Which place is cheaper, Beijing 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 Beijing 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.
Beijing is the capital of China and, with 21.5 million people, it is the second most populated city in the world after Shanghai. It is a city that keeps pockets of its history hidden in old neighborhoods or back alleys, despite the constant change and modernization that goes on around it. As the capital city of China, there is plenty of history and culture. You can still get yourself lost in one of the last remaining hutongs, which are old neighborhoods that remain untouched by the city's modernization. The alleys that weave between the old homes are lined with drying clothes, corner markets, and people going about their daily lives the way they have for centuries. Surrounding these hutongs you'll find modern buildings and a booming economy, all threatening to destroying these last bits of Beijing's history. Beijing offers a glimpse into a microcosm that represents the entire country of China. Make sure you give yourself enough time in China to truly experience Beijing. You can pass a lot of time soaking up life in the city, which remains as diverse as the country it resides within.
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 Beijing, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to China.
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 Beijing is $77. 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 Beijing in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Abu Dhabi or Beijing? 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:
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Beijing:
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Beijing:
Prices for flights to both Beijing 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.
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Beijing:
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Beijing.
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Abu Dhabi are as follows:
Here are a few typical costs in Beijing for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
Here are a few actual costs in Beijing for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Beijing:
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Abu Dhabi and Beijing, we can see that Abu Dhabi is more expensive. And not only is Beijing much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Abu Dhabi is in Middle East and Beijing 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 Beijing would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Beijing 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 Beijing.
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 Beijing Expensive?.
Beijing has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Abu Dhabi. When comparing the sizes of Abu Dhabi and Beijing, 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.
Beijing has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Abu Dhabi experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Abu Dhabi and Beijing. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Abu Dhabi year-round. Furthermore, many visitors come to Beijing in the summer for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.
Abu Dhabi can become quite hot in the summer. In July, Abu Dhabi is generally a little warmer than Beijing. Daily temperatures in Abu Dhabi average around 35°C (95°F), and Beijing fluctuates around 27°C (80°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Beijing this time of the year. In Abu Dhabi, it's very sunny this time of the year. Abu Dhabi usually receives more sunshine than Beijing during summer. Abu Dhabi gets 331 hours of sunny skies, while Beijing receives 224 hours of full sun in the summer.
Beijing receives a lot of rain in the summer. In July, Abu Dhabi usually receives less rain than Beijing. Abu Dhabi gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Beijing receives 176 mm (6.9 in) of rain each month for the summer.
The autumn brings many poeple to Abu Dhabi as well as Beijing. Abu Dhabi attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, most visitors come to Beijing for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area during these months.
Abu Dhabi is much warmer than Beijing in the autumn. The daily temperature in Abu Dhabi averages around 29°C (84°F) in October, and Beijing fluctuates around 14°C (56°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Beijing. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Abu Dhabi this time of the year. In the autumn, Abu Dhabi often gets more sunshine than Beijing. Abu Dhabi gets 314 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Beijing receives 227 hours of full sun.
Abu Dhabi usually gets less rain in October than Beijing. Abu Dhabi gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Beijing receives 19 mm (0.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
Both Beijing and Abu Dhabi are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Abu Dhabi throughout the year. Also, the winter months attract visitors to Beijing because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
The weather in Beijing can be very cold. In the winter, Abu Dhabi is much warmer than Beijing. Typically, the winter temperatures in Abu Dhabi in January average around 18°C (64°F), and Beijing averages at about -4°C (26°F).
It's quite sunny in Beijing. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Abu Dhabi. Abu Dhabi usually receives more sunshine than Beijing during winter. Abu Dhabi gets 269 hours of sunny skies, while Beijing receives 201 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Abu Dhabi usually receives more rain than Beijing. Abu Dhabi gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Beijing receives 3 mm (0.1 in) of rain each month for the winter.
Both Beijing and Abu Dhabi during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Abu Dhabi because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Also, the activities around the city and the natural beauty are the main draw to Beijing this time of year.
In April, Abu Dhabi is generally much warmer than Beijing. Daily temperatures in Abu Dhabi average around 27°C (81°F), and Beijing fluctuates around 14°C (57°F).
In Beijing, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Abu Dhabi. In the spring, Abu Dhabi often gets more sunshine than Beijing. Abu Dhabi gets 297 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Beijing receives 247 hours of full sun.
Abu Dhabi usually gets less rain in April than Beijing. Abu Dhabi gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Beijing receives 26 mm (1 in) of rain this time of the year.
Abu Dhabi | Beijing | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
Jan | 18°C (64°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | -4°C (26°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
Feb | 20°C (68°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) | -1°C (30°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) |
Mar | 23°C (73°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 6°C (42°F) | 9 mm (0.4 in) |
Apr | 27°C (81°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 26 mm (1 in) |
May | 31°C (88°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) |
Jun | 33°C (91°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 25°C (76°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) |
Jul | 35°C (95°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 176 mm (6.9 in) |
Aug | 36°C (97°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 25°C (78°F) | 182 mm (7.2 in) |
Sep | 33°C (91°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 20°C (69°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) |
Oct | 29°C (84°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 14°C (56°F) | 19 mm (0.7 in) |
Nov | 25°C (77°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 5°C (41°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) |
Dec | 21°C (70°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | -1°C (29°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |