Which place is cheaper, Boston 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 Boston?
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 Boston can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Abu Dhabi or Boston?
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.
Boston
Boston is one of the oldest and most historic cities in New England. It is also the capital of the state of Massachusetts and the largest city in the region. The city proper covers 48 square miles and has a population of more than 600,000. The Greater Boston area has 4.5 million people and is the tenth largest metropolitan area in the country.
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 Photography Tours in United States of America, and The Best Camping Tours in United States of America.
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Abu Dhabi Prices
UAE PricesBoston Prices
USA Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAbu Dhabi $197Boston $291
The average daily cost (per person) in Abu Dhabi is $197, while the average daily cost in Boston is $291. 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 Boston in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAbu Dhabi $98Boston $166
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAbu Dhabi $196Boston $332
Compare Hotels in Abu Dhabi and Boston
Looking for a hotel in Abu Dhabi or Boston? 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 Boston Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Abu Dhabi $20Boston $37
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 Transfer (Within Abu Dhabi Only): $19
- Private One-way Abu Dhabi Transfer To Abu Dhabi Airport: $25
- Abu Dhabi Airport Private Arrival Transfer to Any Hotel in UAE: $27
- Abu Dhabi Airport Private Departure Transfer: $27
- Transfer: Abu Dhabi Airport(AUH) to Abu Dhabi City Center: $28
- Transfer Abu Dhabi City Center to Abu Dhabi Airport (AUH): $28
- Louvre Museum Abu Dhabi Ticket with Transfers Option: $33
- Arrival Transfer Abu Dhabi Airport AUH to Abu Dhabi by Car or SUV: $40
- Private Transfer Service from Abu Dhabi Airport to Dubai Hotels: $41
- Private One-way Abu Dhabi Airport Transfer To Abu Dhabi: $50
- Try find your better than us! Airport transfer service in Abu Dhabi HTL-APT(AUH): $52
- Abu Dhabi Airport Transfer to Hotel or Vice Versa: $54
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Boston
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Boston are as follows:
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Taxi$35
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Subway Daily Pass$9.00
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Boston
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Boston:
- Private Departure Transfer to Boston Airport BOS: $28
- Private Transfer Boston Airport BOS to Boston Downtown: $42
- One Way Airport Transfer Service: $68
- BOS Airport Private Transfer to Boston(downtown): $70
- Round Trip Private Transfer Boston Airport BOS to Boston Downtown: $83
- Departure Private Transfer Boston to Boston Airport BOS: $97
- Private Transfer from Boston City to Boston (BOS) Airport: $99
- Boston Downtown: Private One-Way Transfer From/To BOS: $111
- Boston Logan Intl Airport (BOS) to Flynn Cruise Port - Arrival Private Transfer: $118
- Flynn Cruise Port to Boston Logan Intl Airport (BOS)- Departure Private Transfer: $119
- Private Transfer from Boston Airport (BOS) to Flynn Cruise Port: $119
- Boston Logan International Airport: Transfer to Boston: $120
Is it cheaper to fly into Abu Dhabi or Boston?
Prices for flights to both Boston 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 $78Boston $86
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Abu Dhabi
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Abu Dhabi.
- Abu Dhabi Desert Safari BBQ Dinner Live Shows Pick & Drop More: $25
- Dubai Marina Dinner Cruise with Live Entertainment: $39
- Dubai Marina luxury Dhow Cruise Dinner (catamaran): $48
- Abu Dhabi Evening Desert Safari Tour with Shows & Buffet Dinner: $60
- Abu Dhabi Desert Safari With Live Shows And BBQ Buffet Dinner: $60
- Grand Mosque, Sheikh Zayed Festival with Dinner: $65
- Desert Safari Abu Dhabi w/ Sand Boarding, Camel Ride & BBQ Dinner: $75
- Abu Dhabi Desert Safari with BBQ Dinner & Shows: $80
- Abu Dhabi Desert Safari (Dune Bashing, BBQ Dinner, Camel Ride & Sand Skii): $80
- Evening Desert Safari Abu Dhabi with BBQ Dinner & Shows: $81
- Abu Dhabi Desert safari with BBQ Dinner,Sandboarding & Camel ride: $90
- Desert Safari with Sheikh Zayed Festival & Dinner: $95
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Boston
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Boston.
- Self Guided "The North End Pizza, Cannoli and Picnic" Solo Walking Tour : $5.50
- Boston's North End Pizza & History Walking Food Tour: $55
- North End Pizza Walking Tour with 3 Slices & Cannoli: $55
- Pizza Beer and Paul Revere Tour: $60
- North End Food Experience with Pizza, Meats & Cheese: $68
- Boston's North End Small Group Food Tour : $76
- Boston’s Politically Incorrect North End Food tour: $96
- Union Square, Somerville Neighborhood Food Tour: $100
- Devour North End Guided Food Tour & Market Visit: $109
- Devour Food Tour of North End & Public Market: $109
- Local Gems of the South End Neighborhood Food Tour: $110
- Boston's North End: Secret Food Tour: $111
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Abu Dhabi $39Boston $33
Tours and Activities in Abu Dhabi
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Abu Dhabi are as follows:
- Self Guided Audio Tour of Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Abu Dhabi: $7.32
- Qasr Al Hosn Entry Ticket: $8.17
- Qasr Al Hosn Skip the Line Tickets: $13
- Qasar Al Hosn Abu Dhabi Entry Tickets: $13
- Louvre Join an Express Guided Tour: $14
- Qasr Al Watan Presidential Palace Abu Dhabi Ticket: $15
- Qasr al Hosn Entrance Ticket: $16
- Sea Breeze Boat Tour: $16
- Qasr Al Watan Entry Ticket in Abu Dhabi: $17
- Qasr Al Watan Abu Dhabi Entry Ticket: $17
- Louvre Abu Dhabi Museum General Admission Ticket: $18
- Qasr Al Watan Palace & Garden Entrance Ticket: $18
Typical Entertainment Prices in Boston
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Boston are as follows:
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Two Tickets to Celtics Game$101
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Duck Tour$32
Tours and Activities in Boston
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Boston are as follows:
- Underground Railroad Audio App Self-Guided Tour: $5.00
- Interactive Augmented Reality Experience Along The Freedom Trail: $5.00
- Self Guided "Historic Boston Downtown Freedom Trail" Audio/GPS Walking Tour: $5.00
- Self Guided Audio Tour 'Hawthorne's Haunts' Haunted Walking Tour Salem: $5.00
- The Ghosts of Boston's Past Haunted Self-guided Tour: $5.00
- Self-Guided Boston Christmas Tour: $5.00
- 2 Hour Boston Historical and Heritage Walking Tour: $5.00
- Self-Guided Audio Tour of Boston North End: $5.75
- Self-Guided Smartphone Ghost Walking Tour Boston App EMF Reader: $5.95
- Self-Guided Freedom Trail Walking Audio Tour w/ App: $5.99
- The Mysterious Porcelain Club Quest Experience in Harvard Yard: $6.81
- Boston Scavenger Hunt and Highlights Self-Guided Tour: $7.34
For more ideas for your next trip, check out Free Things to Do in Boston, Must-See Monuments and Memorials In Boston, and The Best Things To Do in Boston with Kids.
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAbu Dhabi $13Boston $27
Sample the Local Flavors in Boston
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Boston:
- Boston Haunted Pub Crawl: $30
- Haunted Pub Crawl of Historic Pubs and Taverns: $30
- Salem Booze and Brews Haunted Pub Crawl by US Ghost Adventures: $35
- Boos and Brews Haunted Pub Crawl: $39
- History Pub Crawl Tour Along the Freedom Trail: $59
- Boston Small-Group Freedom Trail History Tour Pub Crawl: $60
- Freedom Trail History Tour & Brewery Taste: $70
- Freedom Trail History Tour & Brewery Taste: $70
- From Hive to Glass: Local Meadery Tour & Wine Tasting: $76
- Guided Craft Brewery Tour with a Snack: $105
- Signature Boston Guided Brewery Tour with snack: $119
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Abu Dhabi and Boston, we can see that Boston is more expensive. And not only is Abu Dhabi much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Abu Dhabi is in Middle East and Boston is in North America, 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 Abu Dhabi would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Abu Dhabi 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 Boston would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Boston than you might in Abu Dhabi.
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 Boston Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Abu Dhabi or Boston?
Abu Dhabi has a larger population, and is about 2% larger than the population of Boston. When comparing the sizes of Abu Dhabi and Boston, 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.
When is the best time to visit Abu Dhabi or Boston?
Boston has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Abu Dhabi experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Abu Dhabi or Boston in the Summer?
Both Boston and Abu Dhabi are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Abu Dhabi throughout the year. Also, most visitors come to Boston for the beaches, the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences during these months.
It's very hot in Abu Dhabi this time of the year. Abu Dhabi is much warmer than Boston in the summer. The daily temperature in Abu Dhabi averages around 35°C (95°F) in July, and Boston fluctuates around 73°F (23°C).
It's quite sunny in Boston. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Abu Dhabi. Abu Dhabi usually receives more sunshine than Boston during summer. Abu Dhabi gets 331 hours of sunny skies, while Boston receives 304 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Abu Dhabi usually receives less rain than Boston. Abu Dhabi gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Boston receives 2.9 inches (74 mm) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyAbu Dhabi 35°C (95°F)Boston 73°F (23°C)
Should I visit Abu Dhabi or Boston in the Autumn?
Both Boston and Abu Dhabi during the autumn are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Abu Dhabi because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Furthermore, the autumn months attract visitors to Boston because of the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
In the autumn, Abu Dhabi is much warmer than Boston. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Abu Dhabi in October average around 29°C (84°F), and Boston averages at about 54°F (12°C).
It's quite sunny in Abu Dhabi. In the autumn, Abu Dhabi often gets more sunshine than Boston. Abu Dhabi gets 314 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Boston receives 194 hours of full sun.
Abu Dhabi usually gets less rain in October than Boston. Abu Dhabi gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Boston receives 3.3 inches (84 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberAbu Dhabi 29°C (84°F)Boston 54°F (12°C)
Should I visit Abu Dhabi or Boston in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Abu Dhabi and Boston. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Abu Dhabi year-round. Furthermore, the museums, the Christmas ambience, the shopping scene, the theater shows, and the cuisine are the main draw to Boston this time of year.
It's quite cold in Boston in the winter. In January, Abu Dhabi is generally much warmer than Boston. Daily temperatures in Abu Dhabi average around 18°C (64°F), and Boston fluctuates around 29°F (-2°C).
In Abu Dhabi, it's very sunny this time of the year. Abu Dhabi usually receives more sunshine than Boston during winter. Abu Dhabi gets 269 hours of sunny skies, while Boston receives 153 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Abu Dhabi usually receives less rain than Boston. Abu Dhabi gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Boston receives 3.4 inches (87 mm) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryAbu Dhabi 18°C (64°F)Boston 29°F (-2°C)
Should I visit Abu Dhabi or Boston in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Abu Dhabi as well as Boston. Abu Dhabi attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, many travelers come to Boston for the beaches, the activities around the city, and the natural beauty.
Abu Dhabi is much warmer than Boston in the spring. The daily temperature in Abu Dhabi averages around 27°C (81°F) in April, and Boston fluctuates around 48°F (9°C).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Boston. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Abu Dhabi this time of the year. In the spring, Abu Dhabi often gets more sunshine than Boston. Abu Dhabi gets 297 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Boston receives 225 hours of full sun.
Abu Dhabi usually gets less rain in April than Boston. Abu Dhabi gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Boston receives 3.5 inches (89 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilAbu Dhabi 27°C (81°F)Boston 48°F (9°C)
Typical Weather for Boston and Abu Dhabi
| Abu Dhabi | Boston | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 18°C (64°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 29°F (-2°C) | 3.4 inches (87 mm) |
| Feb | 20°C (68°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) | 30°F (-1°C) | 3.7 inches (94 mm) |
| Mar | 23°C (73°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 38°F (4°C) | 3.7 inches (95 mm) |
| Apr | 27°C (81°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 48°F (9°C) | 3.5 inches (89 mm) |
| May | 31°C (88°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 58°F (15°C) | 3.2 inches (82 mm) |
| Jun | 33°C (91°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 68°F (20°C) | 3.1 inches (79 mm) |
| Jul | 35°C (95°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 73°F (23°C) | 2.9 inches (74 mm) |
| Aug | 36°C (97°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 72°F (22°C) | 3.2 inches (82 mm) |
| Sep | 33°C (91°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 64°F (18°C) | 3.1 inches (79 mm) |
| Oct | 29°C (84°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 54°F (12°C) | 3.3 inches (84 mm) |
| Nov | 25°C (77°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 45°F (7°C) | 4.3 inches (108 mm) |
| Dec | 21°C (70°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 33°F (1°C) | 3.9 inches (99 mm) |
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.