Which place is cheaper, Cairo or Santorini?
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 Santorini or Cairo?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Santorini or Cairo, 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: Santorini or Cairo?
Santorini
Santorini is a volcanic island that is part of the Cyclades group of the Greek Islands. It has some spectacular views, beautiful sunsets, and excellent beaches. As one of the most popular of the Greek Islands to visit, Santorini sees many tourists every year. However, it's for a good reason, as the famous white-washed buildings that spill down the hill, some with blue domes that match the gorgeous color of the water, are set against the beautiful mountainous backdrop of one of the most scenic areas of the Mediterranean. Home to several of these small and scenic towns such as Oia, Kamari, Perissa, and Fira, visitors can explore the large island, enjoy delicious food, swim at the beaches, hike the hills, and sail the blue waters.
Cairo
Cairo is the chaotic capital city of Egypt. With a population of more than 16 million, it is one of the largest cities in both Africa and the Middle East. As a traveler, you're likely to arrive and leave from here and you'll get your first orientation to the area during the chaotic and congestion filled taxi ride from the airport.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Luxury Tours to Greece, The Best Budget Tours to Greece, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Egypt, and The Best Historical Tours in Egypt.
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Santorini Prices
Greece PricesCairo Prices
Egypt Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySantorini €250Cairo €28
The average daily cost (per person) in Santorini is €250, while the average daily cost in Cairo is €28. 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 Santorini and Cairo in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSantorini €118Cairo €9.60
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSantorini €236Cairo €19
Compare Hotels in Santorini and Cairo
Looking for a hotel in Santorini or Cairo? 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: Santorini Hotel Prices and Cairo Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Santorini €35Cairo €3.23
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Santorini
Also for Santorini, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Helicopter Transfer between Mykonos & Santorini: $6,138
- Private Transfers From or To Santorini Ferry Port : $60
- Private Transfers from/to Santorini Port (Athinios) to/from Oia: $108
- Santorini Private Airport Transfer : $29
- Santorini Private Roundtrip Transfer from/to Airport,Port & Hotel: $72
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Cairo
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Cairo are as follows:
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Metro Ride€0.07
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Taxi Ride€0.27
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cairo
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cairo:
- From Guided 4 Day Cairo & Red Sea Tour with Transfer: $1,440
- Private Day Trip to Luxor with Transfers and Flights: $791
- Cairo To Marsa Alam Private Transfer: $511
- From One-Way Private Transfer To Luxor: $489
- 3 Private Full-Day Tours to Cairo Top Attractions+One Airport Transfer: $300
- 1 Day Aswan Abu Simple Tour with Transfer Included: $300
- Private One-Way Transfer to/from Hurghada: $292
- Private One-Way Transfer to/from Sharm El-Sheikh: $292
- Private Transfer from Cairo to Sharm El Sheikh : $290
- Private Transfer Cairo to Hurghada: $290
- Private Transfer From Cairo to Hurghada By Car: $280
- 2 Days Private Guided Tours of Cairo and Giza with Free Cairo Airport Transfers: $280
Is it cheaper to fly into Santorini or Cairo?
Prices for flights to both Cairo and Santorini 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 daySantorini €96Cairo €15
Typical Food Prices in Cairo
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Cairo:
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Juice€0.04
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cairo
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Cairo.
- Dinner Nile cruise with belly dancer show on Nile river: $5.00
- Great tour toThe Grand Museum of Giza and Nile River DinnerCruise: $5.00
- Quad Bike ATV ,Camel Ride ,Nile Dinner Cruise Belly dancer show: $7.00
- Cairo Food Tour with Nile Felucca Ride : $7.00
- Private Nile Cruise with Dinner and Folk Show from Cairo: $7.50
- Night Dinner Nile cruise with belly dancer and folklore show: $8.00
- night-tour Nile dinner cruise with open buffet and belly dancer: $8.00
- Local Oriental Food Tour from Cairo or Giza hotels: $9.00
- Cairo Dinner Cruise show with belly dancer show on Nile river: $9.00
- Cairo Food Tour in local places & Egyptian Mint Tea: $9.00
- food tour private tour from cairo or giza hotel: $9.00
- Giza pyramids,Sphinx,ATV bike,Camel ride,Dinner cruise& shopping: $9.00
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Santorini €35Cairo €7.74
Tours and Activities in Santorini
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Santorini.
- Magical Santorini Highlights Private Tour: $120
- Ferry Tickets between Santorini and Crete Heraklion: $121
- Santorini Caldera Cruise with Greek Meal, Open-Bar & Sunset Views: $155
- Santorini Classic Highlights and Sightseeing Private Tour: $177
- Santorini's Story. Insta and TikTok Experience. Private tour : $203
- Santorini Unlocked: Private Tour with Local Guide & Driver: $203
- Private Oia and Ammoudi Sunset Experience: $203
- Private Santorini Sunset Picnic Experience: $203
- Santorini Private Tour for Wine Enthusiasts: $215
- Santorini Shopping Therapy: Style & Tradition Tour: $215
- Private Experience in Santorini with Guide in Spanish: $269
Typical Entertainment Prices in Cairo
Here are a few typical costs in Cairo for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Entry to Camel Market for Two€0.72
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Egyptian Museum Entry for Two€5.51
Tours and Activities in Cairo
Here are a few actual costs in Cairo for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 1 Day Private Tour in Cairo and Giza: $90
- 2 Days in Cairo & Giza Private Tour : $80
- 2-Day Ancient Egypt Tour with Pyramids and Museums: $253
- 2-Day Tour Ancient Egypt and Old Cairo Highlights Tour: $290
- 2-Days Tour at Cairo & Giza: $86
- 2-Days Tours at Cairo & Giza : $143
- 3 Days Private Tour in Giza, Cairo, and Alexandria: $70
- 8-Hour Private Tour Giza Pyramids, Egyptian Museum and local Bazaars: $14
- Alexandria Private Day Tour From Cairo: $95
- Alexandria day tour : $75
- All Inclusive 2-Day Private Tour to All Pyramids and Cairo and 2 evenings: $299
- All Inclusive Full-Day Tour to Pyramids, Museum, mosque and Felucca: $39
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySantorini €25Cairo €1.26
Sample the Local Flavors in Santorini
Also in Santorini, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Santorini Highlights Small-Group Tour with Wine Tasting option: $90
- Private Wine Tasting-Wine Museum- Snacks: 2, 3 or 4 Wineries: $194
- Private Wine Tour in Santorini - Greece: $203
Sample the Local Flavors in Cairo
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Cairo:
- Pub Crawl and Speakeasy Bar Tour with 2 Free Drinks: $70
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Santorini and Cairo, we can see that Santorini is more expensive. And not only is Cairo much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Santorini is in Europe and Cairo 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 Cairo would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Cairo 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 Santorini would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Santorini than you might in Cairo.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Santorini Expensive? and Is Cairo Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Santorini or Cairo?
Cairo has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Santorini. When comparing the sizes of Santorini and Cairo, 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.