Which place is cheaper, Bucharest or Abu Dhabi?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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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 in Romania, and The Best Bicycle Tours in Romania.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAbu Dhabi $164Bucharest $143
The average daily cost (per person) in Abu Dhabi is $164, while the average daily cost in Bucharest is $143. 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
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAbu Dhabi $98Bucharest $65
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAbu Dhabi $196Bucharest $130
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.
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
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Abu Dhabi $20Bucharest $27
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:
- Qasr Al Watan/King Palace Abu Dhabi with Entry Ticket & Transfer: $140
- Abrahamic Family House Tour with Transfer: $89
- Abu Dhabi : Private Half Day Guided Tour - Transfer Included: $125
- Abu Dhabi Airport (AUH) to Abu Dhabi - Arrival Private Transfer: $41
- Abu Dhabi Airport (AUH) to Abu Dhabi - Arrival Private Transfer: $36
- Abu Dhabi Airport (AUH) to Abu Dhabi Round-Trip Private Transfer: $82
- Abu Dhabi Airport (AUH) to Dubai - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $122
- Abu Dhabi Airport (AUH): Private Transfer to Abu Dhabi: $103
- Abu Dhabi Airport Departure Transfer (Abu Dhabi Hotels to Abu Dhabi Airport): $136
- Abu Dhabi Airport Private Departure Transfer: $33
- Abu Dhabi Airport Transfer: $19
- Abu Dhabi Airport Transfer To or From Anywhere within Abu Dhabi: $70
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bucharest
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Bucharest:
- Bucharest Airport Transfer: $11
- Bucuresti: Transfer Therme Bucuresti different hours: $13
- Therme Bucuresti Transfer with Optional Ticket: $16
- Express Transfer to Therme Bucuresti: $16
- Airport Transfer: $16
- Therme Bucharest Express Shuttle Transfer: $16
- Bucharest Transfer Service: $17
- Airport Transfer - Bucharest Otopeni Henri Coandă Airport : $18
- Bucharest Airport: Bus Transfer to/from Tecuci: $22
- Bucharest Private Airport Transfer from or to City Center Hotel: $23
- Bucharest Airport: Bus Transfer to/from Barlad: $24
- Bucharest Airport: Bus Transfer to/from Vaslui OMV: $27
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
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Food Meals for one dayAbu Dhabi $45Bucharest $60
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Abu Dhabi
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Abu Dhabi.
- Dhow cruise with Buffet dinner & Burj Khalifa view in Canal: $24
- Dubai Marina Dinner Cruise with Live Entertainment: $37
- Dubai Marina luxury Dhow Cruise Dinner (catamaran): $45
- Abu Dhabi Desert Safari BBQ Dinner Live Shows Pick & Drop More: $59
- Abu Dhabi Evening Desert Safari Tour with Shows and BBQ Dinner: $60
- Desert Safari In Abu Dhabi With BBQ Dinner: $63
- Abu Dhabi Desert Safari With Live Shows And BBQ Buffet Dinner: $65
- Evening Desert Safari Abu Dhabi with Hot BBQ Dinner : $65
- 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
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Bucharest
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Bucharest.
- Dinner and tour inside the Museum of Communism: $52
- Bohemian Bucharest Markets and Mahallas Traditional Food Tour: $62
- Bucharest Historical Food Tour in Old Center: $73
- Bucharest Evening Tour and Traditional Dinner: $79
- Street Food Tour with a Local Guide: $88
- Bucharest Evening Tour and Traditional Dinner - 3 hours: $89
- Unhealthy Food Tour of Bucharest – 4 hours: $89
- Discover Private Highlights and Traditional Food Tour: $112
- Private Bucharest Food Tour with a Local Foodie: $133
- Historical and Cultural Tour with Romanian Cuisine dinner: $146
- 4-Hour Walking Food Tour in the Old Town: $210
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Abu Dhabi $39Bucharest $15
Tours and Activities in Abu Dhabi
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Abu Dhabi are as follows:
- Sea Breeze Boat Tour: $8.17
- Fast-Track Admission Ticket to Qasr Al Hosn: $8.37
- Qasar Al Hosn Abu Dhabi Entry Tickets: $13
- Louvre Join an Express Tour: $14
- Qasr Al Watan Entry Ticket in Abu Dhabi: $17
- Admission Ticket to Qasr Al Watan Abu Dhabi: $17
- Skip the Line Qasr Al Watan Abu Dhabi Ticket: $17
- Louvre Abu Dhabi Museum General Admission Ticket: $17
- Louvre Abu Dhabi Admission Ticket and Abu Dhabi Welcome Pass: $17
- Qasr Al Watan Admission Ticket: $18
- Qasr Al Watan Museum Abu Dhabi Ticket: $18
- Qasr Al Watan Palace & Garden Entrance Ticket: $18
Tours and Activities in Bucharest
Here are a few actual costs in Bucharest for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Bucharest Old Town Secrets Self-Guided Tour and Exploration Game: $6.20
- Life in Communist Quest Experience: $6.20
- Entry ticket at the Museum of Communism: $8.98
- Museum of Communism Ticket with Communist Coffee: $9.98
- Reptiland Bucharest Entry Ticket: $11
- Museum of Senses Entry Ticket: $11
- Old Town and Victory Avenue Highlights Tour: $15
- Contrasts of Communism - Small Group Walking Tour in Bucharest : $16
- A Tale of Bucharest Calea Victoriei Walking Tour: $17
- A Tale of Bucharest Old Town Walking Tour: $17
- City Highlights Guided Walking Tour: $18
- Walking Tour - Delightful Bucharest (Old Town & Victory Avenue): $18
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAbu Dhabi $13Bucharest $9.56
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
- Romanian Wine Tasting Experience at Corks: $29
- Bachelors Party in Custom Bar Crawl: $39
- Pub Crawl in the Old CIty and Rooftop Hopping in Bucharest: $49
- Wine Tasting in Bucharest: $53
- Bucharest Guided Pub Crawl: $54
- Private Wine Tasting Experience: $56
- Guided Pub Crawl in Bucharest: $58
- Bucharest Old Town Pub and Bar Crawl with Guide: $59
- Private Bar Crawling in Bucharest Old City: $62
- Wine Tasting in Bucharest long version: $65
When comparing the travel costs between Abu Dhabi and Bucharest, we can see that Abu Dhabi is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Even though Abu Dhabi is in Middle East and Bucharest is in Europe, both of these destinations have relatively similar prices of travel. Generally, the levels of luxury and expenses are the same for these cities even though they are geographically far apart.
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.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyAbu 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.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberAbu 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.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryAbu 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.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilAbu 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) |
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.