Which place is cheaper, Dallas or Abu Dhabi?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Abu Dhabi or Dallas?
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 Dallas can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Abu Dhabi or Dallas?
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.
Dallas
Located in the north central part of the state, Dallas is a prominent city in Texas and is one of the most populated metropolitan areas in the United States of America. The business reputation of Dallas rose from its historical status as the center for cotton and oil industries. It was also positioned among numerous railroads.
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 Los Angeles, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from New York City.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAbu Dhabi $164Dallas $141
The average daily cost (per person) in Abu Dhabi is $164, while the average daily cost in Dallas is $141. 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 Dallas in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAbu Dhabi $98Dallas $84
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAbu Dhabi $196Dallas $168
Compare Hotels in Abu Dhabi and Dallas
Looking for a hotel in Abu Dhabi or Dallas? 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 Dallas Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Abu Dhabi $20Dallas $28
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:
- Private One-way Abu Dhabi Transfer To Abu Dhabi Airport: $26
- Private One-way Abu Dhabi Airport Transfer To Abu Dhabi: $26
- Abu Dhabi Airport Private Departure Transfer: $33
- Abu Dhabi to Abu Dhabi Airport (AUH) - Departure Private Transfer: $35
- Private Transfer from Abu Dhabi Airport (AUH) to Abu Dhabi Port: $38
- Private Transfer from Abu Dhabi city to Abu Dhabi Cruise Port: $38
- Private transfer: Abu Dhabi Airport (AUH) to Abu Dhabi: $40
- Private transfer: Abu Dhabi to Abu Dhabi Airport (AUH): $41
- Abu Dhabi to Dubai Airport (DXB) - Departure Private Transfer: $42
- Private Transfer from Abu Dhabi Cruise Port to Abu Dhabi Hotels: $43
- Try find your better than us! Airport transfer service in Abu Dhabi HTL-APT(AUH): $52
- Abu Dhabi hotel to Dubai Airport (DXB) - Departure Private Transfer: $53
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Dallas
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Dallas:
- Private Departure Transfer to Dallas Fort Worth Airport DFW: $40
- Dallas Love Field Airport (DAL) to Dallas - Arrival Private Transfer: $41
- Dallas to Dallas Love Field Airport (DAL) - Departure Private Transfer: $41
- Dallas Airport (DAL) to Dallas - Arrival Private Transfer: $46
- Dallas to Dallas Airport (DFW) - Departure Private Transfer: $58
- Transfer private executive car from Dallas Airport (DFW)- City Center: $60
- Plano/Allen to Dallas Airport (DFW) - Departure Private Transfer: $68
- Transfer in private minivan from Dallas Airport (DFW) - City Center: $69
- Transfer in private minivan from Dallas City Center - Dallas Airport (DFW): $69
- Transfer in executive private car from Dallas City Center - Dallas Airport (DAL): $71
- Departure Private Transfer Dowtown Dallas to Dallas Airport DAL Luxury Vehicle: $83
- Arrival Private Transfer Dallas Airport DAL to Dowtown Dallas by Luxury Vehicle: $83
Is it cheaper to fly into Abu Dhabi or Dallas?
Prices for flights to both Dallas 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 $45Dallas $35
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Abu Dhabi
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Abu Dhabi.
- Dubai: Dhow Cruise Marina Multi Cusine Dinner & Tanura Show: $35
- Dubai Marina luxury Dhow Cruise Dinner (catamaran): $42
- Abu Dhabi Desert Safari BBQ Dinner Live Shows Pick & Drop More: $45
- Dubai Best Dhow Cruise Dinner Marina: $46
- 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
- Abu Dhabi Desert Safari With Live Shows And BBQ Buffet Dinner: $60
- 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 Dallas
Some typical examples of dining costs in Dallas are as follows:
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Cowboys Stadium Tour (for 2)$55
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Whataburger Lunch (family of 4)$21
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Dallas
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Dallas.
- West Village Happy Hour Food Tour: $39
- Dallas Secret Food Tour: $98
- Secret Food Tour of Dallas with Private Tour Option: $99
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Abu Dhabi $39Dallas $13
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: $8.16
- Sea Breeze Boat Tour: $8.17
- Fast-Track Admission Ticket to Qasr Al Hosn: $8.37
- Abu Dhabi 4G & 5G Data Roaming for Tourist: $11
- Louvre Join an Express Tour: $14
- Qasr Al Watan Museum Abu Dhabi Ticket: $17
- Louvre Abu Dhabi with Tourist Shuttle Bus & eSIM: $17
- Louvre Abu Dhabi Museum General Admission Ticket: $17
- Qasr Al Watan Admission 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
Tours and Activities in Dallas
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Dallas are as follows:
- Historic Downtown Audio Self-Guided Walking Tour: $6.50
- Historic Dallas Downtown Solo Self Guided Walking Tour : $7.75
- Scavenger Hunt Adventure City Game on Your Phone: $10
- Dallas in Wonderland: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $12
- Must-See Landmarks & Attractions Self-Guided Tour: $13
- JFK Assassination Walking Tour (Self-Guided): $16
- Scavenger Hunt Adventure in Denton by Zombie Scavengers: $20
- Scavenger Hunt Adventure in Plano by Zombie Scavengers: $20
- The Assassination of John F. Kennedy Experience: $20
- John F. Kennedy Trolley Tour in Dallas: $22
- Dallas' Reunion Tower GeO-Deck Observation Ticket: $25
- Historic West End Ghost Walking Tour: $26
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAbu Dhabi $13Dallas $12
Sample the Local Flavors in Dallas
Also in Dallas, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Terrors Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl: $35
- Party Bike Pub Crawl in Deep Ellum and Downtown Dallas: $55
- Dallas Party Bike Pub Crawl in Deep Ellum: $55
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Abu Dhabi and Dallas, we can see that Abu Dhabi is more expensive. And not only is Dallas much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Abu Dhabi is in Middle East and Dallas 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 Dallas would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Dallas 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 Dallas.
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 Dallas Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Abu Dhabi or Dallas?
Dallas has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Abu Dhabi. When comparing the sizes of Abu Dhabi and Dallas, 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 Dallas?
Dallas 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 Dallas in the Summer?
Both Dallas 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, the city activities and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Dallas this time of year.
The heat can be very extreme in Abu Dhabi. In the summer, Abu Dhabi is a little warmer than Dallas. Typically, the summer temperatures in Abu Dhabi in July average around 35°C (95°F), and Dallas averages at about 88°F (31°C).
It's quite sunny in Dallas. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Abu Dhabi. Abu Dhabi usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Dallas during summer. Abu Dhabi gets 331 hours of sunny skies, while Dallas receives 337 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Abu Dhabi usually receives less rain than Dallas. Abu Dhabi gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Dallas receives 2.4 inches (60 mm) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyAbu Dhabi 35°C (95°F)Dallas 88°F (31°C)
Should I visit Abu Dhabi or Dallas in the Autumn?
Both Dallas 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. Also, many travelers come to Dallas for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene.
In October, Abu Dhabi is generally a little warmer than Dallas. Daily temperatures in Abu Dhabi average around 29°C (84°F), and Dallas fluctuates around 69°F (21°C).
In Dallas, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Abu Dhabi. In the autumn, Abu Dhabi often gets more sunshine than Dallas. Abu Dhabi gets 314 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Dallas receives 222 hours of full sun.
Abu Dhabi usually gets less rain in October than Dallas. Abu Dhabi gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Dallas receives 3.9 inches (98 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberAbu Dhabi 29°C (84°F)Dallas 69°F (21°C)
Should I visit Abu Dhabi or Dallas in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Abu Dhabi and Dallas. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Abu Dhabi year-round. Also, many visitors come to Dallas in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Abu Dhabi is much warmer than Dallas in the winter. The daily temperature in Abu Dhabi averages around 18°C (64°F) in January, and Dallas fluctuates around 46°F (8°C).
In Abu Dhabi, it's very sunny this time of the year. Abu Dhabi usually receives more sunshine than Dallas during winter. Abu Dhabi gets 269 hours of sunny skies, while Dallas receives 183 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Abu Dhabi usually receives less rain than Dallas. Abu Dhabi gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Dallas receives 1.8 inches (45 mm) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryAbu Dhabi 18°C (64°F)Dallas 46°F (8°C)
Should I visit Abu Dhabi or Dallas in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Abu Dhabi as well as Dallas. Abu Dhabi attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, most visitors come to Dallas for the activities around the city during these months.
In the spring, Abu Dhabi is a little warmer than Dallas. Typically, the spring temperatures in Abu Dhabi in April average around 27°C (81°F), and Dallas averages at about 68°F (20°C).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Dallas. 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 Dallas. Abu Dhabi gets 297 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Dallas receives 251 hours of full sun.
Abu Dhabi usually gets less rain in April than Dallas. Abu Dhabi gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Dallas receives 3.9 inches (98 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilAbu Dhabi 27°C (81°F)Dallas 68°F (20°C)
Typical Weather for Dallas and Abu Dhabi
| Abu Dhabi | Dallas | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 18°C (64°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 46°F (8°C) | 1.8 inches (45 mm) |
| Feb | 20°C (68°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) | 51°F (10°C) | 2.3 inches (59 mm) |
| Mar | 23°C (73°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 60°F (15°C) | 3.2 inches (82 mm) |
| Apr | 27°C (81°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 68°F (20°C) | 3.9 inches (98 mm) |
| May | 31°C (88°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 76°F (24°C) | 5 inches (128 mm) |
| Jun | 33°C (91°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 83°F (29°C) | 3.5 inches (89 mm) |
| Jul | 35°C (95°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 88°F (31°C) | 2.4 inches (60 mm) |
| Aug | 36°C (97°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 87°F (31°C) | 2.3 inches (58 mm) |
| Sep | 33°C (91°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 80°F (27°C) | 3.6 inches (91 mm) |
| Oct | 29°C (84°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 69°F (21°C) | 3.9 inches (98 mm) |
| Nov | 25°C (77°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 59°F (15°C) | 2.4 inches (60 mm) |
| Dec | 21°C (70°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 50°F (10°C) | 1.9 inches (48 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.