A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Cairo vs. Lyon for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Cairo or Lyon?

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

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Cairo and Lyon can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Where Should I go: Cairo or Lyon?

Cairo

Cairo is the chaotic capital city of Egypt. With a population of more than 16 million, it is one of the largest cities in both Africa and the Middle East. As a traveler, you're likely to arrive and leave from here and you'll get your first orientation to the area during the chaotic and congestion filled taxi ride from the airport.

Lyon

Lyon, located within the region of Southeastern France, is France's third largest city in terms of population, with just over 500,000 inhabitants. This makes the city large, yet still small and personable enough to be explored properly in a short visit. Known as the gastronomic capital of Europe, your culinary needs are exceptionally well catered to here, and for those with historical and cultural interests, you will never be at a loss for new things to do and see.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Egypt, The Best Historical Tours in Egypt, The Best 10-Day Tours from Paris, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Paris.


Which place is cheaper, Lyon or Cairo?

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 Cairo is $33, while the average daily cost in Lyon is $182. 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 Cairo and Lyon in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Cairo $11
    Lyon $62
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Cairo $22
    Lyon $124
Compare Hotels in Cairo and Lyon

Looking for a hotel in Cairo or Lyon? 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 Cairo


Hotels in Lyon


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: Cairo Hotel Prices and Lyon Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Cairo $3.80
    Lyon $20
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Cairo

Some typical examples of transportation costs in Cairo are as follows:


  • Metro Ride
    $0.08
  • Taxi Ride
    $0.32

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cairo

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cairo:

  • Private transfer from Cairo Airport to the hotel in Cairo or Giza: $9.00
  • Private Transfer: Cairo Airport Arrival to any hotel in Cairo or Giza: $9.00
  • Private Transfer from Cairo Airport to Hotel Vise Versa: $10
  • Cairo Airport Private Transfer ( One-Way comfort ride ): $10
  • Private Transfer from Cairo Airport to Hotels within Cairo and Giza: $10
  • Private Transfer from Cairo Airport to Your Hotel: $10
  • Private Transfer from Cairo International Airport to Cairo &Giza : $10
  • Private Transfer from Cairo International Airport to Cairo Center : $11
  • Private Pickup transfer from Marriott Mena House, Cairo to Cairo airport: $12
  • Pickup transfer from Radisson Blu Hotel, Cairo Heliopolis to Cairo airport: $12
  • Private transfer from Cairo Airport to Hotel Royal: $12
  • Private transfer from The Nile Ritz-Carlton, Cairo to Cairo airport: $12

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Lyon

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Lyon:


  • Funiculaire
    $6.10
  • Hop-on Hop-off Tourist Bus
    $22

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lyon

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Lyon:

  • Arrival Transfer: Lyon Airport LYS to Lyon City in Luxury Van: $118
  • Departure Private Transfer Lyon City to Lyon Airport LYS by Luxury Van: $101
  • Lyon Airport (LYS) to Aix-les-Bains - Arrival Private Transfer: $84
  • Lyon Airport (LYS) to Morzine/Avoriaz - Arrival Private Transfer: $271
  • Lyon Airport Private Transfer – Meet & Greet Included: $108
  • Lyon Private Transfer from Lyon city centre to Lyon (LYS) Airport: $143
  • Lyon Saint Exupery Airport(LYS)to Aix-les-Bain-RoundTrip Transfer: $167
  • Private Transfer Grenoble Airport GNB - Grenoble Ski Resort: $251
  • Private Transfer: Lyon Airport LYS to Lyon City in Luxury Van: $118
  • Private Transfer: Lyon City to Lyon Airport LYS in Business Car: $106
  • Private Transfer: Port of LYON to Lyon Airport LYS in Luxury Van: $118
  • Private Transfer: Port of LYON to Lyon Airport LYS in Sedan Car: $106

Is it cheaper to fly into Cairo or Lyon?

Prices for flights to both Lyon and Cairo 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
    Cairo $18
    Lyon $83
Typical Food Prices in Cairo

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Cairo:


  • Juice
    $0.04

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cairo

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

  • Great tour toThe Grand Museum of Giza and Nile River DinnerCruise: $5.00
  • Dinner Nile cruise with belly dancer show on Nile river: $5.00
  • 2 Hour Cairo Dinner Cruise on Nile river with live band: $7.00
  • Cairo dinner Nile cruise with belly dancer show on Nile river: $7.00
  • Cairo Food Tour with Nile Felucca Ride : $7.00
  • Private Nile Cruise with Dinner and Folk Show from Cairo: $7.50
  • night-tour Nile dinner cruise with open buffet and belly dancer: $8.00
  • Private Giza Pyramids, Sphinx, Quad Bike, Camel Ride, Nile Dinner Cruise: $9.00
  • food tour private tour from cairo or giza hotel: $9.00
  • Cairo Food Tour in local places & Egyptian Mint Tea: $9.00
  • 2-hours night dinner cruise show : Eat , Dance and Sing : $9.00
  • Cairo Dinner Cruise show with belly dancer show on Nile river: $9.00

Typical Food Prices in Lyon

Some typical examples of dining costs in Lyon are as follows:


  • Pastry
    $1.99

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Lyon

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

  • Afternoon Old Town Food tour: $90
  • Food Tour in Lyon – A Full Taste of France by Do Eat Better: $96
  • Food Tour by night: $102
  • Lyon Old Town Food Tour with Local Specialties Tasting & Lunch: $106
  • Lyon Old Town Food Tour with 6 French Delicacies & Fine Wine: $109
  • Lyon Sunset Food Tour – A Full Taste of France by Do Eat Better: $125
  • Halles de Lyon Paul Bocuse Food Tour: $272

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Cairo $9.09
    Lyon $24
Typical Entertainment Prices in Cairo

Here are a few typical costs in Cairo for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:


  • Entry to Camel Market for Two
    $0.84
  • Egyptian Museum Entry for Two
    $6.47

Tours and Activities in Cairo

Here are a few actual costs in Cairo for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • ViP Private Tour Giza Pyramids,camel ride , inside 3rd Pyramid: $1.00
  • Cheap Day tour to Giza Pyramids Sphinx With Camel Rid : $2.00
  • Cheap Day tour to Giza Pyramids Sphinx With Camel Rid With lunch: $2.50
  • Best Egypt Tour Giza Pyramids Sphinx lunch fees camel 9rd pyramid: $3.50
  • VIP privatr tour Giza pyramids sphins &Saqqara and Memphis : $3.50
  • Chep Day Tour Pyramids Giza, Memphis, Saqqara and Camel: $4.00
  • Private Tour in Pyramids of Giza with Lunch and Camel Ride: $4.50
  • All inclusive Tour To Giza Pyramids, Sphinx, Camel Ride, Lunch: $4.50
  • Private Tour to Pyramids with Professional Photographer : $5.00
  • Private Tour in Iconic Giza Pyramids From Cairo: $5.00
  • All Inclusive Tour Pyramids of Giza , Sphinx and Lunch : $5.00
  • Vip Day Tour to Giza Pyramids, Sphinx, Gem Museum, and Lunch : $5.00

Typical Entertainment Prices in Lyon

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


  • Lunch for 2
    $53

Tours and Activities in Lyon

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

  • Lyon's History and Must-Sees with a Local! (English Walking Tour): $5.97
  • Lyon Walking Tour with Audioguide on Your Smartphone: $8.35
  • Lyon Interactive City Tour: $8.36
  • Lyon Exploration Game and City Tour on your Phone: $9.55
  • Lyon UNESCO Heritage Walking Tour with an App: $9.99
  • Access to a Self-Guided Tour of the archaeological site of Lyon: $12
  • Private Self-Guided Tour of the Curse Quest of Old Lyon: $18
  • Guided Tour of the Croix-Rousse: $23
  • Lyon Hop-On Hop-Off Tour with Audio Commentary: $30
  • 1 or 2-Hour Pedicab tour of Lyon: $36
  • Historical & Cultural Walking Tour in Lyon: $36
  • Lyon Highlights & Secrets Walking Guided Tour (small group) including Funicular: $39

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Cairo $1.48
    Lyon $28

Sample the Local Flavors in Cairo

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Cairo:

  • Pub Crawl and Speakeasy Bar Tour with 2 Free Drinks: $70

Typical Alcohol Prices in Lyon

Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Lyon from other travelers:


  • Drinks for 2
    $7.98
  • Bottle of Wine
    $18

Sample the Local Flavors in Lyon

Also in Lyon, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:

  • Riviera Bar Crawl Party with Free Shots and VIP Entry: $30
  • Guided tour of Beaujolais by electric bike and wine tasting: $108
  • Wine Tasting and Introduction to Tasting Techniques: $114
  • Beaujolais Half Day Wine Tasting Tour: $118
  • The Original Syrah Wine Tour (9:00 am - 1:30 pm) - Small Group Tours from Lyon: $118
  • Beaujolais 100% wine tour Small-Group Tour with Tasting from Lyon: $118
  • Golden stones Beaujolais Wine Tour with Tastings from Lyon: $118
  • The Original Syrah Wine Tour (2:00 pm - 6:30 pm) - Small Group Tour from Lyon: $130
  • Northern Rhône Valley Wine tour from Lyon Half Day: $130
  • Beaujolais wine tour from Lyon half day: $130
  • Guided tour and wine tasting Northern Rhône Valley: $142
  • Lyon Old Town Food & Wine Tasting Tour including a Bouchon Lyonnais : $143


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

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


Which is Bigger, Cairo or Lyon?

Cairo has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Lyon. When comparing the sizes of Cairo and Lyon, 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 Cairo or Lyon?

Lyon has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Cairo experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.

Should I visit Cairo or Lyon in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Cairo and Lyon. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Cairo year-round. Also, the summer months attract visitors to Lyon because of the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Cairo is a little warmer than Lyon. Typically, the summer temperatures in Cairo in July average around 28°C (82°F), and Lyon averages at about 22°C (71°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Lyon this time of the year. In Cairo, it's very sunny this time of the year. Cairo usually receives more sunshine than Lyon during summer. Cairo gets 350 hours of sunny skies, while Lyon receives 285 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Cairo usually receives less rain than Lyon. Cairo gets 1 mm (0 in) of rain, while Lyon receives 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain each month for the summer.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Cairo 28°C (82°F) 
    Lyon 22°C (71°F)

Should I visit Cairo or Lyon in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Cairo as well as Lyon. Cairo attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Lyon this time of year.

In October, Cairo is generally much warmer than Lyon. Daily temperatures in Cairo average around 23°C (73°F), and Lyon fluctuates around 14°C (56°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Cairo this time of the year. In the autumn, Cairo often gets more sunshine than Lyon. Cairo gets 290 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Lyon receives 127 hours of full sun.

Cairo usually gets less rain in October than Lyon. Cairo gets 5 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Lyon receives 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Cairo 23°C (73°F) 
    Lyon 14°C (56°F)

Should I visit Cairo or Lyon in the Winter?

Both Lyon and Cairo are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Cairo throughout the year. Also, many travelers come to Lyon for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Lyon. Cairo is much warmer than Lyon in the winter. The daily temperature in Cairo averages around 14°C (57°F) in January, and Lyon fluctuates around 4°C (39°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Cairo. Cairo usually receives more sunshine than Lyon during winter. Cairo gets 221 hours of sunny skies, while Lyon receives 62 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Cairo usually receives less rain than Lyon. Cairo gets 15 mm (0.6 in) of rain, while Lyon receives 55 mm (2.1 in) of rain each month for the winter.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Cairo 14°C (57°F) 
    Lyon 4°C (39°F)

Should I visit Cairo or Lyon in the Spring?

Both Lyon and Cairo during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Cairo because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Furthermore, many visitors come to Lyon in the spring for the activities around the city and the natural beauty.

In the spring, Cairo is much warmer than Lyon. Typically, the spring temperatures in Cairo in April average around 21°C (70°F), and Lyon averages at about 11°C (53°F).

It's quite sunny in Cairo. In the spring, Cairo often gets more sunshine than Lyon. Cairo gets 276 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Lyon receives 174 hours of full sun.

Cairo usually gets less rain in April than Lyon. Cairo gets 7 mm (0.3 in) of rain, while Lyon receives 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Cairo 21°C (70°F) 
    Lyon 11°C (53°F)

Typical Weather for Lyon and Cairo

Cairo Lyon
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 14°C (57°F) 15 mm (0.6 in) 4°C (39°F) 55 mm (2.1 in)
Feb 14°C (57°F) 4 mm (0.2 in) 6°C (42°F) 54 mm (2.1 in)
Mar 17°C (63°F) 8 mm (0.3 in) 8°C (47°F) 62 mm (2.4 in)
Apr 21°C (70°F) 7 mm (0.3 in) 11°C (53°F) 65 mm (2.6 in)
May 25°C (77°F) 0 mm (0 in) 15°C (60°F) 85 mm (3.4 in)
Jun 27°C (81°F) 0 mm (0 in) 19°C (66°F) 75 mm (3 in)
Jul 28°C (82°F) 1 mm (0 in) 22°C (71°F) 61 mm (2.4 in)
Aug 28°C (82°F) 0 mm (0 in) 21°C (70°F) 75 mm (3 in)
Sep 26°C (79°F) 5 mm (0.2 in) 18°C (65°F) 75 mm (3 in)
Oct 23°C (73°F) 5 mm (0.2 in) 14°C (56°F) 78 mm (3.1 in)
Nov 19°C (66°F) 1 mm (0 in) 8°C (46°F) 70 mm (2.8 in)
Dec 15°C (59°F) 3 mm (0.1 in) 4°C (40°F) 57 mm (2.3 in)