Which place is cheaper, Pondicherry or Abu Dhabi?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit Abu Dhabi or Pondicherry?
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 Pondicherry can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Abu Dhabi or Pondicherry?
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.
Pondicherry
Located on the eastern coast of India in the state of Tamil Nadu, Pondicherry has a long and interesting history of trade and war as the largest French colony in India. Today the French influence in the city remains, especially in the old quarters. This being said, Pondicherry very much embodies and east-meets-west culture.
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 Bicycle Tours in India, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in India.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAbu Dhabi $164Pondicherry $33
The average daily cost (per person) in Abu Dhabi is $164, while the average daily cost in Pondicherry is $33. 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 Pondicherry in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAbu Dhabi $98Pondicherry $16
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAbu Dhabi $196Pondicherry $32
Compare Hotels in Abu Dhabi and Pondicherry
Looking for a hotel in Abu Dhabi or Pondicherry? 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 Pondicherry Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Abu Dhabi $20Pondicherry $5.66
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 Abu Dhabi Tickets With Meal and Transfers : $98
- Warner Bros General Admission with Transfers: $150
- Visit Ferrari World Abu Dhabi From Dubai Included Transfer and Tickets: $235
- Try find your better than us! Airport transfer service in Abu Dhabi HTL-APT(AUH): $52
- Try find your better than us! Airport transfer service in Abu Dhabi APT-HTL(AUH): $56
- Transfer in private vehicle from Abu Dhabi Airport (AUH)- Abu Dhabi City: $61
- Transfer in private minivan from Abu Dhabi Airport (AUH)- Abu Dhabi City: $67
- Tickets to Global Village with Private Transfer: $95
- 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
Is it cheaper to fly into Abu Dhabi or Pondicherry?
Prices for flights to both Pondicherry 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 $45Pondicherry $11
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
- Abu Dhabi Evening Desert Safari Tour with Shows and BBQ Dinner: $48
- 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
- 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 4x4, BBQ Dinner, Camel Ride: $81
- Evening Desert Safari Abu Dhabi with BBQ Dinner & Shows: $81
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Pondicherry
For Pondicherry, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Indian Cooking Class in Pondicherry: $28
- French-Creole Cooking Class in Pondicherry with a Local Family: $78
- South Indian Dinner With A Local Family In Pondicherry: $161
- Cooking class in Pondicherry (with Lunch or Dinner): $289
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Abu Dhabi $39Pondicherry $11
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
- 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
- 8 hours Private Tour: Ferrari World and Louvre Museum with Pickup: $270
- 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 Pondicherry
For Pondicherry, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Magical Pondicherry Markets Tour : $13
- Spiritual Walk Tour Pondicherry: $13
- Pondicherry Art Trails (2 Hours Guided Walking Tours): $13
- Auroville Guided Walking Tour: $14
- Heritage & Cultural Walking Tour of Pondicherry : $15
- The Unique Pondicherry City Bike Tour : $18
- Guided City Tour in Pondicherry with complimentary refreshments: $47
- The Best of A Private Sightseeing Tour: $47
- Sri Arunachaleswara Temple Tour From Pondicherry: $48
- Private Walking Tour in the French Quarter of Pondicherry: $57
- Best of the Pondicherry (Guided Full Day City Tour): $133
- Day Trip to Mahabalipuram (Curated Private Sightseeing Experience): $150
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayAbu Dhabi $13Pondicherry $6.90
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Abu Dhabi and Pondicherry, we can see that Abu Dhabi is more expensive. And not only is Pondicherry much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Abu Dhabi is in Middle East and Pondicherry 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 Pondicherry would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Pondicherry 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 Pondicherry.
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 Pondicherry Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Abu Dhabi or Pondicherry?
Abu Dhabi has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Pondicherry. When comparing the sizes of Abu Dhabi and Pondicherry, 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.