Which place is cheaper, Ottawa or Abu Dhabi?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Abu Dhabi or Ottawa?
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 Ottawa can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Abu Dhabi or Ottawa?
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.
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital city of Canada, located on the Ontario side of the Ottawa River. A city of many ethnic populations, Ottawa is uniquely bilingual with English as the first language of the population's majority and French as a close second. It is best known as the nation's capital, which is centered on Parliament Hill, an architectural landmark as well as the seat of government.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to United Arab Emirates, The Best Tours for Seniors to United Arab Emirates, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Canada, and The Best Coach Bus Tours in Canada.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAbu Dhabi $164Ottawa $123
The average daily cost (per person) in Abu Dhabi is $164, while the average daily cost in Ottawa is $123. 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 Ottawa in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAbu Dhabi $98Ottawa $18
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAbu Dhabi $196Ottawa $36
Compare Hotels in Abu Dhabi and Ottawa
Looking for a hotel in Abu Dhabi or Ottawa? 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 Ottawa Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Abu Dhabi $20Ottawa $7.27
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
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ottawa
Also for Ottawa, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Arrival Transfer from Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier Airport YOW: $40
- Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier Airport YOW Private Arrival/Departure Shuttle Transfer : $52
- Private Arrival Transfer in Ottawa Airport : $52
- Ottawa to Ottawa Macdonald–Cartier Airport (YOW) - Departure Private Transfer: $66
- Private Transfer from Ottawa Airport (YOW) to Ottawa City: $66
Is it cheaper to fly into Abu Dhabi or Ottawa?
Prices for flights to both Ottawa 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 $45Ottawa $17
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
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Ottawa
For Ottawa, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Oh Canada Eh!? Dinner Musical : $71
- Taste of the ByWard Market Food Tour: $79
- Evening Taste of the ByWard Market Food Tour: $82
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Abu Dhabi $39Ottawa $40
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
- Full Day Abu Dhabi City & Louvre Museum Tour: $90
- 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
Tours and Activities in Ottawa
For Ottawa, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $3.23
- City Exploration Game and Tour: $6.46
- Self-Guided Highlights Scavenger Hunt & Walking Tour: $6.46
- Ottawa Scavenger Hunt and Best Landmarks Self-Guided Tour: $6.57
- Explore Canada Through Ottawa's Eyes with Walking Tours Through The City: $6.69
- Ottawa's Hidden History: A Self Guided Audio Tour: $6.99
- A Self Guided Audio Tour of Ottawa's Hidden History: $6.99
- Ottawa Self-Guided Audio Tour: $9.00
- Scavenger Hunt Adventure in Ottawa by Wacky Walks: $10
- Scavenger Hunt Adventure in Ottawa by Crazy Dash: $10
- Unique Scavenger Hunt Experience in Ottawa by Operation City Quest: $10
- Self-Guided Audio Tour: $11
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAbu Dhabi $13Ottawa $18
Sample the Local Flavors in Ottawa
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Ottawa:
- Epic Ottawa Bar Crawl: By Let’s Roam: $12
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Abu Dhabi and Ottawa, we can see that Abu Dhabi is more expensive. And not only is Ottawa much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Abu Dhabi is in Middle East and Ottawa 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 Ottawa would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Ottawa 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 Ottawa.
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 Ottawa Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Abu Dhabi or Ottawa?
Ottawa has a larger population, and is about 35% larger than the population of Abu Dhabi. When comparing the sizes of Abu Dhabi and Ottawa, 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 Ottawa?
Ottawa 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 Ottawa in the Summer?
Both Ottawa 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.
Abu Dhabi can become quite hot in the summer. In July, Abu Dhabi is generally much warmer than Ottawa. Daily temperatures in Abu Dhabi average around 35°C (95°F), and Ottawa fluctuates around 21°C (71°F).
In Ottawa, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Abu Dhabi. In the summer, Abu Dhabi often gets more sunshine than Ottawa. Abu Dhabi gets 331 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Ottawa receives 268 hours of full sun.
Abu Dhabi usually gets less rain in July than Ottawa. Abu Dhabi gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Ottawa receives 87 mm (3.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyAbu Dhabi 35°C (95°F)Ottawa 21°C (71°F)
Should I visit Abu Dhabi or Ottawa in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Abu Dhabi and Ottawa. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Abu Dhabi year-round.
Abu Dhabi is much warmer than Ottawa in the autumn. The daily temperature in Abu Dhabi averages around 29°C (84°F) in October, and Ottawa fluctuates around 9°C (48°F).
In Abu Dhabi, it's very sunny this time of the year. Abu Dhabi usually receives more sunshine than Ottawa during autumn. Abu Dhabi gets 314 hours of sunny skies, while Ottawa receives 116 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Abu Dhabi usually receives less rain than Ottawa. Abu Dhabi gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Ottawa receives 75 mm (3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberAbu Dhabi 29°C (84°F)Ottawa 9°C (48°F)
Should I visit Abu Dhabi or Ottawa in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Abu Dhabi as well as Ottawa. Abu Dhabi attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Be prepared for some very cold days in Ottawa. In the winter, Abu Dhabi is much warmer than Ottawa. Typically, the winter temperatures in Abu Dhabi in January average around 18°C (64°F), and Ottawa averages at about -10°C (14°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Abu Dhabi this time of the year. In the winter, Abu Dhabi often gets more sunshine than Ottawa. Abu Dhabi gets 269 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Ottawa receives 93 hours of full sun.
Abu Dhabi usually gets less rain in January than Ottawa. Abu Dhabi gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Ottawa receives 51 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryAbu Dhabi 18°C (64°F)Ottawa -10°C (14°F)
Should I visit Abu Dhabi or Ottawa in the Spring?
Both Ottawa 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.
In April, Abu Dhabi is generally much warmer than Ottawa. Daily temperatures in Abu Dhabi average around 27°C (81°F), and Ottawa fluctuates around 6°C (44°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Abu Dhabi. Abu Dhabi usually receives more sunshine than Ottawa during spring. Abu Dhabi gets 297 hours of sunny skies, while Ottawa receives 180 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Abu Dhabi usually receives less rain than Ottawa. Abu Dhabi gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Ottawa receives 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilAbu Dhabi 27°C (81°F)Ottawa 6°C (44°F)
Typical Weather for Ottawa and Abu Dhabi
| Abu Dhabi | Ottawa | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 18°C (64°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | -10°C (14°F) | 51 mm (2 in) |
| Feb | 20°C (68°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) | -9°C (16°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| Mar | 23°C (73°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | -2°C (28°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) |
| Apr | 27°C (81°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 6°C (44°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) |
| May | 31°C (88°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 13°C (56°F) | 77 mm (3 in) |
| Jun | 33°C (91°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 19°C (65°F) | 84 mm (3.3 in) |
| Jul | 35°C (95°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 21°C (71°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) |
| Aug | 36°C (97°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 88 mm (3.5 in) |
| Sep | 33°C (91°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 84 mm (3.3 in) |
| Oct | 29°C (84°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 75 mm (3 in) |
| Nov | 25°C (77°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 2°C (36°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) |
| Dec | 21°C (70°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | -7°C (20°F) | 73 mm (2.9 in) |
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.