Should you visit Abu Dhabi or Ankara?
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.
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.
Which city is cheaper, Ankara or Abu Dhabi?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Abu Dhabi is $131, while the average daily cost in Ankara is $60. 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 city. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Abu Dhabi and Ankara in more detail.
Accommodation
Abu Dhabi's average price for two people sharing a typical double-occupancy hotel room is $156. A typical place to stay for one person, per day is $78.
Accommodation prices vary by location and style, but travelers pay on average about $54 for a double occupancy room in Ankara.
Food
Food in Abu Dhabi costs travelers about $36 per day on average. Restaurants can vary significantly in price, so choose wisely if you're trying to save money. Fast food and street stalls are typically your cheapest options, which sit down restaurants can be significantly more expensive.
The average traveler spends about $22 per day in Ankara for food, but obviously this is dependent on the type of restaurant and the amount of food ordered. To save money you can grab a lighter lunch or dinner, or you can try fast food or street food.
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Food
Meals for one day
Abu Dhabi $36
Ankara $22
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Abu Dhabi
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Abu Dhabi.
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Abu Dhabi 6-Hour Desert Safari With BBQ Dinner:
$58
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Abu Dhabi Afternoon Desert Safari and BBQ Dinner:
$59
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Evening Desert Safari with Dune Bashing, Camel Riding, BBQ Dinner:
$62
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Abu Dhabi Desert Tour With BBQ Dinner, Camel Ride and Belly Dance Hotel Pickup:
$62
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Evening Desert Safari with BBQ Dinner,Belly Dance,Tanura & Fire Dance,Camel Ride:
$65
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Dune Dinner Safari Abu Dhabi:
$69
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4x4 Desert Safari Abu Dhabi with BBQ Dinner:
$69
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Abu Dhabi Desert Safari Experience Live's show's Bbq Dinner & much More:
$73
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Evening Desert Safari With BBQ Dinner, Camel Ride and Sand Boarding:
$83
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Evening Desert Safari Abu Dhabi with Dinner:
$85
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Sunset Camel Trek and BBQ Dinner with Shows:
$85
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Buffet Dinner Cruise including Transfer from Abu Dhabi:
$86
Typical Food prices in Ankara
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Ankara:
Local Transportation
The cost of a taxi ride in Abu Dhabi is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $16 per person, per day, on local transportation in Abu Dhabi.
While taxis and private drivers typically cost much more than public transportation, people usually spend around $9.77 per day to get around in Ankara.
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:
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Abu Dhabi (AUH) to City Center to Airport - Private Transfer:
$48
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Abu Dhabi Airport (AUH) Arrival Transfer (Airport to Abu Dhabi Hotel or Address):
$58
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Abu Dhabi Airport (AUH) to Abu Dhabi - Arrival Private Transfer:
$50
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Abu Dhabi Airport (AUH) to Abu Dhabi - Round-Trip Private Transfer:
$100
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Abu Dhabi Airport (AUH) to Dubai hotel or address - Arrival Private Transfer:
$100
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Abu Dhabi Airport (AUH) to Dubai hotel or address - Round-Trip Private Transfer:
$199
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Abu Dhabi Airport Departure Transfer (Abu Dhabi Hotels to Abu Dhabi Airport):
$58
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Abu Dhabi Airport Private Arrival Transfer to Any Hotel in UAE:
$22
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Abu Dhabi Airport Private Departure Transfer:
$22
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Abu Dhabi Airport Transfers:
$30
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Abu Dhabi Airport Transfers : Abu Dhabi Airport AUH to Dubai City in Luxury Van:
$147
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Abu Dhabi Airport Transfers : Abu Dhabi City to Airport AUH in Luxury Van:
$102
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
$0.14
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Short Taxi Ride
$0.57
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ankara
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Ankara:
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Esenboğa Airport Transfer:
$15
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Private Airport Transfer: Esenboğa International Airport (ESB) to Ankara:
$20
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Private Airport Transfer: from Ankara to Esenboğa International Airport (ESB):
$20
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Arrival Private Transfer Ankara Airport ESB to Ankara City by Standard Sedan:
$33
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Departure Private Transfer Ankara City to Ankara Airport ESB by Standard Sedan:
$35
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Ankara Private Transfer from central Ankara hotels to Ankara Airport (ESB):
$38
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Private Transfer from Ankara Esenboga Airport (ESB) to Central Ankara:
$38
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Arrival Private Transfer from Ankara ESB Airport to Ankara City by Minivan:
$47
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Departure Private Transfer from Ankara City to Ankara Airport ESB by Minivan:
$49
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Ankara Esenboga Airport transfers to Ankara City Center (Cankaya,Kizilay) Hotels:
$49
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Ankara City Center (Cankaya,Kizilay) Hotels to Ankara Esenboga Airport transfers:
$49
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Ankara Airport Private Arrival Transfer:
$51
Entertainment
Entertainment and activities in Abu Dhabi typically cost an average of $32 per person, per day. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.
Activities, things to do, and other forms of entertainment usually cost around $19 per person, per day in Ankara. This cost includes the price of admission tickets to attractions and museums as well as daily tours.
Tours and Activities in Abu Dhabi
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Abu Dhabi are as follows:
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Fast-Track Admission Ticket to Qasr Al Hosn:
$8.37
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Skip the Line: Admission Ticket Qasr Al Watan:
$16
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City Tour of Abu Dhabi Landmarks:
$22
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Louvre Abu Dhabi Mindful Museum Admission Ticket:
$30
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90-Minute Small-Group Yas Marina Circuit Tour:
$30
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Abu Dhabi Like a Local: Customized Private Tour:
$31
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Abu Dhabi city tour with Entry ticket to Louvre Museum from Abu Dhabi:
$34
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Skip the Line: Abu Dhabi Park Zoo and Resort Entrance Ticket with Options:
$35
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Abu Dhabi City Tour From Abu Dhabi:
$35
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Abu Dhabi Half Day City Tour By Bus:
$37
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4 Hours Abu Dhabi City Tour:
$40
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Full Day Abu Dhabi City Tour:
$40
Typical Entertainment prices in Ankara
Here are a few typical costs in Ankara for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
Tours and Activities in Ankara
Here are a few actual costs in Ankara for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
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Cer Modern Entrance Ticket:
$5.97
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Cappadocia Hiking & Underground City Tour:
$47
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Istanbul: Half-Day Tour with Topkapi Palace:
$140
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İstanbul: Full-Day Tour with Grand Bazaar:
$150
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Private Tour: Ankara Sightseeing:
$198
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Private Tour of Historical Ankara City:
$242
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Ankara Tour:
$252
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Daily Ankara Tour:
$265
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Daily Hattusas / Boğazköy Tour:
$341
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Ankara, Gordion, Cappadocia 1 day tour - CAP30:
$427
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Private Tour of the Hittite Sites:
$455
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Ankara, Gordion, Hattusas, Cappadocia 2 days private tour - CAP41:
$505
Alcohol
The average person spends about $11 on alcoholic beverages in Abu Dhabi per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
While the amount that someone spends on alcohol while visiting Ankara may vary from person to person, on average a person spends $9.94 per day on alcoholic beverages.
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.
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