Which place is cheaper, Bagan or Abu Dhabi?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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 Bagan can help you decide which place is right for you.
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.
Located in central Myanmar (formerly Burma), Bagan is an ancient city best known as the home to the largest and densest concentration of Buddhist temples, pagodas, stupas, and ruins in the world with many dating from the 11th and 12th centuries.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to United Arab Emirates, and The Best Tours for Seniors to United Arab Emirates.
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 Bagan is $30. 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 Bagan in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Abu Dhabi or Bagan? 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.
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Abu Dhabi are as follows:
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Abu Dhabi:
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Bagan:
Prices for flights to both Bagan 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.
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Abu Dhabi.
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Bagan.
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Abu Dhabi are as follows:
Here are a few actual costs in Bagan for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Abu Dhabi and Bagan, we can see that Abu Dhabi is more expensive. And not only is Bagan much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Abu Dhabi is in Middle East and Bagan 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 Bagan would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Bagan 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 Bagan.
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 Bagan Expensive?.
Abu Dhabi has a larger population, and is about 2010 times larger than the population of Bagan. When comparing the sizes of Abu Dhabi and Bagan, 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.