Which place is cheaper, Valletta or Abu Dhabi?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Abu Dhabi or Valletta?
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 Valletta can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Abu Dhabi or Valletta?
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.
Valletta
A harbor city and the capital city of the island of Malta, Valletta dates back to the 16th-century with a preserved architectural heritage that earned the city a place on the UNESCO World Heritage List. It is best known for its museums, palaces, and 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 Historical Tours in Malta, and The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Malta.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAbu Dhabi $164Valletta $124
The average daily cost (per person) in Abu Dhabi is $164, while the average daily cost in Valletta is $124. 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 Valletta in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAbu Dhabi $98Valletta $70
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAbu Dhabi $196Valletta $140
Compare Hotels in Abu Dhabi and Valletta
Looking for a hotel in Abu Dhabi or Valletta? 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 Valletta Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Abu Dhabi $20Valletta $25
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 Valletta
Also for Valletta, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Valletta Cruise Port to Malta Intl Airport (MLA) - Departure Private Transfer : $14
- Private Transfer from Valletta Cruise Port to Malta Airport (MLA): $14
- Private Transfer from Malta Airport (MLA) to Valletta Cruise Port: $14
- Malta Intl Airport (MLA) to Valletta Cruise Port - Round-Trip Private Transfer : $28
- Private Airport Transfer: Malta International Airport (MLA) to Valletta: $31
- Private Transfer: Valletta to Malta International Airport (MLA): $31
- Malta Airport Transfers : $38
- Afternoon Harbours Cruise with Guide and Roundtrip Transfers: $39
- The Three Fortified Cities of Malta Half Day Tour Incl. Boat Trip and Transfers: $39
- Malta Private Airport Transfer - Arrival: $44
- Departure Transfer: Malta Island to Malta Airport MLA by Van: $47
- Arrival Transfer: Malta Airport MLA to Malta Island by Van: $49
Is it cheaper to fly into Abu Dhabi or Valletta?
Prices for flights to both Valletta 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 $45Valletta $35
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
- Dubai Best Dhow Cruise Dinner Marina: $46
- 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
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Valletta
For Valletta, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Valletta Food Tour - Eat like a local: $46
- Valletta Food Tour: $49
- Folklore Evening Dinner Show at a Traditional Maltese Restaurant Incl. Transfers: $67
- Maltese Traditional Dinner and Folklore Show with Transfers: $71
- Fireworks Festival Cruise Including Dinner, Drinks and Transport: $77
- The Ultimate Valletta Evening Food Tour: $81
- Fernandes Sunset Cruise including Dinner with Open Bar: $81
- Christmas Tour in Gozo (afternoon) inc. Dinner: $87
- Blue Lagoon & Sunset Quad Tour in Gozo/Dinner: $101
- From Blue Lagoon and Gozo Tour w/Quads and Dinner: $118
- The Valletta Food Tour Experience, a private tour: $150
- Private Valletta Food Tour: $175
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Abu Dhabi $39Valletta $29
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
- 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
- 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 Valletta
For Valletta, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $3.23
- Escape Game and Tour: $6.46
- Reliving The Sacra Infermeria Augmented Reality Tour: $6.55
- 30-Minute Mdina Experience Audio-Visual Show Ticket (Open Ticket): $6.55
- Valletta Scavenger Hunt and Best Landmarks Self-Guided Tour: $7.10
- The Knights of Malta Museum Entry Ticket: $7.10
- City Nobles App Tour + Malta5D Entry (optional): $7.53
- Self-Guided Historical Walking Tour (Audio Guide): $7.53
- City Nobles App Tour + Optional Malta 5D Show Ticket: $7.64
- Highlights Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt & City Tour: $8.07
- Self-Guided Audio Tour, Map and Directions: $8.61
- Entry Ticket for The Limestone Heritage Park and Gardens : $9.85
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAbu Dhabi $13Valletta $17
Sample the Local Flavors in Valletta
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Valletta:
- Valletta Pub Crawl: $22
- Malta Pub Crawl: $22
- The Brewery Experience Self-Guided Tour with Tasting & Transport: $35
- The Brewery Experience & beer tasting including transport: $35
- Malta: The Three Cities and Wine Tasting Tour: $44
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Abu Dhabi and Valletta, we can see that Abu Dhabi is more expensive. And not only is Valletta much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Abu Dhabi is in Middle East and Valletta is in Europe, 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 Valletta would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Valletta 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 Valletta.
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 Valletta Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Abu Dhabi or Valletta?
Abu Dhabi has a larger population, and is about 90 times larger than the population of Valletta. When comparing the sizes of Abu Dhabi and Valletta, 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 Valletta?
Both destinations experience a warmer climate most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season. Although in the rainy season, it doesn't necessarily rain every day.
Should I visit Abu Dhabi or Valletta in the Summer?
Both Valletta 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. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Valletta year-round.
Abu Dhabi usually gets around the same amount of rain in July as Valletta. Abu Dhabi gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Valletta receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
In Valletta, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Abu Dhabi. In the summer, Abu Dhabi often gets less sunshine than Valletta. Abu Dhabi gets 331 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Valletta receives 365 hours of full sun.
Abu Dhabi can become quite hot in the summer. In July, Abu Dhabi is generally a little warmer than Valletta. Daily temperatures in Abu Dhabi average around 35°C (95°F), and Valletta fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyAbu Dhabi 35°C (95°F)Valletta 26°C (79°F)
Should I visit Abu Dhabi or Valletta in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Abu Dhabi and Valletta. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Abu Dhabi year-round. Valletta attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In October, Abu Dhabi usually receives less rain than Valletta. Abu Dhabi gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Valletta receives 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Valletta this time of the year. In Abu Dhabi, it's very sunny this time of the year. Abu Dhabi usually receives more sunshine than Valletta during autumn. Abu Dhabi gets 314 hours of sunny skies, while Valletta receives 221 hours of full sun in the autumn.
Abu Dhabi is a little warmer than Valletta in the autumn. The daily temperature in Abu Dhabi averages around 29°C (84°F) in October, and Valletta fluctuates around 21°C (70°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberAbu Dhabi 29°C (84°F)Valletta 21°C (70°F)
Should I visit Abu Dhabi or Valletta in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Abu Dhabi as well as Valletta. Abu Dhabi attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Valletta throughout the year.
Abu Dhabi usually gets less rain in January than Valletta. Abu Dhabi gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Valletta receives 90 mm (3.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
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 Valletta. Abu Dhabi gets 269 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Valletta receives 159 hours of full sun.
In the winter, Abu Dhabi is a little warmer than Valletta. Typically, the winter temperatures in Abu Dhabi in January average around 18°C (64°F), and Valletta averages at about 13°C (55°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryAbu Dhabi 18°C (64°F)Valletta 13°C (55°F)
Should I visit Abu Dhabi or Valletta in the Spring?
Both Valletta 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. Plenty of visitors come to Valletta because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In April, Abu Dhabi usually receives less rain than Valletta. Abu Dhabi gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Valletta receives 30 mm (1.2 in) of rain each month for the spring.
It's quite sunny in Valletta. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Abu Dhabi. Abu Dhabi usually receives more sunshine than Valletta during spring. Abu Dhabi gets 297 hours of sunny skies, while Valletta receives 247 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Abu Dhabi is generally much warmer than Valletta. Daily temperatures in Abu Dhabi average around 27°C (81°F), and Valletta fluctuates around 16°C (61°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilAbu Dhabi 27°C (81°F)Valletta 16°C (61°F)
Typical Weather for Valletta and Abu Dhabi
| Abu Dhabi | Valletta | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 18°C (64°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) |
| Feb | 20°C (68°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) |
| Mar | 23°C (73°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Apr | 27°C (81°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| May | 31°C (88°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Jun | 33°C (91°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Jul | 35°C (95°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Aug | 36°C (97°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Sep | 33°C (91°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Oct | 29°C (84°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Nov | 25°C (77°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) |
| Dec | 21°C (70°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 110 mm (4.3 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.