Which place is cheaper, Nara or Petra?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Petra or Nara?
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 Nara can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Petra or Nara?
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.
Nara
As Japan's first capital, Nara offers a world of tradition and culture second only to the city of Kyoto. It is home to eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites, which are largely concentrated in the area of Nara Park. Here, it is also common to see many deer wandering freely amongst the temples and shrines.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Historical Tours in Jordan, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Jordan, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Japan, and The Best Cultural Tours in Japan.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPetra $125Nara $86
The average daily cost (per person) in Petra is $125, while the average daily cost in Nara is $86. 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 Nara in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPetra $59Nara $52
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPetra $118Nara $104
Compare Hotels in Petra and Nara
Looking for a hotel in Petra or Nara? 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 Nara Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Petra $23Nara $5.83
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Petra
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Petra:
- Private Transfer Amman Airport to Ma'in Hotel and vice versa: $73
- Petra to Wadi Rum Private Transfer: $80
- Private Departure Transfer: Petra Hotels to Amman Airport: $93
- Private Transfer from Petra City Hotels to Aqaba Airport: $93
- Private Transfer From Petra to Amman or Airport With Optional : $99
- Petra Private Transfer to or from Aqaba: $105
- Petra to Aqaba South Beach Hotels Private Transfer: $110
- Private transfer Petra to/from Wadi Rum: $118
- Private Transfer Amman Airport to Petra or vice versa via the King's Highway: $120
- Private Transfer Petra to/from Wadi Rum: $135
- Petra to Madaba Private Transfer: $140
- Petra to Sheikh Hussein Crossing Border Private Transfer: $180
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Nara
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Nara:
- Kansai Airport (KIX)：Private One-Way Transfer to/from Nara: $240
Is it cheaper to fly into Petra or Nara?
Prices for flights to both Nara 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 $38Nara $28
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
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Nara
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Nara.
- Eel Fishing and Cooking Experience in Kyoto: $72
- Cooking class, learning how to make authentic sushi: $111
- Full Day Nara E bike Tour and Osaka History Food Tour: $189
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Petra $47Nara $7.81
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
- Private Back Trail Tour of Petra starting from the Monastery : $276
Tours and Activities in Nara
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Nara are as follows:
- Nara Heijyo-Kyo Bike Tour in UNESCO World Heritage Site: $16
- Nara Heijyo-Kyo Bike Tour in UNESCO World Heritage Site: $16
- A completely private tour to meet your favorite tea: $22
- A completely private tour to meet your favorite tea: $23
- Nara Craft Tours - local Craft beers tour experience in Nara City: $27
- Guided Uji Anime Walking Tour: $31
- Private Bike Tour in Nara with Japanese Guide: $36
- All must-sees in 3 hours - Nara Park Classic Tour! From JR Nara!: $42
- Nara Like a Local: Customized Private Tour: $55
- Nara Like a Local: Customized Guided Tour: $55
- Eigo Tour - Walk in Nara City: $65
- Kyoto Uji Matcha Incense Making Experience (Reservations available for 2 people or more): $69
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPetra $15Nara $11
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Petra and Nara, we can see that Petra is more expensive. And not only is Nara much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Petra is in Middle East and Nara is in Asia, 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 Nara would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Nara 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 Nara.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Petra Expensive? and Is Nara Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Petra or Nara?
Nara has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Petra. When comparing the sizes of Petra and Nara, 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 Nara?
Nara has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Petra experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Petra or Nara in the Summer?
Both Nara and Petra are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Petra throughout the year. Also, the summer months attract visitors to Nara because of the hiking and the family-friendly experiences.
Petra can become quite hot in the summer. In July, Petra is generally a little warmer than Nara. Daily temperatures in Petra average around 33°C (91°F), and Nara fluctuates around 27°C (80°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Petra. Petra usually receives more sunshine than Nara during summer. Petra gets 384 hours of sunny skies, while Nara receives 183 hours of full sun in the summer.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Nara. In July, Petra usually receives less rain than Nara. Petra gets 0 mm (0 in) of rain, while Nara receives 186 mm (7.3 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyPetra 33°C (91°F)Nara 27°C (80°F)
Should I visit Petra or Nara in the Autumn?
Both Nara and Petra during the autumn are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Petra because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Furthermore, the hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Nara this time of year.
Petra is much warmer than Nara in the autumn. The daily temperature in Petra averages around 27°C (80°F) in October, and Nara fluctuates around 17°C (63°F).
It's quite sunny in Petra. In the autumn, Petra often gets more sunshine than Nara. Petra gets 295 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Nara receives 159 hours of full sun.
Nara gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Petra usually gets less rain in October than Nara. Petra gets 2 mm (0.1 in) of rain, while Nara receives 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberPetra 27°C (80°F)Nara 17°C (63°F)
Should I visit Petra or Nara in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Petra and Nara. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Petra year-round. Furthermore, many travelers come to Nara for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Be prepared for some very cold days in Nara. In the winter, Petra is much warmer than Nara. Typically, the winter temperatures in Petra in January average around 15°C (59°F), and Nara averages at about 4°C (40°F).
In Petra, it's very sunny this time of the year. Petra usually receives more sunshine than Nara during winter. Petra gets 234 hours of sunny skies, while Nara receives 140 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Petra usually receives around the same amount of rain as Nara. Petra gets 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Nara receives 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryPetra 15°C (59°F)Nara 4°C (40°F)
Should I visit Petra or Nara in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Petra as well as Nara. Petra attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, many visitors come to Nara in the spring for the natural beauty.
In April, Petra is generally much warmer than Nara. Daily temperatures in Petra average around 25°C (76°F), and Nara fluctuates around 14°C (57°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Petra this time of the year. In the spring, Petra often gets more sunshine than Nara. Petra gets 282 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Nara receives 176 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Nara. Petra usually gets less rain in April than Nara. Petra gets 12 mm (0.5 in) of rain, while Nara receives 127 mm (5 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilPetra 25°C (76°F)Nara 14°C (57°F)
Typical Weather for Nara and Petra
| Petra | Nara | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 15°C (59°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) | 4°C (40°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) |
| Feb | 17°C (62°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) | 5°C (40°F) | 60 mm (2.3 in) |
| Mar | 20°C (68°F) | 36 mm (1.4 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 99 mm (3.9 in) |
| Apr | 25°C (76°F) | 12 mm (0.5 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 127 mm (5 in) |
| May | 28°C (83°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) | 19°C (65°F) | 128 mm (5.1 in) |
| Jun | 31°C (88°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 214 mm (8.4 in) |
| Jul | 33°C (91°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 186 mm (7.3 in) |
| Aug | 32°C (90°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 117 mm (4.6 in) |
| Sep | 30°C (87°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 24°C (74°F) | 154 mm (6.1 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (80°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) |
| Nov | 21°C (70°F) | 15 mm (0.6 in) | 12°C (53°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) |
| Dec | 16°C (62°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 41 mm (1.6 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.