Which place is cheaper, Vancouver 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 Vancouver?
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 Vancouver can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Abu Dhabi or Vancouver?
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.
Vancouver
Vancouver is a beautiful and cosmopolitan city in Western Canada. It is also the largest city in British Columbia, and is dramatically positioned between the coast and mountains. It's a very international city, with a high level of energy and countless activites that you can enjoy while you're in town. In addition to offering all of the activities and entertainment of a modern city, it is also in jumping off distance to any number of outdoor activities.
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, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Canada, and The Best Coach Bus Tours in Canada.
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Abu Dhabi Prices
UAE PricesVancouver Prices
Canada Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAbu Dhabi $197Vancouver $156
The average daily cost (per person) in Abu Dhabi is $197, while the average daily cost in Vancouver is $156. 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 Vancouver in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAbu Dhabi $98Vancouver $83
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAbu Dhabi $196Vancouver $166
Compare Hotels in Abu Dhabi and Vancouver
Looking for a hotel in Abu Dhabi or Vancouver? 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 Vancouver Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Abu Dhabi $20Vancouver $11
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 Bro's with Private Transfers from Dubai: $279
- Ferrari world & Warner bros. parks with transfer from Dubai: $250
- Private Transfer from Abu Dhabi Airport (AUH) to Alain: $238
- Warner Bros World Ticket's -Abu Dhabi Without Transfer: $220
- Ferrari World with Fast Track Access , Meal Voucher and Transfer: $200
- Miracle Garden And Global Village Dubai Tour With Transfers From Abu Dhabi: $195
- Private Transfer: Abu Dhabi Airport AUH to Dubai in Luxury Van: $193
- From 2 Dives for Certified Divers with transfer: $190
- From Scuba Dive and Snorkeling with BBQ, Transfer: $190
- Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque-Entry to the Masterpiece with Transfer: $189
- Qasr Al Watan/King Palace Abu Dhabi with Entry Ticket & Transfer: $182
- Private Transfer from Abu Dhabi Airport (AUH) to Dubai: $173
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Vancouver
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Vancouver are as follows:
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SkyTrain from Airport$6.07
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Taxi from Airport to Downtown$20
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15 min Taxi Ride$8.32
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SkyTrain DayPass$6.24
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Vancouver
Also for Vancouver, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Bus Transfer from/to Squamish: $25
- Private Departure Transfer to Vancouver Airport (YVR): $32
- YVR Airport: Private Airport Transfer to/from Vancouver: $50
- City Highlights Tour with Hotel Transfers: $57
- Private Airport Transfer Vancouver (YVR) to Downtown: $59
- Vancouver Private Transfer from Downtown to Airport (YVR): $59
- Vancouver to Victoria: Ferry with Bus Transfer: $69
- Private Transfer - Canada Place Cruise Terminal: $69
- Vancouver to Victoria, Coach Bus Transfer: $71
- Private Transfer from Canada Place Port to any Hotel: $71
- Vancouver to Victoria - Vancouver Airport (YVR) Pickup - Coach Bus Transfer: $83
- Departure Private Transfer Vancouver to YVR Airport or Cruise Port- Business Car: $87
Is it cheaper to fly into Abu Dhabi or Vancouver?
Prices for flights to both Vancouver 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 $78Vancouver $51
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 BBQ Dinner Live Shows Pick & Drop More: $25
- Dubai Marina Dinner Cruise with Live Entertainment: $39
- Dubai Marina luxury Dhow Cruise Dinner (catamaran): $48
- Abu Dhabi Evening Desert Safari Tour with Shows & Buffet Dinner: $60
- Abu Dhabi Desert Safari With Live Shows And BBQ Buffet Dinner: $60
- Grand Mosque, Sheikh Zayed Festival with Dinner: $65
- Desert Safari Abu Dhabi w/ Sand Boarding, Camel Ride & BBQ Dinner: $75
- Abu Dhabi Desert Safari with BBQ Dinner & Shows: $80
- Abu Dhabi Desert Safari (Dune Bashing, BBQ Dinner, Camel Ride & Sand Skii): $80
- Evening Desert Safari Abu Dhabi with BBQ Dinner & Shows: $81
- Abu Dhabi Desert safari with BBQ Dinner,Sandboarding & Camel ride: $90
- Desert Safari with Sheikh Zayed Festival & Dinner: $95
Typical Food Prices in Vancouver
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Vancouver:
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All You Can Eat Sushi Lunch$8.40
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Vancouver
For Vancouver, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Secret Food Tours Vancouver: $89
- Experience Gastown Vancouver's Elite Walking Food Tour: $92
- Experience Gastown Vancouver's Elite Walking Food Tour: $95
- Gastown Historic Walking Food Tour: $95
- Vancouver Walking Food Tour With Secret Food Tours: $96
- Private Historical Food Tour of Gastown : $103
- Granville Island Market VIP Food Tour by Vancouver Foodie Tours: $111
- Private Granville Island Vancouver's Elite Walking Food Tour: $127
- Private Granville Island Vancouver's Elite Walking Food Tour: $130
- Downtown Authentic Asian Eats Walking Food Tour: $131
- Private Tour: Secret Food Tours Vancouver: $132
- Downtown Asian Eats VIP Food Tour by Vancouver Foodie Tours: $138
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Abu Dhabi $39Vancouver $34
Tours and Activities in Abu Dhabi
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Abu Dhabi are as follows:
- Abu Dhabi Tour-Sheik Zayed Mosque, Emirates Palace With Louvre Musuem: $115
- Admission Ticket To Qasr Al Hosn Abu Dhabi: $20
- Full Day Abu Dhabi City & Louvre Museum Tour: $90
- Private Full Day Dubai city tour: $229
- Private Full-Day Tour in Abu Dhabi: $279
- Ticket to Louvre Museum, Abu Dhabi: $19
- Yas island abu dhabi 1/2/3 park admission tickets : $95
- 1 Day 2 Yas Island Park Tickets Combo: $130
- 45 minutes Yas Experience: $42
- 8 Hours Al Ain City Tour without lunch : $117
- 8 hours Private Tour: Ferrari World and Louvre Museum with Pickup: $270
- 20 Minutes Rolls Royce Jet Car Tour: $204
Tours and Activities in Vancouver
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Vancouver.
- Stanley Park Self Guided Bike Tour: $3.44
- Self-Guided Smartphone Walking Tour of Gastown: $4.48
- Discover Stanley Park with a Smartphone Audio Walking Tour: $4.82
- Vancouver City Highlights Walking Tour | Tips-Based | 3-Hour: $5.00
- Cycling the Seawall: A Self-Guided Audio Tour Along the Stanley Park Seawall: $5.46
- Walking Tour Along Stanley Park's Seawall: $6.37
- Bloedel Conservatory Admission Ticket: $6.70
- Self-Guided Smartphone Tour of Stanley Park: $6.89
- Vancouver Self-Guided Audio Tour: $9.00
- Underground Comedy Club Entry Ticket: $13
- Self-Guided Audio Tour: $14
- BC Sports Hall of Fame Museum Admission Ticket: $14
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAbu Dhabi $13Vancouver $15
Sample the Local Flavors in Vancouver
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Vancouver:
- Gastown Pub Crawl: $21
- Gastown Pub Crawl: $25
- From Fraser Valley Wine Tour with Local Tastings: $124
- From Half-Day Fraser Valley Wine Tour: $130
- Taste of the Valley Wine Tour: $141
- Stawamus Chief Hike and Local Brewery Tasting: $162
- Fraser Valley & White Rock Premium Public Wine Tour: $166
- Stawamus Chief Hike & Local Brewery Tasting : $167
- Elegance Unforgettable Tesla Wine Tour & Lunch: $231
- Full-Day City Tour and Wine Tasting: $469
- Fraser Valley Wine Tasting Tour: $611
- City Highlights and Fraser Valley Wine Tour: $826
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Abu Dhabi and Vancouver, we can see that Abu Dhabi is more expensive. And not only is Vancouver much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Abu Dhabi is in Middle East and Vancouver is in North America, 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 Vancouver would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Vancouver 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 Vancouver.
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 Vancouver Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Abu Dhabi or Vancouver?
Vancouver has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Abu Dhabi. When comparing the sizes of Abu Dhabi and Vancouver, 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 Vancouver?
Vancouver 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 Vancouver in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Abu Dhabi as well as Vancouver. Abu Dhabi attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, most visitors come to Vancouver for the hiking, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences during these months.
It's very hot in Abu Dhabi this time of the year. Abu Dhabi is much warmer than Vancouver in the summer. The daily temperature in Abu Dhabi averages around 35°C (95°F) in July, and Vancouver fluctuates around 18°C (64°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Vancouver. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Abu Dhabi this time of the year. In the summer, Abu Dhabi often gets more sunshine than Vancouver. Abu Dhabi gets 331 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Vancouver receives 296 hours of full sun.
Abu Dhabi usually gets less rain in July than Vancouver. Abu Dhabi gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Vancouver receives 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyAbu Dhabi 35°C (95°F)Vancouver 18°C (64°F)
Should I visit Abu Dhabi or Vancouver in the Autumn?
Both Vancouver and Abu Dhabi are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Abu Dhabi throughout the year. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Vancouver because of the hiking trails, the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
In the autumn, Abu Dhabi is much warmer than Vancouver. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Abu Dhabi in October average around 29°C (84°F), and Vancouver averages at about 11°C (51°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Abu Dhabi. Abu Dhabi usually receives more sunshine than Vancouver during autumn. Abu Dhabi gets 314 hours of sunny skies, while Vancouver receives 124 hours of full sun in the autumn.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Vancouver. In October, Abu Dhabi usually receives less rain than Vancouver. Abu Dhabi gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Vancouver receives 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberAbu Dhabi 29°C (84°F)Vancouver 11°C (51°F)
Should I visit Abu Dhabi or Vancouver in the Winter?
Both Vancouver and Abu Dhabi during the winter are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Abu Dhabi because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Furthermore, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Vancouver this time of year.
It's quite cold in Vancouver in the winter. In January, Abu Dhabi is generally much warmer than Vancouver. Daily temperatures in Abu Dhabi average around 18°C (64°F), and Vancouver fluctuates around 4°C (40°F).
It's quite sunny in Abu Dhabi. In the winter, Abu Dhabi often gets more sunshine than Vancouver. Abu Dhabi gets 269 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Vancouver receives 55 hours of full sun.
Vancouver gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Abu Dhabi usually gets less rain in January than Vancouver. Abu Dhabi gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Vancouver receives 167 mm (6.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryAbu Dhabi 18°C (64°F)Vancouver 4°C (40°F)
Should I visit Abu Dhabi or Vancouver in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Abu Dhabi and Vancouver. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Abu Dhabi year-round. Furthermore, many travelers come to Vancouver for the activities around the city and the natural beauty.
Abu Dhabi is much warmer than Vancouver in the spring. The daily temperature in Abu Dhabi averages around 27°C (81°F) in April, and Vancouver fluctuates around 9°C (49°F).
In Abu Dhabi, it's very sunny this time of the year. Abu Dhabi usually receives more sunshine than Vancouver during spring. Abu Dhabi gets 297 hours of sunny skies, while Vancouver receives 172 hours of full sun in the spring.
Vancouver receives a lot of rain in the spring. In April, Abu Dhabi usually receives less rain than Vancouver. Abu Dhabi gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Vancouver receives 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilAbu Dhabi 27°C (81°F)Vancouver 9°C (49°F)
Typical Weather for Vancouver and Abu Dhabi
| Abu Dhabi | Vancouver | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 18°C (64°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 4°C (40°F) | 167 mm (6.6 in) |
| Feb | 20°C (68°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) | 6°C (42°F) | 179 mm (7.1 in) |
| Mar | 23°C (73°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 142 mm (5.6 in) |
| Apr | 27°C (81°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 9°C (49°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) |
| May | 31°C (88°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) |
| Jun | 33°C (91°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 16°C (60°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) |
| Jul | 35°C (95°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) |
| Aug | 36°C (97°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Sep | 33°C (91°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 73 mm (2.9 in) |
| Oct | 29°C (84°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) |
| Nov | 25°C (77°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 234 mm (9.2 in) |
| Dec | 21°C (70°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 4°C (40°F) | 198 mm (7.8 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.