Which place is cheaper, Lhasa or Abu Dhabi?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit Abu Dhabi or Lhasa?
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 Lhasa can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Abu Dhabi or Lhasa?
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.
Lhasa
Lhasa is the famed capital of Tibet, and is one of the most fascinating cities in the world to visit. It's name means "Land of the Gods" and the city dates back more than 1,300 years. It's elevation is 3,650 meters above sea level, making it one of the highest cities in the world. It sits on the northern slopes of the Himalayan Mountains by the Lhasa River and is the second largest city on the Tibetan Plateau after Xining.
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 Sightseeing Tours in China, and The Best Cultural Tours in China.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAbu Dhabi $164Lhasa $72
The average daily cost (per person) in Abu Dhabi is $164, while the average daily cost in Lhasa is $72. 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 Lhasa in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAbu Dhabi $98Lhasa $40
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAbu Dhabi $196Lhasa $80
Compare Hotels in Abu Dhabi and Lhasa
Looking for a hotel in Abu Dhabi or Lhasa? 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
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Abu Dhabi $20Lhasa $2.61
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:
- Yas Waterworld General Admission with Transfers: $123
- Warner Bros World Ticket's -Abu Dhabi Without Transfer: $220
- Visit Ferrari World Abu Dhabi From Dubai Included Transfer and Tickets: $235
- Transfer: Abu Dhabi Airport(AUH) to Abu Dhabi City Center: $30
- Transfer in private vehicle from Abu Dhabi City - Abu Dhabi Airport (AUH): $42
- Transfer Abu Dhabi City Center to Abu Dhabi Airport (AUH): $30
- Snow Park Abudhabi Premium Tickets with Optional Transfers: $120
- Snow Abu Dhabi Tour with Optional Private Transfers: $110
- Roundtrip Transfer Private Vehicle Abu Dhabi Airport (AUH) - Abu Dhabi City: $83
- Private transfer: Abu Dhabi to Abu Dhabi Airport (AUH): $42
- Private Transfer: Abu Dhabi to Dubai Airport DXB in Luxury Van: $208
- Private Transfer: Abu Dhabi to Dubai Airport DXB in Luxury SUV: $213
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lhasa
Also for Lhasa, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- [Airport Transfer] Lhasa Kunga Airport ⇔ Lhasa City Transfer ☆ High reputation for service! <Charter charter>: $89
- Lhasa Kongga Airport Chauffeur Service, Lhasa Airport Transfer, Pickup: $170
- Lhasa Kongga Airport Chauffeur Service, Lhasa Airport Transfer, Pickup: $260
Is it cheaper to fly into Abu Dhabi or Lhasa?
Prices for flights to both Lhasa 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 dayAbu Dhabi $45Lhasa $27
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Abu Dhabi
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Abu Dhabi.
- Abudhabi Desert Safari Buffet Dinner & Live Entertainments Shows: $24
- Dubai Marina Dinner Cruise with Live Entertainment: $37
- Dubai Marina luxury Dhow Cruise Dinner (catamaran): $45
- Abu Dhabi Desert Safari BBQ Dinner Live Shows Pick & Drop More: $59
- Abu Dhabi Evening Desert Safari Tour with Shows and BBQ Dinner: $60
- Desert Safari In Abu Dhabi With BBQ Dinner: $63
- Abu Dhabi Desert Safari With Live Shows And BBQ Buffet Dinner: $65
- 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
- Abu Dhabi Desert Safari 4x4, BBQ Dinner, Camel Ride: $81
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Abu Dhabi $39Lhasa $17
Tours and Activities in Abu Dhabi
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Abu Dhabi are as follows:
- Abu Dhabi Louvre Museum Entrance Ticket: $41
- Admission Ticket To Qasr Al Hosn Abu Dhabi: $20
- Falcon Hospital Tour with Transportation : $101
- Ferrari World Entrance ticket : $95
- Full Day Abu Dhabi City & Louvre Museum Tour: $90
- Louvre Museum in Abu Dhabi Ticket: $26
- Private Full-Day Tour in Abu Dhabi: $279
- Ticket to Louvre Museum, Abu Dhabi: $19
- 1 Day 2 Yas Island Park Tickets Combo: $130
- 17 Minutes Helicopter Tour in Abu Dhabi: $245
- 2 Days 2 Park- Ferrari World +Yas Waterworld Or Warner Bros World Combo Tickets: $155
- 8 Hour Ticket/Pass For Yas Water World In Dubai.: $103
Tours and Activities in Lhasa
For Lhasa, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Tibet 5-day Lhasa & Namtso Lake Tour: $65
- 4 Days Best of Lhasa Tour - Discover the Holy City: $591
- 4 Days Lhasa City Essence Tour: $644
- 5 Days Lhasa and Ganden Monastery Small Group Tour: $695
- 4 Days Lhasa City Tibet Tour included Permit issued: $760
- Private Full-Day Tour w/ Lunch: $800
- 5 Days Classic Lhasa Tour with Yamdrok Lake in Tibet: $999
- 8 Days Central Tibet and Namtso Small Group Tour: $1,113
- Tibet Overland Tour - 08 Days: $1,432
- 7 Days Lhasa to Kathmandu Small Group Tour: $1,550
- 15 Days Mount Kailash and Lake Manasarovar Small Group Tour: $2,402
- 15-Day Small Group Sightseeing Tour from Lhasa to Majestic: $2,495
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayAbu Dhabi $13Lhasa $7.04
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Abu Dhabi and Lhasa, we can see that Abu Dhabi is more expensive. And not only is Lhasa much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Abu Dhabi is in Middle East and Lhasa 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 Lhasa would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Lhasa 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 Lhasa.
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 Lhasa Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Abu Dhabi or Lhasa?
Abu Dhabi has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Lhasa. When comparing the sizes of Abu Dhabi and Lhasa, 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.