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

Should you visit Cairo or Riga?

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 Riga 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 Riga?

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.

Riga

Riga is the vibrant capital city of Latvia. It continues to gain popularity as a tourist destination in part because it is the base for the airline Air Baltic. This affordable airline offers discount flights around Europe and most of these flights pass through Riga with a forced overnight layover. This encourages travelers to visit this fascinating city for at least a night or two.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Egypt, and The Best Historical Tours in Egypt.


Which place is cheaper, Riga 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 Riga is $143. 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 Riga in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Cairo $11
    Riga $61
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Cairo $22
    Riga $122
Compare Hotels in Cairo and Riga

Looking for a hotel in Cairo or Riga? 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 Riga


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 Riga Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Cairo $3.80
    Riga $11
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

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Riga

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Riga:

  • Arrival Private Transfer from Riga Airport RIX to Riga City by Minivan: $51
  • Departure Transfer from Riga to Riga Airport RIX by Car or Van: $68
  • From Cesis and Sigulda Day Trip with Hotel Transfers: $164
  • From Private Transfer to Tallinn: $563
  • From Private Transfer to Tallinn with Sightseeing: $503
  • From Private Transfer to Vilnius with Sightseeing: $468
  • Private Transfer From Riga Airport To Riga City Center: $90
  • Private Transfer Riga International Airport RIX to Jurmala City: $51
  • Private Transfer from Riga Airport (RIX) to Riga Cruise Port: $60
  • Private Transfer from Riga Airport to Riga City: $78
  • Private Transfer to anywhere in Riga Center: $60
  • Private transfer Riga - Hill of Crosses - Riga: $138

Is it cheaper to fly into Cairo or Riga?

Prices for flights to both Riga 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
    Riga $67
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 Riga

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


  • Fast Food Lunch
    $6.76

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Riga

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

  • Central Market Traditional Food Tour in a Small Group: $41
  • Central Market Latvian Food Tour: $53
  • Khinkali and Pelmeni Cooking Master Class: $70
  • Exclusive Igloo for Lunches, Dinners and Events: $72
  • Latvian Art Museum, Dinner, and Black Balsam Tasting: $210
  • Pizza Making Master Class in Riga: $251
  • Traditional Latvian Dinner with Private Folk Show: $252

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Cairo $9.09
    Riga $16
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

Tours and Activities in Riga

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

  • An audio tour of Old from St Peter's Church to the Monument of Freedom: $6.99
  • Entrance Ticket - House of the Black Heads: $8.21
  • Canal Boat Tour with Welcome Drink & Audio Guide: $8.21
  • Panorama Riga Observation Deck Ticket: $9.38
  • Old Town Electrobus Tour + Audio Guide & Drink: $9.38
  • Riga Exploration Game and City Tour on your Phone: $9.57
  • Riga Canal and Daugava Boat Tour with Welcome Drink & Audio Guide: $9.58
  • Evening or Sunset Boat Tour with Welcome Drink: $10
  • Rowing boats and Pedal boat rental - River Cruises Latvia: $11
  • Riga English Self-guided Audio Tour on your Phone: $11
  • Evening or Sunset Boat Tour with Drink and Audio Guide: $11
  • Riga Golden Autumn Canal & River Cruise | River Cruises LV: $11

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Cairo $1.48
    Riga $23

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

Sample the Local Flavors in Riga

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

  • Old town pub & bar crawl, hidden gems, and local party: $21
  • Pub Crawl with Local Guide: $29
  • Brewery Tour and Beer Tasting in Riga: $35
  • Riga Pub Crawl: $41
  • Latvian Brewery Visit & 5 Beer tasting: $47
  • Riga Evening Adventure: Pub Crawl & Games Night: $50
  • Game Night & Pub Crawl: $52
  • Riga Happy Hour Pub Crawl: $59
  • Riga Brewery Tour: $59
  • Prosecco Bike & Pub Crawl: $65
  • Riga Brewery Tour: $77
  • Riga's Old Town Beer Bike Tour & Guided Pub Crawl: $94


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Cairo and Riga, we can see that Riga 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 Riga 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 Riga would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Riga 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 Riga Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Cairo or Riga?

Cairo has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Riga. When comparing the sizes of Cairo and Riga, 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 Riga?

Riga 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 Riga in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Cairo and Riga. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Cairo year-round. Furthermore, many visitors come to Riga in the summer for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Cairo is much warmer than Riga. Typically, the summer temperatures in Cairo in July average around 28°C (82°F), and Riga averages at about 17°C (63°F).

In July, Cairo usually receives less rain than Riga. Cairo gets 1 mm (0 in) of rain, while Riga receives 79 mm (3.1 in) of rain each month for the summer.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Cairo 28°C (82°F) 
    Riga 17°C (63°F)

Should I visit Cairo or Riga in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Cairo as well as Riga. Cairo attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, most visitors come to Riga for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area during these months.

In October, Cairo is generally much warmer than Riga. Daily temperatures in Cairo average around 23°C (73°F), and Riga fluctuates around 7°C (45°F).

Cairo usually gets less rain in October than Riga. Cairo gets 5 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Riga receives 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Cairo 23°C (73°F) 
    Riga 7°C (45°F)

Should I visit Cairo or Riga in the Winter?

Both Riga 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, the winter months attract visitors to Riga because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

The weather in Riga can be very cold. Cairo is much warmer than Riga in the winter. The daily temperature in Cairo averages around 14°C (57°F) in January, and Riga fluctuates around -5°C (23°F).

In January, Cairo usually receives less rain than Riga. Cairo gets 15 mm (0.6 in) of rain, while Riga receives 33 mm (1.3 in) of rain each month for the winter.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Cairo 14°C (57°F) 
    Riga -5°C (23°F)

Should I visit Cairo or Riga in the Spring?

Both Riga 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. Also, the activities around the city and the natural beauty are the main draw to Riga this time of year.

In the spring, Cairo is much warmer than Riga. Typically, the spring temperatures in Cairo in April average around 21°C (70°F), and Riga averages at about 5°C (42°F).

Cairo usually gets less rain in April than Riga. Cairo gets 7 mm (0.3 in) of rain, while Riga receives 39 mm (1.5 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Cairo 21°C (70°F) 
    Riga 5°C (42°F)

Typical Weather for Riga and Cairo

Cairo Riga
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 14°C (57°F) 15 mm (0.6 in) -5°C (23°F) 33 mm (1.3 in)
Feb 14°C (57°F) 4 mm (0.2 in) -4°C (24°F) 25 mm (1 in)
Mar 17°C (63°F) 8 mm (0.3 in) -0°C (31°F) 31 mm (1.2 in)
Apr 21°C (70°F) 7 mm (0.3 in) 5°C (42°F) 39 mm (1.5 in)
May 25°C (77°F) 0 mm (0 in) 12°C (53°F) 43 mm (1.7 in)
Jun 27°C (81°F) 0 mm (0 in) 15°C (60°F) 61 mm (2.4 in)
Jul 28°C (82°F) 1 mm (0 in) 17°C (63°F) 79 mm (3.1 in)
Aug 28°C (82°F) 0 mm (0 in) 16°C (62°F) 79 mm (3.1 in)
Sep 26°C (79°F) 5 mm (0.2 in) 12°C (54°F) 76 mm (3 in)
Oct 23°C (73°F) 5 mm (0.2 in) 7°C (45°F) 60 mm (2.4 in)
Nov 19°C (66°F) 1 mm (0 in) 2°C (36°F) 61 mm (2.4 in)
Dec 15°C (59°F) 3 mm (0.1 in) -2°C (28°F) 49 mm (1.9 in)