Which place is cheaper, Canberra or Abu Dhabi?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Abu Dhabi or Canberra?
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 Canberra can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Abu Dhabi or Canberra?
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.
Canberra
There is something special about the capital city of Australia. Canberra's not just a wonderful spot for outdoor adventures. It's a city completely designed and built up around the coast of an artificial lake. When architects Walter Burley and Marion Mahony Griffin proposed their plans for Canberra it was met with a lot of criticism. Many people thought it would be a "waste of a good sheep pasture."
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to United Arab Emirates, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in United Arab Emirates, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Australia, and The Best Contiki Tours to Australia.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAbu Dhabi $164Canberra $140
The average daily cost (per person) in Abu Dhabi is $164, while the average daily cost in Canberra 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 Canberra in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAbu Dhabi $98Canberra $86
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAbu Dhabi $196Canberra $172
Compare Hotels in Abu Dhabi and Canberra
Looking for a hotel in Abu Dhabi or Canberra? 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 Canberra Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Abu Dhabi $20Canberra $26
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:
- Yas Waterworld General Admission with Transfers: $123
- Warner Bros World Ticket's -Abu Dhabi Without Transfer: $220
- Try find your better than us! Airport transfer service in Abu Dhabi APT-HTL(AUH): $56
- Transfer: Abu Dhabi Airport(AUH) to Abu Dhabi City Center: $30
- Transfer from Abu Dhabi to Dubai City: $150
- Transfer Abu Dhabi City Center to Abu Dhabi Airport (AUH): $30
- Snow Park Abudhabi Premium Tickets with Optional Transfers: $120
- Snow Abu Dhabi With Transfer Optional : $87
- Ski Abu Dhabi with Optional Transfers: $100
- Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque-Entry to the Masterpiece with Transfer: $110
- Private transfer: Abu Dhabi to Abu Dhabi Airport (AUH): $42
- Private transfer: Abu Dhabi Airport (AUH) to Abu Dhabi: $41
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Canberra
Also for Canberra, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Canberra to Canberra Int Airport - Departure Private Transfer: $35
- Canberra Int'l Airport to Canberra - Arrival Private Transfer: $35
- Canberra Airport (CBR) to Canberra - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $70
- Private Transfer from Canberra city hotels to Eden Cruise Port: $84
- Private Transfer from Canberra Airport CBR to Eden Cruise Port : $84
- Canberra Transfer: Airport（CBR）to/from City Center: $100
- Guided Tour of Floriade Festival with Transfers: $122
Is it cheaper to fly into Abu Dhabi or Canberra?
Prices for flights to both Canberra 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 $45Canberra $36
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Abu Dhabi
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Abu Dhabi.
- Abudhabi Desert Safari Buffet Dinner & Live Entertainments Shows: $24
- Abu Dhabi Desert Safari BBQ Dinner Live Shows Pick & Drop More: $25
- Dubai Marina Dinner Cruise with Live Entertainment: $38
- Dubai Marina luxury Dhow Cruise Dinner (catamaran): $45
- Abu Dhabi Evening Desert Safari Tour with Shows and BBQ Dinner: $60
- Abu Dhabi Desert Safari With Live Shows And BBQ Buffet Dinner: $70
- 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
- Abu Dhabi Desert Safari 4x4, BBQ Dinner, Camel Ride: $81
- Evening Desert Safari Abu Dhabi with BBQ Dinner & Shows: $81
Typical Food Prices in Canberra
For Canberra, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Lunch$17
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Abu Dhabi $39Canberra $18
Tours and Activities in Abu Dhabi
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Abu Dhabi are as follows:
- Abu Dhabi Tour-Sheik Zayed Mosque, Emirates Palace With Louvre Musuem: $115
- Admission Ticket To Qasr Al Hosn Abu Dhabi: $20
- Falcon Hospital Tour with Transportation : $101
- Full Day Abu Dhabi City & Louvre Museum Tour: $90
- Louvre Museum in Abu Dhabi Ticket: $26
- Private Full-Day Tour in Abu Dhabi: $279
- 17 Minutes Helicopter Tour in Abu Dhabi: $245
- 2 Days 2 Park- Ferrari World +Yas Waterworld Or Warner Bros World Combo Tickets: $155
- 8 Hour Ticket/Pass For Yas Water World In Dubai.: $103
- 8-Hours Tickets to Ferrari World, Abu Dhabi: $98
- Abu Dhabi City Tour: $95
- Abu Dhabi City Tour & Ferrari World Ticket: $119
Tours and Activities in Canberra
For Canberra, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- First Australians Tour | 3pm Daily: $14
- Museum Highlights Tour | 1pm Daily: $14
- Building + Architecture Tour | 10am Daily: $14
- Australian Institute of Sport: The AIS Tour: $15
- Hop-on Hop-off Sightseeing Tour in Canberra: $31
- Badass Women of The Women Behind the Capital Tour: $41
- Spies in the Capital: Women in Espionage Walking Tour: $41
- Women's History Walking Tour with Local Guide: $42
- LGBTQIA+ History Walking Tour: $42
- Guided Tree Ropes Course Experience in Majura Pines: $45
- Best of Wildlife Tour: $92
- Best of Wildlife and Birds Tour: $104
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAbu Dhabi $13Canberra $16
Typical Alcohol Prices in Canberra
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Canberra from other travelers:
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Drinks at a Bar$9.59
Sample the Local Flavors in Canberra
Also in Canberra, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Indulgence Wine Tasting with Matched Elements for 2 - Canberra: $91
- Canberra Brewery and Beer Tour in 3 Hours: $102
- Capital Brewery Full-Day Tour: $126
- CanBEERa Explorer: Capital Brewery Full-Day Tour: $129
- From Winery, Distillery, & Tasting Tour with Lunch: $153
- Canberra Wine Tour: $167
- Full-Day Canberra Brewery, Wineries & Distillery tour /w lunch: $171
- Premium Wine Tasting Experience and 2-Course Lunch: $188
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Abu Dhabi and Canberra, we can see that Abu Dhabi is more expensive. And not only is Canberra much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Abu Dhabi is in Middle East and Canberra is in Pacific, 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 Canberra would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Canberra 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 Canberra.
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 Canberra Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Abu Dhabi or Canberra?
Abu Dhabi has a larger population, and is about 84% larger than the population of Canberra. When comparing the sizes of Abu Dhabi and Canberra, 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 Canberra?
Canberra 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 Canberra in the Summer?
Both Canberra and Abu Dhabi during the summer 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 summer months attract visitors to Canberra because of the hiking, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences.
The heat can be very extreme in Abu Dhabi. In the summer, Abu Dhabi is much warmer than Canberra. Typically, the summer temperatures in Abu Dhabi in July average around 35°C (95°F), and Canberra averages at about 20°C (68°F)in January.
Abu Dhabi usually gets less rain in July than Canberrain January. Abu Dhabi gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Canberra receives 87 mm (3.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuaryAbu Dhabi 35°C (95°F)Canberra 20°C (68°F)
Should I visit Abu Dhabi or Canberra in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Abu Dhabi and Canberra. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Abu Dhabi year-round. Furthermore, the hiking trails, the city's sights and attractions, and the shopping scene are the main draw to Canberra this time of year.
In October, Abu Dhabi is generally much warmer than Canberrain April. Daily temperatures in Abu Dhabi average around 29°C (84°F), and Canberra fluctuates around 17°C (63°F).
Canberra receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Abu Dhabi usually receives less rain than Canberrain April. Abu Dhabi gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Canberra receives 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilAbu Dhabi 29°C (84°F)Canberra 17°C (63°F)
Should I visit Abu Dhabi or Canberra in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Abu Dhabi as well as Canberra. Abu Dhabi attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, many travelers come to Canberra for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Abu Dhabi is much warmer than Canberra in the winter. The daily temperature in Abu Dhabi averages around 18°C (64°F) in January, and Canberra fluctuates around 11°C (52°F)in July.
Abu Dhabi usually gets less rain in January than Canberrain July. Abu Dhabi gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Canberra receives 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures January and JulyAbu Dhabi 18°C (64°F)Canberra 11°C (52°F)
Should I visit Abu Dhabi or Canberra in the Spring?
Both Canberra and Abu Dhabi are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Abu Dhabi throughout the year. Also, many visitors come to Canberra in the spring for the activities around the city.
In the spring, Abu Dhabi is much warmer than Canberra. Typically, the spring temperatures in Abu Dhabi in April average around 27°C (81°F), and Canberra averages at about 15°C (60°F)in October.
In April, Abu Dhabi usually receives less rain than Canberrain October. Abu Dhabi gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Canberra receives 95 mm (3.7 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberAbu Dhabi 27°C (81°F)Canberra 15°C (60°F)
Typical Weather for Canberra and Abu Dhabi
| Abu Dhabi | Canberra | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 18°C (64°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) |
| Feb | 20°C (68°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 107 mm (4.2 in) |
| Mar | 23°C (73°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 19°C (67°F) | 131 mm (5.2 in) |
| Apr | 27°C (81°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) |
| May | 31°C (88°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 14°C (58°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) |
| Jun | 33°C (91°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) |
| Jul | 35°C (95°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) |
| Aug | 36°C (97°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 12°C (53°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) |
| Sep | 33°C (91°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 14°C (56°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) |
| Oct | 29°C (84°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 15°C (60°F) | 95 mm (3.7 in) |
| Nov | 25°C (77°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 104 mm (4.1 in) |
| Dec | 21°C (70°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 79 mm (3.1 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.