Which place is cheaper, Ankara or Abu Dhabi?
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 Abu Dhabi or Ankara?
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 Ankara can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Abu Dhabi or Ankara?
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.
Ankara
Located at the heart of Turkey near Central Anatolia, Ankara is the capital city and second largest city in the country after Istanbul. Formerly known for its long-haired goats and textiles, the city has since developed into a metropolitan mix of modern cultures with historic landmarks.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to United Arab Emirates, The Best 3-Day Tours in United Arab Emirates, The Best Budget Tours to Turkey, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Turkey.
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Abu Dhabi Prices
UAE PricesAnkara Prices
Turkey Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAbu Dhabi $197Ankara $97
The average daily cost (per person) in Abu Dhabi is $197, while the average daily cost in Ankara is $97. 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 Ankara in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAbu Dhabi $98Ankara $39
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAbu Dhabi $196Ankara $78
Compare Hotels in Abu Dhabi and Ankara
Looking for a hotel in Abu Dhabi or Ankara? 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 Ankara Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Abu Dhabi $20Ankara $26
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:
- Abu Dhabi Airport (AUH) Private Transfer to Abu Dhabi City/Hotels: $58
- Abu Dhabi Airport (AUH) to Abu Dhabi - Arrival Private Transfer: $36
- Abu Dhabi Airport (AUH) to Abu Dhabi - Arrival Private Transfer: $75
- Abu Dhabi Airport (AUH) to Abu Dhabi - Arrival Private Transfer: $33
- Abu Dhabi Airport (AUH) to Abu Dhabi Round-Trip Private Transfer: $77
- Abu Dhabi Airport (AUH) to Dubai hotel or address - Arrival Private Transfer: $42
- Abu Dhabi Airport (AUH) to Dubai hotel or address - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $84
- Abu Dhabi Airport Transfer To or From Anywhere within Abu Dhabi: $70
- Abu Dhabi Airport Transfers : Airport AUH to Abu Dhabi City by Luxury Van: $101
- Abu Dhabi City Tour: Modern & Cultural Highlights with Transfers: $108
- Abu Dhabi Combo Ticket: Ferrari World and Yas Waterworld with transfers: $195
- Abu Dhabi Intercity Transfers: $270
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Ankara
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Ankara:
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Metro Ride$0.03
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Short Taxi Ride$0.11
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ankara
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Ankara:
- Private Transfer Ankara Esenboga Airport ESB to Keçiören Ankara: $40
- Private Airport Transfer From/To Ankara Airport to Cankaya Hotels: $41
- Ankara Esenboga Airport to City Hotels Transfer: $46
- Ankara Esenboğa Airport From/To City Center Private Transfer: $50
- Ankara Private Transfer from central Ankara hotels to Ankara Airport (ESB): $52
- Private Transfer from Ankara Esenboga Airport (ESB) to Central Ankara: $52
- Ankara Airport & Hotel Transfers: $56
- Ankara Airport Transfer: Ankara by Private Luxury Vehicle: $63
- Private Transfers Between Ankara Esenboga Airport - Ankara City Centre: $75
- Ankara Esenboga Airport transfers to Ankara City Center (Cankaya,Kizilay) Hotels: $111
- Ankara City Center (Cankaya,Kizilay) Hotels to Ankara Esenboga Airport transfers: $111
- Private Transfers Ankara City or Esenboga Airport to/from Kizilcahamam Town: $185
Is it cheaper to fly into Abu Dhabi or Ankara?
Prices for flights to both Ankara 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 $78Ankara $39
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Abu Dhabi
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Abu Dhabi.
- Red Dunes 4x4 Pick Drop Abu Dhabi Desert Safari with Dinner: $28
- Abu Dhabi Desert Safari with Red Dunes 4x4 Pick Drop Dinner Shows: $36
- Abu Dhabi Desert Safari with Sandboarding, Camel Ride & Dinner: $47
- Experience Abu Dhabi Yas Island by Dhow Cruise at Sea with Dinner: $55
- Desert Safari In Abu Dhabi With BBQ Dinner: $58
- Abu Dhabi Desert Safari With BBQ Dinner & Live Shows: $60
- Evening Desert Safari Abu Dhabi with Hot BBQ Dinner: $65
- Evening Desert Safari Camel Ride Dinner Live Shows in Abu Dhabi: $69
- Abu Dhabi Evening Desert Safari: BBQ Dinner, Camel Ride & Shows: $71
- Evening Desert Safari Abu Dhabi with BBQ Dinner: $71
- Abu Dhabi Evening Desert Safari with BBQ Dinner and Shows: $73
- Desert Safari Abu Dhabi w/ Sand Boarding, Camel Ride & BBQ Dinner: $75
Typical Food Prices in Ankara
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Ankara:
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A Quick Lunch$0.24
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Ankara
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Ankara.
- Baklava Cooking Class: $61
- Turkish Cuisine Cooking Class at Local Home with Family: $70
- Sustainable Home Cooking Class in Ankara: $85
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Abu Dhabi $39Ankara $23
Tours and Activities in Abu Dhabi
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Abu Dhabi are as follows:
- Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Abu Dhabi Walking Tour with Audioguide: $12
- Qasr Al Hosn Skip the Line Tickets: $13
- Qasr Al Watan Abu Dhabi Ticket: $15
- Admission Ticket to Qasr Al Watan Abu Dhabi Non prime: $15
- Qasr al Hosn Entrance Ticket: $16
- Qasr Al Watan Entry Tickets: $16
- Skip the Line Ticket to Qasr Al Watan in Abu Dhabi: $17
- Louvre Abu Dhabi Ticket: $18
- Qasr Al Watan Ticket Pass in Abu Dhabi’s Presidential Palace: $19
- Zayed National Museum Abu Dhabi Admission Ticket: $21
- Louvre Museum Abu Dhabi Admission Ticket: $22
- Abu Dhabi Louvre Museum Entry Ticket with Optional Transportation: $23
Typical Entertainment Prices in Ankara
Here are a few typical costs in Ankara for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Underground City$0.17
Tours and Activities in Ankara
Here are a few actual costs in Ankara for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Self-Guided Secrets of Ankara Exploration Game Tour: $23
- Ankara Private Walking Tour with a Local: $27
- Ankara : Highlights Walking Tour With A Guide: $34
- Ankara : Private Walking Tour With A Guide ( Private Tour ): $35
- Private Guided Walking Tour: $35
- Ankara Walking Tour: Explore Top Sights & Hidden Gems: $39
- Private Walking Tour with a Local: $41
- Best of Private Walking Tour with a Local: $66
- 6-Hour Private Tour with Guide, Car, and Lunch: $175
- Half Day Private Tour in Ankara: $185
- Ankara Private Walking Tour with a Professional Guide: $233
- Private Ankara Sightseeing Tour: $300
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAbu Dhabi $13Ankara $10
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Abu Dhabi and Ankara, we can see that Abu Dhabi is more expensive. And not only is Ankara much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Abu Dhabi is in Middle East and Ankara is in Europe, 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 Ankara would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Ankara 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 Ankara.
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 Ankara Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Abu Dhabi or Ankara?
Ankara has a larger population, and is about 6 times larger than the population of Abu Dhabi. When comparing the sizes of Abu Dhabi and Ankara, 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.