A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Abu Dhabi vs. Agra for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Abu Dhabi or Agra?

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 Agra can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Abu Dhabi or Agra?

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.

Agra

In the north of India, in the state of Uttar Pradesh is the city of Agra. This land is home to great tales of emperors and majestic temples. It is the home to a magnificent past and the greatest symbol of love known to man, the Taj Mahal.

While this incredible structure is the main draw to this area, there is much more to see. Once the capital of the Mughal Empire, Agra can claim three different UNESCO World Heritage sites - the Taj Mahal, the Agra Fort and the abandoned city of Fatehpur Sikiri.

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 2-Week Tours from Mumbai, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to India.


Which place is cheaper, Agra or Abu Dhabi?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Abu Dhabi is $164, while the average daily cost in Agra is $44. 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 Agra in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Abu Dhabi $98
    Agra $16
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Abu Dhabi $196
    Agra $32
Compare Hotels in Abu Dhabi and Agra

Looking for a hotel in Abu Dhabi or Agra? 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 Abu Dhabi


Hotels in Agra


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 Agra Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Abu Dhabi $20
    Agra $10
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Abu Dhabi

Some typical examples of transportation costs in Abu Dhabi are as follows:


  • Car Rental
    $31
  • Taxi to Airport
    $14

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Abu Dhabi

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Abu Dhabi:

  • Skydive in Abu Dhabi | Tandem Skydive with transfer: $817
  • Ferrari World Abu Dhabi Tickets with Private Transfers: $289
  • Private Transfer from Talal Liwa to Abu Dhabi Airport (AUH): $273
  • Private Transfer from Abu Dhabi Airport (AUH) to Ras Al Khiamah: $273
  • Private Transfer from Abu Dhabi Airport (AUH) to Qasr Al Sarab: $273
  • Private Transfer from Abu Dhabi Airport (AUH) to Fujairah: $273
  • Private Transfer from Abu Dhabi Airport (AUH) to Talal Liwa: $273
  • Private Transfer from Qasr Al Sarab to Abu Dhabi Airport (AUH): $273
  • Private Transfer from Jebel Dhanna Resort to Abu Dhabi Airport (AUH): $273
  • Private Transfer from Abu Dhabi Airport (AUH) to Jebel Dhanna Resort: $273
  • Ferrari world & Warner bros. parks with transfer from Dubai: $250
  • Ferrari World Theme Park and Seaworld Park Ticket with Transfer: $250

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Agra

Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Agra:


  • Tuk Tuk Ride
    $0.60

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Agra

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

  • From Pickup/Dropoff Taj Mahal/Airport/hotel transfer: $1.20
  • From Delhi/Taj Mahal & Agra Day Trip with Transfers: $3.60
  • Delhi: Same Day Taj Mahal, Agra Tour with Pickup & Transfer.: $4.20
  • Sunrise Taj Mahal and Agra Fort Half-Day Tour with Transfer: $5.40
  • Airport Transfer with Pickup and Drop-off: $5.40
  • Private Transfer from Agra railway station to Hotel In Agra: $5.50
  • Private Sunrise Taj Mahal Tour With Guide & Transfer: $5.92
  • Round Trip Transfers Between Agra Hotels & Agra Airport AGR: $6.15
  • Taj Mahal Tour with Car, Tour Guide & Hotel Transfers: $9.95
  • From Delhi: Taj Mahal & Agra Private Day Trip with Transfers: $11
  • From Delhi: Taj Mahal Agra Day Trip with Guide & Transfer: $12
  • Private Taj Mahal and Agra Day Tour with Transfer: $12

Is it cheaper to fly into Abu Dhabi or Agra?

Prices for flights to both Agra 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Abu Dhabi $45
    Agra $16

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Abu Dhabi

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

  • Dubai: Dhow Cruise Marina Multi Cusine Dinner & Tanura Show: $35
  • Dubai Marina luxury Dhow Cruise Dinner (catamaran): $42
  • Abu Dhabi Desert Safari BBQ Dinner Live Shows Pick & Drop More: $45
  • Abu Dhabi Evening Desert Safari Tour with Shows and BBQ Dinner: $48
  • Abu Dhabi Desert Safari With BBQ Dinner & Live Shows: $49
  • Desert Safari, Quad Bike, Camel Ride & BBQ Dinner: $50
  • Desert Tour with BBQ Dinner and Hotel Transfer: $51
  • Abu Dhabi Desert Safari With Live Shows And BBQ Buffet Dinner: $60
  • Desert Safari Abu Dhabi w/ Sand Boarding, Camel Ride & BBQ Dinner: $75
  • Abu Dhabi Evening Desert Safari & Dinner Under the Stars: $77
  • Abu Dhabi Desert Safari 4x4, BBQ Dinner, Camel Ride: $81
  • Evening Desert Safari Abu Dhabi with BBQ Dinner & Shows: $81

Typical Food Prices in Agra

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


  • Breakfast for Two
    $2.15

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Agra

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

  • Agra best Cooking class after Taj Mahal: $6.00
  • Street Food Tour with Spice Market on Tuk-Tuk: $12
  • Home Hosted Luch or dinner by Indian local Family: $18
  • Agra Heritage Walk with Food Tour: $20
  • Local Food Tour with Cooking Class in Home Agra Including Lunch or Dinner: $20
  • Indian Food Private Cooking Class: $22
  • Cooking Class and Dine with a Local Family: $23
  • Old City Food Tour with Local Guide and Tastings: $23
  • Indian Home Visit Cooking Demo: $25
  • The Spirit of Agra - Old Market Walking and Food Tour: $26
  • Cooking classes Tour Including Pickup And Dropping To Hotel: $28
  • Cooking Workshop and Vegetarian Dinner in Agra with Family: $30

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Abu Dhabi $39
    Agra $20

Tours and Activities in Abu Dhabi

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

  • Abu Dhabi Full Day City Tour : $100
  • Abu Dhabi Louvre Museum Entrance Ticket: $41
  • Abu Dhabi Tour-Sheik Zayed Mosque, Emirates Palace With Louvre Musuem: $115
  • Full Day Abu Dhabi City & Louvre Museum Tour: $90
  • Private Full-Day Tour in Abu Dhabi: $234
  • Ticket to Louvre Museum, Abu Dhabi: $19
  • 4 Hour Cultural Tour of Abu Dhabi - Private Tour: $160
  • 8 Hour Ticket/Pass For Yas Water World In Dubai.: $103
  • 8 hours Private Tour: Ferrari World and Louvre Museum with Pickup: $270
  • Abu Dhabi 'Hidden Gems' by City Break - walking tours made fun!: $32
  • Abu Dhabi 4G & 5G Data Roaming for Tourist: $11
  • Abu Dhabi : Private Custom Walking Tour with A Guide: $43

Typical Entertainment Prices in Agra

For Agra, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:


  • Entry to the Red Fort for Two
    $7.18
  • Taj Mahal for Two
    $18

Tours and Activities in Agra

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

  • From New Delhi: Private Taj Mahal & Agra Fort Tour by Car: $0.12
  • Mughal Carpet Co. Agra :- Handmade Carpet Demonstration Tour: $0.84
  • Handmade Marble Demonstration Tour: $1.02
  • Taj Mahal Skip-the-Line Entry Guided Tour: $1.19
  • Agra:Taj Mahal Skip-The-Line Guided Tour with Free Breakfast: $1.20
  • Agra : Taj Mahal tour with guide: $1.20
  • Skip-the-line entry ticket on Taj Mahal tour: $1.20
  • Private Taj Mahal Skip-The-Line Tour: $1.80
  • Skip-the-Line Taj Mahal Guided Tour with Multi Options: $1.86
  • Sunset Taj Mahal Tour with Skip-The-Line & Lateral Entry: $2.04
  • Agra/Delhi/Jaipur: Taj Mahal Skip-the-Line Tour with Options: $2.10
  • Taj Mahal and Mausoleum Tour with Skip-the-Line Entry: $2.10

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Abu Dhabi $13
    Agra $9.63


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Abu Dhabi and Agra, we can see that Abu Dhabi is more expensive. And not only is Agra much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Abu Dhabi is in Middle East and Agra is in Asia, 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 Agra would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Agra 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 Agra.

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 Agra Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Abu Dhabi or Agra?

Agra has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Abu Dhabi. When comparing the sizes of Abu Dhabi and Agra, 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.