Petra or Cairo in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Petra and Cairo. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Petra year-round. Cairo attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In July, Petra usually receives less rain than Cairo. Petra gets 0 mm (0 in) of rain, while Cairo receives 1 mm (0 in) of rain each month for the summer.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Cairo this time of the year. In Petra, it's very sunny this time of the year. Petra usually receives more sunshine than Cairo during summer. Petra gets 384 hours of sunny skies, while Cairo receives 350 hours of full sun in the summer.
The heat can be very extreme in Petra. In the summer, Petra is a little warmer than Cairo. Typically, the summer temperatures in Petra in July average around 33°C (91°F), and Cairo averages at about 28°C (82°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyPetra 33°C (91°F)Cairo 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Petra or Cairo in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Petra as well as Cairo. Petra attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Cairo throughout the year.
Petra usually gets less rain in October than Cairo. Petra gets 2 mm (0.1 in) of rain, while Cairo receives 5 mm (0.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Cairo. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Petra this time of the year. In the autumn, Petra often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Cairo. Petra gets 295 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Cairo receives 290 hours of full sun.
In October, Petra is generally a little warmer than Cairo. Daily temperatures in Petra average around 27°C (80°F), and Cairo fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberPetra 27°C (80°F)Cairo 23°C (73°F)
Should I visit Petra or Cairo in the Winter?
Both Cairo and Petra are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Petra throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Cairo because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In January, Petra usually receives more rain than Cairo. Petra gets 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Cairo receives 15 mm (0.6 in) of rain each month for the winter.
It's quite sunny in Cairo. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Petra. Petra usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Cairo during winter. Petra gets 234 hours of sunny skies, while Cairo receives 221 hours of full sun in the winter.
Petra is around the same temperature as Cairo in the winter. The daily temperature in Petra averages around 15°C (59°F) in January, and Cairo fluctuates around 14°C (57°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryPetra 15°C (59°F)Cairo 14°C (57°F)
Should I visit Petra or Cairo in the Spring?
Both Cairo and Petra during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Petra because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Cairo year-round.
Petra usually gets more rain in April than Cairo. Petra gets 12 mm (0.5 in) of rain, while Cairo receives 7 mm (0.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
In Cairo, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Petra. In the spring, Petra often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Cairo. Petra gets 282 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Cairo receives 276 hours of full sun.
In the spring, Petra is a little warmer than Cairo. Typically, the spring temperatures in Petra in April average around 25°C (76°F), and Cairo averages at about 21°C (70°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilPetra 25°C (76°F)Cairo 21°C (70°F)
Typical Weather for Cairo and Petra
| Petra | Cairo | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 15°C (59°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 15 mm (0.6 in) |
| Feb | 17°C (62°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Mar | 20°C (68°F) | 36 mm (1.4 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) |
| Apr | 25°C (76°F) | 12 mm (0.5 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 7 mm (0.3 in) |
| May | 28°C (83°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 0 mm (0 in) |
| Jun | 31°C (88°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 | 32°C (90°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 0 mm (0 in) |
| Sep | 30°C (87°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (80°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) |
| Nov | 21°C (70°F) | 15 mm (0.6 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 1 mm (0 in) |
| Dec | 16°C (62°F) | 41 mm (1.6 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.