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

Should you visit Dahab or Playa Blanca?

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 Playa Blanca 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 Playa Blanca?

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.

Playa Blanca

Located on the southern tip of the Canary Island of Lanzarote, Playa Blanca is a resort area popular with families and couples seeking a quieter vacation alternative to the lively neighbor resort of Puerto del Carmen. The resort's white sandy beaches are peaceful and sheltered from the higher winds found on other parts of the island. Timanfaya National Park is also nearby, as well as a number of other spectacular volcanic features.

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


Which place is cheaper, Playa Blanca or Dahab?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

  • Dahab Prices
    Egypt Prices
    Playa Blanca Prices
    Spain Prices
  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    Dahab $26
    Playa Blanca $220

The average daily cost (per person) in Dahab is $26, while the average daily cost in Playa Blanca is $220. 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 Playa Blanca in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Dahab $9.31
    Playa Blanca $95
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Dahab $19
    Playa Blanca $190
Compare Hotels in Dahab and Playa Blanca

Looking for a hotel in Dahab or Playa Blanca? 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 Playa Blanca


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 Playa Blanca Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Dahab $3.10
    Playa Blanca $57

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 Playa Blanca?

Prices for flights to both Playa Blanca 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
    Playa Blanca $91
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

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Dahab $6.56
    Playa Blanca $23

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 Playa Blanca

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

  • From Fuerteventura: Playa Blanca Minicruise to Papagayo: $73
  • Lanzarote: Playa Blanca to Marina Rubicón Waterbus Ticket: $13
  • Lanzarote: Snorkeling Tour: $65
  • Lanzarote: Try Scuba Diving Experience: $112

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Dahab $3.89
    Playa Blanca $11


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


Which is Bigger, Dahab or Playa Blanca?

Playa Blanca has a larger population, and is about 25% larger than the population of Dahab. When comparing the sizes of Dahab and Playa Blanca, 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.