Which place is cheaper, Tel Aviv or Abu Dhabi?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit Abu Dhabi or Tel Aviv?
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 Tel Aviv can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Abu Dhabi or Tel Aviv?
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.
Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv is the second largest city in Israel and is situated on the Mediterranean coast 60 kilometers north of Jerusalem. It's a rapidly growing city and is one of the most modern and cosmopolitan cities in Israel. The official name is Tel Aviv-Yafo because the city has grown to include the ancient port city of Yafo. If you're looking for an embassy, you are likely to find it in Tel Aviv, despite Jerusalem being the official capital of Israel.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to United Arab Emirates, The Best 3-Day Tours from Dubai, The Best 3-Day Tours from Jerusalem, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Jerusalem.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAbu Dhabi $164Tel Aviv $139
The average daily cost (per person) in Abu Dhabi is $164, while the average daily cost in Tel Aviv is $139. 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 Tel Aviv in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAbu Dhabi $98Tel Aviv $86
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAbu Dhabi $196Tel Aviv $172
Compare Hotels in Abu Dhabi and Tel Aviv
Looking for a hotel in Abu Dhabi or Tel Aviv? 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 Tel Aviv Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Abu Dhabi $20Tel Aviv $8.74
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:
- Qasr Al Watan/King Palace Abu Dhabi with Entry Ticket & Transfer: $140
- Abrahamic Family House Tour with Transfer: $89
- Abu Dhabi : Private Half Day Guided Tour - Transfer Included: $125
- Abu Dhabi Airport (AUH) to Abu Dhabi - Arrival Private Transfer: $41
- Abu Dhabi Airport (AUH) to Abu Dhabi - Arrival Private Transfer: $36
- Abu Dhabi Airport (AUH) to Abu Dhabi Round-Trip Private Transfer: $82
- Abu Dhabi Airport (AUH) to Dubai - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $122
- Abu Dhabi Airport (AUH): Private Transfer to Abu Dhabi: $103
- Abu Dhabi Airport Departure Transfer (Abu Dhabi Hotels to Abu Dhabi Airport): $136
- Abu Dhabi Airport Private Departure Transfer: $33
- Abu Dhabi Airport Transfer: $19
- Abu Dhabi Airport Transfer To or From Anywhere within Abu Dhabi: $70
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Tel Aviv
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Tel Aviv are as follows:
-
Local Bus to Central Bus Station$1.58
-
Taxi to Airport$40
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Tel Aviv
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Tel Aviv:
- Tel Aviv Airport (TLV) to Tel Aviv Hotels - Private Transfer: $34
- Tel Aviv to Ben Gurion Airport (TLV) Private Departure Transfers: $35
- Tel Aviv Airport (TLV) to Jerusalem Hotels - Private Transfer: $47
- Private Arrival Transfer: From Ben Gurion Airport to Tel Aviv City Center: $48
- Transfer between Ben Gurion Airport and Tel Aviv: $52
- Herzliya to Tel Aviv Ben Gurion Airport Private Departure Transfer: $56
- Tel Aviv Airport (TLV) to Jerusalem Hotels - Private Transfer: $68
- Private Transfer from Tel Aviv Int Airport (TLV) to Ashdod Port: $76
- Private Transfer from Tel Aviv City Hotels to Ashdod Cruise Port: $76
- VIP Transfer between Ben Gurion Airport and Tel Aviv: $78
- VIP transfer between Ben Gurion Airport and Tel Aviv: $78
- Tel Aviv to Jerusalem - Private Intercity Transfers: $80
Is it cheaper to fly into Abu Dhabi or Tel Aviv?
Prices for flights to both Tel Aviv 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 $45Tel Aviv $28
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Abu Dhabi
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Abu Dhabi.
- Dhow cruise with Buffet dinner & Burj Khalifa view in Canal: $24
- Dubai Marina Dinner Cruise with Live Entertainment: $37
- Dubai Marina luxury Dhow Cruise Dinner (catamaran): $45
- Abu Dhabi Desert Safari BBQ Dinner Live Shows Pick & Drop More: $59
- Abu Dhabi Evening Desert Safari Tour with Shows and BBQ Dinner: $60
- Desert Safari In Abu Dhabi With BBQ Dinner: $63
- Abu Dhabi Desert Safari With Live Shows And BBQ Buffet Dinner: $65
- Evening Desert Safari Abu Dhabi with Hot BBQ Dinner : $65
- 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 Tel Aviv
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Tel Aviv:
-
Dinner for Two$22
-
Dinner for 2 at Vatroshka$130
-
Lunch at Segev Sarona$34
-
Aroma Iced Coffee$3.75
-
Lunch at the airport$32
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Tel Aviv
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Tel Aviv.
- Carmel Market Food Tour: $45
- Tel Aviv Food Tour: The Magic of Carmel Market: $49
- Tel Aviv Food Tour of the Carmel Market: $60
- Carmel Market Food Tour: $60
- Private Food Tour to Carmel Market : $276
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Abu Dhabi $39Tel Aviv $23
Tours and Activities in Abu Dhabi
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Abu Dhabi are as follows:
- Sea Breeze Boat Tour: $8.17
- Fast-Track Admission Ticket to Qasr Al Hosn: $8.37
- Qasar Al Hosn Abu Dhabi Entry Tickets: $13
- Louvre Join an Express Tour: $14
- Qasr Al Watan Entry Ticket in Abu Dhabi: $17
- Admission Ticket to Qasr Al Watan Abu Dhabi: $17
- Skip the Line Qasr Al Watan Abu Dhabi Ticket: $17
- Louvre Abu Dhabi Museum General Admission Ticket: $17
- Louvre Abu Dhabi Admission Ticket and Abu Dhabi Welcome Pass: $17
- Qasr Al Watan Admission Ticket: $18
- Qasr Al Watan Museum Abu Dhabi Ticket: $18
- Qasr Al Watan Palace & Garden Entrance Ticket: $18
Typical Entertainment Prices in Tel Aviv
Here are a few typical costs in Tel Aviv for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
-
Masada tour from Tel Aviv$79
-
Etzel museum$4.02
Tours and Activities in Tel Aviv
Here are a few actual costs in Tel Aviv for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Trail of Independence Quest Experience: $6.20
- Best of Tel Aviv a Self-Guided Audio Tour in English: $8.19
- The Story of Gan HaHashmal: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $9.99
- The Trail of Independence: A Self-Guided Audio Tour of Tel Aviv: $9.99
- Self-Guided Audio Tour: $11
- Sightseeing Cruise of Tel Aviv and Jaffa Skyline: $29
- Tel Aviv Jaffo Skyline Sightseeing Cruise of Coast Line: $29
- Historic walking tour of Tel Aviv - Secrets of Sarona - Self-Guided Tour: $30
- Tel Aviv Street Art Tour (Graffiti): $35
- Jaffa Walking Tour: Old Jaffa, Jaffa Port & the Flea Market: $35
- Jaffa Walking Tour: Old Jaffa, Jaffa Port, the Flea Market & More: $39
- Jaffa and Neve Tzedek Neighborhoods Walking Tour: $39
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayAbu Dhabi $13Tel Aviv $22
Sample the Local Flavors in Tel Aviv
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Tel Aviv:
- Pub Crawl with Clubs, dance bars and free shots: $21
- Pub Crawl and Nightlife Tour with Shots: $21
- Guided Pub Crawl Night Tour at Tel Aviv: $24
- Tel Aviv Pub Crawl: $26
- Pub Crawl with 4 Stops and Free Shots: $30
- Tel Aviv Craft Beers Pub Crawl: $42
- Wine Tour North of Israel from Tel Aviv: $959
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Abu Dhabi and Tel Aviv, we can see that Abu Dhabi is more expensive. And not only is Tel Aviv much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Tel Aviv would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Tel Aviv 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 Tel Aviv.
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 Tel Aviv Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Abu Dhabi or Tel Aviv?
Abu Dhabi has a larger population, and is about 60% larger than the population of Tel Aviv. When comparing the sizes of Abu Dhabi and Tel Aviv, 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.