Which place is cheaper, Philadelphia or Abu Dhabi?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Abu Dhabi or Philadelphia?
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 Philadelphia can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Abu Dhabi or Philadelphia?
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.
Philadelphia
Philadelphia is the fourth largest urban area, and the fifth largest city in the United States. It's located in southeastern Pennsylvania and has a rich history, having once been the capital of the United States. The city has very impressive architecture, museums, universities, and entertainment venues. It's a cultural and artistic center for the country and it continues to climb as a top travel destination.
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 2-Week Tours from Anchorage, and The Best 2-Week Tours from San Francisco.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAbu Dhabi $164Philadelphia $188
The average daily cost (per person) in Abu Dhabi is $164, while the average daily cost in Philadelphia is $188. 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 Philadelphia in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAbu Dhabi $98Philadelphia $119
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAbu Dhabi $196Philadelphia $238
Compare Hotels in Abu Dhabi and Philadelphia
Looking for a hotel in Abu Dhabi or Philadelphia? 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 Philadelphia Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Abu Dhabi $20Philadelphia $28
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 Philadelphia
Also for Philadelphia, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Philadelphia to Philadelphia Airport (PHL) - Departure Private Transfer: $66
- Private Transfer: Philadelphia Airport PHL to Philadelphia in Business Car: $95
- Philadelphia Airport (PHL) to Philadelphia - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $131
- Philadelphia City to Washington City - Private Car Transfer: $135
- Philadelphia Airport (PHL): Private Transfer to Philadelphia: $355
Is it cheaper to fly into Abu Dhabi or Philadelphia?
Prices for flights to both Philadelphia 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 $45Philadelphia $49
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 Philadelphia
For Philadelphia, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Casual Lunch (for 3)$27
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Philadelphia
For Philadelphia, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Locals' Favorites Food Tour: $52
- Best of Philly Food Tour: $55
- Best of Philadelphia Food Tour-Small Group Walking Tour: $59
- 9th Street Italian Market Walking Food Tour: $61
- Bites and Booze: Walking Food Tour in Philadelphia : $65
- Flavors of Philly Food Tour: $65
- Philadelphia's Delicious Donut Adventure & Walking Food Tour: $65
- Buffet Brunch, Lunch, or Dinner Cruise: $66
- Secret Food Tour: $84
- Highlights of East Passyunk Food Tour: $85
- Chef-Led Taste of the Italian Market Food Tour: $90
- Spirit of Philadelphia Signature Dinner Cruise with Buffet: $95
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Abu Dhabi $39Philadelphia $28
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
Typical Entertainment Prices in Philadelphia
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Philadelphia's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Big Bus Tour (family of 3)$99
Tours and Activities in Philadelphia
For Philadelphia, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Philadelphia's Lost Waterfront: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.40
- Art and Controversy: An audio tour of Philadelphia's most infamous art scandals: $5.40
- Road to Revolution GPS Walking Audio Tour: $8.99
- The Road to Revolution: A Self-Guided Audio Tour in Philadelphia: $8.99
- Philadelphia Self-Guided Audio Tour : $9.00
- Philadelphia In App Walking Audio Tour: $9.00
- Unique Scavenger Hunt Experience in Philadelphia by Operation City Quest: $10
- Self-Guided Audio Tour: $11
- National Liberty Museum Entrance Ticket: $12
- Self-Guided Walking Audio Tour: $13
- Philadelphia Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $13
- Fantastic Philadelphia Self-Guided Audio Tour: $15
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAbu Dhabi $13Philadelphia $21
Sample the Local Flavors in Philadelphia
Also in Philadelphia, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Liberty History Tour Pub Crawl: $45
- Guided Tour with Pub Crawl: $45
- Half-Day Philadelphia's Brewery Bike Tour with Tastings: $100
- Philly Signature Guided Brewery Tour: $105
- Guided Craft Brewery Tours with a Snack: $120
When comparing the travel costs between Abu Dhabi and Philadelphia, we can see that Philadelphia is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Even though Abu Dhabi is in Middle East and Philadelphia is in North America, both of these destinations have relatively similar prices of travel. Generally, the levels of luxury and expenses are the same for these cities even though they are geographically far apart.
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 Philadelphia Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Abu Dhabi or Philadelphia?
Philadelphia has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Abu Dhabi. When comparing the sizes of Abu Dhabi and Philadelphia, 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 Philadelphia?
Philadelphia 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 Philadelphia in the Summer?
Both Philadelphia 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, many travelers come to Philadelphia for the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.
The heat can be very extreme in Abu Dhabi. In the summer, Abu Dhabi is a little warmer than Philadelphia. Typically, the summer temperatures in Abu Dhabi in July average around 35°C (95°F), and Philadelphia averages at about 77°F (25°C).
In Philadelphia, 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 Philadelphia. Abu Dhabi gets 331 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Philadelphia receives 273 hours of full sun.
Philadelphia gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Abu Dhabi usually gets less rain in July than Philadelphia. Abu Dhabi gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Philadelphia receives 3.9 inches (100 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyAbu Dhabi 35°C (95°F)Philadelphia 77°F (25°C)
Should I visit Abu Dhabi or Philadelphia in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Abu Dhabi and Philadelphia. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Abu Dhabi year-round. Furthermore, many visitors come to Philadelphia in the autumn for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
In October, Abu Dhabi is generally much warmer than Philadelphia. Daily temperatures in Abu Dhabi average around 29°C (84°F), and Philadelphia fluctuates around 56°F (14°C).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Philadelphia this time of the year. In Abu Dhabi, it's very sunny this time of the year. Abu Dhabi usually receives more sunshine than Philadelphia during autumn. Abu Dhabi gets 314 hours of sunny skies, while Philadelphia receives 202 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Abu Dhabi usually receives less rain than Philadelphia. Abu Dhabi gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Philadelphia receives 1.9 inches (48 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberAbu Dhabi 29°C (84°F)Philadelphia 56°F (14°C)
Should I visit Abu Dhabi or Philadelphia in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Abu Dhabi as well as Philadelphia. Abu Dhabi attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, most visitors come to Philadelphia for the museums, the Christmas ambience, the shopping scene, the theater shows, and the cuisine during these months.
Philadelphia can be very cold during winter. Abu Dhabi is much warmer than Philadelphia in the winter. The daily temperature in Abu Dhabi averages around 18°C (64°F) in January, and Philadelphia fluctuates around 30°F (-1°C).
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 Philadelphia. Abu Dhabi gets 269 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Philadelphia receives 152 hours of full sun.
Abu Dhabi usually gets less rain in January than Philadelphia. Abu Dhabi gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Philadelphia receives 2.3 inches (58 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryAbu Dhabi 18°C (64°F)Philadelphia 30°F (-1°C)
Should I visit Abu Dhabi or Philadelphia in the Spring?
Both Philadelphia 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, the spring months attract visitors to Philadelphia because of the activities around the city and the natural beauty.
In the spring, Abu Dhabi is much warmer than Philadelphia. Typically, the spring temperatures in Abu Dhabi in April average around 27°C (81°F), and Philadelphia averages at about 52°F (11°C).
It's quite sunny in Philadelphia. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Abu Dhabi. Abu Dhabi usually receives more sunshine than Philadelphia during spring. Abu Dhabi gets 297 hours of sunny skies, while Philadelphia receives 216 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Abu Dhabi usually receives less rain than Philadelphia. Abu Dhabi gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Philadelphia receives 2.8 inches (70 mm) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilAbu Dhabi 27°C (81°F)Philadelphia 52°F (11°C)
Typical Weather for Philadelphia and Abu Dhabi
| Abu Dhabi | Philadelphia | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 18°C (64°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 30°F (-1°C) | 2.3 inches (58 mm) |
| Feb | 20°C (68°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) | 33°F (1°C) | 2.1 inches (54 mm) |
| Mar | 23°C (73°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 42°F (6°C) | 2.7 inches (68 mm) |
| Apr | 27°C (81°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 52°F (11°C) | 2.8 inches (70 mm) |
| May | 31°C (88°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 63°F (17°C) | 2.8 inches (70 mm) |
| Jun | 33°C (91°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 72°F (22°C) | 3 inches (76 mm) |
| Jul | 35°C (95°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 77°F (25°C) | 3.9 inches (100 mm) |
| Aug | 36°C (97°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 76°F (24°C) | 3 inches (75 mm) |
| Sep | 33°C (91°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 68°F (20°C) | 2.8 inches (71 mm) |
| Oct | 29°C (84°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 56°F (14°C) | 1.9 inches (48 mm) |
| Nov | 25°C (77°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 46°F (8°C) | 2.5 inches (64 mm) |
| Dec | 21°C (70°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 36°F (2°C) | 2.7 inches (69 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.