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

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Should you visit Ephesus or Dahab?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Ephesus or Dahab, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Where Should I go: Ephesus or Dahab?

Ephesus

The ancient city of Ephesus was famed for the Temple of Artemis (completed around 550 BC). It is one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. The temple was destroyed in 401 AD and rebuilt by Emperor Constantine I along with new public baths. The town was again partially destroyed by an earthquake in 614 AD. The city's importance as a commercial center declined as the harbor was slowly silted up by the Cayster River (Kucuk Menderes).

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.

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


Which place is cheaper, Dahab or Ephesus?

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 Ephesus is $131, while the average daily cost in Dahab is $26. 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 Ephesus and Dahab in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Ephesus $55
    Dahab $9.31
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Ephesus $110
    Dahab $19
Compare Hotels in Ephesus and Dahab

Looking for a hotel in Ephesus or Dahab? 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 Ephesus


Hotels in Dahab


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: Ephesus Hotel Prices and Dahab Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Ephesus $40
    Dahab $3.10

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ephesus

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

  • Vip Transfer Kusadasi To/From Izmir Airport (Price for ONE WAY): $95
  • Transfer izmir Adnan Menderes Airport to/from Kusadasi Davutlar: $180
  • Transfer: $72
  • Scuba Diving Experience in Kusadasi with Instructor and Transfer: $67
  • Private Transfers İzmir City or Adnan Menderes Airport to/from Kusadasi Town: $131
  • Private Transfers İzmir City or Adnan Menderes Airport to/from Kusadasi Town: $131
  • Private Transfers İzmir City Adnan Menderes Apt to/from Selçuk, Ephesus, Şirince: $131
  • Private Transfer | KUSADASI - IZMIR Airport: $162
  • Private Transfer from Kusadasi hotels to Kusadasi Cruise Port: $55
  • Private Transfer from Kusadasi hotels to Kusadasi Cruise Port: $63
  • Private Transfer from Kusadasi Cruise Port to Kusadasi hotels: $55
  • Private Transfer from Kusadasi Cruise Port to Kusadasi Hotels: $63

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Dahab

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

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

Is it cheaper to fly into Ephesus or Dahab?

Prices for flights to both Dahab and Ephesus 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
    Ephesus $45
    Dahab $13
Typical Food Prices in Ephesus

Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Ephesus:


  • Sandwiches
    $0.12
  • Dessert
    $0.13
  • Lunch at Beach (for 2)
    $0.46
  • Snacks
    $0.19

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Ephesus

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

  • Cooking Class in Kusadasi Ephesus: $110

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.
    Ephesus $46
    Dahab $6.56

Tours and Activities in Ephesus

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Ephesus.

  • Ephesus PrivateTours from Cruise Port Kusadasi Shore Excursions : $40
  • Ephesus Shared Tour from Kuşadası Port: $150
  • Ephesus Tour With Small Group From Kusadasi: $137
  • Ephesus and Virgin Mary House Tour From Kusadasi Port : $16
  • Ephesus private skip line tour from the cruise port: $167
  • Ephesus tours and Virgin Mary's House Temple Artemis tours : $74
  • Private Ephesus And Artemis Temple Tour For Cruise Guest : $16
  • Private Pergamum Tour from Izmir or Kusadasi: $298
  • Small Group Pamukkale Day Tour from Selcuk or Kusadası : $129
  • "Ephesus Tours" Port Kusadasi lunch guide bus shopping Caravanserai artemis : $64
  • "No Better Way to Explore History - Affordable Ephesus Tour": $30
  • "private Ephesus tours "" wholesaler Shop Tours ""from cruise port Kusadasi ": $10

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

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Ephesus $12
    Dahab $3.89
Typical Alcohol Prices in Ephesus

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


  • Beer
    $0.10

Sample the Local Flavors in Ephesus

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

  • PRIVATE & GROUP: SKIP-THE-LINE EPHESUS with Wine Tasting & Lunch: $12
  • SKIP-THE-LINE Ephesus & Wine Tasting Tour From Kusadasi Port: $18
  • POTTERY PAINTING & WINE TASTING Tour from Kusadasi Port: $49
  • Wine Tasting-Village Shore Excursion from Kusadasi Port: $50
  • Ephesus Shore Excursion with Wine Tasting and Lunch: $64
  • Kusadasi Shore Excursions Ephesus and Wine Tasting Tours : $70
  • Ephesus & Şirince Village with Lunch& Wine Tasting (Fixed Price): $100
  • Ephesus Tour with Wine Tasting and Traditional Turkish Lunch: $130
  • Private Ephesus Tour & Wine Tasting & Mediterrranean Lunch: $159

How are these travel costs calculated?

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Ephesus and Dahab, we can see that Ephesus is more expensive. And not only is Dahab much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Ephesus is in Europe and Dahab is in Africa, 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 Ephesus would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Ephesus 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 Ephesus Expensive? and Is Dahab Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Ephesus or Dahab?

Ephesus has a larger population, and is about 8 times larger than the population of Dahab. When comparing the sizes of Ephesus and Dahab, 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.

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.
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