Which place is cheaper, Dahab or Petra?
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 Petra or Dahab?
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 Dahab can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Petra or Dahab?
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.
Dahab
Dahab is a small town on the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt. It is located about 85 kilometers north of Sharm el-Sheikh and sits on the Gulf of Aqaba. It's a popular destination with divers and backpackers alike, and offers some of the best snorkeling and diving that you'll find in the Red Sea. It's a great alternative to the resort driven Sharm el-Sheikh, and is popular with independent travelers who are looking for affordable accommodation. There are some upmarket options however, predominantly in the Laguna area, but budget facilities are not hard to find.
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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Petra Prices
Jordan PricesDahab Prices
Egypt Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPetra $153Dahab $26
The average daily cost (per person) in Petra is $153, while the average daily cost in Dahab is $26. 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 Dahab in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPetra $59Dahab $9.31
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPetra $118Dahab $19
Compare Hotels in Petra and Dahab
Looking for a hotel in Petra or Dahab? 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 Dahab Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Petra $23Dahab $3.10
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Petra
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Petra:
- Private transfer Petra to/from Wadi Rum: $140
- Private Transfer from Ma'in Hotel to Aqaba Airport: $120
- Private Transfer From Petra to Amman or Airport With Optional : $99
- Private Transfer Amman Airport to Petra or vice versa via the King's Highway: $120
- Private Departure Transfer: Petra Hotels to Amman Airport: $93
- Petra Private Transfer To Multiple Destinations: $115
- From Eilat: Petra Full-Day Guided Tour with Transfers: $219
- Comfortable and Reliable Private Transfer: Petra to Wadi Rum: $100
- Airport Transfer to and from Petra: $92
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Dahab
Also for Dahab, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer Dahab Hotel to Sharm ElSheikh Airport : $32
- Sharm el-Sheikh: 1-Way or Round-Trip Transfer to Dahab: $42
- Private Transfer Between Nuweibaa City and Sharm El Sheikh Hotels: $60
- Private Transfer To/From Nuweibaa City and Sharm El Sheikh Hotels: $68
- Saint paul and saint anthony monastery private transfer: $69
- Private Pickup Transfers from Dahab to Taba: $120
Is it cheaper to fly into Petra or Dahab?
Prices for flights to both Dahab 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 $66Dahab $13
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. : $50
- Private Outdoor bedouin Dinner in Petra: $150
Typical Food Prices in Dahab
For Dahab, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Seafood Dinner (for 2)$2.00
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Juice$0.11
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Breakfast for Two$0.63
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Dahab
For Dahab, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Bedouin Dinner in the Mountains In Dahab: $36
- Bedouin Dinner in the Mountains In Dahab: $39
- Dahab Desert Safari and Bedouin Dinner: $95
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Petra $47Dahab $6.56
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:
- 2-Day Amman to Petra, Wadi Rum & Dead Sea Adventure Tour: $220
- 3 Hour Horse Riding Adventure around the Petra Area: $145
- 3-Hour Private Petra Tour: Exclusive Classical Guided Experience: $55
- 3-hour Private Guided Tour In Petra with hotel pick up.: $75
- 6 Hours Private Tour in Petra: $125
- Amman: Petra by Night Tour with Optional Day Visit: $99
- From Petra Wadi Rum Private 8 hours roundtrip tour : $140
- Hike Tour of Petra: $10
- Petra Back Entrance Private Walking Tour | Guide Sami Nawafleh: $225
- Petra Highlight Tour with Private Guide Sami Nawafleh | 2.5 Hours: $120
- Petra Secret Backdoor Tour: Hidden Gems & Exclusive Experience: $240
- Private Full Day Tour to Aqaba Red Sea from Petra Hotels: $200
Tours and Activities in Dahab
For Dahab, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Jeep Safari to Canyon Salama Day Tour from Dahab: $15
- Dahab's Kept Secrets 5 Adventures in 1 Tour: $25
- Saint Catherine's Monastery And Half Day Tour From Dahab : $30
- Full-Day Hike Tour at St. Catherine's Monastery: $33
- Royal seascope Semi-Submarine Cruise: $33
- luxury Snorkeling cruise with buffet lunch: $41
- Hurghada to Cairo tour Small group HurghadaToGo: $42
- 4x4 Jeep Adventure from Dahab: $43
- Camel Ride + Blue Hole Snorkeling + Quad Bike Tour With Lunch From Dahab: $49
- Adventure Quad Biking Tour in Dahab: $50
- Mount Sinai Sunrise and St Catherine Monastery Tour from Dahab: $50
- St. Catherine Tour from Sharm : $55
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPetra $15Dahab $3.89
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Petra and Dahab, we can see that Petra is more expensive. And not only is Dahab much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Petra is in Middle East and Dahab 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 Dahab would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Dahab 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 Dahab.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Petra Expensive? and Is Dahab Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Petra or Dahab?
Petra has a larger population, and is about 75% larger than the population of Dahab. When comparing the sizes of Petra and Dahab, 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.