A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Dahab vs. Antananarivo for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Dahab or Antananarivo?

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

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Dahab and Antananarivo 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: Dahab or Antananarivo?

Dahab

Dahab is a small town on the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt. It is located about 85 kilometers north of Sharm el-Sheikh and sits on the Gulf of Aqaba. It's a popular destination with divers and backpackers alike, and offers some of the best snorkeling and diving that you'll find in the Red Sea. It's a great alternative to the resort driven Sharm el-Sheikh, and is popular with independent travelers who are looking for affordable accommodation. There are some upmarket options however, predominantly in the Laguna area, but budget facilities are not hard to find.

Antananarivo

Antananarivo is the capital of Madagascar; it is also sometimes referred to as Tana. This city is the cultural and political center of Madagascar as a whole. There are multiple universities, museums, and other social venues in the city, as well as a national rugby team. This city has a very apparent French influence.

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


Which place is cheaper, Antananarivo or Dahab?

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 Dahab is $26, while the average daily cost in Antananarivo is $92. 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 Dahab and Antananarivo in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Dahab $9.31
    Antananarivo $30
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Dahab $19
    Antananarivo $60
Compare Hotels in Dahab and Antananarivo

Looking for a hotel in Dahab or Antananarivo? 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 Dahab


Hotels in Antananarivo


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: Dahab Hotel Prices and Antananarivo Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Dahab $3.10
    Antananarivo $14

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Dahab

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

  • Private Transfer Dahab Hotel to Sharm ElSheikh Airport : $32
  • Sharm el-Sheikh: 1-Way or Round-Trip Transfer to Dahab: $42
  • Private Transfer Between Nuweibaa City and Sharm El Sheikh Hotels: $60
  • Private Transfer To/From Nuweibaa City and Sharm El Sheikh Hotels: $68
  • Saint paul and saint anthony monastery​ private transfer: $69
  • Private Pickup Transfers from Dahab to Taba: $120

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Antananarivo

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Antananarivo:

  • Private Airport Transfert Ivato Antananarivo: $40
  • Cheap Transfer Airport Hotel & Car rental in Antananarivo: $18

Is it cheaper to fly into Dahab or Antananarivo?

Prices for flights to both Antananarivo and Dahab 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
    Dahab $13
    Antananarivo $50
Typical Food Prices in Dahab

For Dahab, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:


  • Seafood Dinner (for 2)
    $2.00
  • Juice
    $0.11
  • Breakfast for Two
    $0.63

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Dahab

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

  • Bedouin Dinner in the Mountains In Dahab: $36
  • Bedouin Dinner in the Mountains In Dahab: $39
  • Dahab Desert Safari and Bedouin Dinner: $95

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Antananarivo

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

  • Cooking And Cuisine Tasting From Tana-Malagasy Fine Foodie Madagascar Tour: $245

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Dahab $6.56
    Antananarivo $24

Tours and Activities in Dahab

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

  • Jeep Safari to Canyon Salama Day Tour from Dahab: $15
  • Dahab's Kept Secrets 5 Adventures in 1 Tour: $25
  • Saint Catherine's Monastery And Half Day Tour From Dahab : $30
  • Full-Day Hike Tour at St. Catherine's Monastery: $33
  • Royal seascope Semi-Submarine Cruise: $33
  • luxury Snorkeling cruise with buffet lunch: $41
  • Hurghada to Cairo tour Small group HurghadaToGo: $42
  • 4x4 Jeep Adventure from Dahab: $43
  • Camel Ride + Blue Hole Snorkeling + Quad Bike Tour With Lunch From Dahab: $49
  • Adventure Quad Biking Tour in Dahab: $50
  • Mount Sinai Sunrise and St Catherine Monastery Tour from Dahab: $50
  • St. Catherine Tour from Sharm : $55

Tours and Activities in Antananarivo

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

  • 4 Days Adventure to wild Andasibe Mantasoa from Antananarivo: $1,004
  • 4-Hours Night Tour of Antananarivo: $179
  • 6 Days Adventure to Andasibe & Tamatave from Antananarivo: $1,713
  • 7 Days Sainte-Marie Island Tour by Plane from Antananarivo: $3,839
  • 9 Days Adventure from Antananarivo to Isalo Park & Tulear: $2,363
  • Andasibe Lemur Experience 4 Days/3 Nights (Comfort).: $1,847
  • Antananarivo : Custom Walking Tour With A Guide (Private Tour): $38
  • Antananarivo : Day tour to Mantasoa Lake: $304
  • Antananarivo Private Walking Tour with a Local: $25
  • 10-Day Southern National Parks & Reserves Tour: $3,700
  • 2-Days tour to Andasibe National Park: $752
  • Baobab Avenue & Kirindy Tours 4 Days/3 Nights: $1,415

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Dahab $3.89
    Antananarivo $9.61


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

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


Which is Bigger, Dahab or Antananarivo?

Antananarivo has a larger population, and is about 170 times larger than the population of Dahab. When comparing the sizes of Dahab and Antananarivo, 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.