Which place is cheaper, Tel Aviv or Petra?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Petra or Tel Aviv?
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 Tel Aviv can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Petra or Tel Aviv?
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.
Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv is the second largest city in Israel and is situated on the Mediterranean coast 60 kilometers north of Jerusalem. It's a rapidly growing city and is one of the most modern and cosmopolitan cities in Israel. The official name is Tel Aviv-Yafo because the city has grown to include the ancient port city of Yafo. If you're looking for an embassy, you are likely to find it in Tel Aviv, despite Jerusalem being the official capital of Israel.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Historical Tours in Jordan, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Jordan, The Best Luxury Tours to Israel, and The Best Budget Tours to Israel.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPetra $125Tel Aviv $138
The average daily cost (per person) in Petra is $125, while the average daily cost in Tel Aviv is $138. 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 Tel Aviv in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPetra $59Tel Aviv $85
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPetra $118Tel Aviv $170
Compare Hotels in Petra and Tel Aviv
Looking for a hotel in Petra or Tel Aviv? 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 Tel Aviv Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Petra $23Tel Aviv $8.66
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 South Beach Hotels Private Transfer: $110
- 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 Tel Aviv
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Tel Aviv are as follows:
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Local Bus to Central Bus Station$1.56
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Taxi to Airport$40
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Tel Aviv
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Tel Aviv:
- Private Airport Transfer - Tel Aviv (TLV) Airport from or to Tel Aviv City: $34
- Private Transfer Between Ben Gurion Airport and Tel Aviv: $40
- Private Airport Arrival Transfer to Jerusalem to your Hotel/Accommodation: $47
- Private Arrival Transfer: From Ben Gurion Airport to Tel Aviv City Center: $48
- Transfer between Ben Gurion Airport and Tel Aviv: $52
- Herzliya to Tel Aviv Ben Gurion Airport Private Departure Transfer: $56
- Private Jerusalem Arrival Transfer - Airport to Hotel/Accommodation: $68
- Sheikh Hussein Crossing Private Transfer to Multi Destination: $75
- Tel Aviv Airport TLV to Jerusalem city - Arrival Private Transfer: $77
- VIP Transfer between Ben Gurion Airport and Tel Aviv: $78
- Private Intercity Transfer - from your Tel Aviv Hotel to your Jerusalem Hotel: $80
- Tel Aviv Airport (TLV) to Jerusalem - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $81
Is it cheaper to fly into Petra or Tel Aviv?
Prices for flights to both Tel Aviv 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 $38Tel Aviv $27
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 Tel Aviv
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Tel Aviv:
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Dinner for Two$22
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Dinner for 2 at Vatroshka$129
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Lunch at Segev Sarona$34
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Aroma Iced Coffee$3.71
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Lunch at the airport$31
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Tel Aviv
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Tel Aviv.
- Carmel Market Food Tour: $45
- Carmel Market Food Tour: $49
- Tel Aviv Food Tour: The Magic of Carmel Market: $49
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Petra $47Tel Aviv $23
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
Typical Entertainment Prices in Tel Aviv
Here are a few typical costs in Tel Aviv for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Masada tour from Tel Aviv$78
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Etzel museum$3.98
Tours and Activities in Tel Aviv
Here are a few actual costs in Tel Aviv for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- The Story of Gan HaHashmal: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.00
- The Trail of Independence: A Self-Guided Audio Tour of Tel Aviv: $5.99
- Self-Guided Audio Tour: $11
- Self-guided Graffiti tour in Tel Aviv in your own time and your own pace: $24
- All the Best of Tel Aviv Walking Tour: $28
- Sightseeing Cruise of Tel Aviv and Jaffa Skyline: $29
- Jaffa Walking Tour: Old Jaffa, Jaffa Port & the Flea Market: $35
- Tel Aviv Street Art Tour: $39
- Jaffa and Neve Tzedek walking tour: $39
- Jaffa and Neve Tzedek Neighborhoods Walking Tour: $39
- Tel Aviv Street Art Tour: $39
- Exclusive Private Tour in The Israel Diamond Exchange: $40
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPetra $15Tel Aviv $22
Sample the Local Flavors in Tel Aviv
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Tel Aviv:
- Pub Crawl with Clubs, dance bars and free shots: $21
- Pub Crawl and Nightlife Tour with Shots: $21
- Guided Pub Crawl Night Tour at Tel Aviv: $24
- Pub Crawl with 4 Stops and Free Shots: $30
- Tel Aviv Craft Beers Pub Crawl: $42
- Bar Crawl tour with local in Tel-Aviv: $150
- Wine Tour North of Israel from Tel Aviv: $959
When comparing the travel costs between Petra and Tel Aviv, we can see that Tel Aviv 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 Tel Aviv Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Petra or Tel Aviv?
Tel Aviv has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Petra. When comparing the sizes of Petra and Tel Aviv, 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.