A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Petra vs. Eilat for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

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Should you visit Petra or Eilat?

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 Eilat can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Petra or Eilat?

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.

Eilat

Eilat serves as the gateway to Israel from Egypt. It's located at the southern tip of the country and sits on the Red Sea with views of the Gulf of Aqaba. It's location in the Negev Desert along the beautiful coast make it appealing to both domestic and international vacationers.

Eilat is a resort town with many dive shops and snorkeling opportunities. The population of about 50,000 can easily be overshadowed by vacationers. With no shortage of sun, entertainment, bars, and partying, you will find both Israeli and international tourists looking for an oasis of fun and relaxation.

Although the area's coral reefs were being damaged by overuse, the removal of contraversial fish cages in 2008 has led to a slow recovery and an improvement in the quality of diving and snorkeling in the area. There are also less crowds than you will find in Sharm el-Sheikh or Dahab, Egypt.

Eilat has a hot desert climate. The summers are hot and dry and the winters are warm and dry. Temperatures in the winter can range from 52 to 73 degrees Fahrenheit and summer temperatures are usually between 79 and 104 degrees Fahrenheit.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Historical Tours in Jordan, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Jordan, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Israel, and The Best 2-Week Tours in Israel.


Which place is cheaper, Eilat or Petra?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in Petra is $153, while the average daily cost in Eilat is $207. 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 Eilat in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Petra $59
    Eilat $116
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Petra $118
    Eilat $232
Compare Hotels in Petra and Eilat

Looking for a hotel in Petra or Eilat? 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.

Hotels in Petra


Hotels in Eilat


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 Eilat Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Petra $23
    Eilat $17

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Petra

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Petra:

  • Private Transfers from Petra Inside Jordan and Vice Versa: $176
  • 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 Transfer Amman Airport to Ma'in Hotel and vice versa: $73
  • Private Departure Transfer: Petra Hotels to Amman Airport: $93
  • Petra Private Transfer To Multiple Destinations: $115
  • Petra Private Transfer To Jerusalem: $290
  • Petra Private Transfer To Aqaba: $100
  • From Eilat: Petra Full-Day Guided Tour with Transfers: $219
  • Fast and Reliable Private Transfer: Petra to Ma’in Hot Springs: $180
  • Comfortable and Reliable Private Transfer: Petra to Wadi Rum: $100
  • Comfort VIP Private Transfer: Petra to Aqaba South Beach Hotels: $140

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Eilat

Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Eilat:


  • Local Bus
    $4.65

Is it cheaper to fly into Petra or Eilat?

Prices for flights to both Eilat 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Petra $66
    Eilat $76
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 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

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Eilat

For Eilat, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • The Feast at the Camel Ranch in Eilat with Dinner Alcohol Event: $95

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Petra $47
    Eilat $20
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 Petra

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Petra are as follows:

  • 3 Hour Horse Riding Adventure around the Petra Area: $145
  • 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 .: $190
  • Guided 3 Hour Tour of Petra's Iconic Landmarks: $60
  • Half-Day Private Indiana Jones Petra Back Road Trial Tour: $200
  • Literary tourism experience in Petra: $300
  • Petra Highlight Tour with Private Guide Sami Nawafleh | 2.5 Hours: $120
  • Petra Highlights Guided Golf Cart Tour with Hotel Pickup: $169
  • Private 2-Day Jordan Tour: Petra, Wadi Rum & Dead Sea: $210
  • Private 3-Day Jordan Tour: Petra, Wadi Rum & Dead Sea: $270
  • Private 3-Hour Guided Tour of Petra with Hotel Pickup .: $75

Tours and Activities in Eilat

For Eilat, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Glass Bottom Boat Cruise in Eilat: $22
  • Eilat Mountains: Sunset Jeep Adventure to Mount Joash: $63
  • Summer Night Guided Tour with Picnic in the Mountains: $63
  • Morning Jeep Tour of Eilat Mountains: $63
  • Morning jeep tour in Eilat mountains: $75
  • Jeep tour adventure Eilat mountains: $75
  • Summer night jeep tour in Eilat mountains: $75
  • From Red Canyon Guided Tour: $78
  • From Timna Park Guided Jeep Tour: $78
  • Timna park Jeep tour adventure: $98
  • Petra 1-Day Tour from Eilat + FREE Traditional Lunch: $199
  • Private Scuba Diving Tour with Transportation and Guide: $220

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Petra $15
    Eilat $33

How are these travel costs calculated?

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Petra and Eilat, we can see that Eilat is more expensive. And not only is Petra much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Petra would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Petra 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 Eilat would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Eilat than you might in Petra.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Petra Expensive? and Is Eilat Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Petra or Eilat?

Eilat has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Petra. When comparing the sizes of Petra and Eilat, 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 Eilat?

Both destinations experience a warmer climate most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season. Although in the rainy season, it doesn't necessarily rain every day.

Should I visit Petra or Eilat in the Summer?

Both Eilat and Petra during the summer 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 Eilat year-round.


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