Which place is cheaper, Ubud 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.
Jump to 
Should you visit Abu Dhabi or Ubud?
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 Ubud can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Abu Dhabi or Ubud?
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.
Ubud
Made popular by the film Eat Pray Love, Ubud is located in the uplands of Bali, Indonesia. Beautiful Hindu temples and iconic rice fields are the sight to see in this popular cultural, artistic and religious hub on the island.
Though Ubud is hot and humid during the day, it is still cooler than coastal areas. Still, temperatures linger between mid-70's and low 90's year-round, so it is likely you'll experience warm weather, regardless of when you visit.
Ubud's wet season is from November to June, which makes it an unpopular time for travelers. January and February are when Ubud experiences the heaviest rainfall, so it may be wise to avoid visiting at this time, especially since weather will limit activities, bring out insects, and cause landslides and possible flooding.
Dry season runs from July through October, which is high season for travel. Even during dry season, Ubud is extremely humid, so pack lightweight clothing that breathes and lots of sunblock.
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 Romantic Tours for Couples in Indonesia, and The Best Budget Tours to Indonesia.
-
Abu Dhabi Prices
UAE PricesUbud Prices
Indonesia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAbu Dhabi $197Ubud $142
The average daily cost (per person) in Abu Dhabi is $197, while the average daily cost in Ubud is $142. 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 Ubud in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAbu Dhabi $98Ubud $119
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAbu Dhabi $196Ubud $238
Compare Hotels in Abu Dhabi and Ubud
Looking for a hotel in Abu Dhabi or Ubud? 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 Ubud Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Abu Dhabi $20Ubud $1.63
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:
- Abu Dhabi Airport (AUH) Private Transfer to Abu Dhabi City/Hotels: $58
- Abu Dhabi Airport (AUH) to Abu Dhabi - Arrival Private Transfer: $75
- Abu Dhabi Airport (AUH) to Abu Dhabi - Arrival Private Transfer: $36
- Abu Dhabi Airport (AUH) to Abu Dhabi - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $72
- Abu Dhabi Airport (AUH) to Dubai - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $280
- Abu Dhabi Airport (AUH) to Dubai hotel or address - Arrival Private Transfer: $42
- Abu Dhabi Airport Private Departure Transfer: $30
- Abu Dhabi Airport Transfer To or From Anywhere within Abu Dhabi: $70
- Abu Dhabi Airport Transfers : Airport AUH to Abu Dhabi City by Luxury Van: $101
- Abu Dhabi City Tour: Modern & Cultural Highlights with Transfers: $108
- Abu Dhabi Combo Ticket: Ferrari World and Yas Waterworld with transfers: $195
- Abu Dhabi Top 15 Must-See Highlights Tour with Private Transfers: $109
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ubud
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Ubud:
- Private Arrival Transfer: Bali Airport to Hotel: $6.00
- Meet & Greet Private Arrival Transfer from Bali Airport: $6.99
- Ubud Airport Transfer - Bali Denpasar Airport to Ubud: $7.00
- Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Bali Airport: $7.50
- Bali Airport to Nusa Dua Private Transfer: $8.00
- Private Departure Transfer Hotel to Bali Airport: $8.00
- Airport Transfer Bali from (DPS) Ngurah Rai Airport to Jimbaran Area: $8.00
- Bali Airport Transfer - Price per Car: $9.00
- Airport Transfer Bali from (DPS) Ngurah Rai Airport to Tanjung Benoa Area: $9.00
- Bali Private Airport Hotel Transfer: $9.06
- Bali hotels to Denpasar Airport(DPS) - Departure Private Transfer: $9.36
- Denpasar Airport (DPS) to Bali hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $9.36
Is it cheaper to fly into Abu Dhabi or Ubud?
Prices for flights to both Ubud 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 $78Ubud $18
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: $43
- Abu Dhabi Desert Safari With Live Shows & BBQ Buffet Dinner: $50
- Abu Dhabi Desert Safari BBQ Dinner Camel Ride and Live Shows: $56
- Desert Safari In Abu Dhabi With BBQ Dinner: $58
- Abu Dhabi Desert Safari With BBQ Dinner & Live Shows: $60
- Lunch Or Dinner at Emirates Palace - Ultimate Luxury Experience: $64
- Evening Desert Safari Abu Dhabi with Hot BBQ Dinner: $65
- Evening Desert Safari Camel Ride Dinner Live Shows in Abu Dhabi: $69
- Desert Safari, Camel Ride, Live Shows, and BBQ Dinner: $69
- Abu Dhabi Evening Desert Safari: BBQ Dinner, Camel Ride & Shows: $71
- Evening Desert Safari Abu Dhabi with BBQ Dinner: $71
- Abu Dhabi Evening Desert Safari with BBQ Dinner and Shows: $73
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Ubud
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Ubud.
- Canggu: Drag Show with Dinner: $14
- Ubud Mystic Dinner at Oracle of Spice Lemuria The Lost City: $17
- Ubud Cooking Class with Optional Market Visit Pickup Included: $18
- Full Day Ubud Waterfall Visit and Cooking Experience: $22
- Balinese Cooking Class with Amidst Rice Field View: $25
- Cooking Class and Dinner in Traditional House by Food Lover Tour: $25
- Balinese Ubud cooking school (9 Dish Cooking and Market Tour): $26
- Bali Cooking Class at Balinese Traditional House: $26
- Dance Show + Dinner at Lost City - Story of Humanity: $26
- 8 Hours Private Balinese Cooking Class with Tirta Empul Temple: $28
- Afternoon Cooking Class & Making Bali Offering with Dinner: $29
- Uluwatu, Kecak Fire Dance & Jimbaran Bay Seafood Dinner: $30
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Abu Dhabi $39Ubud $9.15
Tours and Activities in Abu Dhabi
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Abu Dhabi are as follows:
- Admission Ticket to Qasr Al Watan Abu Dhabi Non prime: $15
- Qasr al Hosn Entrance Ticket: $16
- Qasr Al Watan Entry Tickets: $16
- Skip the Line Ticket to Qasr Al Watan in Abu Dhabi: $17
- Louvre Abu Dhabi Ticket: $18
- Qasr Al Watan Entrance Ticket: $18
- Qasr Al Watan Ticket Pass in Abu Dhabi’s Presidential Palace: $19
- Qasr al Hosn Entrance Ticket: $20
- Zayed National Museum Abu Dhabi - Ticket: $22
- Louvre Museum Abu Dhabi Admission Ticket: $22
- Abu Dhabi Louvre Museum Entry Ticket with Optional Transportation: $23
- Louvre Museum Abu Dhabi Ticket: $24
Tours and Activities in Ubud
Here are a few actual costs in Ubud for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Wheel Bali Ticket: $5.33
- Budget Bali 100% Private Tour: Jungle Walk & Sacred Purification: $6.72
- Budget Bali 100% Private Tour: Forest Floor Tour & Street Food: $6.72
- Private Bali Watersport Adventure: $8.00
- Mangrove Tour at Nusa Lembongan : Kayak, Paddle and Boat: $8.00
- One Way Ticket Fast Boat from Sanur Bali and Nusa Penida: $8.35
- Bali Private Car Charter Tour with English Speaking Driver: $9.00
- Bali Mount Batur Sunrise Trekking Adventure: $9.00
- Full-Day Private North Bali Tour with Free WiFi: $9.32
- Seminyak: Hidden Gems, Beach & Temple Self-Guided Tour: $9.99
- Sea to Summit Trekking Adventure on Mount Agung: $10
- 1 Hour Mangrove Tour From Lembongan with Kayak, Paddle, or Boat: $10
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayAbu Dhabi $13Ubud $6.15
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Abu Dhabi and Ubud, we can see that Abu Dhabi is more expensive. And not only is Ubud much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Abu Dhabi is in Middle East and Ubud 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 Ubud would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Ubud 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 Ubud.
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 Ubud Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Abu Dhabi or Ubud?
Abu Dhabi has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Ubud. When comparing the sizes of Abu Dhabi and Ubud, 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.