Which place is cheaper, Eilat or Petra?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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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 10-Day Tours in Israel, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Israel.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPetra $125Eilat $140
The average daily cost (per person) in Petra is $125, while the average daily cost in Eilat is $140. 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
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPetra $59Eilat $93
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPetra $118Eilat $186
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.
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
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Petra $23Eilat $13
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Petra
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Petra:
- Private transfer Petra to/from Wadi Rum: $118
- Private Transfer from Petra City Hotels to Aqaba Airport: $93
- Private Transfer Petra to/from Wadi Rum: $135
- 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 to Wadi Rum Private Transfer: $80
- Petra to Madaba Private Transfer: $140
- Petra to Aqaba South Beach Hotels Private Transfer: $110
- Petra Private Transfer to or from Aqaba: $105
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Eilat
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Eilat:
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Local Bus$3.71
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Eilat
Also for Eilat, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer From Ramon airport Eilat to Eilat Hotels or Arava Border : $70
- From Jerusalem: One-Way Shuttle Transfer to Eilat: $90
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
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Food Meals for one dayPetra $38Eilat $35
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
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Petra $47Eilat $16
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 Horse Riding Adventure around the Petra Area: $145
- 3-hour Private Guided Tour In Petra with hotel pick up.: $75
- Petra Back Entrance Private Walking Tour: $215
- Private Back Trail Tour of Petra starting from the Monastery : $276
- Private Full-Day Tour to Petra and Wadi Rum from Dead Sea: $269
- Private Half-Day Tour of Petra with Lunch: $120
- Private Indiana-Jones Archeological Trail Tour: $90
- Private Petra Back Entrance Tour with Guide .: $140
- Wadi Rum Day Tour from Petra ending in Aqaba: $138
- Wadi Rum Private Tour from Petra with Martian and Star Wars Film Site: $173
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: $30
- Jeep tour adventure Eilat mountains: $55
- From Timna Park Guided Jeep Tour: $64
- Red canyon jeep tour in Eilat: $70
- Timna park Jeep tour adventure: $70
- Park Timna: Small Group Photo Tour: $130
- Red Canyon: Small Group Photo Tour: $130
- Timna Park Tour from Eilat: $150
- Petra 1-Day Tour from Eilat + FREE Traditional Lunch: $199
- Full-Day Tour of Petra from Eilat: $199
- 1 Day Tour to Petra From Eilat: $217
- Day Tour to Petra from Eilat: $219
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPetra $15Eilat $27
When comparing the travel costs between Petra and Eilat, we can see that Eilat 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.
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.
Petra usually gets rain in July Eilat. Petra gets 0 mm (0 in) of rain, while Eilat receives 0 mm (0 in) of rain this time of the year.
In Eilat, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Petra. In the summer, Petra often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Eilat. Petra gets 384 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Eilat receives 384 hours of full sun.
The heat can be very extreme in Eilat. It's very hot in Petra this time of the year. Petra is around the same temperature as Eilat in the summer. The daily temperature in Petra averages around 33°C (91°F) in July, and Eilat fluctuates around 33°C (91°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyPetra 33°C (91°F)Eilat 33°C (91°F)
Should I visit Petra or Eilat in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Petra and Eilat. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Petra year-round. Eilat attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In October, Petra usually receives more rain than Eilat. Petra gets 2 mm (0.1 in) of rain, while Eilat receives 1 mm (0 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Eilat this time of the year. In Petra, it's very sunny this time of the year. Petra usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Eilat during autumn. Petra gets 295 hours of sunny skies, while Eilat receives 295 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In the autumn, Petra is around the same temperature as Eilat. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Petra in October average around 27°C (80°F), and Eilat averages at about 26°C (79°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberPetra 27°C (80°F)Eilat 26°C (79°F)
Should I visit Petra or Eilat in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Petra as well as Eilat. Petra attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Eilat throughout the year.
Petra usually gets more rain in January than Eilat. Petra gets 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Eilat receives 2 mm (0.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Eilat. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Petra this time of the year. In the winter, Petra often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Eilat. Petra gets 234 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Eilat receives 234 hours of full sun.
In January, Petra is generally around the same temperature as Eilat. Daily temperatures in Petra average around 15°C (59°F), and Eilat fluctuates around 14°C (57°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryPetra 15°C (59°F)Eilat 14°C (57°F)
Should I visit Petra or Eilat in the Spring?
Both Eilat and Petra are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Petra throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Eilat because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In April, Petra usually receives more rain than Eilat. Petra gets 12 mm (0.5 in) of rain, while Eilat receives 0 mm (0 in) of rain each month for the spring.
It's quite sunny in Eilat. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Petra. Petra usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Eilat during spring. Petra gets 282 hours of sunny skies, while Eilat receives 282 hours of full sun in the spring.
Petra is around the same temperature as Eilat in the spring. The daily temperature in Petra averages around 25°C (76°F) in April, and Eilat fluctuates around 24°C (75°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilPetra 25°C (76°F)Eilat 24°C (75°F)
Typical Weather for Eilat and Petra
| Petra | Eilat | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 15°C (59°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| Feb | 17°C (62°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 1 mm (0 in) |
| Mar | 20°C (68°F) | 36 mm (1.4 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) |
| Apr | 25°C (76°F) | 12 mm (0.5 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 0 mm (0 in) |
| May | 28°C (83°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 0 mm (0 in) |
| Jun | 31°C (88°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 31°C (88°F) | 0 mm (0 in) |
| Jul | 33°C (91°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 33°C (91°F) | 0 mm (0 in) |
| Aug | 32°C (90°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 33°C (91°F) | 0 mm (0 in) |
| Sep | 30°C (87°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 31°C (88°F) | 0 mm (0 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (80°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 1 mm (0 in) |
| Nov | 21°C (70°F) | 15 mm (0.6 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 0 mm (0 in) |
| Dec | 16°C (62°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 6 mm (0.2 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.