A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Kampala vs. Aswan for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Kampala or Aswan?

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

Should I visit Kampala or Aswan? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Where Should I go: Kampala or Aswan?

Kampala

Kampala is the capital of Uganda in the South part of the country near Lake Victoria. It is the largest city in Uganda, with a population of over two million people. This city is very safe and the locals are known to be very kind and approachable.

Aswan

Lounging along the Nile like Egyptian royalty is a fantasy for most world travelers. If you want to do it without the hustle and bustle of Cairo, there's always Aswan. This city in the south of Egypt is the smallest of the three major cities on the Nile. Located just below the Aswan Dam and Lake Nasser, Aswan's 275,00 people include a large portion of Nubians – mostly resettled from their flooded homeland.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Camping Tours in Uganda, The Best Safaris in Uganda, The Best 10-Day Tours in Egypt, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Egypt.


Which place is cheaper, Aswan or Kampala?

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 Kampala is $81, while the average daily cost in Aswan is $31. 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 Kampala and Aswan in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Kampala $63
    Aswan $10
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Kampala $126
    Aswan $20
Compare Hotels in Kampala and Aswan

Looking for a hotel in Kampala or Aswan? 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 Kampala


Hotels in Aswan


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: Kampala Hotel Prices and Aswan Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Kampala $2.67
    Aswan $5.70
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Kampala

Some typical examples of transportation costs in Kampala are as follows:


  • Taxi around town
    $4.28

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kampala

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kampala:

  • Airport Transfer from Entebbe to Kampala: $30
  • Entebbe Airport pickup (Entebbe - Kampala) reliable 24/7 transfer: $48
  • Entebbe Kampala Airport Transfer: $55
  • Private Transfer from Entebbe Airport (EBB) Uganda to Kampala: $80
  • Private Transfer from Kampala to Entebbe Airport (EBB) Uganda: $80
  • Private Entebbe Airport Transfer Pick-Up and Drop-off 24/7: $80
  • Entebbe kampala airport transfers: $100

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Aswan

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Aswan:

  • Aswan to Luxor Private Car Transfer: $80
  • Private Transfer from Aswan to Marsa-Alam: $87
  • Private transfer from Aswan to Luxor: $35
  • Transfer Service to Luxor from Aswan: $100
  • VIP Aswan to Hurghada Transfer: Luxury and Comfort: $95
  • "Aswan to Hurghada: Luxe Private Transfer - Comfort Guaranteed ": $130
  • 3-Day Guided tours to Aswan, Abu Simbel and Luxor & Train and Transfers : $167
  • Abu Simbel Day Trip from Aswan with transfers : $45
  • Abu Simbel Shared Transfer: $27
  • Abu Simbel from Aswan in Egypt - Private Tour (guide and transfers Included): $150
  • Arrival Transfer from Aswan Airport to Hotels or Nile Cruise: $40
  • Arrival Transfer from Aswan Airport to Hotels or Nile Cruise in Aswan: $8.00

Is it cheaper to fly into Kampala or Aswan?

Prices for flights to both Aswan and Kampala 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
    Kampala $16
    Aswan $16
Typical Food Prices in Kampala

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Kampala:


  • Lunch for 2
    $1.71

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Kampala

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

  • Like a local cooking Tours: $26
  • Private Ugandan Food Cooking Class and Culture Experience: $55
  • Cooking Class With a Local (Kampala, Jinja, Entebbe - 4 Hours): $56
  • Kampala City Walking Food Tour: $77
  • Fishing Village Food Tour & Luwombo Stop: $102
  • The Food Tour | Uganda | Half day: $123
  • uganda fun time (bed,breakfast, lunch and dinner ) : $154

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Aswan

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

  • Nubian Dinner in Nubian Village Of Aswan: $40
  • Savor Nubian Cuisine: Lunch or Dinner in a Local Village: $50
  • Nubian Dinner at Nubian Village: $51
  • Dinner on board a cruise on the Nile: $59
  • Nubian Dinner at Nubian Village: $60
  • Private 3-Hour Nubian Party with Dinner and Pickup in Aswan: $77
  • Aswan Sunset Dinner Cruise: $80
  • Your Grandmothers Cooking Class In Aswan : $90

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Kampala -
    Aswan $9.77

Tours and Activities in Kampala

Here are a few actual costs in Kampala for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • African Fabric Market Tour : $13
  • Uganda Community Tour: $15
  • Kampala Half-Day Walking Tour with Local Female Guides: $20
  • Kampala Heart of Walking Adventure : $21
  • Best Kampala group Walking Tour.: $25
  • Inside Kampala Walking Tour (Female Guided): $25
  • Complete Kampala Tour Experience: $25
  • Kampala Walking City Tours (Women-Guided): $26
  • Tombs, King’s palace & Gaddafi mosque walk (Airpals Safaris tour): $26
  • Steve Kampala Walking tours (Airpals Safaris tour): $26
  • Kampala’s Best Experience walking tour : $26
  • Female Guided Walking Tours Kampala (3 Hours): $30

Typical Entertainment Prices in Aswan

Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Aswan are as follows:


  • Temple Kom Ombo for Two
    $1.26

Tours and Activities in Aswan

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

  • Felucca Nile Cruise in Aswan: $10
  • Shared Half-Day tour of The Nubian Village: $10
  • Private 2 Hour Guided Tour to Philae Temple from Aswan: $15
  • Nubian Museum Tour: $15
  • Day Trip to Nubian Village with Camel Tour: $15
  • Half Day Philae Temple and High-Dam Private Tour in Aswan: $18
  • 2 Hours Tour in Philae Temple: $19
  • Philae Temple Secrets: Private Aswan Adventure: $20
  • High Dam, Unfinished Obelisk, & Philae Private Tour: $20
  • Nubian Village Tour: $20
  • Aswan Engineering Marvels Private High Dam & Obelisk Tour: $20
  • "Aswan Gems: Private Tour of Dam, Obelisk & Philae Temple": $20

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Kampala -
    Aswan $1.12

Sample the Local Flavors in Kampala

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Kampala:

  • Kampala Pub Crawl | Uganda | 4 hours: $65


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

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


Which is Bigger, Kampala or Aswan?

Kampala has a larger population, and is about 6 times larger than the population of Aswan. When comparing the sizes of Kampala and Aswan, 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.