Which place is cheaper, Los Angeles 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 Los Angeles?
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 Los Angeles can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Abu Dhabi or Los Angeles?
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.
Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California is probably one of the most well known cities in the United States. It is the second most populated metro area in the country with more than 17 million people. The city's diversity is wide reaching, giving it a character that is unique from any other place in the country. LA has many world famous sights and neighborhoods including Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Rodeo Drive, and Santa Monica, but there is really so much more to this city.
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 G Adventures Tours to United States of America, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Las Vegas.
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Abu Dhabi Prices
UAE PricesLos Angeles Prices
USA Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAbu Dhabi $197Los Angeles $302
The average daily cost (per person) in Abu Dhabi is $197, while the average daily cost in Los Angeles is $302. 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 Los Angeles in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAbu Dhabi $98Los Angeles $140
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAbu Dhabi $196Los Angeles $280
Compare Hotels in Abu Dhabi and Los Angeles
Looking for a hotel in Abu Dhabi or Los Angeles? 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 Los Angeles Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Abu Dhabi $20Los Angeles $42
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 Bros World Ticket's -Abu Dhabi Without Transfer: $220
- Warner Bro's with Private Transfers from Dubai: $279
- Visit Ferrari World Abu Dhabi From Dubai Included Transfer and Tickets: $235
- Try find your better than us! Airport transfer service in Abu Dhabi APT-HTL(AUH): $56
- Transfer: Abu Dhabi Airport(AUH) to Abu Dhabi City Center: $29
- Transfer in private vehicle from Abu Dhabi Airport (AUH)- Abu Dhabi City: $42
- Transfer in private minivan from Abu Dhabi City - Abu Dhabi Airport (AUH): $58
- Transfer from Abu Dhabi to Dubai City: $150
- Transfer Abu Dhabi City Center to Abu Dhabi Airport (AUH): $29
- Tickets to Global Village with Private Transfer: $95
- Snow Park Abudhabi Premium Tickets with Optional Transfers: $120
- Snow Abu Dhabi With Transfer Optional : $87
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Los Angeles
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Los Angeles:
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Hotel Parking for a Day$22
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Taxi to Airport$55
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Los Angeles
Also for Los Angeles, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer Los Angeles Airport LAX to LA City or Anaheim: $35
- Private Arrival Airport Transfer from LAX (Los Angeles) Airport: $39
- Private Arrival Transfer from Burbank Airport (BUR): $40
- Private Departure Transfer to Burbank Airport (BUR): $40
- World Cruise Center to Long Beach - Arrival Private Transfer: $59
- Los Angeles World Cruise Center to Los Angeles- Arrival Transfer: $63
- Los Angeles World Cruise Center to Los Angeles - Arrival Private Transfer: $63
- Los Angeles to Los Angeles World Cruise Center - Departure Private Transfer: $63
- Los Angeles Private Transfer to or from Hollywood.: $63
- World Cruise Center to Long Beach Airport(LGB)-Departure Transfer: $65
- World Cruise Center to Long Beach - Arrival Private Transfer: $65
- Los Angeles Private Transfer from City to Airport (LAX): $66
Is it cheaper to fly into Abu Dhabi or Los Angeles?
Prices for flights to both Los Angeles 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 $78Los Angeles $104
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Abu Dhabi
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Abu Dhabi.
- Abu Dhabi Desert Safari BBQ Dinner Live Shows Pick & Drop More: $25
- Dubai Marina Dinner Cruise with Live Entertainment: $38
- Dubai Marina luxury Dhow Cruise Dinner (catamaran): $46
- Abu Dhabi Evening Desert Safari Tour with Shows & Buffet Dinner: $60
- Abu Dhabi Desert Safari With BBQ Dinner & Live Shows: $60
- Abu Dhabi Desert Safari With Live Shows And BBQ Buffet Dinner: $70
- Abu Dhabi 4x4 Desert Safari BBQ Dinner , Camel Ride , Belly Dance: $75
- Desert Safari Abu Dhabi w/ Sand Boarding, Camel Ride & BBQ Dinner: $75
- Abu Dhabi Evening Desert Safari & Dinner Under the Stars: $77
- Evening Desert Safari Abu Dhabi with BBQ Dinner & Shows: $81
- Abu Dhabi Evening Desert Safari with Camel Ride and Dinner: $84
- Dune Dinner Safari Abu Dhabi: $98
Typical Food Prices in Los Angeles
For Los Angeles, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Mexican Dinner (family of 4)$32
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Burritos for Two$15
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Coffee and Danish$7.70
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Los Angeles
For Los Angeles, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- West Los Angeles Walking Food Tour : $45
- Santa Monica Delicious Donut Adventure & Walking Food Tour: $65
- West LA Donut Adventure and Walking Food Tour with Tastings: $65
- Silver Lake Food Tour with Comedian Foodie Guide!: $69
- Venice Beach Food Tour with Tastings: $75
- Downtown Food Tour: $89
- Downtown Los Angeles Food Tour: $89
- 3-Hour Secret Food Tour of Venice Beach: $89
- West Hollywood Food Tour: $99
- Guided Food Tour in Silver Lake: $99
- Venice Beach LA Food Tour: $99
- Venice Beach Food Tour: $99
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Abu Dhabi $39Los Angeles $82
Tours and Activities in Abu Dhabi
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Abu Dhabi are as follows:
- Abu Dhabi Tour-Sheik Zayed Mosque, Emirates Palace With Louvre Musuem: $115
- Admission Ticket To Qasr Al Hosn Abu Dhabi: $20
- Falcon Hospital Tour with Transportation : $101
- Louvre Museum in Abu Dhabi Ticket: $26
- Private Full-Day Tour in Abu Dhabi: $279
- Yas island abu dhabi 1/2/3 park admission tickets : $95
- 1 Day 2 Yas Island Park Tickets Combo: $130
- 2 Days 2 Park- Ferrari World +Yas Waterworld Or Warner Bros World Combo Tickets: $155
- 45 minutes Yas Experience: $42
- 8 Hour Ticket/Pass For Yas Water World In Dubai.: $103
- 8 Hours Al Ain City Tour without lunch : $117
- 20 Minutes Rolls Royce Jet Car Tour: $204
Typical Entertainment Prices in Los Angeles
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Los Angeles's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Santa Monica Pier Rides (family of 4)$37
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Bowling$13
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Hollywood Tour for Two$30
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Six Flags for 2$96
Tours and Activities in Los Angeles
For Los Angeles, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Santa Monica: Self-guided Bike Tour App - Audio + Written: $5.00
- Gambling Built the Sunset Strip: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.13
- Hollywood Boulevard’s Haunting History and Hidden Gems: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.20
- The Heart of Los Angeles’ Dreamland: A Self-Guide Tour in Culver City: $5.99
- Ghost Hunt Quest Experience in Hollywood: $7.00
- Venice Boardwalk Quest Experience in Los Angeles: $7.00
- Los Angeles Scavenger Hunt and Highlights Self-Guided Tour: $7.01
- Pacific Coast Hwy (LA Santa Maria): Smartphone Audio Tour: $7.13
- Lost Souls of Hollywood Smartphone Ghost Tour: $7.13
- LA Little Tokyo to Olvera St Smartphone (App/GPS) Walking Tour: $7.50
- Lost Souls of Hollywood Blvd: a Smartphone Audio Ghost Tour: $7.99
- LA: Broad Museum & Downtown Ticket & In-App Tour: $9.00
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAbu Dhabi $13Los Angeles $15
Sample the Local Flavors in Los Angeles
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Los Angeles:
- LA Ghosts Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl: $40
- 2 Hours Party Bike Pub Crawl Tour in Glendale California: $43
- Malibu: Vintage VW Sightseeing Tour and Wine Tasting: $195
- Wine Tour at Fess Parker Winery by Helicopter: $4,299
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Abu Dhabi and Los Angeles, we can see that Los Angeles is more expensive. And not only is Abu Dhabi much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Abu Dhabi is in Middle East and Los Angeles is in North America, 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 Abu Dhabi would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Abu Dhabi 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 Los Angeles would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Los Angeles than you might in Abu Dhabi.
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 Los Angeles Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Abu Dhabi or Los Angeles?
Los Angeles has a larger population, and is about 6 times larger than the population of Abu Dhabi. When comparing the sizes of Abu Dhabi and Los Angeles, 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 Los Angeles?
Los Angeles 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 Los Angeles in the Summer?
Both Los Angeles 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, most visitors come to Los Angeles for the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences during these months.
Abu Dhabi can become quite hot in the summer. In July, Abu Dhabi is generally much warmer than Los Angeles. Daily temperatures in Abu Dhabi average around 35°C (95°F), and Los Angeles fluctuates around 72°F (22°C).
Abu Dhabi usually gets more rain in July than Los Angeles. Abu Dhabi gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Los Angeles receives 0 inches (0 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyAbu Dhabi 35°C (95°F)Los Angeles 72°F (22°C)
Should I visit Abu Dhabi or Los Angeles in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Abu Dhabi and Los Angeles. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Abu Dhabi year-round. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Los Angeles because of the hiking trails, the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the music scene.
Abu Dhabi is much warmer than Los Angeles in the autumn. The daily temperature in Abu Dhabi averages around 29°C (84°F) in October, and Los Angeles fluctuates around 64°F (18°C).
In October, Abu Dhabi usually receives less rain than Los Angeles. Abu Dhabi gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Los Angeles receives 0.6 inches (15 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberAbu Dhabi 29°C (84°F)Los Angeles 64°F (18°C)
Should I visit Abu Dhabi or Los Angeles in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Abu Dhabi as well as Los Angeles. Abu Dhabi attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, the museums, the shopping scene, the theater shows, and the cuisine are the main draw to Los Angeles this time of year.
In the winter, Abu Dhabi is a little warmer than Los Angeles. Typically, the winter temperatures in Abu Dhabi in January average around 18°C (64°F), and Los Angeles averages at about 55°F (13°C).
Abu Dhabi usually gets less rain in January than Los Angeles. Abu Dhabi gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Los Angeles receives 3.1 inches (79 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryAbu Dhabi 18°C (64°F)Los Angeles 55°F (13°C)
Should I visit Abu Dhabi or Los Angeles in the Spring?
Both Los Angeles 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, many travelers come to Los Angeles for the beaches and the activities around the city.
In April, Abu Dhabi is generally much warmer than Los Angeles. Daily temperatures in Abu Dhabi average around 27°C (81°F), and Los Angeles fluctuates around 61°F (16°C).
In April, Abu Dhabi usually receives less rain than Los Angeles. Abu Dhabi gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Los Angeles receives 1 inches (25 mm) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilAbu Dhabi 27°C (81°F)Los Angeles 61°F (16°C)
Typical Weather for Los Angeles and Abu Dhabi
| Abu Dhabi | Los Angeles | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 18°C (64°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 55°F (13°C) | 3.1 inches (79 mm) |
| Feb | 20°C (68°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) | 55°F (13°C) | 3 inches (76 mm) |
| Mar | 23°C (73°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 57°F (14°C) | 2.8 inches (71 mm) |
| Apr | 27°C (81°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 61°F (16°C) | 1 inches (25 mm) |
| May | 31°C (88°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 63°F (17°C) | 0.4 inches (10 mm) |
| Jun | 33°C (91°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 66°F (19°C) | 0.1 inches (3 mm) |
| Jul | 35°C (95°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 72°F (22°C) | 0 inches (0 mm) |
| Aug | 36°C (97°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 72°F (22°C) | 0 inches (0 mm) |
| Sep | 33°C (91°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 70°F (21°C) | 0.2 inches (5 mm) |
| Oct | 29°C (84°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 64°F (18°C) | 0.6 inches (15 mm) |
| Nov | 25°C (77°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 63°F (17°C) | 1.2 inches (31 mm) |
| Dec | 21°C (70°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 57°F (14°C) | 2.6 inches (66 mm) |
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.