Should you visit Abu Dhabi or Eilat?
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 Eilat can help you decide which place is right for you.
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.
Eilat
Eilat serves as the gateway to Israel from Egypt. It's located at the southern tip of the country and sits on the Red Sea with views of the Gulf of Aqaba. It's location in the Negev Desert along the beautiful coast make it appealing to both domestic and international vacationers.
Eilat is a resort town with many dive shops and snorkeling opportunities. The population of about 50,000 can easily be overshadowed by vacationers. With no shortage of sun, entertainment, bars, and partying, you will find both Israeli and international tourists looking for an oasis of fun and relaxation.
Although the area's coral reefs were being damaged by overuse, the removal of contraversial fish cages in 2008 has led to a slow recovery and an improvement in the quality of diving and snorkeling in the area. There are also less crowds than you will find in Sharm el-Sheikh or Dahab, Egypt.
Eilat has a hot desert climate. The summers are hot and dry and the winters are warm and dry. Temperatures in the winter can range from 52 to 73 degrees Fahrenheit and summer temperatures are usually between 79 and 104 degrees Fahrenheit.
Which city is cheaper, Eilat or Abu Dhabi?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Abu Dhabi is $200, while the average daily cost in Eilat is $130. 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 city. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Abu Dhabi and Eilat in more detail.
Accommodation
Abu Dhabi's average price for two people sharing a typical double-occupancy hotel room is $336. A typical place to stay for one person, per day is $168.
An average hotel room with basic furnishings costs about $172 in Eilat For the most convenient locations and nicer amenities you can expect to pay a bit more.
Food
Food in Abu Dhabi costs travelers about $16 per day on average. Restaurants can vary significantly in price, so choose wisely if you're trying to save money. Fast food and street stalls are typically your cheapest options, which sit down restaurants can be significantly more expensive.
Eilat food costs typically run travelers around $33 per day. Eating every meal in a nicer restaurant will drive the cost up, and grabbing fast food or casual meals will help you save money.
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Food
Meals for one day
Abu Dhabi $16
Eilat $33
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Abu Dhabi
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Abu Dhabi.
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Abu Dhabi 6-Hour Desert Safari With BBQ Dinner:
$58
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Abu Dhabi Afternoon Desert Safari and BBQ Dinner:
$59
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Evening Desert Safari with Dune Bashing, Camel Riding, BBQ Dinner:
$62
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Abu Dhabi Desert Tour With BBQ Dinner, Camel Ride and Belly Dance Hotel Pickup:
$62
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Evening Desert Safari with BBQ Dinner,Belly Dance,Tanura & Fire Dance,Camel Ride:
$65
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Dune Dinner Safari Abu Dhabi:
$69
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4x4 Desert Safari Abu Dhabi with BBQ Dinner:
$69
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Abu Dhabi Desert Safari Experience Live's show's Bbq Dinner & much More:
$73
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Evening Desert Safari With BBQ Dinner, Camel Ride and Sand Boarding:
$83
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Evening Desert Safari Abu Dhabi with Dinner:
$85
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Sunset Camel Trek and BBQ Dinner with Shows:
$85
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Buffet Dinner Cruise including Transfer from Abu Dhabi:
$86
Local Transportation
The cost of a taxi ride in Abu Dhabi is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $32 per person, per day, on local transportation in Abu Dhabi.
Eilat's transportation costs can vary by the type of transport chosen by visitors. Naturally, taxis and private drivers cost much more than public transportation options. On average, visitors spend $12 per person, per day on transportation in Eilat.
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:
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Yas Waterworld General Admission with Sharing Transfers:
$97
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Yas Waterworld Admission plus Private Transfer:
$225
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Wheelchair Accessible Cruise Ship Transfer:
$100
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Wheelchair Accessible Airport Transfer in Abu Dhabi:
$107
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Warner Bros World and Ferrari World Combo Ticket with transfer from Dubai:
$204
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Warner Bros General Admission with Sharing Transfers:
$103
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Transfer in private vehicle from Abu Dhabi City to Abu Dhabi Airport:
$40
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Transfer in private vehicle from Abu Dhabi Airport to Abu Dhabi City:
$40
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Transfer in private minivan from Abu Dhabi City to Abu Dhabi Airport:
$80
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Transfer in private minivan from Abu Dhabi Airport to Abu Dhabi City:
$80
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Skip the Line: Ferrari World Ticket Without Transfer:
$155
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Sharing Transfer Expo 2020 : Abu Dhabi Hotel to Expo with Return:
$79
Typical Local Transportation prices in Eilat
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Eilat:
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Eilat
Also for Eilat, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Ultra - Eilat Private Airport Transfer from Eilat City Centre to Ramon Airport:
$8.71
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Private Transfer Airport Ramon to Eilat:
$45
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Private Departure Transfer from Eilat City to Eilat ETM Airport:
$50
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Private Transfer Airport Ramon to Taba Border:
$60
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PrivateTransfer fromTaba Border to Sharm El Sheikh ( Group of (1- 4 ):
$125
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Private transfer from Taba border to Sharm el Sheikh:
$160
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Transfer to Eilat from Ben Gurion Airport:
$700
Entertainment
Sightseeing, admission tickets, things to do, and other entertainment expenses in Eilat can vary widely by price. On average, visitors spend around $15 per person, per day on entertainment and sightseeing here.
Tours and Activities in Abu Dhabi
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Abu Dhabi are as follows:
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2 Hrs Cruise to Lulu Island:
$458
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2 in 1 Best Combo Tours Full Day Abu Dhabi City Tour and Night Dhow Cruise Dubai:
$365
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4 Hour Cultural Tour of Abu Dhabi - Private Tour:
$78
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4 Hours Abu Dhabi City Tour:
$40
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90-Minute Small-Group Yas Marina Circuit Tour:
$30
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ABU DHABI CITY TOUR WITH FERRARI WORLD (With Transportation):
$135
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Abu Dhabi Bus Tour from Dubai:
$71
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Abu Dhabi City Sightseeing Tour with Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque:
$286
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Abu Dhabi City Tour:
$67
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Abu Dhabi City Tour:
$73
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Abu Dhabi City Tour:
$171
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Abu Dhabi City Tour & Warner Bros World:
$200
Tours and Activities in Eilat
For Eilat, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
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Speed Boat Cruise in Eilat:
$23
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Dead Sea Shuttle Tour from Eilat:
$49
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Timna park Jeep tour adventure:
$55
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Red canyon jeep tour in Eilat:
$57
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Red Canyon, Desert Agriculture, and Kibbutz Life tour from Eilat:
$67
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Private Introduction Dive Experience in Eliat:
$69
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Eilat Mountains Offroad 4x4 Jeep Adventure:
$72
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From Jerusalem, Bethlehem and Dead Sea tour:
$79
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Dead Sea & Masada at Sunrise Tour from Eilat:
$82
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Daily tour to Jerusalem from Eilat:
$89
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Jerusalem, Bethlehem and Dead Sea Tour from Eilat:
$99
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Mount Sinai Sunrise Tour:
$150
Alcohol
Typically, people visiting Eilat spend on average $25 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Abu Dhabi and Eilat, we can see that Abu Dhabi is more expensive. And not only is Eilat much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Eilat would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Eilat 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 Eilat.
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