Which place is cheaper, Delhi 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 Delhi?
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 Delhi can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Abu Dhabi or Delhi?
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.
Delhi
Delhi is the largest city in northern India and is officially the country's capital. The city has a population of 11 million with the metropolitan population reaching over 16 million. The city is similar in landscape to the rest of its surrounding area. It is very flat with the river Yamuna flowing on the eastern side of the city. The Aravalii Hills are in the western portion of the city. The city's history dates back to the 6th century BC and it has served as a capital for various kingdoms and empires.
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 Luxury Tours to India, and The Best Budget Tours to India.
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Abu Dhabi Prices
UAE PricesDelhi Prices
India Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAbu Dhabi $197Delhi $48
The average daily cost (per person) in Abu Dhabi is $197, while the average daily cost in Delhi is $48. 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 Delhi in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAbu Dhabi $98Delhi $21
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAbu Dhabi $196Delhi $42
Compare Hotels in Abu Dhabi and Delhi
Looking for a hotel in Abu Dhabi or Delhi? 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 Delhi Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Abu Dhabi $20Delhi $4.24
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 Airport (AUH) Private Transfer to Abu Dhabi City/Hotels: $58
- Abu Dhabi Airport (AUH) to Abu Dhabi - Arrival Private Transfer: $75
- Abu Dhabi Airport (AUH) to Abu Dhabi - Arrival Private Transfer: $35
- Abu Dhabi Airport (AUH) to Abu Dhabi - Arrival Private Transfer: $32
- Abu Dhabi Airport (AUH) to Abu Dhabi Round-Trip Private Transfer: $76
- Abu Dhabi Airport (AUH) to Dubai - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $275
- Abu Dhabi Airport (AUH) to Dubai hotel - Arrival Private Transfer: $137
- Abu Dhabi Airport (AUH) to Dubai hotel or address - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $82
- Abu Dhabi Airport Transfer To or From Anywhere within Abu Dhabi: $70
- Abu Dhabi Airport Transfers : Abu Dhabi City to Airport AUH in Luxury Van: $99
- Abu Dhabi Airport Transfers : Airport AUH to Abu Dhabi City by Luxury Van: $99
- Abu Dhabi City Tour: Modern & Cultural Highlights with Transfers: $108
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Delhi
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Delhi:
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Tuk Tuk Ride$0.10
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Taxi to Airport$1.66
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Subway$0.33
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Uber Cab$0.83
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Delhi Metro Smart Card$1.56
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Auto-rickshaw$1.04
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Delhi
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Delhi:
- Private Red Fort Delhi Tour with Tickets Guide and Transfers: $5.01
- Private Transfer From Delhi Hotel to Airport: $11
- New Delhi Airport: Private Transfer DEL to New Delhi City Center: $11
- New Delhi Airport to Hotel Transfer Private Shuttle Sedan & SUV: $11
- Delhi Airport To Agra Hotel Transfer by Private AC Car: $11
- Delhi Airport Transfer – Pickup and Drop-Off (Choose One or Both): $12
- From Taj Mahal Sunrise Private Day Trip with Transfers: $13
- Private Transfer Delhi Hotel to Airport: $14
- Red Fort: Delhi with Tickets Guide and Transfer: $14
- Private New Delhi Airport to Hotel Transfer: $15
- Delhi Airport: Private Transfer To/ From New Delhi/ Agra/Jaipur: $15
- New Delhi Airport to Hotel Transfer Private Shuttle Sedan & SUV: $16
Is it cheaper to fly into Abu Dhabi or Delhi?
Prices for flights to both Delhi 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 $78Delhi $18
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Abu Dhabi
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Abu Dhabi.
- Abu Dhabi Desert Safari with Red Dunes 4x4 Pick Drop Dinner Shows: $39
- Abu Dhabi Desert Safari with Live Entertainment and BBQ Dinner: $44
- Abu Dhabi Desert Safari With BBQ Dinner & Live Shows: $50
- Experience Abu Dhabi Yas Island by Dhow Cruise at Sea with Dinner: $55
- Abu Dhabi Desert Safari BBQ Dinner Camel Ride and Live Shows: $56
- Evening Desert Safari Tour with Dinner & Entertainment: $56
- Desert Safari In Abu Dhabi With BBQ Dinner: $58
- Evening Desert Safari Abu Dhabi with Hot BBQ Dinner: $65
- Abu Dhabi Desert Safari with Camel Ride BBQ Dinner and Live Shows: $67
- Abu Dhabi Desert Safari with Sandboarding, Camel Ride & Dinner: $68
- Abu Dhabi Evening Desert Safari: BBQ Dinner, Camel Ride & Shows: $71
- Evening Abu Dhabi Desert Safari & BBQ Dinner- Standard Tour: $71
Typical Food Prices in Delhi
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Delhi:
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McDonalds$3.04
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Delhi
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Delhi.
- Private Old Delhi Street Food Tour: 11 Tastings & Rickshaw Ride: $8.47
- Old Delhi Food Tour: 8 Tastings & Tuk-Tuk Ride with Local Expert: $14
- Delhi Guided Half Day Food Tour in Famous Markets: $19
- Old Delhi Food Tour with Spice Market, Temples and Rickshaw Ride: $21
- Old Delhi Street Food Tour Rickshaw Ride and Hidden Gems Walk: $21
- Old Delhi Food Tour with Pickup and Drop Off: $21
- Learn Indian Cooking From A Chef - Private Cooking Class: $22
- Old Delhi Food Tour Extravaganza!: $26
- Food Tour in Delhi: $26
- Online: Indian Food Cooking Class: $28
- Old Delhi Cultural, Temples, Heritage Walking Street Food Tour: $33
- Traditional Indian Cooking Class with Family Experience: $35
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Abu Dhabi $39Delhi $17
Tours and Activities in Abu Dhabi
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Abu Dhabi are as follows:
- Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Abu Dhabi Walking Tour with Audioguide: $11
- Admission Ticket to Qasr Al Watan Abu Dhabi Non prime: $15
- Tickets to Qasr Al Watan & Louvre Museum Abu Dhabi(Per Selection): $16
- Qasr Al Watan Entry Tickets: $16
- Skip the Line Ticket to Qasr Al Watan in Abu Dhabi: $17
- Louvre Abu Dhabi Ticket: $18
- Louvre Museum, Abu Dhabi Ticket Deals: $20
- Zayed National Museum Abu Dhabi Entrance Ticket: $21
- Louvre Museum Abu Dhabi Admission Ticket: $21
- Zayed National Museum Abu Dhabi Admission Ticket: $21
- Tickets To louvre Museum Abu Dhabi: $21
- Louvre Museum Abu Dhabi Admission Ticket: $22
Typical Entertainment Prices in Delhi
Here are a few typical costs in Delhi for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Red Fort$9.03
Tours and Activities in Delhi
Here are a few actual costs in Delhi for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Delhi Old and New Full Or Half Day Tour: $3.71
- Delhi Temple and Spiritual Sites Private Day Tour - 6 hours: $3.71
- Full Day Old and New Delhi City tour: $5.00
- Private New Delhi Local Sightseeing - Tour: $5.00
- Jaipur Pink City Private Day Tour from Delhi by Car-All Inclusive: $5.00
- New Delhi and Old Delhi Private Tour 4-8 Hours - Customizable: $5.00
- Old and New Delhi Tour – Full City Experience (Private Tour): $5.17
- Golden Triangle Tour 5 Days Delhi, Agra, Jaipur with Tiger Safari: $5.93
- Sunder Nursery: A GPS Guided Audio Tour: $6.99
- Full Day Tour Jaipur City From Delhi: $7.00
- Private Old & New Full or Half Day Tour with Pick-up-Drop: $7.94
- Discover Old 3-Hour group tour: $7.94
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAbu Dhabi $13Delhi $7.52
Sample the Local Flavors in Delhi
Also in Delhi, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Pub Crawl (3 Hours Guided Bar Hopping Tour): $29
- Pub Crawl Delhi: $34
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Abu Dhabi and Delhi, we can see that Abu Dhabi is more expensive. And not only is Delhi much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Abu Dhabi is in Middle East and Delhi 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 Delhi would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Delhi 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 Delhi.
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 Delhi Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Abu Dhabi or Delhi?
Delhi has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Abu Dhabi. When comparing the sizes of Abu Dhabi and Delhi, 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 Delhi?
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 Delhi in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Abu Dhabi and Delhi. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Abu Dhabi year-round. Delhi attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Delhi receives a lot of rain in the summer. In July, Abu Dhabi usually receives less rain than Delhi. Abu Dhabi gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Delhi receives 170 mm (6.7 in) of rain each month for the summer.
In Abu Dhabi, it's very sunny this time of the year. Abu Dhabi usually receives more sunshine than Delhi during summer. Abu Dhabi gets 331 hours of sunny skies, while Delhi receives 166 hours of full sun in the summer.
Delhi can become quite hot in the summer. The heat can be very extreme in Abu Dhabi. In the summer, Abu Dhabi is a little warmer than Delhi. Typically, the summer temperatures in Abu Dhabi in July average around 35°C (95°F), and Delhi averages at about 31°C (88°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyAbu Dhabi 35°C (95°F)Delhi 31°C (88°F)
Should I visit Abu Dhabi or Delhi in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Abu Dhabi as well as Delhi. Abu Dhabi attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Delhi throughout the year.
Abu Dhabi usually gets around the same amount of rain in October as Delhi. Abu Dhabi gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Delhi receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Delhi. 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 Delhi. Abu Dhabi gets 314 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Delhi receives 269 hours of full sun.
In October, Abu Dhabi is generally a little warmer than Delhi. Daily temperatures in Abu Dhabi average around 29°C (84°F), and Delhi fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberAbu Dhabi 29°C (84°F)Delhi 26°C (79°F)
Should I visit Abu Dhabi or Delhi in the Winter?
Both Delhi 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 Delhi because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In January, Abu Dhabi usually receives less rain than Delhi. Abu Dhabi gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Delhi receives 20 mm (0.8 in) of rain each month for the winter.
It's quite sunny in Delhi. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Abu Dhabi. Abu Dhabi usually receives more sunshine than Delhi during winter. Abu Dhabi gets 269 hours of sunny skies, while Delhi receives 215 hours of full sun in the winter.
Abu Dhabi is a little warmer than Delhi in the winter. The daily temperature in Abu Dhabi averages around 18°C (64°F) in January, and Delhi fluctuates around 15°C (59°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryAbu Dhabi 18°C (64°F)Delhi 15°C (59°F)
Should I visit Abu Dhabi or Delhi in the Spring?
Both Delhi 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 Delhi year-round.
Abu Dhabi usually gets less rain in April than Delhi. Abu Dhabi gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Delhi receives 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
In Delhi, 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 Delhi. Abu Dhabi gets 297 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Delhi receives 261 hours of full sun.
In the spring, Abu Dhabi is around the same temperature as Delhi. Typically, the spring temperatures in Abu Dhabi in April average around 27°C (81°F), and Delhi averages at about 29°C (84°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilAbu Dhabi 27°C (81°F)Delhi 29°C (84°F)
Typical Weather for Delhi and Abu Dhabi
| Abu Dhabi | Delhi | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 18°C (64°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) |
| Feb | 20°C (68°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Mar | 23°C (73°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) |
| Apr | 27°C (81°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| May | 31°C (88°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 33°C (91°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Jun | 33°C (91°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 34°C (93°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Jul | 35°C (95°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 31°C (88°F) | 170 mm (6.7 in) |
| Aug | 36°C (97°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 30°C (86°F) | 200 mm (7.9 in) |
| Sep | 33°C (91°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 30°C (86°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) |
| Oct | 29°C (84°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Nov | 25°C (77°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Dec | 21°C (70°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 10 mm (0.4 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.