Which place is cheaper, Cairo or Abu Dhabi?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Abu Dhabi or Cairo?
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 Cairo can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Abu Dhabi or Cairo?
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.
Cairo
Cairo is the chaotic capital city of Egypt. With a population of more than 16 million, it is one of the largest cities in both Africa and the Middle East. As a traveler, you're likely to arrive and leave from here and you'll get your first orientation to the area during the chaotic and congestion filled taxi ride from the airport.
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 Family-Friendly Tours to Egypt, and The Best Historical Tours in Egypt.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAbu Dhabi $164Cairo $17
The average daily cost (per person) in Abu Dhabi is $164, while the average daily cost in Cairo is $17. 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 Cairo in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAbu Dhabi $98Cairo $9.36
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAbu Dhabi $196Cairo $19
Compare Hotels in Abu Dhabi and Cairo
Looking for a hotel in Abu Dhabi or Cairo? 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 Cairo Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Abu Dhabi $20Cairo $2.99
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:
- Abrahamic Family House Tour with Transfer: $89
- Abu Dhabi Airport (AUH) Arrival Transfer (Airport to Abu Dhabi Hotel or Address): $130
- Abu Dhabi Airport (AUH) to Abu Dhabi - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $69
- Abu Dhabi Airport (AUH) to Dubai - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $117
- Abu Dhabi Airport (AUH) to Dubai hotel - Arrival Private Transfer: $59
- Abu Dhabi Airport (AUH) to Dubai hotel or address - Arrival Private Transfer: $52
- Abu Dhabi Airport (AUH): Private Transfer to Abu Dhabi: $99
- Abu Dhabi Airport Private Departure Transfer: $33
- Abu Dhabi Airport Transfer to Hotel or Vice Versa: $65
- Abu Dhabi Airport Transfers : Airport AUH to Abu Dhabi City by Luxury Van: $94
- Abu Dhabi Airport Transfers: Abu Dhabi City to Airport AUH in Business Car: $87
- Abu Dhabi Airport to Dubai City Private Transfers: $135
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Cairo
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Cairo are as follows:
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Metro Ride$0.08
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Taxi Ride$0.32
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cairo
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cairo:
- Private Departure Transfer from Cairo or Giza Hotels to Cairo Airport: $5.00
- Private transfer from Cairo Airport to the hotel in Cairo or Giza: $9.00
- Private transfer from Cairo Airport to Novotel Cairo El Borg: $9.60
- Private Pickup transfer from Osiris Hotel to Cairo airport: $9.60
- Private transfer from Cairo Airport to Radisson Blu Hotel, Cairo Heliopolis: $9.60
- Private transfer from Cairo Airport to Cairo Pyramids Hotel: $9.60
- Private Pickup transfer from Marriott Mena House, Cairo to Cairo airport: $9.60
- Private Pickup transfer from Royal Maxim Palace Kempinski to Cairo airport: $9.60
- Private Pickup transfer from Novotel Cairo El Borg to Cairo airport: $9.60
- Pickup transfer from Radisson Blu Hotel, Cairo Heliopolis to Cairo airport: $9.60
- Private Pickup transfer from Cairo Pyramids Hotel to Cairo airport: $9.60
- Private Pickup transfer from Windsor Hotel Cairo to Cairo airport: $9.60
Is it cheaper to fly into Abu Dhabi or Cairo?
Prices for flights to both Cairo 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 $45Cairo $4.75
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): $42
- Abu Dhabi Desert Safari BBQ Dinner Live Shows Pick & Drop More: $45
- 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
- Desert Safari, Quad Bike, Camel Ride and BBQ Dinner in Abu Dhabi: $60
- Abu Dhabi Desert Safari With Live Shows And BBQ Buffet Dinner: $60
- Evening Desert Safari Abu Dhabi with Hot BBQ Dinner : $62
- 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
Typical Food Prices in Cairo
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Cairo:
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Juice$0.04
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cairo
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Cairo.
- Cairo Dinner Cruise, Belly Dancer Show With Pickup Service: $8.78
- Dinner Cruise on the Nile River: $12
- Cairo Night Dinner With Belly Dancer Show With Pickup & Drop Off: $13
- Nile Sunset, Dinner Cruise, Show and Private Transfer: $15
- Super Safari Quad Bike Jeep Safari Buggy and Dinner in Hurghada: $18
- Cairo Food Tour with Nile Felucca Ride : $18
- VIP tour Giza pyramids ,Sphinx, Quad bike ,Camel, Dinner cruise : $19
- Private Expert tour Giza Pyramids ,Sphinx ,Nile Dinner Cruise & Belly Dancer: $19
- Giza Pyramids, Camel Ride, Quad Bike, Night and Dinner Cruise on Nile: $19
- All inclusive Tour to Giza Pyramids, Sphinx & ATV &Dinner cruise : $20
- Private Cairo Food Tour : $20
- Food Tour in Local Cairo Life with Egyptian tea: $23
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Abu Dhabi $39Cairo $5.75
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: $7.93
- Sea Breeze Boat Tour: $8.17
- Abu Dhabi 4G & 5G Data Roaming for Tourist: $11
- Self-Guided Audio Tour: $11
- Louvre Join an Express Tour: $14
- Qasr Al Watan Abu Dhabi Entry Ticket: $15
- Louvre Abu Dhabi with Tourist Shuttle Bus & eSIM: $17
- Louvre Abu Dhabi Museum General Admission Ticket: $17
- Qasr Al Watan Palace & Garden Entrance Ticket: $18
- Ticket to Louvre Museum, Abu Dhabi: $19
- Shop & Eat in Abu Dhabi’s Markets Like a Local Walking Tour: $19
- Abu Dhabi Tour App, Hidden Gems Game and Big UAE Quiz (1 Day Pass): $19
Typical Entertainment Prices in Cairo
Here are a few typical costs in Cairo for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Entry to Camel Market for Two$0.84
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Egyptian Museum Entry for Two$6.49
Tours and Activities in Cairo
Here are a few actual costs in Cairo for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Cheapest Tour to Wonders Pyramids of Giza and Great Sphinx : $4.00
- Dahshur Pyramids Entry Tickets: $4.27
- Baron Palace Entry Tickets : $4.60
- The Baron Empain Palace Entry Ticket: $4.60
- Cairo Shopping tour Private Papyrus Perfume, Bazar Cotton Shop : $4.70
- All Inclusive Tour to Giza Pyramids, Sphinx, Memphis, and Saqqara: $5.00
- New Grand Egyptian Museum Tour with optional the pyramids tour..: $5.00
- Baron Empain Palace Entry Tickets: $5.16
- Entry Ticket to the Prince Mohamed Ali Palace : $5.39
- Skip The Line with Memphis Museum Entry Ticket: $6.53
- Cairo Shopping Tour.: $7.00
- El Sultan Hassan Mosque Entry Ticket: $7.02
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAbu Dhabi $13Cairo $1.17
Sample the Local Flavors in Cairo
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Cairo:
- Pub Crawl and Speakeasy Bar Tour with 2 Free Drinks: $59
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Abu Dhabi and Cairo, we can see that Abu Dhabi is more expensive. And not only is Cairo much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Abu Dhabi is in Middle East and Cairo is in Africa, 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 Cairo would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Cairo 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 Cairo.
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 Cairo Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Abu Dhabi or Cairo?
Cairo has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Abu Dhabi. When comparing the sizes of Abu Dhabi and Cairo, 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 Cairo?
Both destinations experience a warmer climate with nice weather most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season.
Should I visit Abu Dhabi or Cairo in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Abu Dhabi and Cairo. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Abu Dhabi year-round. Cairo attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In July, Abu Dhabi usually receives more rain than Cairo. Abu Dhabi gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Cairo receives 1 mm (0 in) of rain each month for the summer.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Cairo this time of the year. In Abu Dhabi, it's very sunny this time of the year. Abu Dhabi usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Cairo during summer. Abu Dhabi gets 331 hours of sunny skies, while Cairo receives 350 hours of full sun in the summer.
It's very hot in Abu Dhabi this time of the year. Abu Dhabi is a little warmer than Cairo in the summer. The daily temperature in Abu Dhabi averages around 35°C (95°F) in July, and Cairo fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyAbu Dhabi 35°C (95°F)Cairo 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Abu Dhabi or Cairo in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Abu Dhabi as well as Cairo. Abu Dhabi attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Cairo throughout the year.
Abu Dhabi usually gets more rain in October than Cairo. Abu Dhabi gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Cairo receives 5 mm (0.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Cairo. 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 Cairo. Abu Dhabi gets 314 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Cairo receives 290 hours of full sun.
In the autumn, Abu Dhabi is a little warmer than Cairo. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Abu Dhabi in October average around 29°C (84°F), and Cairo averages at about 23°C (73°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberAbu Dhabi 29°C (84°F)Cairo 23°C (73°F)
Should I visit Abu Dhabi or Cairo in the Winter?
Both Cairo 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. Plenty of visitors come to Cairo because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In January, Abu Dhabi usually receives less rain than Cairo. Abu Dhabi gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Cairo receives 15 mm (0.6 in) of rain each month for the winter.
It's quite sunny in Cairo. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Abu Dhabi. Abu Dhabi usually receives more sunshine than Cairo during winter. Abu Dhabi gets 269 hours of sunny skies, while Cairo receives 221 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Abu Dhabi is generally a little warmer than Cairo. Daily temperatures in Abu Dhabi average around 18°C (64°F), and Cairo fluctuates around 14°C (57°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryAbu Dhabi 18°C (64°F)Cairo 14°C (57°F)
Should I visit Abu Dhabi or Cairo in the Spring?
Both Cairo 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. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Cairo year-round.
Abu Dhabi usually gets more rain in April than Cairo. Abu Dhabi gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Cairo receives 7 mm (0.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
In Cairo, 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 Cairo. Abu Dhabi gets 297 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Cairo receives 276 hours of full sun.
Abu Dhabi is a little warmer than Cairo in the spring. The daily temperature in Abu Dhabi averages around 27°C (81°F) in April, and Cairo fluctuates around 21°C (70°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilAbu Dhabi 27°C (81°F)Cairo 21°C (70°F)
Typical Weather for Cairo and Abu Dhabi
| Abu Dhabi | Cairo | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 18°C (64°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 15 mm (0.6 in) |
| Feb | 20°C (68°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Mar | 23°C (73°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) |
| Apr | 27°C (81°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 7 mm (0.3 in) |
| May | 31°C (88°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 0 mm (0 in) |
| Jun | 33°C (91°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 0 mm (0 in) |
| Jul | 35°C (95°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 1 mm (0 in) |
| Aug | 36°C (97°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 0 mm (0 in) |
| Sep | 33°C (91°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) |
| Oct | 29°C (84°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) |
| Nov | 25°C (77°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 1 mm (0 in) |
| Dec | 21°C (70°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 3 mm (0.1 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.