Which place is cheaper, Siem Reap or Abu Dhabi?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Abu Dhabi or Siem Reap?
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 Siem Reap can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Abu Dhabi or Siem Reap?
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.
Siem Reap
Located in northern Cambodia, Siem Reap is the closest town to Cambodia's famous Angkor Wat. It is a comfortable and laid back town and most visitors use it as a base to explore the country's most visited destination. Although Siem Reap was once a quaint village, it has continued to grow and change to meet the needs of the many tourists who visit every year. Siem Reap has become a very touristy town with easy access to restaurants, hotels, and shops. It also has a large expatriate community and the western influences are unavoidable. Although prices remain quite low, they are higher than you might find elsewhere in Cambodia.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to United Arab Emirates, The Best 3-Day Tours in United Arab Emirates, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Phnom Penh, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Siem Reap.
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Abu Dhabi Prices
UAE PricesSiem Reap Prices
Cambodia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAbu Dhabi $197Siem Reap $93
The average daily cost (per person) in Abu Dhabi is $197, while the average daily cost in Siem Reap is $93. 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 Siem Reap in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAbu Dhabi $98Siem Reap $51
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAbu Dhabi $196Siem Reap $102
Compare Hotels in Abu Dhabi and Siem Reap
Looking for a hotel in Abu Dhabi or Siem Reap? 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 Siem Reap Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Abu Dhabi $20Siem Reap $8.75
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:
- Abu Dhabi Airport (AUH) Private Transfer to Abu Dhabi City/Hotels: $58
- Abu Dhabi Airport (AUH) to Abu Dhabi - Arrival Private Transfer: $37
- Abu Dhabi Airport (AUH) to Abu Dhabi - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $74
- Abu Dhabi Airport (AUH) to Dubai - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $286
- Abu Dhabi Airport (AUH) to Dubai hotel or address - Arrival Private Transfer: $43
- Abu Dhabi Airport (AUH) to Dubai hotel or address - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $86
- Abu Dhabi Airport Transfers : Abu Dhabi City to Airport AUH in Luxury Van: $98
- Abu Dhabi Airport Transfers : Airport AUH to Abu Dhabi City by Luxury Van: $98
- Abu Dhabi City Tour: Modern & Cultural Highlights with Transfers: $108
- Abu Dhabi Combo Ticket: Ferrari World and Yas Waterworld with transfers: $195
- Abu Dhabi Intercity Transfers: $270
- Airport Transfer (From And To) Within Abu Dhabi: $65
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Siem Reap
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Siem Reap:
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Tuk Tuk Ride$13
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Bike Rentals$1.93
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Siem Reap
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Siem Reap:
- Angkor International Airport (SAI) Private/Shared Transfers: $9.00
- Share One-Way Arrival/Departure Transfer: $10
- Angkor Airport (SAI) Private or Shared Transfers :Siem Reap: $10
- Siem Reap International Airport Transfer (SIA): $12
- Angkor Airport (SAI) Private or Shared Transfers: $14
- Siem Reap Airport (SAI): Transfer to/from Siem Reap Hotel: $15
- Airport (SAI) Pickup/Transfer Private Car: $18
- Kompong Phluk Floating Village with Transfers: $20
- Private Transfers Siem Reap City to Airport: $20
- Angkor National Museum Ticket with Transfer: $24
- Siem Reap Airport Transfer to/from Siem Reap by Private Car: $25
- Siem Reap Angkor International Airport private transfer: $25
Is it cheaper to fly into Abu Dhabi or Siem Reap?
Prices for flights to both Siem Reap 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 $78Siem Reap $28
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Abu Dhabi
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Abu Dhabi.
- Abu Dhabi Desert Safari with Red Dunes 4x4 Pick Drop Dinner Shows: $39
- Abu Dhabi Desert Safari with Dinner: $42
- Abu Dhabi Desert Safari With Live Shows & BBQ Buffet Dinner: $50
- Abu Dhabi Desert Safari With BBQ Dinner & Live Shows: $50
- Experience Abu Dhabi Yas Island by Dhow Cruise at Sea with Dinner: $55
- Abu Dhabi Desert Safari BBQ Dinner Camel Ride and Live Shows: $56
- Desert Safari In Abu Dhabi With BBQ Dinner: $58
- Evening Desert Safari Camel Ride Dinner Live Shows in Abu Dhabi: $58
- Lunch Or Dinner at Emirates Palace - Ultimate Luxury Experience: $64
- Evening Desert Safari Abu Dhabi with Hot BBQ Dinner: $65
- Desert Safari, Camel Ride, Live Shows, and BBQ Dinner: $69
- Abu Dhabi Evening Desert Safari: BBQ Dinner, Camel Ride & Shows: $71
Typical Food Prices in Siem Reap
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Siem Reap:
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Breakfast for Two$5.57
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Siem Reap
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Siem Reap.
- A Spectacular Show with Optional Dinner: $18
- Apsara Dance Show with Dinner by Tuk-Tuk Roundtrip Transfer: $19
- Apsara Performance with Dinner include Pick up & Drop off: $22
- Apsara Performance Including Buffet Dinner & Hotel Pick up: $22
- Buffet Dinner Apsara Show with hotel transfers: $22
- Apsara Dance Show and Dinner with Hotel Pickup: $22
- Apsara Show Including Dinner & Hotel Pickup: $23
- Dinner and Traditional Show with Hotel Transfer: $24
- Apsara Dance Show with Buffet Dinner & Tuk-Tuk...: $26
- A Night To Remember: Apsara Dance Show with Buffet Dinner: $27
- Dinner Show Apsara Dance, Pickup round trip included: $27
- Apsara Theatre Performance include Dinner & hotel pick up: $29
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Abu Dhabi $39Siem Reap $30
Tours and Activities in Abu Dhabi
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Abu Dhabi are as follows:
- Qasr Al Hosn Skip the Line Tickets: $13
- Admission Ticket to Qasr Al Watan Abu Dhabi Non prime: $15
- Qasr Al Watan Entry Tickets: $16
- Qasr Al Watan Abu Dhabi Ticket: $17
- Skip the Line Ticket to Qasr Al Watan in Abu Dhabi: $17
- Louvre Abu Dhabi Ticket: $18
- Qasr Al Watan Entry Ticket: $18
- Qasr Al Watan Entrance Ticket: $18
- Qasr al Hosn Entrance Ticket: $20
- Louvre Museum Abu Dhabi Admission Ticket: $21
- Louvre Museum Abu Dhabi Admission Ticket: $22
- Abu Dhabi Louvre Museum Entry Ticket with Optional Transportation: $23
Typical Entertainment Prices in Siem Reap
Here are a few typical costs in Siem Reap for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Angkor Tour Guide$8.21
Tours and Activities in Siem Reap
Here are a few actual costs in Siem Reap for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- FREE Market & Local Temple Tour: $1.00
- Satcha: Workshop Tour Guide incl. Free Soft Drink: $5.50
- City Walking Tour: $6.00
- Siem Reap Motorbike Rental - Temple and City Tours own drive: $9.00
- Siem Reap Lotus Silk Farm Tour with Pick Up downtown: $10
- Angkor Wat: Full-Day Guided Sunset Tour: $10
- Small-Group Full Day Angkor wat Guide tour with Sun set: $11
- Angkor Wat Sunrise for Group or Private Tours: $12
- Sunrise at Angkor Wat and Small Tour with Tours Guide: $12
- Angkor Wat 1 Day with Sunrise Combined tour with (Tuk Tuk): $12
- Angkor Wat Sunrise and Full-Day Sightseeing Tour: $13
- Angkor Wat: Small-Group Sunrise Tour: $13
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAbu Dhabi $13Siem Reap $11
Sample the Local Flavors in Siem Reap
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Siem Reap:
- Mad Monkey Siem Reap Pub Crawl: $12
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Abu Dhabi and Siem Reap, we can see that Abu Dhabi is more expensive. And not only is Siem Reap much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Abu Dhabi is in Middle East and Siem Reap 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 Siem Reap would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Siem Reap 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 Siem Reap.
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 Siem Reap Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Abu Dhabi or Siem Reap?
Abu Dhabi has a larger population, and is about 7 times larger than the population of Siem Reap. When comparing the sizes of Abu Dhabi and Siem Reap, 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.