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

Should you visit Abu Dhabi or Helsinki?

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

Where Should I go: Abu Dhabi or Helsinki?

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.

Helsinki

Helsinki is the capital of Finland and dates back to 1550. Helsinki is an international metropolis with a diverse population, but also a small town vibe. The city itself has a population of just over 600,000 but the metropolitan area, including Espoo and Vantaa, has a population of more than 1.3 million. There are many outdoor bars and cafes that take advantage of the warmer summer months. During this time there are long days, and the population floods into the street after a long and cold winter, so visiting during the summer is a fun and lively experience.

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 Budget Tours to Finland, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Finland.


Which place is cheaper, Helsinki 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 Helsinki is $149. 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 Helsinki in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Abu Dhabi $98
    Helsinki $78
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Abu Dhabi $196
    Helsinki $156
Compare Hotels in Abu Dhabi and Helsinki

Looking for a hotel in Abu Dhabi or Helsinki? 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 Helsinki


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 Helsinki Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Abu Dhabi $20
    Helsinki $24
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:

  • 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

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Helsinki

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

  • Helsinki West Harbour Terminal to Helsinki hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $32
  • Private Transfer from Helsinki Cruise Terminal to Helsinki hotels: $32
  • Helsinki Airport (HEL) to Helsinki City hotels - Arrival Transfer: $41
  • Helsinki West Harbour Terminal to Helsinki hotels - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $63
  • Departure Private Transfer Helsinki City to Helsinki Airport HEL by business car: $64
  • Arrival Private Transfer from Helsinki airport HEL to Helsinki by luxury van: $76
  • Helsinki Airport (HEL) to Helsinki West Terminal - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $81
  • Helsinki Private Airport & City Transfer: $82
  • Vantaa Airport(HEL) to Helsinki hotels-RoundTrip Private Transfer: $83
  • Helsinki Airport (HEL) to Helsinki City hotel Round-Trip Transfer: $83
  • Private Transfer: Cruise Port to Helsinki in Business Car: $92
  • Private Transfer: Helsinki City to Cruise Port in Luxury Van: $93

Is it cheaper to fly into Abu Dhabi or Helsinki?

Prices for flights to both Helsinki 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
    Helsinki $37

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 Helsinki

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

  • FOOD Tour with Rooftop Bar Visit in Helsinki: $107
  • FOOD Tour with Roof Top Bar in Helsinki: $108
  • Helsinki Food Tour Including Tastings: $164

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Abu Dhabi $39
    Helsinki $29

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 Helsinki

For Helsinki, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Tip-Based City Highlights Guided Walking Tour: $2.15
  • Free Evening Helsinki Tour - A Walk through Centuries: $2.61
  • First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $3.23
  • Tip-based Free Walking Tour Helsinki - RED UMBRELLA TOURS: $5.13
  • Escape Game and Tour: $7.00
  • Helsinki Highlights Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt and City Tour: $7.00
  • A Self-Guided Walking Tour of Helsinki's Historical Highlights: $7.99
  • Temppeliaukio Church Entrance Ticket: $8.61
  • From Round-Trip Ferry Ticket to Suomenlinna: $8.70
  • Helsinki Self-Guided Audio Tour: $9.00
  • Suomenlinna: Museum Ticket: $9.69
  • Historical Highlights Self-Guided Audio Tour: $9.99

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Abu Dhabi $13
    Helsinki $17


When comparing the travel costs between Abu Dhabi and Helsinki, we can see that Abu Dhabi is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Even though Abu Dhabi is in Middle East and Helsinki is in Europe, both of these destinations have relatively similar prices of travel. Generally, the levels of luxury and expenses are the same for these cities even though they are geographically far apart.

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 Helsinki Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Abu Dhabi or Helsinki?

Abu Dhabi has a larger population, and is about 8% larger than the population of Helsinki. When comparing the sizes of Abu Dhabi and Helsinki, 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 Helsinki?

Helsinki 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 Helsinki in the Summer?

Both Helsinki 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 Helsinki in the summer for the family-friendly experiences.

The heat can be very extreme in Abu Dhabi. In the summer, Abu Dhabi is much warmer than Helsinki. Typically, the summer temperatures in Abu Dhabi in July average around 35°C (95°F), and Helsinki averages at about 17°C (62°F).

In Helsinki, 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 Helsinki. Abu Dhabi gets 331 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Helsinki receives 275 hours of full sun.

Abu Dhabi usually gets less rain in July than Helsinki. Abu Dhabi gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Helsinki receives 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Abu Dhabi 35°C (95°F) 
    Helsinki 17°C (62°F)

Should I visit Abu Dhabi or Helsinki in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Abu Dhabi and Helsinki. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Abu Dhabi year-round. Also, most visitors come to Helsinki for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area during these months.

In October, Abu Dhabi is generally much warmer than Helsinki. Daily temperatures in Abu Dhabi average around 29°C (84°F), and Helsinki fluctuates around 6°C (42°F).

In Abu Dhabi, it's very sunny this time of the year. Abu Dhabi usually receives more sunshine than Helsinki during autumn. Abu Dhabi gets 314 hours of sunny skies, while Helsinki receives 90 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Abu Dhabi usually receives less rain than Helsinki. Abu Dhabi gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Helsinki receives 71 mm (2.8 in) of rain each month for the autumn.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Abu Dhabi 29°C (84°F) 
    Helsinki 6°C (42°F)

Should I visit Abu Dhabi or Helsinki in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Abu Dhabi as well as Helsinki. Abu Dhabi attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, the winter months attract visitors to Helsinki because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

The weather in Helsinki can be very cold. Abu Dhabi is much warmer than Helsinki in the winter. The daily temperature in Abu Dhabi averages around 18°C (64°F) in January, and Helsinki fluctuates around -6°C (21°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 Helsinki. Abu Dhabi gets 269 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Helsinki receives 39 hours of full sun.

Abu Dhabi usually gets less rain in January than Helsinki. Abu Dhabi gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Helsinki receives 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Abu Dhabi 18°C (64°F) 
    Helsinki -6°C (21°F)

Should I visit Abu Dhabi or Helsinki in the Spring?

Both Helsinki 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 natural beauty are the main draw to Helsinki this time of year.

It's quite cold in Helsinki in the spring. In the spring, Abu Dhabi is much warmer than Helsinki. Typically, the spring temperatures in Abu Dhabi in April average around 27°C (81°F), and Helsinki averages at about 3°C (37°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Abu Dhabi. Abu Dhabi usually receives more sunshine than Helsinki during spring. Abu Dhabi gets 297 hours of sunny skies, while Helsinki receives 183 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Abu Dhabi usually receives less rain than Helsinki. Abu Dhabi gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Helsinki receives 41 mm (1.6 in) of rain each month for the spring.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Abu Dhabi 27°C (81°F) 
    Helsinki 3°C (37°F)

Typical Weather for Helsinki and Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi Helsinki
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 18°C (64°F) 10 mm (0.4 in) -6°C (21°F) 40 mm (1.6 in)
Feb 20°C (68°F) 20 mm (0.8 in) -7°C (20°F) 31 mm (1.2 in)
Mar 23°C (73°F) 10 mm (0.4 in) -3°C (27°F) 34 mm (1.4 in)
Apr 27°C (81°F) 10 mm (0.4 in) 3°C (37°F) 41 mm (1.6 in)
May 31°C (88°F) 10 mm (0.4 in) 9°C (49°F) 31 mm (1.2 in)
Jun 33°C (91°F) 10 mm (0.4 in) 15°C (59°F) 40 mm (1.6 in)
Jul 35°C (95°F) 10 mm (0.4 in) 17°C (62°F) 58 mm (2.3 in)
Aug 36°C (97°F) 10 mm (0.4 in) 16°C (60°F) 72 mm (2.8 in)
Sep 33°C (91°F) 10 mm (0.4 in) 11°C (51°F) 74 mm (2.9 in)
Oct 29°C (84°F) 10 mm (0.4 in) 6°C (42°F) 71 mm (2.8 in)
Nov 25°C (77°F) 10 mm (0.4 in) 1°C (33°F) 70 mm (2.8 in)
Dec 21°C (70°F) 10 mm (0.4 in) -4°C (26°F) 58 mm (2.3 in)