Which place is cheaper, Frankfurt or Abu Dhabi?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Abu Dhabi or Frankfurt?
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 Frankfurt can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Abu Dhabi or Frankfurt?
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.
Frankfurt
Frankfurt is the financial and business hub of Germany. It houses the European Central Bank and the German Stock Exchange, and often plays host to trade shows and business fairs. It has the country's most modern skyline and the largest airport. It is also a transportation hub for Germany with many important train lines passing through. The city itself is situated on the River Main. Some of the most important sights are along the river near Romer Square and include museums and monuments. This area pulls in millions of tourists every year. Although many sights are clustered in this area, it's important to head into more off the beaten path areas that can be enjoyable to explore. These areas offer glimpses into daily life in Frankfurt.
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 Coach Bus Tours in Germany, and The Best Adventure Tours to Germany.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAbu Dhabi $164Frankfurt $131
The average daily cost (per person) in Abu Dhabi is $164, while the average daily cost in Frankfurt is $131. 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 Frankfurt in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAbu Dhabi $98Frankfurt $62
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAbu Dhabi $196Frankfurt $124
Compare Hotels in Abu Dhabi and Frankfurt
Looking for a hotel in Abu Dhabi or Frankfurt? 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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Abu Dhabi $20Frankfurt $27
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:
- Warner Bros World Ticket's -Abu Dhabi Without Transfer: $220
- Warner Bros General Admission with Transfers: $150
- Try find your better than us! Airport transfer service in Abu Dhabi HTL-APT(AUH): $52
- Transfer in private minivan from Abu Dhabi Airport (AUH)- Abu Dhabi City: $67
- Skydive in Abu Dhabi | Tandem Skydive with transfer: $817
- Roundtrip Transfer Private Minivan Abu Dhabi Airport (AUH) - Abu Dhabi City: $133
- Private transfer: Abu Dhabi to Abu Dhabi Airport (AUH): $41
- Private transfer: Abu Dhabi Airport (AUH) to Abu Dhabi: $40
- Private direct transfer from Abu Dhabi to Dubai: $124
- Private Transfer: Abu Dhabi to Dubai Airport DXB in Luxury Van: $212
- Private Transfer: Abu Dhabi Airport AUH to Dubai in Luxury Van: $202
- Private Transfer: Abu Dhabi Airport AUH to Dubai in Business Car: $190
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Frankfurt
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Frankfurt:
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Car Rental$54
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Frankfurt
Also for Frankfurt, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Frankfurt Hahn Airport: Bus transfer from/to Mainz: $18
- Frankfurt Hahn Airport: Bus transfer from/to city central: $20
- Wiesbaden Thermal to Frankfurt Airport (FRA) - Departure Transfer: $27
- Private One Way Frankfurt Airport Transfer To and From Frankfurt: $45
- Arrival Private Transfer from Frankfurt Airport FRA to Frankfurt by business car: $54
- Private 1-Way Transfer From Frankfurt Airport: $54
- Transfer in Private Vehicle from Frankfurt City - Frankfurt Airport (FRA): $54
- Frankfurt Airport (FRA) to Frankfurt Arrival Private Transfer: $55
- Frankfurt to Frankfurt Airport (FRA) Departure Private Transfer: $55
- Transfer in Private Minivan from Frankfurt City - Frankfurt Airport (FRA): $61
- Departure Private Transfer: Frankfurt to Frankfurt Airport FRA by Luxury Vehicle: $63
- Arrival Private Transfer: Frankfurt Airport FRA to Frankfurt by Luxury Vehicle: $63
Is it cheaper to fly into Abu Dhabi or Frankfurt?
Prices for flights to both Frankfurt 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 $45Frankfurt $44
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 Frankfurt
For Frankfurt, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Soda$2.14
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Bagel Sandwich and Latte$7.50
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Ham & Cheese Sandwich and Coffee$6.43
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Sandwich and Cola$7.50
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Frankfurt
For Frankfurt, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Sharing Plate Food Tour In Frankfurt: $65
- FOOD TOUR WITH 3-4 LOCAL INSIDER FOODSPOTS: $81
- FOOD TOUR TO 3-4 LOCAL FOODSPOTS: $81
- Eltz Castle Small-Group Tour from Frankfurt with Dinner: $282
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Abu Dhabi $39Frankfurt $39
Tours and Activities in Abu Dhabi
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Abu Dhabi are as follows:
- Abu Dhabi Full Day City Tour : $100
- Abu Dhabi Louvre Museum Entrance Ticket: $41
- Abu Dhabi Tour-Sheik Zayed Mosque, Emirates Palace With Louvre Musuem: $115
- Falcon Hospital Tour with Transportation : $101
- Full Day Abu Dhabi City & Louvre Museum Tour: $90
- Private Full-Day Tour in Abu Dhabi: $234
- Ticket to Louvre Museum, Abu Dhabi: $19
- 4 Hour Cultural Tour of Abu Dhabi - Private Tour: $160
- 8 Hour Ticket/Pass For Yas Water World In Dubai.: $103
- Abu Dhabi 'Hidden Gems' by City Break - walking tours made fun!: $32
- Abu Dhabi 4G & 5G Data Roaming for Tourist: $11
- Abu Dhabi : Private Custom Walking Tour with A Guide: $43
Tours and Activities in Frankfurt
For Frankfurt, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Selfguided Audiotour "Frankfurt Old Town": $3.22
- First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $3.23
- Germany eSIM Tourist Roaming Data Plan: $4.31
- City Exploration Game and Tour: $4.84
- Frankfurt Scavenger Hunt and Best Landmarks Self-Guided Tour: $6.55
- Highlights Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt & City Tour: $7.00
- Struwwelpeter Museum Entry Ticket w/Audio Guide: $7.53
- Old Town Smartphone Audio Tour: $7.99
- A Self-Guided Audio Tour by Smartphone: $7.99
- Walking Tour with Audio Guide on App: $8.07
- Historisches Museum Entry Ticket: $8.61
- Discover Frankfurt's Heritage: Self-Guided Audio Tour: $11
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAbu Dhabi $13Frankfurt $32
Typical Alcohol Prices in Frankfurt
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Frankfurt:
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Becks Beer$2.14
Sample the Local Flavors in Frankfurt
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Frankfurt:
- Night Pub Crawl through Alt-Sachsenhausen: $22
- Weekend Night Pub Crawl through Alt-Sachsenhausen: $34
- Full Day Private Rhine Valley Wine Tour Experience from Frankfurt: $280
- Frankfurt Wine Tasting Tour with a Wine Expert: $282
- Frankfurt Wine Tasting Tour with a Wine Expert: $286
- Guided Walk Tour With Apple Wine Tasting: $336
- Bachelor(ette) Party with Pub Crawl: $404
- Private Premium Pub Crawl Tour: $517
- Private Rhine Valley tour with river cruise & wine tasting: $752
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Abu Dhabi and Frankfurt, we can see that Abu Dhabi is more expensive. And not only is Frankfurt much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Abu Dhabi is in Middle East and Frankfurt 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 Frankfurt would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Frankfurt 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 Frankfurt.
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 Frankfurt Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Abu Dhabi or Frankfurt?
Frankfurt has a larger population, and is about 8% larger than the population of Abu Dhabi. When comparing the sizes of Abu Dhabi and Frankfurt, 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 Frankfurt?
Frankfurt 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 Frankfurt in the Summer?
Both Frankfurt 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. Furthermore, the city activities and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Frankfurt this time of year.
Abu Dhabi can become quite hot in the summer. In July, Abu Dhabi is generally much warmer than Frankfurt. Daily temperatures in Abu Dhabi average around 35°C (95°F), and Frankfurt fluctuates around 19°C (67°F).
In Frankfurt, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Abu Dhabi. In the summer, Abu Dhabi often gets more sunshine than Frankfurt. Abu Dhabi gets 331 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Frankfurt receives 225 hours of full sun.
Abu Dhabi usually gets less rain in July than Frankfurt. Abu Dhabi gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Frankfurt receives 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyAbu Dhabi 35°C (95°F)Frankfurt 19°C (67°F)
Should I visit Abu Dhabi or Frankfurt in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Abu Dhabi and Frankfurt. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Abu Dhabi year-round. Furthermore, many travelers come to Frankfurt for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene.
Abu Dhabi is much warmer than Frankfurt in the autumn. The daily temperature in Abu Dhabi averages around 29°C (84°F) in October, and Frankfurt fluctuates around 11°C (51°F).
In Abu Dhabi, it's very sunny this time of the year. Abu Dhabi usually receives more sunshine than Frankfurt during autumn. Abu Dhabi gets 314 hours of sunny skies, while Frankfurt receives 103 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Abu Dhabi usually receives less rain than Frankfurt. Abu Dhabi gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Frankfurt receives 51 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberAbu Dhabi 29°C (84°F)Frankfurt 11°C (51°F)
Should I visit Abu Dhabi or Frankfurt in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Abu Dhabi as well as Frankfurt. Abu Dhabi attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, many visitors come to Frankfurt in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Frankfurt can get quite cold in the winter. In the winter, Abu Dhabi is much warmer than Frankfurt. Typically, the winter temperatures in Abu Dhabi in January average around 18°C (64°F), and Frankfurt averages at about 1°C (34°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 Frankfurt. Abu Dhabi gets 269 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Frankfurt receives 41 hours of full sun.
Abu Dhabi usually gets less rain in January than Frankfurt. Abu Dhabi gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Frankfurt receives 44 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryAbu Dhabi 18°C (64°F)Frankfurt 1°C (34°F)
Should I visit Abu Dhabi or Frankfurt in the Spring?
Both Frankfurt 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, most visitors come to Frankfurt for the activities around the city during these months.
In April, Abu Dhabi is generally much warmer than Frankfurt. Daily temperatures in Abu Dhabi average around 27°C (81°F), and Frankfurt fluctuates around 10°C (50°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Abu Dhabi. Abu Dhabi usually receives more sunshine than Frankfurt during spring. Abu Dhabi gets 297 hours of sunny skies, while Frankfurt receives 163 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Abu Dhabi usually receives less rain than Frankfurt. Abu Dhabi gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Frankfurt receives 52 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilAbu Dhabi 27°C (81°F)Frankfurt 10°C (50°F)
Typical Weather for Frankfurt and Abu Dhabi
| Abu Dhabi | Frankfurt | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 18°C (64°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 1°C (34°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) |
| Feb | 20°C (68°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) | 3°C (37°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Mar | 23°C (73°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 6°C (43°F) | 51 mm (2 in) |
| Apr | 27°C (81°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 52 mm (2 in) |
| May | 31°C (88°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 14°C (58°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Jun | 33°C (91°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Jul | 35°C (95°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 19°C (67°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) |
| Aug | 36°C (97°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) |
| Sep | 33°C (91°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 16°C (60°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) |
| Oct | 29°C (84°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 51 mm (2 in) |
| Nov | 25°C (77°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 5°C (42°F) | 59 mm (2.3 in) |
| Dec | 21°C (70°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 2°C (36°F) | 54 mm (2.1 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.