Which place is cheaper, Addis Ababa or Abu Dhabi?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Abu Dhabi or Addis Ababa?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Abu Dhabi and Addis Ababa can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Abu Dhabi or Addis Ababa?
Abu Dhabi
It doesn't get more "lifestyles of the rich and famous" than a vacation to Abu Dhabi. The federal capital and center of government for the United Arab Emirates is arguably the most modern city in the world.
Abu Dhabi has a population of 1.5 million and provides a home to several oil companies and embassies, but this place is definitely a playground for the world's fanciest tourists. This city has several large projects underway including Yas Island's Formula 1 track and Ferrari theme park.
Note: homosexuality is still outlawed in the UAE with harsh punishments including deportation, fines, jail time or even a death sentence.
Addis Ababa
Addis Ababa is the capital city of Ethiopia and also the nation's largest when ranked by its population of over three million. There are also more than 120 international missions and embassies in Addis Ababa, making the city a hub for international diplomacy concerning Africa. Other draws include its thriving marketplaces, spicy food, and rich coffee.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to United Arab Emirates, The Best Tours for Seniors to United Arab Emirates, The Best Adventure Tours to Ethiopia, and The Best Luxury Tours to Ethiopia.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAbu Dhabi $164Addis Ababa $67
The average daily cost (per person) in Abu Dhabi is $164, while the average daily cost in Addis Ababa is $67. 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 Abu Dhabi and Addis Ababa in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAbu Dhabi $98Addis Ababa $43
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAbu Dhabi $196Addis Ababa $86
Compare Hotels in Abu Dhabi and Addis Ababa
Looking for a hotel in Abu Dhabi or Addis Ababa? 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: Abu Dhabi Hotel Prices and Addis Ababa Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Abu Dhabi $20Addis Ababa $7.73
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Abu Dhabi
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Abu Dhabi are as follows:
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Car Rental$31
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Taxi to Airport$14
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Abu Dhabi
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Abu Dhabi:
- Ferrari World Abu Dhabi Tickets with Private Transfers: $289
- Warner Bro's with Private Transfers from Dubai: $279
- Private Transfer from Abu Dhabi Airport (AUH) to Talal Liwa: $277
- Private Transfer from Talal Liwa to Abu Dhabi Airport (AUH): $277
- Private Transfer from Abu Dhabi Airport (AUH) to Qasr Al Sarab: $277
- IMG World of Adventure with Sharing Transfers from Abu Dhabi: $250
- Ferrari world & Warner bros. parks with transfer from Dubai: $250
- Private Transfer from Abu Dhabi Airport to Dubai or Vice Versa: $242
- Visit Ferrari World Abu Dhabi From Dubai Included Transfer and Tickets: $235
- Warner Bros World Ticket's -Abu Dhabi Without Transfer: $220
- Private Transfer: Abu Dhabi to Dubai Airport DXB in Luxury Van: $215
- Private Transfer: Abu Dhabi Airport AUH to Dubai in Luxury Van: $215
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Addis Ababa
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Addis Ababa are as follows:
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Short Taxi Ride$0.52
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Addis Ababa
Also for Addis Ababa, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer Services Addis Abeba Airport : $23
- City/Airport Transfers-Addis Ababa: $26
- Lalibela Full Day Tour with Guide and Transfer: $130
Is it cheaper to fly into Abu Dhabi or Addis Ababa?
Prices for flights to both Addis Ababa and Abu Dhabi 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 dayAbu Dhabi $45Addis Ababa $17
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Abu Dhabi
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Abu Dhabi.
- Abu Dhabi Desert Safari With BBQ Dinner & Live Shows: $49
- Abu Dhabi Evening Desert Safari Tour with Shows and BBQ Dinner: $60
- Abu Dhabi Desert Safari With Live Shows And BBQ Buffet Dinner: $60
- Abu Dhabi Evening Desert Safari with BBQ Dinner and all Camp Activities : $72
- Abu Dhabi Desert Safari 4x4, BBQ Dinner, Camel Ride: $81
- Abu Dhabi Evening Desert Safari with Camel Ride and Dinner: $84
- Buffet Dinner Cruise including Transfer from Abu Dhabi: $93
- 4x4 Desert Safari Abu Dhabi with BBQ Dinner: $96
- Overnight Safari Abu Dhabi ,Belly Dance ,Camel Ride ,Henna Painting ,BBQ Dinner: $130
- Overnight Desert Safari with BBQ Dinner & Breakfast Abu Dhabi: $133
- Evening Desert Safari Abu Dhabi with Dinner: $140
- Overnight Desert Safari Abu Dhabi with BBQ Dinner & Morning Breakfast: $150
Typical Food Prices in Addis Ababa
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Addis Ababa:
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Slice of Cake$0.12
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Addis Ababa
For Addis Ababa, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Local Ethiopian Food Tour Addis Ababa: $62
- City Tour, Food Tour, Shopping in Shiro Meda Market : $72
- Local Ethiopian Food Tour: $75
- Culinary Class and Food Tour in Addis Ababa : $82
- Unique Ethiopian Cooking Class and Coffee Ceremony with a Local in Addis Ababa: $116
- Private Ethiopian Home Cooking Class in Addis Ababa with Transfer: $124
- Market Tour and Cooking Class with a Coffee Ceremony at a Home in Addis Ababa: $168
- Food Tour in Addis Ababa: $205
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Abu Dhabi $39Addis Ababa $7.98
Tours and Activities in Abu Dhabi
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Abu Dhabi are as follows:
- Full Day Abu Dhabi City & Louvre Museum Tour: $90
- Louvre Museum in Abu Dhabi Ticket: $31
- Private Full-Day Tour in Abu Dhabi: $234
- 2 Days 2 Park- Ferrari World +Yas Waterworld Or Warner Bros World Combo Tickets: $155
- 4 Hour Cultural Tour of Abu Dhabi - Private Tour: $160
- 45 minutes Yas Experience: $42
- 8 Hours Al Ain City Tour without lunch : $117
- Abu Dhabi : Private Walking Tour with A guide (Private Tour): $44
- Abu Dhabi City Sightseeing Tour with Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque : $260
- Abu Dhabi City Tour & Ferrari World Ticket: $129
- Abu Dhabi City Tour Including Ferrari World Tickets from Dubai: $135
- Abu Dhabi City Tour With Louvre Museum Ticket: $160
Tours and Activities in Addis Ababa
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Addis Ababa.
- Addis Ababa City - Half Day Tour: $55
- Half Day City Tour of Addis Ababa : $60
- City tour of Addis, Transit in Addis by car: $65
- Food tasting tours, Enjera/Injera baking,coffee ceremony,Tej tasting: $69
- Addis Ababa Guided City Tour With Airport & Hotel Pick Up: $70
- Addis Ababa Half Day Shopping Tour: $70
- Addis Ababa City tour: $72
- Addis Ababa Authentic Private City Tour: $75
- “Addis Ababa City Tours”: $75
- Every day Addis Ababa City Tour : $75
- Addis Ababa City Tours Full Day With Hotel Pickup And Drop Off: $79
- Addis Food Tasting Tour : $79
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAbu Dhabi $13Addis Ababa $6.59
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Abu Dhabi and Addis Ababa, we can see that Abu Dhabi is more expensive. And not only is Addis Ababa much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Abu Dhabi is in Middle East and Addis Ababa 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 Addis Ababa would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Addis Ababa 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 Abu Dhabi would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Abu Dhabi than you might in Addis Ababa.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Abu Dhabi Expensive? and Is Addis Ababa Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Abu Dhabi or Addis Ababa?
Addis Ababa has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Abu Dhabi. When comparing the sizes of Abu Dhabi and Addis Ababa, 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.