Dahab on a budget: how to do it well
Short answer
Yes, Dahab is excellent on a budget, especially for snorkellers. Plan on about E£1,400 per person per day (bed E£500, food E£500, sights E£300, transport E£100); diving costs extra.
A realistic daily budget
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed (per person, sharing) | E£500 | E£1,300 | E£3,500 |
| Food & drink | E£500 | E£1,000 | E£2,000 |
| Sights & tickets | E£300 | E£1,500 | E£3,000 |
| Local transport | E£100 | E£300 | E£800 |
| Per person, per day | E£1,400 | E£4,100 | E£9,300 |
Approximate 2026 prices, two people sharing a room. From our Dahab day-cost table.
Free things to do
- Snorkel the Lighthouse reef from the shore (with your own gear)
- Snorkel the Eel Garden
- Walk the seafront promenade through Masbat and Mashraba
- Watch the sunset light on the Saudi mountains across the gulf
- Walk the coast path from the Blue Hole towards Ras Abu Galum
- Swim at the Lagoon beach
Cheap eats
- Ful medames and taameya for breakfast: E£50–150
- Koshari: a filling, cheap meal
- Feteer, a flaky layered pastry
- Mint tea at a seafront café: about E£50–100
- Bakery bread and fruit from local shops
Where to sleep for less
Budget travellers stay in hostels and camps in Masbat and Assala, at about E£700–1,500 a night, a short walk from the promenade and shore dive sites.
Getting around cheaply
Fly to Sharm el-Sheikh and share a taxi (about E£1,500–2,500 per car, 1–1.5 hours), or take a bus from Sharm or Cairo. In town, walk or use taxis (about E£50–150).
A sample budget day
- Morning: snorkel at the Lighthouse reef (gear about E£150–300)
- Lunch: koshari or ful (about E£100)
- Afternoon: walk the promenade and swim at Eel Garden
- Evening: simple seafront dinner (about E£400–600)
- Total: about E£800–900 plus your bed (about E£500), so roughly E£1,400
More ways to save
- Bring your own mask and snorkel to save on rentals.
- Join a group taxi to the Blue Hole.
- Book Mount Sinai through your hostel, which often includes the guide.
- Pay in Egyptian pounds where possible.
- Stay a week and negotiate a lower room rate.
- Drink filtered water refills where available.
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Common questions
Can I visit Dahab on a budget?
Yes, at about E£1,400 a day with a camp or hostel, street food and shore snorkelling.
Is shore snorkelling free?
At many town sites, yes; the Blue Hole area charges a small entry fee.
How much is the airport transfer?
About E£1,500–2,500 per car from Sharm el-Sheikh; share it if you can.