A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Abu Dhabi vs. Haridwar for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Abu Dhabi or Haridwar?

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 Haridwar can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Abu Dhabi or Haridwar?

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.

Haridwar

A spiritual journey is not complete without a trip to Haridwar as it is the lands of legends and tales cleansed by the Holy Ganga and regarded as the Holiest places for washing of sins. Haridwar is located on the foothills of the Himalayas making the place a truly memorable experience. After making a Haridwar Darshan, you will find most of your answers regarding the unknown and uncertainties. Rishikesh is very close to Haridwar, for waking the adrenaline rush in you. One can plan out so many activities to do in Haridwar for a fun filling vacation.

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 Photography Tours in India, and The Best Religious Tours in India.


Which place is cheaper, Haridwar or Abu Dhabi?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Abu Dhabi is $164, while the average daily cost in Haridwar is $31. 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 Haridwar in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Abu Dhabi $98
    Haridwar $15
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Abu Dhabi $196
    Haridwar $30
Compare Hotels in Abu Dhabi and Haridwar

Looking for a hotel in Abu Dhabi or Haridwar? 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.

Hotels in Abu Dhabi


Hotels in Haridwar


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 Haridwar Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Abu Dhabi $20
    Haridwar $5.32
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Abu Dhabi

Some typical examples of transportation costs in Abu Dhabi are as follows:


  • Car Rental
    $31
  • Taxi to Airport
    $14

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Abu Dhabi

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Abu Dhabi:

  • Skydive in Abu Dhabi | Tandem Skydive with transfer: $817
  • Private Transfer from Qasr Al Sarab to Abu Dhabi Airport (AUH): $274
  • Private Transfer from Abu Dhabi Airport (AUH) to Fujairah: $274
  • Private Transfer from Jebel Dhanna Resort to Abu Dhabi Airport (AUH): $274
  • Private Transfer from Abu Dhabi Airport (AUH) to Talal Liwa: $274
  • Private Transfer from Talal Liwa to Abu Dhabi Airport (AUH): $274
  • Private Transfer from Abu Dhabi Airport (AUH) to Jebel Dhanna Resort: $274
  • Ferrari world & Warner bros. parks with transfer from Dubai: $250
  • Abu Dhabi Helicopter Ride with optional Private Transfers: $222
  • Warner Bros World Ticket's -Abu Dhabi Without Transfer: $220
  • Private Transfer: Abu Dhabi to Dubai Airport DXB in Luxury Van: $212
  • Private Transfer: Abu Dhabi Airport AUH to Dubai in Luxury Van: $202

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Haridwar

Also for Haridwar, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Affordable Dehradun Airport Transfer.: $15
  • Affordable Dehradun airport transfer to Rishikesh: $20
  • Affordable transfer from Rishikesh to Dehradun Airport: $20
  • Private Transfer from Dehradun Airport to Rishikesh: $35
  • Affordable transfer from Haridwar to Delhi: $39
  • Affordable transfer from Dehradun to Delhi: $39
  • Affordable transfer from Rishikesh to Delhi: $39
  • Private Transfer from Haridwar to Delhi: $44
  • Private Transfer from Rishikesh to Delhi: $47
  • Private Transfer from Mussoorie to Delhi: $53
  • Delhi To Haridwar Transfer: $75
  • Dehradun- Transfers+Hotel+Sightseeing: $271

Is it cheaper to fly into Abu Dhabi or Haridwar?

Prices for flights to both Haridwar 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Abu Dhabi $45
    Haridwar $10

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

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Haridwar

For Haridwar, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Sattvic Traditional Cooking Classes, Rishikesh India: $35
  • Rishikesh Half Day Street Food Tour: $45

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Abu Dhabi $39
    Haridwar $9.19

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
  • 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
  • Abu Dhabi City Tour: $186

Tours and Activities in Haridwar

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Haridwar.

  • Guided Haunted & Mysterious Walking Tour of Mussoorie: $13
  • Guided Night Walking Tour in Rishikesh - Explore the best nightlife with a local: $13
  • Experience Spiritual Culture in Rishikesh with a local - A Unique Walking Tour: $14
  • Private Walking Tour in Rishikesh: $18
  • Guided Food Crawl Tour of Mussoorie with a local: $25
  • Haridwar Tanga Tour: $29
  • Adventure trip in Chakrata : $37
  • Caving Tour in Rishikesh - 6 Hrs.: $45
  • Rishikesh cultural sightseeing tour with Ganga Aarti: $45
  • Private Kunjapuri Sunrise Tour: $49
  • Discovering Dehradun: A Full Day Guided Tour: $61
  • Private Day Tour - Sunrise trek Kunjapuri to Rishikesh: $61

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Abu Dhabi $13
    Haridwar $6.83


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Abu Dhabi and Haridwar, we can see that Abu Dhabi is more expensive. And not only is Haridwar much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Abu Dhabi is in Middle East and Haridwar 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 Haridwar would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Haridwar 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 Haridwar.

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 Haridwar Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Abu Dhabi or Haridwar?

Abu Dhabi has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Haridwar. When comparing the sizes of Abu Dhabi and Haridwar, 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.