A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Abu Dhabi vs. Bucharest for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Abu Dhabi or Bucharest?

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 Bucharest can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Abu Dhabi or Bucharest?

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.

Bucharest

Bucharest is the capital and largest city in the country of Romania. With about 2 million residents living in the city and about 2.4 million in the surrounding urban area, it is also one of the largest cities in Southeastern Europe. As such, it is the economic, industrial and commercial center for the country. As a visitor, you will likely enter Romania by arriving in Bucharest. The city continues to grow and change, and there are ongoing infrastructure projects that continue to modernize the city. It is not uncommon to find historic churches on the same block as modern office buildings and Communist style apartment buildings. There are also many sights around town and the city continues to grow as a trendy and fascinating city.

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 One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Bucharest, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Romania.


Which place is cheaper, Bucharest or Abu Dhabi?

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 Bucharest is $140. 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 Bucharest in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Abu Dhabi $98
    Bucharest $64
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Abu Dhabi $196
    Bucharest $128
Compare Hotels in Abu Dhabi and Bucharest

Looking for a hotel in Abu Dhabi or Bucharest? 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.

Hotels in Abu Dhabi


Hotels in Bucharest


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 Bucharest Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Abu Dhabi $20
    Bucharest $26
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Abu Dhabi

Some typical examples of transportation costs in Abu Dhabi are as follows:


  • Car Rental
    $31
  • Taxi to Airport
    $14

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Abu Dhabi

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Abu Dhabi:

  • Abrahamic Family House Tour with Transfer: $76
  • Abu Dhabi Airport (AUH) Arrival Transfer (Airport to Abu Dhabi Hotel or Address): $133
  • Abu Dhabi Airport (AUH) to Abu Dhabi - Arrival Private Transfer: $40
  • Abu Dhabi Airport (AUH) to Abu Dhabi - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $71
  • Abu Dhabi Airport (AUH) to Abu Dhabi Round-Trip Private Transfer: $80
  • Abu Dhabi Airport (AUH) to Dubai - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $119
  • Abu Dhabi Airport (AUH) to Dubai hotel or address - Arrival Private Transfer: $53
  • Abu Dhabi Airport (AUH): Private Transfer to Abu Dhabi: $101
  • Abu Dhabi Airport Private Arrival Transfer to Any Hotel in UAE: $33
  • Abu Dhabi Airport Private Departure Transfer: $33
  • Abu Dhabi Airport Transfer to Hotel or Vice Versa: $65
  • Abu Dhabi Airport Transfer to or from Dubai to Abu Dhabi Airport: $140

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bucharest

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Bucharest:

  • Bucharest Airport Transfer: $11
  • Bucharest Transfer Service: $12
  • Bucuresti: Transfer Therme Bucuresti different hours: $12
  • Therme Bucuresti Transfer with Optional Ticket: $13
  • Airport Transfer: $15
  • Airport Transfer - Bucharest Otopeni Henri Coandă Airport : $18
  • Bucharest Airport: Bus Transfer to/from Tecuci: $22
  • Private Bucharest Otopeni Airport (OTP) Transfer: $22
  • Bucharest Private Airport Transfer from or to City Center Hotel: $22
  • Bucharest Airport: Bus Transfer to/from Barlad: $24
  • Bucharest Airport: Bus Transfer to/from Vaslui OMV: $26
  • Transfer from Otopeni Henri Coandă Airport to Bucharest or Back: $28

Is it cheaper to fly into Abu Dhabi or Bucharest?

Prices for flights to both Bucharest 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Abu Dhabi $45
    Bucharest $59

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Abu Dhabi

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Abu Dhabi.

  • Dubai Marina luxury Dhow Cruise Dinner (catamaran): $45
  • Abu Dhabi Desert Safari With BBQ Dinner & Live Shows: $49
  • Abu Dhabi Desert Safari With Live Shows And BBQ Buffet Dinner: $60
  • 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
  • Abu Dhabi Desert Safari with BBQ Dinner & Shows: $80
  • Evening Desert Safari Abu Dhabi with BBQ Dinner & Shows: $81
  • Scenic Dinner Cruise: $82
  • Abu Dhabi Evening Desert Safari with Camel Ride and Dinner: $84
  • Abu Dhabi Afternoon Desert Safari and BBQ Dinner: $90
  • Abu Dhabi Desert Safari with BBQ Dinner,Sandboarding & Camel Ride: $90

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Bucharest

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Bucharest.

  • Dinner at the Museum of Communism - Traditional Food Tour: $54
  • Bohemian Bucharest Markets and Mahallas Walking Food Tour: $61
  • Street Food Tour with a Local Guide: $67
  • Bucharest Historical Food Tour in Old Center: $72
  • Bucharest Evening Tour and Traditional Dinner: $73
  • Mystical beliefs, traditions & history - Walking Food Tour: $83
  • Private Bucharest Food Tour with a Local Foodie: $130
  • Historical and Cultural Tour with Romanian Cuisine dinner: $142
  • Cooking Class in Transylvania - Day Tour from Bucharest: $184
  • 4-Hour Walking Food Tour in the Old Town: $205

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Abu Dhabi $39
    Bucharest $15

Tours and Activities in Abu Dhabi

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Abu Dhabi are as follows:

  • Qasr Al Hosn: Entry Tickets with 1 GB Data eSIM: $8.08
  • Sea Breeze Boat Tour: $8.17
  • Abu Dhabi 4G & 5G Data Roaming for Tourist: $8.69
  • Self-Guided Audio Tour: $11
  • Louvre Join Us Express Tour: $14
  • Admission Ticket to Qasr Al Watan Abu Dhabi: $17
  • Louvre Abu Dhabi with Tourist Shuttle Bus & eSIM: $17
  • Louvre Abu Dhabi General Admission Ticket: $17
  • Qasr Al Watan Admission Ticket: $18
  • Qasr Al Watan Palace & Garden Entrance Ticket: $18
  • Ticket to Louvre Museum, Abu Dhabi: $19
  • Admission Ticket To Qasr Al Hosn Abu Dhabi: $20

Tours and Activities in Bucharest

Here are a few actual costs in Bucharest for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Reptiland Bucharest Entry Ticket: $13
  • Communism Walking Tour from Lenin to Ceausescu in Bucharest: $17
  • City Highlights Guided Walking Tour: $17
  • Calea Victoriei and Old Town Highlights Tour: $20
  • Parliament Palace Skip-the-line Ticket: $21
  • Palace of Parliament Bucharest 1 Hour Guided Tour: $21
  • Guided Tour at museum Casa Storck: $22
  • Communism and History Guided City Walking Tour: $23
  • Palace of Parliament Tickets and Guide: $24
  • 3-Hour Guided Tour of Communist Bucharest: $24
  • The Real tour of Communism: $24
  • Palace of Parliament in Bucharest - fast-track tickets and guide: $24

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Abu Dhabi $13
    Bucharest $9.32

Sample the Local Flavors in Bucharest

Also in Bucharest, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:

  • Weekend Pub Crawl: $24
  • Bucharest Pub Crawl in the Old Town: $25
  • Pub Crawl Bucuresti Experientã de top în Bucuresti: $33
  • Bachelors Party in Custom Bar Crawl: $38
  • Private Bar Crawling in Bucharest Old City: $43
  • Private Wine Tasting in Bucharest: $43
  • Bar Crawling: $44
  • Pub Crawl in the Old CIty and Rooftop Hopping in Bucharest: $44
  • Wine Tasting in Bucharest: $45
  • Pub Crawl in the Old CIty and Rooftop Hopping in Bucharest: $48
  • Private Romanian Wine Tasting in Urlați: $52
  • Bucharest VIP Bar Crawl in Lipscani 'Old Town': $59


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Abu Dhabi and Bucharest, we can see that Abu Dhabi is more expensive. And not only is Bucharest much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Abu Dhabi is in Middle East and Bucharest 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 Bucharest would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Bucharest 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 Bucharest.

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 Bucharest Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Abu Dhabi or Bucharest?

Bucharest has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Abu Dhabi. When comparing the sizes of Abu Dhabi and Bucharest, 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 Bucharest?

Bucharest 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 Bucharest in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Abu Dhabi and Bucharest. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Abu Dhabi year-round. Also, most visitors come to Bucharest for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences during these months.

The heat can be very extreme in Abu Dhabi. In the summer, Abu Dhabi is much warmer than Bucharest. Typically, the summer temperatures in Abu Dhabi in July average around 35°C (95°F), and Bucharest averages at about 23°C (73°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Bucharest this time of the year. In Abu Dhabi, it's very sunny this time of the year. Abu Dhabi usually receives more sunshine than Bucharest during summer. Abu Dhabi gets 331 hours of sunny skies, while Bucharest receives 289 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Abu Dhabi usually receives less rain than Bucharest. Abu Dhabi gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Bucharest receives 64 mm (2.5 in) of rain each month for the summer.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Abu Dhabi 35°C (95°F) 
    Bucharest 23°C (73°F)

Should I visit Abu Dhabi or Bucharest in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Abu Dhabi as well as Bucharest. Abu Dhabi attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Bucharest because of the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene.

In October, Abu Dhabi is generally much warmer than Bucharest. Daily temperatures in Abu Dhabi average around 29°C (84°F), and Bucharest fluctuates around 13°C (55°F).

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 Bucharest. Abu Dhabi gets 314 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Bucharest receives 177 hours of full sun.

Abu Dhabi usually gets less rain in October than Bucharest. Abu Dhabi gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Bucharest receives 32 mm (1.3 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Abu Dhabi 29°C (84°F) 
    Bucharest 13°C (55°F)

Should I visit Abu Dhabi or Bucharest in the Winter?

Both Bucharest 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 museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Bucharest this time of year.

It's quite cold in Bucharest in the winter. Abu Dhabi is much warmer than Bucharest in the winter. The daily temperature in Abu Dhabi averages around 18°C (64°F) in January, and Bucharest fluctuates around -1°C (29°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Abu Dhabi. Abu Dhabi usually receives more sunshine than Bucharest during winter. Abu Dhabi gets 269 hours of sunny skies, while Bucharest receives 71 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Abu Dhabi usually receives less rain than Bucharest. Abu Dhabi gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Bucharest receives 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain each month for the winter.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Abu Dhabi 18°C (64°F) 
    Bucharest -1°C (29°F)

Should I visit Abu Dhabi or Bucharest in the Spring?

Both Bucharest 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. Furthermore, many travelers come to Bucharest for the activities around the city.

In the spring, Abu Dhabi is much warmer than Bucharest. Typically, the spring temperatures in Abu Dhabi in April average around 27°C (81°F), and Bucharest averages at about 12°C (54°F).

It's quite sunny in Abu Dhabi. In the spring, Abu Dhabi often gets more sunshine than Bucharest. Abu Dhabi gets 297 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Bucharest receives 185 hours of full sun.

Abu Dhabi usually gets less rain in April than Bucharest. Abu Dhabi gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Bucharest receives 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Abu Dhabi 27°C (81°F) 
    Bucharest 12°C (54°F)

Typical Weather for Bucharest and Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi Bucharest
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 18°C (64°F) 10 mm (0.4 in) -1°C (29°F) 40 mm (1.6 in)
Feb 20°C (68°F) 20 mm (0.8 in) 1°C (34°F) 36 mm (1.4 in)
Mar 23°C (73°F) 10 mm (0.4 in) 6°C (43°F) 38 mm (1.5 in)
Apr 27°C (81°F) 10 mm (0.4 in) 12°C (54°F) 46 mm (1.8 in)
May 31°C (88°F) 10 mm (0.4 in) 18°C (64°F) 70 mm (2.8 in)
Jun 33°C (91°F) 10 mm (0.4 in) 21°C (70°F) 77 mm (3 in)
Jul 35°C (95°F) 10 mm (0.4 in) 23°C (73°F) 64 mm (2.5 in)
Aug 36°C (97°F) 10 mm (0.4 in) 22°C (72°F) 58 mm (2.3 in)
Sep 33°C (91°F) 10 mm (0.4 in) 18°C (65°F) 42 mm (1.7 in)
Oct 29°C (84°F) 10 mm (0.4 in) 13°C (55°F) 32 mm (1.3 in)
Nov 25°C (77°F) 10 mm (0.4 in) 6°C (44°F) 49 mm (1.9 in)
Dec 21°C (70°F) 10 mm (0.4 in) 1°C (34°F) 43 mm (1.7 in)