A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Addis Ababa vs. Antsiranana for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Addis Ababa or Antsiranana?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Addis Ababa or Antsiranana, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Where Should I go: Addis Ababa or Antsiranana?

Addis Ababa

Addis Ababa is the capital city of Ethiopia and also the nation's largest when ranked by its population of over three million. There are also more than 120 international missions and embassies in Addis Ababa, making the city a hub for international diplomacy concerning Africa. Other draws include its thriving marketplaces, spicy food, and rich coffee.

Antsiranana

Antsiranana is the capital of Madagascar's northernmost province, Diana, and until 1975 it was known as Diego Suarez. The city has a port that has become a site for naval repairs and is the largest in the entire Indian Ocean. The port is mainly used for tinned fish and bottled drinks (both alcoholic and non-alcoholic). The city has a population of a little over 100,000. The French used the city as a military base after independence from 1960 until 1973, after the socialist revolution.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Historical Tours in Ethiopia, The Best Adventure Tours to Ethiopia, The Best Adventure Tours to Madagascar, and The Best Wildlife Tours to Madagascar.


Which place is cheaper, Antsiranana or Addis Ababa?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Addis Ababa is $68, while the average daily cost in Antsiranana is $90. 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 Addis Ababa and Antsiranana in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Addis Ababa $44
    Antsiranana $43
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Addis Ababa $88
    Antsiranana $86
Compare Hotels in Addis Ababa and Antsiranana

Looking for a hotel in Addis Ababa or Antsiranana? 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.

Hotels in Addis Ababa


Hotels in Antsiranana


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: Addis Ababa Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Addis Ababa $7.85
    Antsiranana $14
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Addis Ababa

Some typical examples of transportation costs in Addis Ababa are as follows:


  • Short Taxi Ride
    $0.53

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Addis Ababa

Also for Addis Ababa, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Lalibela Full Day Tour with Guide and Transfer: $175
  • City/Airport Transfers-Addis Ababa: $26
  • City/Airport Transfer in Addis Ababa - Shuttles: $21
  • Addis Shuttles: On-Time & Reliable, Airport Transfers: $19
  • Addis Ababa Airport in/out transfer: $44
  • Transfer Services Addis Abeba Airport : $23

Is it cheaper to fly into Addis Ababa or Antsiranana?

Prices for flights to both Antsiranana and Addis Ababa 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 day
    Addis Ababa $18
    Antsiranana $35
Typical Food Prices in Addis Ababa

Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Addis Ababa:


  • Slice of Cake
    $0.12

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Addis Ababa

For Addis Ababa, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Local Ethiopian Food Tour: $75
  • Food tours in Addis Ababa tastever with lunch: $108
  • Private Ethiopian Home Cooking Class in Addis Ababa with Transfer: $124
  • HALF DAY + DINNER Addis Ababa City Tour: $140
  • Half Day + Dinner Addis Ababa City Tour: $150
  • Ethiopian Cooking Class and Coffee Ceremony with a Local in Addis with transfers: $154
  • Market Tour and Cooking Class with a Coffee Ceremony at a Home in Addis Ababa: $168
  • Food Tour in Addis Ababa: $205
  • Food tours in Addis Ababa Ethiopia: $239

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Addis Ababa $8.10
    Antsiranana $19

Tours and Activities in Addis Ababa

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Addis Ababa.

  • Airport Layover Tour | Addis highlights, National Palace, Coffee Ceremony: $200
  • 2 Days Awash National Park Safari Tours: $311
  • 3 Day Private Meskel Festival, Addis Ababa City and Debre Libanos Monastery Tour: $300
  • 3 Days Visiting Harar and Dire Dawa Tours: $480
  • 4 Hour Addis Cuisine Tasting Tour: $57
  • 4 Hours Addis Ababa highlights city tour from Bole airport: $75
  • 9 Days Omo Valley and Danakil Danakil Depression tour: $3,836
  • A guided tour of Addis Abeba that includes a city viewpoint: $59
  • Addis Ababa - Half Day City Tour: $180
  • Addis Ababa Authentic Private City Tour: $75
  • Addis Ababa City - Half Day Tour: $55
  • Addis Ababa City Tour: $249

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Addis Ababa $6.69
    Antsiranana $10

Sample the Local Flavors in Addis Ababa

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Addis Ababa:

  • Pub-crawl Tour ( locally crafted beer and wine tasting ): $58
  • The Pub Crawl Royale: A Battle of the Best Drinks: $64
  • Locally crafted beer and wine tasting and nightlife in Addis tour: $65
  • Night Tour Addis Ababa beer and wine tasting: $69


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Addis Ababa and Antsiranana, we can see that Antsiranana is more expensive. And not only is Addis Ababa much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Addis Ababa would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Addis Ababa 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 Antsiranana would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Antsiranana than you might in Addis Ababa.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Addis Ababa Expensive? and Is Antsiranana Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Addis Ababa or Antsiranana?

Addis Ababa has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Antsiranana. When comparing the sizes of Addis Ababa and Antsiranana, 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.