Should you visit Aqaba or Crete?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Aqaba or Crete, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Where Should I go: Aqaba or Crete?
Aqaba
Aqaba is a port city in Jordan, in fact, it is the only port city in the country. This city is located on the Gulf of Aqaba on the Red Sea, which is in the southern part of Jordan. The city is still being developed; many of its facilities and infrastructures are being improved. The population of Aqaba is about 190,000 and the city has been key in developing Jordan's economy via trade and tourism.
Crete
The largest and most populous island of Greece, Crete has become a frequent vacation destination for many visitors. The terrain of the place is quite varied - very mountainous stretching east to west, with lush valleys, fertile plateaus, gorges, and famous caves like Idaion, the birthplace of the Greek god Zeus. The surrounding smaller islands and beaches are key attractions as well.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Luxury Tours to Jordan, The Best Budget Tours to Jordan, The Best Contiki Tours to Greece, and The Best G Adventures Tours to Greece.
Which place is cheaper, Crete or Aqaba?
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 Aqaba is $157, while the average daily cost in Crete is $169. 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 Aqaba and Crete in more detail.
Accommodation
Looking for a hotel in Aqaba or Crete? 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:
Aqaba Hotel Prices and
Crete Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Aqaba
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Aqaba:
-
Transfer from Aqaba City Or TalaBay to Petra:
$59
-
Amman/Death Sea: 1-Way Transfer to/from Wadi Rum in Private:
$266
-
Aqaba : Private Transfer From the Airport or your Hotel:
$88
-
Aqaba Airport Private Transfer To Aqaba :
$35
-
Aqaba Airport Transfer to Petra :
$90
-
Aqaba Border (Yitzhak Rabin Terminal) to Petra Private Transfer:
$140
-
Aqaba Private Transfer from/to Amman, Airport, Dead Sea or K.H.B:
$125
-
Aqaba or Aqaba Airport Private Transfer To Wadi Rum:
$60
-
Petra by Night Tour with Private Transfer:
$198
-
Private Beach, Pools, Snorkeling & Boat Trip,Transfer:
$66
-
Private Car Transfer with Wadi Rum Jeep Safari:
$169
-
Private Transfer to Petra with Wi-Fi and Water:
$191
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Crete
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Crete:
-
Acqua Plus Water Park Admission with Optional Transfer:
$34
-
Airports/ports Transfers from /to Rethymno (one way):
$167
-
Balos Lagoon with Transfer from Rethymnon:
$81
-
Chania Airport Transfer to or from Platanias Agia Marina and more:
$90
-
Chania Magic City Tour and Kournas Lake with Transfers and Snack:
$78
-
Crete : Samaria Easy way Gorge from Sfakia with Private Transfer:
$249
-
Crete Private Taxi Transfer from Heraklion to Bali:
$104
-
Crete Private Taxi and Transfer Georgioupoli to Heraklion:
$176
-
Crete Private Taxi and Transfer from Chania to Sfakia:
$143
-
Crete Private Taxi and Transfer from Heraklion to Panormo:
$112
-
Crete Private Taxi and Transfer from Kalyves to Heraklion:
$235
-
Crete Private Transfer from Heraklion to Hersonissos:
$56
Is it cheaper to fly into Aqaba or Crete?
Prices for flights to both Crete and Aqaba 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
Aqaba $73
Crete $68
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Aqaba
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Aqaba.
-
Sunset Cruise with BBQ Dinner and Drinks:
$54
-
Overnight in Bedouin Camp. Dinner and breakfast included.:
$56
-
4h Jeep Tour + Bedouin Night (Dinner & Breakfast):
$61
-
Explore Wadi Rum: Jeep Tour, Bed and Breakfast, and Dinner:
$84
-
Wadi Rum Full Day Jeep Tour + Overnight & Dinner in Bedouin Camp:
$111
-
Wadi Rum New Year Eve Party (Jeep Tour + Dinner + Music + Fireworks + Overnight):
$112
-
From Wadi Rum Full-Day Private Jeep Tour with Dinner:
$169
-
Wadi Rum Private Tour with Jeep Safari and Dinner:
$220
-
Petra & Wadi Rum Private Tour with Dinner one day:
$425
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Crete
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Crete.
-
Traditional Cretan Night: Live Show and Dinner:
$33
-
Traditional Dance Show and Buffet Dinner with Wine:
$34
-
Troy Dinner-Show:
$36
-
Olive Oil Factory Tour, Dinner & Traditional Dancing:
$66
-
Olive Oil Festival in Cretan Farm with Traditional Dinner:
$78
-
Heraklion: Finikia Horse Riding Tour with Lunch or Dinner:
$81
-
Cretan Cooking Class at Archanes Village with transfer & Lunch:
$82
-
The Delicious Chania Street Food Tour :
$96
-
Half Day Sunset Tour in Rethymno with Dinner and Wine:
$100
-
Chania Walking Food Tours Crete with a local!:
$101
-
Sightseeing Day Trip with Cooking Lesson and Lunch:
$102
-
Full-Day Jeep Safari Tour with Cooking Lesson:
$104
Entertainment
Tours and Activities in Aqaba
Here are a few actual costs in Aqaba for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
-
Sightseeing Bike Rental in Aqaba:
$7.00
-
Turgut camp with tour:
$15
-
Aqaba : All Water Sports Adventure in the Red Sea:
$22
-
Wadi Rum Jeep Tours - Full Day Jeep Tour:
$24
-
2 Hour Jeep Tour (Morning or Sunset) Wadi Rum Desert Highlights:
$30
-
4 Hour Jeep Tour Wadi Rum Nature Desert morning or sunset:
$30
-
Glass-Bottom Boat 2-hours Tour and Coral-Reef Viewing from Aqaba:
$30
-
Stargazing Adventure in Jordan:
$30
-
Wadi Rum 2-Hour Sunset Tour Wadi Rum Desert Highlights:
$30
-
Saraya Aqaba Waterpark entrance tickets:
$33
-
Discover Aqaba in Style: A 3-h City Tour by Car with meal:
$37
-
Wadi Rum: Explorer Jeep Tour PASS + Local Food + Optional Stay:
$38
Tours and Activities in Crete
Here are a few actual costs in Crete for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
-
Chania Scavenger Hunt and Highlights Self-Guided Tour:
$9.55
-
CRETAquarium Entrance Ticket in Crete:
$9.56
-
Heraklion Archaeological Museum Ticket & Audio Guide:
$19
-
Gramvousa Island & Balos Bay Full-Day Tour from Rethymno English & German guide:
$20
-
Chersonissos: Mini-Train City Highlights Tour:
$21
-
Heraklion Museum Ticket and City Audio Tour:
$22
-
Heraklion City Tour - Aquarium:
$22
-
Heraklion: Palace of Knossos 3D Virtual Audio Tour by Tablet:
$22
-
Heraklion: Heraklion Market & CretAquarium *SKIP The Line:
$22
-
Heraklion Market and CretAquarium Guided Tour:
$23
-
Heraklion: Hop-On Hop-Off Sightseeing Bus Tour:
$23
-
Heraklion: Hop-on Hop-off Open Top Bus Sightseeing Tour:
$23
Alcohol
Sample the Local Flavors in Crete
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Crete:
-
Local Wine Tasting & Visit to the Ancient Olive Tree:
$142
-
Heraklion: Half Day Small Group Wine Tour with Wine Tastings:
$149
-
Ecobike-Knossos Palace-Wine tasting-Olive oil tasting:
$179
-
Cave and Cretan Brewery tour with lunch:
$185
-
PRIVATE Walking Tour with Lunch and Wine Tasting by a Sommelier:
$191
-
The Gourmet Wine Tour of Heraklion area:
$197
-
Gastronomy tour and wine tasting in traditional villages :
$215
-
Knossos, Olive Grove, Winery - Distillery with Tastings & Lunch :
$221
-
Heraklion SUV Private Guided Wine Tour with Lunch :
$237
-
From Elounda Private Heraklion Wine Tour with Tastings and Lunch:
$251
-
Private Wine Tour:
$270
-
Private Knossos Skip The Line Tour inc. lunch & wine tasting:
$337
When comparing the travel costs between Aqaba and Crete, we can see that Crete 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. Even though Aqaba is in Middle East and Crete is in Europe, both of these destinations have relatively similar prices of travel. Generally, the levels of luxury and expenses are the same for these cities even though they are geographically far apart.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Aqaba Expensive? and Is Crete Expensive?.
Which has a larger population, Aqaba or Crete?
Crete has a larger population, and is about 6 times larger than the population of Aqaba. When comparing the sizes of Aqaba and Crete, 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.
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