Which place is cheaper, Edinburgh 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.
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 Edinburgh can help you decide which place is right for you.
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.
Edinburgh is the moderately sized capital of Scotland. It is a medieval city that has managed to perfect the combination of Georgian architecture and medieval relics with a cosmopolitan population and avant-garde atmosphere. The city's population is quite young, in large part because of the University of Edinburgh. This youthful vibe gives this city a lot of vitality. There's a thriving nightlife, many restaurants, theatres, galleries and museums.
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 3-Day Tours in United Kingdom, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in United Kingdom.
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
The average daily cost (per person) in Abu Dhabi is $164, while the average daily cost in Edinburgh is $223. 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 Edinburgh in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Abu Dhabi or Edinburgh? 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.
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Abu Dhabi are as follows:
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Abu Dhabi:
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Edinburgh:
Also for Edinburgh, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
Prices for flights to both Edinburgh 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.
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Abu Dhabi.
For Edinburgh, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
For Edinburgh, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Abu Dhabi are as follows:
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Edinburgh's activities, tours, and tickets:
For Edinburgh, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Edinburgh from other travelers:
Also in Edinburgh, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Abu Dhabi and Edinburgh, we can see that Edinburgh is more expensive. And not only is Abu Dhabi much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Abu Dhabi is in Middle East and Edinburgh is in Europe, 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 Abu Dhabi would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Abu Dhabi 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 Edinburgh would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Edinburgh than you might in Abu Dhabi.
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 Edinburgh Expensive?.
Abu Dhabi has a larger population, and is about 38% larger than the population of Edinburgh. When comparing the sizes of Abu Dhabi and Edinburgh, 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.
Edinburgh has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Abu Dhabi experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Both Edinburgh 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. Also, many visitors come to Edinburgh in the summer for the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.
The heat can be very extreme in Abu Dhabi. In the summer, Abu Dhabi is much warmer than Edinburgh. Typically, the summer temperatures in Abu Dhabi in July average around 35°C (95°F), and Edinburgh averages at about 14°C (58°F).
It's quite sunny in Abu Dhabi. In the summer, Abu Dhabi often gets more sunshine than Edinburgh. Abu Dhabi gets 331 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Edinburgh receives 163 hours of full sun.
Abu Dhabi usually gets less rain in July than Edinburgh. Abu Dhabi gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Edinburgh receives 56 mm (2.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Abu Dhabi and Edinburgh. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Abu Dhabi year-round. Also, most visitors come to Edinburgh for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area during these months.
In October, Abu Dhabi is generally much warmer than Edinburgh. Daily temperatures in Abu Dhabi average around 29°C (84°F), and Edinburgh fluctuates around 10°C (49°F).
In Abu Dhabi, it's very sunny this time of the year. Abu Dhabi usually receives more sunshine than Edinburgh during autumn. Abu Dhabi gets 314 hours of sunny skies, while Edinburgh receives 90 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Abu Dhabi usually receives less rain than Edinburgh. Abu Dhabi gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Edinburgh receives 67 mm (2.6 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
The winter brings many poeple to Abu Dhabi as well as Edinburgh. Abu Dhabi attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, the winter months attract visitors to Edinburgh because of the museums, the shopping scene, the theater shows, and the cuisine.
The weather in Edinburgh can be very cold. Abu Dhabi is much warmer than Edinburgh in the winter. The daily temperature in Abu Dhabi averages around 18°C (64°F) in January, and Edinburgh fluctuates around 3°C (38°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Abu Dhabi this time of the year. In the winter, Abu Dhabi often gets more sunshine than Edinburgh. Abu Dhabi gets 269 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Edinburgh receives 48 hours of full sun.
Abu Dhabi usually gets less rain in January than Edinburgh. Abu Dhabi gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Edinburgh receives 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
Both Edinburgh 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, the activities around the city and the natural beauty are the main draw to Edinburgh this time of year.
In the spring, Abu Dhabi is much warmer than Edinburgh. Typically, the spring temperatures in Abu Dhabi in April average around 27°C (81°F), and Edinburgh averages at about 7°C (45°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Abu Dhabi. Abu Dhabi usually receives more sunshine than Edinburgh during spring. Abu Dhabi gets 297 hours of sunny skies, while Edinburgh receives 132 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Abu Dhabi usually receives less rain than Edinburgh. Abu Dhabi gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Edinburgh receives 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain each month for the spring.
Abu Dhabi | Edinburgh | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
Jan | 18°C (64°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 3°C (38°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
Feb | 20°C (68°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) | 3°C (38°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) |
Mar | 23°C (73°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 5°C (41°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) |
Apr | 27°C (81°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
May | 31°C (88°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 10°C (49°F) | 46 mm (1.8 in) |
Jun | 33°C (91°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
Jul | 35°C (95°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 14°C (58°F) | 56 mm (2.2 in) |
Aug | 36°C (97°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 14°C (58°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) |
Sep | 33°C (91°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) |
Oct | 29°C (84°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 10°C (49°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) |
Nov | 25°C (77°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 5°C (42°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) |
Dec | 21°C (70°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 4°C (39°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) |