A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Aswan vs. Diani for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Aswan or Diani?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Should I visit Aswan or Diani? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Where Should I go: Aswan or Diani?

Aswan

Lounging along the Nile like Egyptian royalty is a fantasy for most world travelers. If you want to do it without the hustle and bustle of Cairo, there's always Aswan. This city in the south of Egypt is the smallest of the three major cities on the Nile. Located just below the Aswan Dam and Lake Nasser, Aswan's 275,00 people include a large portion of Nubians – mostly resettled from their flooded homeland.

Diani

Diani is a major beach resort town on the Indian Ocean coast of Kenya. It is located 30 kilometers south of Mombasa and the beach has been voted Africa’s leading beach destination several times. With a flawless, long stretch of white-sand beach hugged by lush forest and kissed by surfable waves, it’s no wonder Diani Beach is so popular. This resort town scores points with a diverse crowd: party people, families, honeymooners, backpackers and water-sports enthusiasts. But Diani also has some of the best accommodation in Kenya, from budget party hostels to funky kitesurfing lodges and intimate honeymoon spots. Most places are spread along the beach road, hidden behind a line of forest. When lazing in a hammock gets tiring, visit the coral mosques with their archways that overlook the open ocean, venture into the sacred forests where guides hug trees that speak in their ancestors' voices, or take in the monkey sanctuary – all are good ways to experience more of the coast than the considerable charms of sun and sand.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours in Egypt, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Egypt, The Best Luxury Tours to Kenya, and The Best Budget Tours to Kenya.


Which place is cheaper, Diani or Aswan?

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 Aswan is $31, while the average daily cost in Diani is $69. 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 Aswan and Diani in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Aswan $10
    Diani $23
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Aswan $20
    Diani $46
Compare Hotels in Aswan and Diani

Looking for a hotel in Aswan or Diani? 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 Aswan


Hotels in Diani


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: Aswan Hotel Prices and Diani Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Aswan $5.70
    Diani $15

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Aswan

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Aswan:

  • VIP Express Exclusive Aswan Airport Transfer: $50
  • Transfer to Luxor from Aswan with 2stops in Komombo& EdfuTemples : $52
  • Transfer from Aswan to Luxor: $69
  • Transfer from Aswan to Hurghada : $95
  • Transfer from Aswan to Abu Simbel: $107
  • Sunset Departure Evening Aswan Airport Transfer: $32
  • Private transfer from your Hotel or Cruise to Aswan Airport: $25
  • Private transfer from aswan to luxor with visits: $93
  • Private transfer from Aswan to Luxor: $35
  • Private transfer from Aswan to Aswan Airport: $8.00
  • Private transfer from Aswan Airport to Aswan Hotels: $78
  • Private Transfers from Aswan Airport to your Hotel or Cruise: $25

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Diani

Also for Diani, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Taxi and Airport transfers: $70
  • Private Transfer: Mombasa SGR Train Station to Diani Hotels: $77

Is it cheaper to fly into Aswan or Diani?

Prices for flights to both Diani and Aswan 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
    Aswan $16
    Diani $35

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Aswan

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Aswan.

  • Savor Nubian Cuisine: Lunch or Dinner in a Local Village: $50
  • Nubian Dinner at Nubian Village: $51
  • Nubian Dinner at Nubian Village: $60
  • Private 3-Hour Nubian Party with Dinner and Pickup in Aswan: $77
  • Aswan Sunset Dinner Cruise: $80
  • Your Grandmothers Cooking Class In Aswan : $90
  • Experience the Magic of Aswan in One Day Food Tour with Guide: $177

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Diani

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

  • Diani Beach: Cooking Class with a Local: $60
  • Diani Beach: Sunset Dhow Cruise with Dinner: $70

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Aswan $9.77
    Diani $15
Typical Entertainment Prices in Aswan

Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Aswan are as follows:


  • Temple Kom Ombo for Two
    $1.26

Tours and Activities in Aswan

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

  • Abu Simbel Temple from Aswan private full day tour: $80
  • Abu Simbel Temples Full Day Tour From Aswan With Entry Tickets : $99
  • Aswan Luxury Car Tour: $75
  • Aswan OR Luxor : Full Day Private Guided Tour to Kom Ombo and Edfu temples: $99
  • High Dam, Unfinished Obelisk, & Philae Private Tour: $20
  • Kalabsha Temple and Nubian Museum Tour: $89
  • Kayak Tour around the Temple of Philae & Heissa Island : $30
  • Nubian Village Day Tour In Aswan: $25
  • Nubian Village and Philae Temple Private Guided Tour From Aswan: $29
  • Philae Temple and Aswan High Dam Tour: $95
  • Private Abu Simbel Temple tour : $123
  • Private Day Tour to Abu Simble Temple from Aswan: $29

Tours and Activities in Diani

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

  • Market and Street Food Walking Tour: $20
  • Stori Baharini: Story telling walking tour in Diani Beach: $20
  • Sunset Canoe Tour along the River with Mangroves: $28
  • Diani Beach: Glass-Bottom Boat Cruise to Robinson Island: $28
  • Diani Beach: Kaya Kinondo cultural and nature experience: $30
  • Diani Beach: Kongo River Sunset Experience in a canoe: $32
  • Sunset Cruise along Kongo River on Wooden Canoe boat: $35
  • Diani Beach: Private African Pool Map Guided Tour: $35
  • Giriama Cultural Dance Show and Local Village Tour: $35
  • Diani Beach: Italian-Swahili Fusion Dining Experience: $41
  • Diani Beach: Kongo River Estuary Sundowner Boat Tour: $42
  • Diani Beach: Glass Boat Cruise to Robinson Island: $42

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Aswan $1.12
    Diani $8.84


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

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