Which place is cheaper, Johannesburg 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 Johannesburg?
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 Johannesburg can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Abu Dhabi or Johannesburg?
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.
Johannesburg
Johannesburg is the largest city in South Africa with a population of over 3 million people. Most of the population is made up of South Africa's black residents, who predominately reside in the Soweto area. There are approximately half a million white residents and 300,000 residents of other descent. Half of the population live in the Soweto area as well as the nearby suburbs.
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 South Africa, and The Best Eco Tours in South Africa.
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Abu Dhabi Prices
UAE PricesJohannesburg Prices
South Africa Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAbu Dhabi $197Johannesburg $107
The average daily cost (per person) in Abu Dhabi is $197, while the average daily cost in Johannesburg is $107. 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 Johannesburg in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAbu Dhabi $98Johannesburg $54
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAbu Dhabi $196Johannesburg $108
Compare Hotels in Abu Dhabi and Johannesburg
Looking for a hotel in Abu Dhabi or Johannesburg? 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 Johannesburg Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Abu Dhabi $20Johannesburg $16
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:
- Abu Dhabi Airport Transfer (Within Abu Dhabi Only): $19
- Private One-way Abu Dhabi Transfer To Abu Dhabi Airport: $28
- Abu Dhabi Airport Private Departure Transfer: $30
- Transfer Abu Dhabi City Center to Abu Dhabi Airport (AUH): $31
- Transfer: Abu Dhabi Airport(AUH) to Abu Dhabi City Center: $31
- Abu Dhabi Airport (AUH) to Abu Dhabi - Arrival Private Transfer: $32
- Louvre Museum Abu Dhabi Ticket with Transfers Option: $33
- Private Transfer from Abu Dhabi Airport to Abu Dhabi City: $33
- Abu Dhabi Airport Departure Transfer (Abu Dhabi Hotels to Abu Dhabi Airport): $34
- Abu Dhabi Airport (AUH) Arrival Transfer (Airport to Abu Dhabi Hotel or Address): $34
- Private Transfer from Abu Dhabi Port to Abu Dhabi Airport (AUH): $37
- Private Transfer from Abu Dhabi Cruise Port to Abu Dhabi Hotels: $37
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Johannesburg
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Johannesburg:
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Taxi Ride$3.21
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Johannesburg
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Johannesburg:
- O.R. Tambo International Airport to city transfer（JNB）: $22
- Airport Shuttle and Private Transfers: $23
- 24 hour Airport Shuttle and Transfer: $27
- 24 Hour Private Transfer Sandton to OR Tambo: $27
- O R Tambo Airport Transfers: Sandton, Rosebank and Melrose: $31
- Tour operator. airport and hotels transfers chauffeur and safari tours services.: $31
- OR Tambo Airport Private Transfer To Sandton: $35
- 1-3 Passenger Private Johannesburg - Airport Transfer: $35
- Johannesburg O.R. Tambo Airport (JNB) to Johannesburg - Arrival Private Transfer: $36
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer in Johannesburg APT-HTL (JNB): $38
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer in Johannesburg HTL-APT (JNB): $38
- Luxury Car Johannesburg Airport Private Transfer: $39
Is it cheaper to fly into Abu Dhabi or Johannesburg?
Prices for flights to both Johannesburg 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 $78Johannesburg $29
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Abu Dhabi
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Abu Dhabi.
- Dubai Marina Unique Dinner Cruise with Live Entertainment: $39
- Desert Safari In Abu Dhabi With BBQ Dinner: $58
- Abu Dhabi Desert Safari Tour with Shows & Buffet Dinner: $60
- Abu Dhabi Desert Safari With Live Shows And BBQ Buffet Dinner: $60
- Evening Desert Safari Abu Dhabi with Hot BBQ Dinner : $65
- Evening Desert Safari Camel Ride Dinner Live Shows in Abu Dhabi: $69
- Desert Safari Abu Dhabi w/ Sand Boarding, Camel Ride & BBQ Dinner: $75
- Abu Dhabi Evening Desert Safari & Dinner Under the Stars: $79
- Abu Dhabi Desert Safari with BBQ Dinner & Shows: $80
- Abu Dhabi Desert Safari 4x4, BBQ Dinner, Camel Ride: $81
- Evening Desert Safari Abu Dhabi with BBQ Dinner & Shows: $81
- Abu Dhabi Desert safari with BBQ Dinner,Sandboarding & Camel ride: $90
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Johannesburg
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Johannesburg.
- Maboneng Street Art and Street Food Tour: $50
- Unique street food tour from at least 6 different cultures!: $60
- Pan-African Cooking & Dinning Experience: $79
- Zulu Food Cooking & Dining Experience with a local Chef: $80
- A Private Traditional Cape Malay Cooking Class, with a MKR Finalist: $95
- Zulu Food Cooking and Dining Experience with a local Chef: $101
- Lesedi Cultural Experience + Lunch or Dinner: $118
- Lesedi Cultural Village with lunch or dinner cultural food: $125
- Soweto Township Tour with Cooking Class: $136
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Abu Dhabi $39Johannesburg $21
Tours and Activities in Abu Dhabi
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Abu Dhabi are as follows:
- Self Guided Audio Tour of Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Abu Dhabi: $8.00
- Qasr Al Hosn Entry Ticket: $8.17
- Fast-Track Admission Ticket to Qasr Al Hosn: $8.37
- Skip-the-Line Ticket for Qasr Al Hosn, Abu Dhabi: $9.40
- Qasr Al Watan Entry Ticket in Abu Dhabi: $13
- Qasar Al Hosn Abu Dhabi Entry Tickets: $13
- Louvre Join an Express Guided Tour: $14
- Skip the Line Qasr Al Watan Abu Dhabi Ticket: $14
- Qasr Al Watan Abu Dhabi Entry Ticket: $16
- Qasr al Hosn Entrance Ticket: $16
- Qasr Al Watan Presidential Palace Abu Dhabi Ticket: $16
- Admission Ticket to Qasr Al Watan Abu Dhabi: $17
Tours and Activities in Johannesburg
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Johannesburg are as follows:
- Jo'burg Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour with Apartheid Museum & Soweto: $17
- Hop-On Hop-Off Bus with Optional Soweto Tour: $18
- Soweto: Hector Pieterson Memorial, to Orlando Towers Tour: $24
- Architectural Walking Tour: $25
- Guided Walking Tour in Johannesburg: $28
- Soweto Township Tour: $30
- Soweto: Bike Tour with a Local Tour Guide: $30
- Maboneng Street Art & Culture Tour: $30
- Half-Day Walking Tour in Soweto: $32
- Braamfontein Street Art & Culture Tour: $33
- Johannesburg Like a Local: Customized Guided Tour: $35
- Johannesburg Like a Local: Customized Private Tour: $35
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAbu Dhabi $13Johannesburg $4.69
Sample the Local Flavors in Johannesburg
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Johannesburg:
- Wine Tasting Experience in Johannesburg: $8.42
- Wine Tasting: $11
- Hop on Hop Off Johannesburg Pub Crawl: $12
- Wine Tasting and Cableway Half Day Tour: $139
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Abu Dhabi and Johannesburg, we can see that Abu Dhabi is more expensive. And not only is Johannesburg much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Abu Dhabi is in Middle East and Johannesburg is in Africa, 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 Johannesburg would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Johannesburg 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 Johannesburg.
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 Johannesburg Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Abu Dhabi or Johannesburg?
Johannesburg has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Abu Dhabi. When comparing the sizes of Abu Dhabi and Johannesburg, 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.