Which place is cheaper, Jaisalmer 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.
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Should you visit Abu Dhabi or Jaisalmer?
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 Jaisalmer can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Abu Dhabi or Jaisalmer?
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.
Jaisalmer
Jaisalmer is located in western part of the Rajasthan state of India. The city is known as the "Golden City" for its Sonar Qila, or 'Golden Fort'. This fort is different than other forts in India in that it is a living fort, meaning that it contains many hotels, homes, and shops for locals and visitors. The city is very close to the Thar Desert, to which excursions can be made.
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 Adventure Tours to India, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in India.
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Abu Dhabi Prices
UAE PricesJaisalmer Prices
India Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAbu Dhabi $197Jaisalmer $41
The average daily cost (per person) in Abu Dhabi is $197, while the average daily cost in Jaisalmer is $41. 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 Jaisalmer in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAbu Dhabi $98Jaisalmer $12
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAbu Dhabi $196Jaisalmer $24
Compare Hotels in Abu Dhabi and Jaisalmer
Looking for a hotel in Abu Dhabi or Jaisalmer? 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 and Jaisalmer Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Abu Dhabi $20Jaisalmer $11
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 Bro's with Private Transfers from Dubai: $279
- Private Transfer from Abu Dhabi Airport (AUH) to Alain: $259
- Ferrari World Abu Dhabi Tickets with Private Transfers: $257
- Full Day Ferrari world Tour with Private Transfers from Dubai: $251
- Private Transfer: Abu Dhabi to Dubai Airport DXB in Luxury SUV: $216
- Warner Bros World and Ferrari World Combo Ticket with transfer from Dubai: $204
- Ferrari World, Yas and Warner Bros Word Tickets with Transfer: $200
- Dubai Miracle Garden and Global Village Transfers from Abu Dhabi: $200
- Abu Dhabi Combo Ticket: Ferrari World and Yas Waterworld with transfers: $195
- Dubai Full Day Trip from City Tour with Transfers: $190
- Louvre Museum and Qasr Al Watan Tour With Private Transfers: $170
- Dining at Talea by Antonio Guida - Emirates Palace with Transfer: $165
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Jaisalmer
Also for Jaisalmer, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Jaisalmer Airport Private Arrival Transfers: $8.10
- One Way Transfer Service From Jaisalmer Airport To Hotel: $11
- Private One Way Transfer From Jaisalmer Hotel To Jaisalmer Airport: $12
- Private Transfer From Jaisalmer To Khuri Sand Dunes: $19
- Jaiselmer to Bikaner drop Private Transfers Car service: $27
- Private Transfer from Jaisalmer to Jodhpur: $37
- One Way Jaisalmer To Jodhpur Transfer: $39
- One Way Transfer From Jaisalmer To Jodhpur: $42
- Private One Way Transfer From Jaisalmer To Jodhpur: $45
- From Jaisalmer : Transfer To Jodhpur Via Osian Temple: $48
- From Jaisalmer : Private Transfer To Bikaner: $55
- From Bikaner : Private Transfer To Jaisalmer: $60
Is it cheaper to fly into Abu Dhabi or Jaisalmer?
Prices for flights to both Jaisalmer 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 $78Jaisalmer $20
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Abu Dhabi
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Abu Dhabi.
- Desert Safari Abu Dhabi with Dune Bashing, BBQ Dinner & Live Show: $32
- Abu Dhabi Desert Safari with Red Dunes 4x4 Pick Drop Dinner Shows: $39
- Abu Dhabi Desert Safari with Live Entertainment and BBQ Dinner: $44
- Abu Dhabi Desert Safari With BBQ Dinner & Live Shows: $50
- Experience Abu Dhabi Yas Island by Dhow Cruise at Sea with Dinner: $55
- Abu Dhabi Desert Safari BBQ Dinner Camel Ride and Live Shows: $56
- Desert Safari In Abu Dhabi With BBQ Dinner: $58
- Evening Desert Safari Abu Dhabi with Hot BBQ Dinner: $65
- Abu Dhabi Desert Safari with Camel Ride BBQ Dinner and Live Shows: $67
- Abu Dhabi Desert Safari with Sandboarding, Camel Ride & Dinner: $68
- Evening Desert Safari Camel Ride Dinner Live Shows in Abu Dhabi: $69
- Abu Dhabi Evening Desert Safari: BBQ Dinner, Camel Ride & Shows: $71
Typical Food Prices in Jaisalmer
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Jaisalmer:
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Dinner$4.21
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Jaisalmer
For Jaisalmer, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- off beat Desert safari with sunset and dinner: $10
- Jaisalmer Food Tour: Taste the Flavors of the Golden City!: $13
- Jodhpur Camel & Jeep Safari with Sunset, Folk Dance, Dinner: $25
- Dinner on the Dunes & Camel Safari: $25
- Jaisalmer Heritage & Cultural Walking & Street Food Tour: $25
- Camel Trails Sunset Safari with Dinner: $32
- Pleasant Sunset Safari With Dinner On Dunes (From 2:00 PM to Approx. 10:00 PM): $35
- Sunset Safari With Dinner: $37
- Cooking Class with Local Family & Rooftop Meal: $37
- Jeep Camel Ride, Musical Evening & Traditional Buffet Dinner: $37
- Shahi Half Day Sunset Camel ride & Cultural program & dinner: $38
- Shahi Half day non touristic sand dune camel safari with dinner: $38
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Abu Dhabi $39Jaisalmer $11
Tours and Activities in Abu Dhabi
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Abu Dhabi are as follows:
- 1 Day 2 Yas Island Park Tickets Combo: $159
- 2 Days 2 Park- Ferrari World +Yas Waterworld Or Warner Bros World Combo Tickets: $155
- 8 Hours Al Ain City Tour without lunch: $103
- 8 hours Private Tour: Ferrari World and Louvre Museum with Pickup: $270
- Abu Dhabi ,Private Layover Tour -6 hours: $299
- Abu Dhabi 2 seater Desert Buggy Experience: $200
- Abu Dhabi : Private Walking Tour with A guide (Private Tour): $46
- Abu Dhabi Aladdin Tour: Grand Mosque, Etihad, Palace, & Louvre: $119
- Abu Dhabi All in One Tour Tradition to Innovation: $199
- Abu Dhabi City Full Day Tour from Abu Dhabi: $157
- Abu Dhabi City Sightseeing Tour from Abu Dhabi Hotels: $100
- Abu Dhabi City Tour Including Ferrari World Tickets from Dubai: $195
Typical Entertainment Prices in Jaisalmer
For Jaisalmer, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Sam Sand Dunes for Two$3.16
Tours and Activities in Jaisalmer
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Jaisalmer.
- City Sightseeing with Experienced Guide: $2.96
- Guided City Tour with Desert Safari: $4.23
- Billions of Stars Experience with Thar Desert & Camel Safari: $5.29
- Sam Sand Dunes Sunset Tour with Camel Ride: $8.00
- 2 Days Sharing Group Thar Desert Safari Adventure Tour: $8.60
- Jaisalmer Fort Guided Tour with Entry Ticket: $9.52
- Nomadic Non Touristic Overnight Thar Desert & Camel Safari: $9.52
- Private Jaisalmer Fort & old city tour: $10
- Explore Jaisalmer at Night (2 Hour Guided Walking Tour): $11
- Colorful Markets of Jaisalmer (3 Hour Guided Tour): $11
- 2-Day Thar Desert Experience: $11
- Cultural & Heritage Trails of Jaisalmer (2 Hours Guided Walking Tour): $11
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAbu Dhabi $13Jaisalmer $8.13
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Abu Dhabi and Jaisalmer, we can see that Abu Dhabi is more expensive. And not only is Jaisalmer much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Abu Dhabi is in Middle East and Jaisalmer 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 Jaisalmer would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Jaisalmer 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 Jaisalmer.
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 Jaisalmer Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Abu Dhabi or Jaisalmer?
Abu Dhabi has a larger population, and is about 9 times larger than the population of Jaisalmer. When comparing the sizes of Abu Dhabi and Jaisalmer, 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.
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.