Which place is cheaper, Bodh Gaya or Abu Dhabi?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Abu Dhabi or Bodh Gaya?
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 Bodh Gaya can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Abu Dhabi or Bodh Gaya?
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.
Bodh Gaya
Located in the state of Bihar in the northeast of India, Bodh Gaya is the most respected place and pilgrimage destination for Buddhists. Bodh Gaya is believed to be the site where Buddha Shakyamuni achieved enlightenment while meditating under the famous Bodhi tree.
Prince Gautama Siddartha was born in the sixth century, B.C. in what is modern-day Nepal. Siddartha lived a comfortable life of extravagance as he was born the son of King Suddhodana of the Sakya clan, but after witnessing human suffering, Siddartha decided to give up all of his possessions and embarked upon a quest to seek knowledge and the solution to such suffering. It is underneath a Pipal tree near the city of Gaya, that it is believed he began to meditate until he became enlightened. Today, a descendent of the original Bodhi Tree is located in the Mahabodhi Temple Complex in the city of Bodh Gaya.
Weather in Bodhgaya is generally warm throughout the year, with daytime highs in the 90s during summer and nighttime lows in the high 40s during winter. Because Bodhgaya is centered around religious sites, pack light layers and plan to dress modestly. Remember that you'll be expected to take shoes off at all temples, so sandals may be easier to wear and a good time-saver.
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 Cultural Tours in India, and The Best Food and Culinary Tours in India.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAbu Dhabi $164Bodh Gaya $52
The average daily cost (per person) in Abu Dhabi is $164, while the average daily cost in Bodh Gaya is $52. 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 Bodh Gaya in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAbu Dhabi $98Bodh Gaya $22
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAbu Dhabi $196Bodh Gaya $44
Compare Hotels in Abu Dhabi and Bodh Gaya
Looking for a hotel in Abu Dhabi or Bodh Gaya? 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 Bodh Gaya Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Abu Dhabi $20Bodh Gaya $23
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:
- Warner Bros World Ticket's -Abu Dhabi Without Transfer: $220
- Warner Bros General Admission with Transfers: $150
- Try find your better than us! Airport transfer service in Abu Dhabi HTL-APT(AUH): $52
- Transfer in private minivan from Abu Dhabi Airport (AUH)- Abu Dhabi City: $67
- Skydive in Abu Dhabi | Tandem Skydive with transfer: $817
- Roundtrip Transfer Private Minivan Abu Dhabi Airport (AUH) - Abu Dhabi City: $133
- Private transfer: Abu Dhabi to Abu Dhabi Airport (AUH): $41
- Private transfer: Abu Dhabi Airport (AUH) to Abu Dhabi: $40
- Private direct transfer from Abu Dhabi to Dubai: $124
- Private Transfer: Abu Dhabi to Dubai Airport DXB in Luxury Van: $212
- Private Transfer: Abu Dhabi Airport AUH to Dubai in Luxury Van: $202
- Private Transfer: Abu Dhabi Airport AUH to Dubai in Business Car: $190
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bodh Gaya
Also for Bodh Gaya, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer from Bodhgaya Hotel to Gaya Airport: $13
- Private Transfer from Bodhgaya Airport: $13
- Affordable Bodh Gaya Airport Transfer: $15
Is it cheaper to fly into Abu Dhabi or Bodh Gaya?
Prices for flights to both Bodh Gaya 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 $45Bodh Gaya $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
- Dubai Best Dhow Cruise Dinner Marina: $46
- 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
- Abu Dhabi Evening Desert Safari with BBQ Dinner and all Camp Activities : $72
- 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 (Dune Bashing, BBQ Dinner, Camel Ride & Sand Skii): $80
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Abu Dhabi $39Bodh Gaya $9.82
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
- Falcon Hospital Tour with Transportation : $101
- 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
- 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
- Abu Dhabi City Tour: $186
Tours and Activities in Bodh Gaya
For Bodh Gaya, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Guided Virtual Tour of Bodhgaya: $27
- Full Day Tour in Bodhgaya Hotel pick up: $32
- Bodhgaya Day Tour (Hotel Pickup): $34
- Full-Day Private Guided Bodhgaya Tour with Pick Up: $39
- Bodhgaya and Gaya Pilgrimage Tour: $53
- Excursion tour of Rajgir & Nalanda from Bodhgaya: $63
- From Varanasi: Private Same Day Bodhgaya Tour: $144
- Private guided tour of Bodh Gaya over 2 days : $175
- Exclusive Guided Tour of Bodh Gaya: $227
- Spiritual, Bodhgaya Tour (01 Night / 02 Days): $336
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAbu Dhabi $13Bodh Gaya $5.64
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Abu Dhabi and Bodh Gaya, we can see that Abu Dhabi is more expensive. And not only is Bodh Gaya much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Abu Dhabi is in Middle East and Bodh Gaya 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 Bodh Gaya would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Bodh Gaya 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 Bodh Gaya.
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 Bodh Gaya Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Abu Dhabi or Bodh Gaya?
Abu Dhabi has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Bodh Gaya. When comparing the sizes of Abu Dhabi and Bodh Gaya, 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.