Which place is cheaper, Lake Garda or Dahab?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Dahab or Lake Garda?
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 Lake Garda 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 Lake Garda?
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.
Lake Garda
As a gentle Mediterranean wind touches your skin, the aromatic fragrances of olive and lemon trees fill the air. Surrounded by lush gardens and Italian architecture in its ancient tans and beiges, you look to the horizon and find a paradise before your eyes: a shimmering lake, misty mountaintops, and a clear blue sky. Lake Garda is a popular holiday destination for locals of the Lombardy region and tourists alike. It has been shown that about 7% of Italy's tourists head straight for these gleaming blue shores. The largest lake in Italy, Lake Garda is located about halfway in between Brescia and Verona and between Venezia and Milano. Because it is surrounded by several different districts - Lombardy, Trentino, Alto, and the Veneto - Lake Garda is a culmination of culture that attracts cosmopolitan crowds. The lake is an ancient natural treasure Italy holds dear, with documents referring to Lake Garda dating as far back as the eighteenth century. The name "Garda" comes from the Germanic word "warda," which means "place of guard." Whether you are staying at one of the many luxurious resorts in Riva del Garda or are simply getting a pedicure in spa town Sirmione, Lake Garda continues to preserve its elegance and sophistication throughout the years.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Egypt, The Best Historical Tours in Egypt, The Best Tours for Seniors to Italy, and The Best Contiki Tours to Italy.
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Dahab Prices
Egypt PricesLake Garda Prices
Italy Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayDahab $26Lake Garda $231
The average daily cost (per person) in Dahab is $26, while the average daily cost in Lake Garda is $231. 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 Lake Garda in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personDahab $9.31Lake Garda $99
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomDahab $19Lake Garda $198
Compare Hotels in Dahab and Lake Garda
Looking for a hotel in Dahab or Lake Garda? 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: Dahab Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Dahab $3.10Lake Garda $77
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Dahab
Also for Dahab, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Sharm el-Sheikh: 1-Way or Round-Trip Transfer to Dahab: $42
- Saint paul and saint anthony monastery private transfer: $69
- Private Transfer To/From Nuweibaa City and Sharm El Sheikh Hotels: $68
- Private Transfer Dahab Hotel to Sharm ElSheikh Airport : $32
- Private Transfer Between Nuweibaa City and Sharm El Sheikh Hotels: $60
- Private Pickup Transfers from Dahab to Taba: $120
Is it cheaper to fly into Dahab or Lake Garda?
Prices for flights to both Lake Garda 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
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Food Meals for one dayDahab $13Lake Garda $85
Typical Food Prices in Dahab
For Dahab, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Seafood Dinner (for 2)$2.00
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Juice$0.11
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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 Lake Garda
For Lake Garda, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Cooking Class: Fresh Pasta Course with Wines at Lake Garda: $94
- 3.5 Hours Fresh Pasta and Tiramisù Cooking Class with Meal : $95
- Dining Experience at a local's Home in Cecina with Show Cooking: $102
- Canevin Cooking Class a Typical italian meal with dessert: $113
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Dahab $6.56Lake Garda $35
Tours and Activities in Dahab
For Dahab, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Camel Trek Desert and Beach Experience Private Tour in Dahab: $140
- 2 Day Hiking Canyoning Tour Colored and Wishwashi in Sinai: $72
- 4x4 Jeep Adventure from Dahab: $43
- Adventure Quad Biking Tour in Dahab: $50
- Astronomy and Bedouin Culture group Tour in sharm with Pickup: $140
- Blue Hole Snorkeling Adventure in Dahab: $195
- Cairo pyramids tour from Hurghada Small group HurghadaToGo: $60
- Camel Ride + Blue Hole Snorkeling + Quad Bike Tour With Lunch From Dahab: $49
- Dahab Windsurfing Adventure in Red Sea Waves: $60
- Dahab's Kept Secrets 5 Adventures in 1 Tour: $25
- Royal seascope Semi-Submarine Cruise: $33
- luxury Snorkeling cruise with buffet lunch: $41
Tours and Activities in Lake Garda
For Lake Garda, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Beekeeping Farm Tour and Tasting Experience in Lazise: $47
- Bardolino: Vineyard Tour with Wine, Olive Oil & Food Tasting: $42
- Best of Sirmione with Boat Tour and Grotte di Catullo : $113
- Boat Tour of the Islands of Lake Garda with Aperitif: $84
- Dolomites Full-Day Tour from Lake Garda: $87
- Dolomites Full-day Tour from Lake Garda: $89
- From Verona Full-Day Tour: $76
- From Tignale, Beginner-Friendly Canyoning Tour: $90
- Full-Day Lake Garda Tour: Bus & Public Boat with Guide: $87
- Full-Day Self-Guided Garda Scooter Tour from Riva del Garda: $155
- Full-Day Self-Guided Garda Vespa Tour departing at Salò: $155
- Garda Lake: Canyoning Adventure Tour: $117
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayDahab $3.89Lake Garda $22
Sample the Local Flavors in Lake Garda
Also in Lake Garda, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Wine Tasting with Local Food in Lazise Countryside: $38
- Wine Tasting and Tour of Lugana Wines in Sirmione: $39
- Vineyards Tour and Wine Tasting: $46
- Lazise: Biodynamic Farm Tour and Natural Wine Tasting: $49
- Wine Tasting in Historical Center of Lazise: $50
- Garda Hills Wine Tour and Tasting: $50
- Winery Tour and Wine Tasting in Valpolicella: $58
- Valdadige: Winery Tour with 4 Wine Tastings: $58
- Art Experience with Food and Wine Tasting in Lazise: $58
- Valpolicella: Winery Tour with Picnic and Wine Tasting: $76
- Lazise: Bike Tour and Wine Tasting: $99
- E-Bike Tour and wine tasting in Lazise Countryside: $100
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Dahab and Lake Garda, we can see that Lake Garda is more expensive. And not only is Dahab much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Dahab is in Africa and Lake Garda 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 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 Lake Garda would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Lake Garda 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 Lake Garda Expensive?.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.