Which place is cheaper, New York City or Abu Dhabi?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Abu Dhabi or New York City?
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 New York City can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Abu Dhabi or New York City?
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.
New York City
The most populated city in the United States, New York City, sits at the mouth of the Hudson River and encompasses both the island of Manhattan as well as the surrounding land on Long Island, most of which is known as Brooklyn. It's a cultural, culinary, theatrical, and art center that has much to offer domestic and international travelers alike. The city covers an area of 305 square miles and has a population of about 8.2 million people in the city proper with 18.7 million in the metropolitan area.
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 Tours Under $1000 in United States of America, and The Best Luxury Tours to United States of America.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAbu Dhabi $164New York City $326
The average daily cost (per person) in Abu Dhabi is $164, while the average daily cost in New York City is $326. 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 New York City in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAbu Dhabi $98New York City $175
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAbu Dhabi $196New York City $350
Compare Hotels in Abu Dhabi and New York City
Looking for a hotel in Abu Dhabi or New York City? 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 New York City Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Abu Dhabi $20New York City $49
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 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
Typical Local Transportation Prices in New York City
Some typical examples of transportation costs in New York City are as follows:
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Subway$4.50
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Taxi Ride$8.00
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Subway$2.50
Hired Cars and Shuttles in New York City
Also for New York City, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Manhattan: Bus Transfer from/to Newark Airport: $21
- New York: 1-Way Transfer to/from JFK & Grand Central Station: $27
- Midtown/Lower Manhattan -JFK: Private Airport Departure Transfers: $29
- Newark Liberty International Airport: One-Way Private Transfer to / from NYC: $34
- Private Departure Transfers from Upper Manhattan to JFK Airport: $34
- Manhattan to EWR: One Way Shared Departure Transfer: $34
- EWR to Manhattan: One Way Shared Arrival Transfer: $34
- JFK to Manhattan: One Way Shared Arrival Transfer : $34
- LGA to Manhattan: One Way Shared Arrival Transfer: $34
- Manhattan to JFK: One Way Shared Departure Transfer : $34
- Manhattan to LGA: One Way Shared Departure Transfer: $34
- NYC: One-Way Shared Transfer to or from Newark Airport: $36
Is it cheaper to fly into Abu Dhabi or New York City?
Prices for flights to both New York City 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 $45New York City $50
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
Typical Food Prices in New York City
For New York City, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Gelato$7.50
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Snacks for Two at Yankees Game$34
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Coffee$6.53
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Smoothie$6.95
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in New York City
For New York City, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- New York, Queens Culinary Stroll : Food Tour on Foot: $26
- Lower East Side and Essex Market Multicultural Food Tour: $39
- Half-Day Private Pizza Crawl in Manhattan: $40
- Ultimate Greenwich Village NYC Food Tour: $63
- NYC: Greenwich Village Guided Food Tour: $63
- Pizza Walking Tour of Downtown Brooklyn: $65
- Greenwich Village NYC Pizza Walking Tour: $65
- West Village Pizza Walk: $65
- East Village Pizza Walk: $65
- Downtown Brooklyn Pizza Walking Tour: $65
- East Village NYC Pizza Walking Tour: $65
- Gastro Pub Pre/Post Theater Dinner in Times Square: $67
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Abu Dhabi $39New York City $180
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
Typical Entertainment Prices in New York City
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for New York City's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Comedy Show Tickets$56
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City Map$8.00
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Broadway Musical$111
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Broadway Show Program$10
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Magazine$6.99
Tours and Activities in New York City
For New York City, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Central Park NYC: First Discovery Walk and Reading Tour: $3.23
- Brooklyn Bridge Self-Guided Bike or Walking Tour Application: $5.00
- Self Guided Central Park Bike or Walking Tour Application: $5.00
- Central Park: Self-guided Bike Tour App - Audio + Written: $5.00
- Marvel Universe in New York In-app Audio Tour in English: $5.00
- New York City's Financial District: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.34
- New York World's Fair Site: Explore its utopian future on an audio tour: $5.39
- Broadway: A Self-Guided Audio Tour of the World's Iconic Theatre District: $5.39
- Private Audio Guided Walking Tour in New York: $5.45
- Central Park Scavenger Hunt and Best Landmarks Self-Guided Tour: $6.56
- Self Guided "Central Park Movie Tour" Solo Walking Tour in New York City: $6.75
- Private Haunted and Historic Audio Tour in Greenwich Village: $6.95
For more ideas for your next trip, check out The Best Things to do in New York City with Kids, Things to Do in Central Park in NYC, and The Best Museums in New York City.
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAbu Dhabi $13New York City $29
Sample the Local Flavors in New York City
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in New York City:
- NYC West Village Pub Crawl: $22
- Pub Crawl and Rooftop Clubbing Experience: $29
- New York Ghosts Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl: $34
- NYC: Brooklyn Nightlife Pub Crawl: $34
- New York Rooftop Pub Crawl: $39
- NYC: Tour Manhattan's Only Whiskey Distillery with Tastings: $42
- Lower East Side & Alphabet City divebar crawl w the Bar Buds: $48
- Little Italy Prohibition Pub Crawl: $64
- Lower East Side Prohibition Pub Crawl: $74
- New York Wine Tasting Experience : $98
- Guided Brooklyn Craft Brewery Tour: $99
- Hudson Valley Craft Brewery Bike Tour: $145
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Abu Dhabi and New York City, we can see that New York City 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 New York City 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 New York City would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in New York City 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 New York City Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Abu Dhabi or New York City?
New York City has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Abu Dhabi. When comparing the sizes of Abu Dhabi and New York City, 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 New York City?
New York City 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 New York City in the Summer?
Both New York City 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. Furthermore, most visitors come to New York City for the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences during these months.
It's very hot in Abu Dhabi this time of the year. Abu Dhabi is a little warmer than New York City in the summer. The daily temperature in Abu Dhabi averages around 35°C (95°F) in July, and New York City fluctuates around 77°F (25°C).
New York City gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Abu Dhabi usually gets less rain in July than New York City. Abu Dhabi gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while New York City receives 4.5 inches (114 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyAbu Dhabi 35°C (95°F)New York City 77°F (25°C)
Should I visit Abu Dhabi or New York City in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Abu Dhabi and New York City. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Abu Dhabi year-round. Furthermore, the autumn months attract visitors to New York City because of the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
In the autumn, Abu Dhabi is much warmer than New York City. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Abu Dhabi in October average around 29°C (84°F), and New York City averages at about 57°F (14°C).
In October, Abu Dhabi usually receives less rain than New York City. Abu Dhabi gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while New York City receives 3.1 inches (78 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberAbu Dhabi 29°C (84°F)New York City 57°F (14°C)
Should I visit Abu Dhabi or New York City in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Abu Dhabi as well as New York City. Abu Dhabi attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, the museums, the Christmas ambience, the shopping scene, the theater shows, and the cuisine are the main draw to New York City this time of year.
It's quite cold in New York City in the winter. In January, Abu Dhabi is generally much warmer than New York City. Daily temperatures in Abu Dhabi average around 18°C (64°F), and New York City fluctuates around 31°F (-1°C).
Abu Dhabi usually gets less rain in January than New York City. Abu Dhabi gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while New York City receives 3.4 inches (86 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryAbu Dhabi 18°C (64°F)New York City 31°F (-1°C)
Should I visit Abu Dhabi or New York City in the Spring?
Both New York City 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 New York City for the activities around the city and the natural beauty.
Abu Dhabi is much warmer than New York City in the spring. The daily temperature in Abu Dhabi averages around 27°C (81°F) in April, and New York City fluctuates around 52°F (11°C).
In April, Abu Dhabi usually receives less rain than New York City. Abu Dhabi gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while New York City receives 3.8 inches (98 mm) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilAbu Dhabi 27°C (81°F)New York City 52°F (11°C)
Typical Weather for New York City and Abu Dhabi
| Abu Dhabi | New York City | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 18°C (64°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 31°F (-1°C) | 3.4 inches (86 mm) |
| Feb | 20°C (68°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) | 33°F (1°C) | 3 inches (77 mm) |
| Mar | 23°C (73°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 42°F (6°C) | 3.9 inches (98 mm) |
| Apr | 27°C (81°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 52°F (11°C) | 3.8 inches (98 mm) |
| May | 31°C (88°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 63°F (17°C) | 4.1 inches (105 mm) |
| Jun | 33°C (91°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 72°F (22°C) | 3.2 inches (82 mm) |
| Jul | 35°C (95°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 77°F (25°C) | 4.5 inches (114 mm) |
| Aug | 36°C (97°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 76°F (24°C) | 3.9 inches (99 mm) |
| Sep | 33°C (91°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 68°F (20°C) | 3.7 inches (93 mm) |
| Oct | 29°C (84°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 57°F (14°C) | 3.1 inches (78 mm) |
| Nov | 25°C (77°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 47°F (8°C) | 3.9 inches (99 mm) |
| Dec | 21°C (70°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 36°F (2°C) | 3.4 inches (88 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.