Which place is cheaper, Darjiling or Abu Dhabi?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Abu Dhabi or Darjiling?
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 Darjiling can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Abu Dhabi or Darjiling?
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.
Darjiling
What began as a cluster of villages grew to prominence in the 19th Century when the British first established a hill station here and eventually realized that the climate was well-suited for tea plantations. Darjeeling (or Darjiling) has since become known for its teas in addition to cultural diversity, stunning views, and trekking opportunities.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to United Arab Emirates, The Best 3-Day Tours in United Arab Emirates, The Best Adventure Tours to India, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in India.
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Abu Dhabi Prices
UAE PricesDarjiling Prices
India Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAbu Dhabi $197Darjiling $39
The average daily cost (per person) in Abu Dhabi is $197, while the average daily cost in Darjiling is $39. 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 Darjiling in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAbu Dhabi $98Darjiling $11
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAbu Dhabi $196Darjiling $22
Compare Hotels in Abu Dhabi and Darjiling
Looking for a hotel in Abu Dhabi or Darjiling? 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 Darjiling Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Abu Dhabi $20Darjiling $6.56
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:
- Abu Dhabi Intercity Transfers: $270
- Ferrari World Abu Dhabi Tickets with Private Transfers: $257
- Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi Ticket with Hotel Transfers: $251
- Entry Tickets to Ferrari World Fast Track with Private Transfer: $235
- Visit Ferrari World Abu Dhabi From Dubai Included Transfer and Tickets: $235
- Private Transfer: Abu Dhabi to Dubai Airport DXB in Luxury SUV: $232
- Private Transfer: Abu Dhabi to Dubai Airport DXB in Luxury Van: $226
- Warner Bros World and Ferrari World Combo Ticket with transfer from Dubai: $204
- Miracle Garden And Global Village Dubai Tour With Transfers From Abu Dhabi: $200
- Ferrari World, Yas and Warner Bros Word Tickets with Transfer: $200
- Abu Dhabi Combo Ticket: Ferrari World and Yas Waterworld with transfers: $195
- Private Transfer from Abu Dhabi Airport (AUH) to Dubai: $192
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Darjiling
Also for Darjiling, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer Darjeeling Hotels To Bagdogra Airport IXB Drop: $64
Is it cheaper to fly into Abu Dhabi or Darjiling?
Prices for flights to both Darjiling 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 $78Darjiling $21
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Abu Dhabi
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Abu Dhabi.
- Red Dunes 4x4 Pick Drop Abu Dhabi Desert Safari with Dinner: $28
- Abu Dhabi Desert Safari with Red Dunes 4x4 Pick Drop Dinner Shows: $36
- Abu Dhabi Desert Safari with Sandboarding, Camel Ride & Dinner: $47
- Experience Abu Dhabi Yas Island by Dhow Cruise at Sea with Dinner: $55
- Desert Safari In Abu Dhabi With BBQ Dinner: $58
- Abu Dhabi Desert Safari With BBQ Dinner & Live Shows: $60
- Evening Desert Safari Abu Dhabi with Hot BBQ Dinner: $65
- Evening Desert Safari Camel Ride Dinner Live Shows in Abu Dhabi: $69
- Abu Dhabi Evening Desert Safari: BBQ Dinner, Camel Ride & Shows: $71
- Evening Desert Safari Abu Dhabi with BBQ Dinner: $71
- Abu Dhabi Evening Desert Safari with BBQ Dinner and Shows: $73
- Desert Safari Abu Dhabi w/ Sand Boarding, Camel Ride & BBQ Dinner: $75
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Abu Dhabi $39Darjiling $11
Tours and Activities in Abu Dhabi
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Abu Dhabi are as follows:
- 17 Minutes Helicopter Tour in Abu Dhabi: $245
- 2 Days 2 Park- Ferrari World +Yas Waterworld Or Warner Bros World Combo Tickets: $155
- 2 Days: Abu Dhabi Half Day City Tour & Evening Desert Safari: $140
- 4 Hour Abu Dhabi City Tour - Private Tour: $265
- 4 Hour Cultural Tour of Abu Dhabi - Private Tour: $160
- 45 minutes Yas Experience: $56
- 8 Hours Al Ain City Tour without lunch: $103
- Abu Dhabi 'Hidden Gems' by City Break - walking tours made fun!: $34
- Abu Dhabi : Private Walking Tour with A guide (Private Tour): $47
- Abu Dhabi City Essentials Half day tour from Abu Dhabi: $44
- Abu Dhabi City Sightseeing Tour from Abu Dhabi Hotels: $80
- Abu Dhabi City Tour: $227
Tours and Activities in Darjiling
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Darjiling.
- Discover the Spiritual Trails of Gangtok (2 Hours Guided Walking Tour): $11
- Heritage & Cultural Walk of Darjeeling (2 Hours Guided Walking Tour): $11
- Gangtok Food Crawl (2 Hours Guided Local Food Tasting Tour): $21
- Tiger Hill Darjeeling Nature Walk (3 Hours Guided Trekking Experience): $22
- Colonial Heritage Walking Tour in Darjeeling: $27
- Darjeeling City Tour with Uber: $56
- Private Calcutta Tour With Guide and Authentic Bengali lunch: $87
- The Land Mark Tour (Nautical Day Darjeeling To Mirik crusade): $91
- Day_Trippers (Darjeeling Full Day Tour).: $91
- Touristic Highlights of Gangtok (Guided Fullday Sightseeing Tour by Car): $113
- Day Trip to Kalimpong (Guided Private Sightseeing Experience from Darjeeling): $128
- Day Trip to Buddha Park (Guided Private Sightseeing Tour from Gangtok): $128
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAbu Dhabi $13Darjiling $7.69
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Abu Dhabi and Darjiling, we can see that Abu Dhabi is more expensive. And not only is Darjiling much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Abu Dhabi is in Middle East and Darjiling is in Asia, 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 Darjiling would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Darjiling 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 Darjiling.
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 Darjiling Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Abu Dhabi or Darjiling?
Abu Dhabi has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Darjiling. When comparing the sizes of Abu Dhabi and Darjiling, 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.
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.