Which place is cheaper, Qingdao or Abu Dhabi?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Abu Dhabi or Qingdao?
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 Qingdao can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Abu Dhabi or Qingdao?
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.
Qingdao
Qingdao, China, located in the Shandong Province, is a very large city right on the Yellow Sea coast. The city, whose name means "The Green Island" due to it's gorgeous landscapes and interesting geography, was named China's most livable city in 2012. The city is rich in history, having almost become a German territory in 1897 and being occupied by the Japanese during WWI. Evidence of these occupiers is present in much of the architecture around the city, which includes a few Catholic and Protestant churches.
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 Cultural Tours in China, and The Best Luxury Tours to China.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAbu Dhabi $164Qingdao $58
The average daily cost (per person) in Abu Dhabi is $164, while the average daily cost in Qingdao is $58. 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 Qingdao in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAbu Dhabi $98Qingdao $26
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAbu Dhabi $196Qingdao $52
Compare Hotels in Abu Dhabi and Qingdao
Looking for a hotel in Abu Dhabi or Qingdao? 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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Abu Dhabi $20Qingdao $12
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 Qingdao
Also for Qingdao, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Departure Transfer: City Hotel to Qingdao Railway Station : $36
- Qingdao Railway Station Depature Transfer from City Hotels: $36
- Qingdao Railway Station Arrival Transfer to City Hotel: $36
- Qingdao Cruise Port Departure Transfer from City Hotels: $36
- Qingdao Northern Railway Station Arrival Private One-Way Transfer: $42
- Qingdao Private Transfer from Qingdao central to Qingdao Airport (TAO): $83
- Qingdao Private Transfer from Qingdao Airport (TAO) to central Qingdao: $83
- Qingdao Liuting Airport Transfer Service by Minivan: $86
Is it cheaper to fly into Abu Dhabi or Qingdao?
Prices for flights to both Qingdao 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 $45Qingdao $20
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 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
- Abu Dhabi Desert Safari 4x4, BBQ Dinner, Camel Ride: $81
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Abu Dhabi $39Qingdao $20
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
Tours and Activities in Qingdao
For Qingdao, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Private Qingdao City tour with Lunch and Qingdao beer: $175
- Private Qingdao Historic architectural day tour with Tsingdao beer during Lunch: $190
- Private Qingdao Laoshan half day tour with one bottle of Tsingdao beer as gift: $199
- Qingdao private half day tour with Tsingdao Beer Lunch : $202
- Qingdao Shore Excursion: Private Full Day Laoshan Mountain Sightseeing Tour: $207
- Private Qingdao Essentials Tour: City Highlights and Beer Museum: $216
- Laoshan Mountain Full Day Private Activity Tour: $224
- Qingdao Private Day Tour to Laoshan Mountain with Lunch and Cable Car: $238
- Private Qingdao Laoshan day tour with lunch& round way cable car: $240
- Qingdao Discover Tour to the Mount Laoshan and Tasting Famous Local Beer: $248
- Qingdao Private Tour: City Highlights and Laoshan Mountain with Lunch+Cable Car: $268
- All-Inclusive Private Day Tour: Qingdao Highlights with Lunch: $285
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAbu Dhabi $13Qingdao $14
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Abu Dhabi and Qingdao, we can see that Abu Dhabi is more expensive. And not only is Qingdao much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Abu Dhabi is in Middle East and Qingdao 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 Qingdao would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Qingdao 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 Qingdao.
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 Qingdao Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Abu Dhabi or Qingdao?
Qingdao has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Abu Dhabi. When comparing the sizes of Abu Dhabi and Qingdao, 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 Qingdao?
Qingdao 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 Qingdao in the Summer?
Both Qingdao 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 a little warmer than Qingdao. Daily temperatures in Abu Dhabi average around 35°C (95°F), and Qingdao fluctuates around 25°C (77°F).
It's quite sunny in Abu Dhabi. In the summer, Abu Dhabi often gets more sunshine than Qingdao. Abu Dhabi gets 331 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Qingdao receives 183 hours of full sun.
Qingdao gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Abu Dhabi usually gets less rain in July than Qingdao. Abu Dhabi gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Qingdao receives 211 mm (8.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyAbu Dhabi 35°C (95°F)Qingdao 25°C (77°F)
Should I visit Abu Dhabi or Qingdao in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Abu Dhabi and Qingdao. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Abu Dhabi year-round.
Abu Dhabi is much warmer than Qingdao in the autumn. The daily temperature in Abu Dhabi averages around 29°C (84°F) in October, and Qingdao fluctuates around 17°C (62°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Qingdao this time of the year. In Abu Dhabi, it's very sunny this time of the year. Abu Dhabi usually receives more sunshine than Qingdao during autumn. Abu Dhabi gets 314 hours of sunny skies, while Qingdao receives 220 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Abu Dhabi usually receives less rain than Qingdao. Abu Dhabi gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Qingdao receives 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberAbu Dhabi 29°C (84°F)Qingdao 17°C (62°F)
Should I visit Abu Dhabi or Qingdao in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Abu Dhabi as well as Qingdao. Abu Dhabi attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Qingdao can be very cold during winter. In the winter, Abu Dhabi is much warmer than Qingdao. Typically, the winter temperatures in Abu Dhabi in January average around 18°C (64°F), and Qingdao averages at about -0°C (32°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 Qingdao. Abu Dhabi gets 269 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Qingdao receives 185 hours of full sun.
Abu Dhabi usually gets less rain in January than Qingdao. Abu Dhabi gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Qingdao receives 11 mm (0.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryAbu Dhabi 18°C (64°F)Qingdao -0°C (32°F)
Should I visit Abu Dhabi or Qingdao in the Spring?
Both Qingdao 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 Qingdao. Daily temperatures in Abu Dhabi average around 27°C (81°F), and Qingdao fluctuates around 12°C (53°F).
It's quite sunny in Qingdao. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Abu Dhabi. Abu Dhabi usually receives more sunshine than Qingdao during spring. Abu Dhabi gets 297 hours of sunny skies, while Qingdao receives 224 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Abu Dhabi usually receives less rain than Qingdao. Abu Dhabi gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Qingdao receives 37 mm (1.5 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilAbu Dhabi 27°C (81°F)Qingdao 12°C (53°F)
Typical Weather for Qingdao and Abu Dhabi
| Abu Dhabi | Qingdao | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 18°C (64°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | -0°C (32°F) | 11 mm (0.4 in) |
| Feb | 20°C (68°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) | 1°C (34°F) | 12 mm (0.5 in) |
| Mar | 23°C (73°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 6°C (43°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) |
| Apr | 27°C (81°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 12°C (53°F) | 37 mm (1.5 in) |
| May | 31°C (88°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 17°C (62°F) | 51 mm (2 in) |
| Jun | 33°C (91°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) |
| Jul | 35°C (95°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 211 mm (8.3 in) |
| Aug | 36°C (97°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 162 mm (6.4 in) |
| Sep | 33°C (91°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 99 mm (3.9 in) |
| Oct | 29°C (84°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 17°C (62°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Nov | 25°C (77°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 10°C (49°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) |
| Dec | 21°C (70°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 3°C (37°F) | 10 mm (0.4 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.